uv cannot install packages on its own managed Python with virtual environment activated #15635
Description
Summary
I have an activated virtual environment and I am trying to install packages from a requirements.txt file in it.
The environment was created by running uv init after obtaining the correct pyproject.toml file.
Running sudo uv pip install --system -r requirements.txt --verbose yields the following output:
DEBUG uv 0.8.3 (7e78f54e7 2025-07-24)
DEBUG Searching for default Python interpreter in managed installations or search path
DEBUG Searching for managed installations at `/Users/r0g0fqv/.local/share/uv/python`
DEBUG Found managed installation `cpython-3.13.5-macos-aarch64-none`
DEBUG Found `cpython-3.13.5-macos-aarch64-none` at `/Users/r0g0fqv/.local/share/uv/python/cpython-3.13.5-macos-aarch64-none/bin/python3.13` (managed installations)
Using Python 3.13.5 environment at: /Users/r0g0fqv/.local/share/uv/python/cpython-3.13.5-macos-aarch64-none
error: The interpreter at /Users/r0g0fqv/.local/share/uv/python/cpython-3.13.5-macos-aarch64-none is externally managed, and indicates the following:
This Python installation is managed by uv and should not be modified.
Consider creating a virtual environment with `uv venv`.
I am not sure why this is occurring when the virtual environment is activated.
I reviewed the following issues: 10300 12204 but they did not seem to apply to my issue, unless I am mistaken.
Please let me know if I can provide more information. I am afraid I cannot share much of the setup code due to enterprise policies.
Platform
macOS Darwin 24.6.0 arm64
Version
uv 0.8.3 (7e78f54 2025-07-24)
Python version
Python 3.13.5