[Python] Couldn't build wheel for pillow

first time coding in python and I need to add Pillow to edit some images, yet every time i try to install it I get the same error.

This is the only library in which I've had any issue.

I'm using a virtual environment and my python version is: 3.12.7

I've tried installing the latest pillow version, I've also tried versions: 9.5.0, 10.1.0 and 7.2.0 yet nothing seems to work

I'm using VS Code for this in the built in terminal/console. I installed Pillow successfully from cmd, but as i said when i try to install it from the terminal in VS Code it results on the wheels error

I'm running on 64 bits

Error:

Collecting pillow
Using cached pillow-11.1.0.tar.gz (46.7 MB)
Installing build dependencies ... done
Getting requirements to build wheel ... done
Preparing metadata (pyproject.toml) ... done
Building wheels for collected packages: pillow
Building wheel for pillow (pyproject.toml) ... error
error: subprocess-exited-with-error

× Building wheel for pillow (pyproject.toml) did not run successfully.
│ exit code: 1
╰─> [257 lines of output]
C:\Users\Moonl\AppData\Local\Temp\pip-build-env-2f3cv2uq\overlay\lib\python3.12\site-packages\setuptools\config\_apply_pyprojecttoml.py:82: SetuptoolsDeprecationWarning: `project.license`
as a TOML table is deprecated
!!

********************************************************************************
Please use a simple string containing a SPDX expression for `project.license`. You can also use `project.license-files`.

By 2026-Feb-18, you need to update your project and remove deprecated calls
or your builds will no longer be supported.

See https://packaging.python.org/en/latest/guides/writing-pyproject-toml/#license for details.
********************************************************************************

!!
corresp(dist, value, root_dir)
C:\Users\Moonl\AppData\Local\Temp\pip-build-env-2f3cv2uq\overlay\lib\python3.12\site-packages\setuptools\config\_apply_pyprojecttoml.py:61: SetuptoolsDeprecationWarning: License classifiers are deprecated.
!!

********************************************************************************
Please consider removing the following classifiers in favor of a SPDX license expression:

License :: OSI Approved :: CMU License (MIT-CMU)

See https://packaging.python.org/en/latest/guides/writing-pyproject-toml/#license for details.
********************************************************************************

!!
dist._finalize_license_expression()
C:\Users\Moonl\AppData\Local\Temp\pip-build-env-2f3cv2uq\overlay\lib\python3.12\site-packages\setuptools\dist.py:760: SetuptoolsDeprecationWarning: License classifiers are deprecated.
!!

********************************************************************************
Please consider removing the following classifiers in favor of a SPDX license expression:

License :: OSI Approved :: CMU License (MIT-CMU)

See https://packaging.python.org/en/latest/guides/writing-pyproject-toml/#license for details.
********************************************************************************

!!
self._finalize_license_expression()
running bdist_wheel
running build
running build_py
creating build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\BdfFontFile.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\BlpImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\BmpImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\BufrStubImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\ContainerIO.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\CurImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\DcxImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\DdsImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\EpsImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\ExifTags.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\features.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\FitsImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\FliImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\FontFile.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\FpxImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\FtexImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\GbrImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\GdImageFile.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\GifImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\GimpGradientFile.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\GimpPaletteFile.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\GribStubImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\Hdf5StubImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\IcnsImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\IcoImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\Image.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\ImageChops.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\ImageCms.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\ImageColor.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\ImageDraw.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\ImageDraw2.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\ImageEnhance.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\ImageFile.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\ImageFilter.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\ImageFont.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\ImageGrab.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\ImageMath.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\ImageMode.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\ImageMorph.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\ImageOps.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\ImagePalette.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\ImagePath.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\ImageQt.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\ImageSequence.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\ImageShow.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\ImageStat.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\ImageTk.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\ImageTransform.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\ImageWin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\ImImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\ImtImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\IptcImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\Jpeg2KImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\JpegImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\JpegPresets.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\McIdasImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\MicImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\MpegImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\MpoImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\MspImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\PaletteFile.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\PalmImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\PcdImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\PcfFontFile.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\PcxImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\PdfImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\PdfParser.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\PixarImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\PngImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\PpmImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\PsdImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\PSDraw.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\QoiImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\report.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\SgiImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\SpiderImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\SunImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\TarIO.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\TgaImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\TiffImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\TiffTags.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\WalImageFile.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\WebPImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\WmfImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\XbmImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\XpmImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\XVThumbImagePlugin.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\_binary.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\_deprecate.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\_tkinter_finder.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\_typing.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\_util.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\_version.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\__init__.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\__main__.py -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
running egg_info
writing src\pillow.egg-info\PKG-INFO
writing dependency_links to src\pillow.egg-info\dependency_links.txt
writing requirements to src\pillow.egg-info\requires.txt
writing top-level names to src\pillow.egg-info\top_level.txt
reading manifest file 'src\pillow.egg-info\SOURCES.txt'
reading manifest template 'MANIFEST.in'
warning: no files found matching '*.c'
warning: no files found matching '*.h'
warning: no files found matching '*.sh'
warning: no files found matching '*.txt'
warning: no files found matching '.flake8'
warning: no previously-included files found matching '.appveyor.yml'
warning: no previously-included files found matching '.clang-format'
warning: no previously-included files found matching '.coveragerc'
warning: no previously-included files found matching '.editorconfig'
warning: no previously-included files found matching '.readthedocs.yml'
warning: no previously-included files found matching 'codecov.yml'
warning: no previously-included files found matching 'renovate.json'
warning: no previously-included files matching '.git*' found anywhere in distribution
warning: no previously-included files matching '*.so' found anywhere in distribution
no previously-included directories found matching '.ci'
no previously-included directories found matching 'wheels'
adding license file 'LICENSE'
writing manifest file 'src\pillow.egg-info\SOURCES.txt'
copying src\PIL\_imaging.pyi -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\_imagingcms.pyi -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\_imagingft.pyi -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\_imagingmath.pyi -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\_imagingmorph.pyi -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\_imagingtk.pyi -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\_webp.pyi -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
copying src\PIL\py.typed -> build\lib.mingw_x86_64_ucrt_gnu-cpython-312\PIL
running build_ext


The headers or library files could not be found for zlib,
a required dependency when compiling Pillow from source.

Please see the install instructions at:
https://pillow.readthedocs.io/en/latest/installation/basic-installation.html

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<string>", line 1032, in <module>
File "C:\Users\Moonl\AppData\Local\Temp\pip-build-env-2f3cv2uq\overlay\lib\python3.12\site-packages\setuptools\__init__.py", line 117, in setup
return distutils.core.setup(**attrs)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File "C:\Users\Moonl\AppData\Local\Temp\pip-build-env-2f3cv2uq\overlay\lib\python3.12\site-packages\setuptools\_distutils\core.py", line 186, in setup
return run_commands(dist)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File "C:\Users\Moonl\AppData\Local\Temp\pip-build-env-2f3cv2uq\overlay\lib\python3.12\site-packages\setuptools\_distutils\core.py", line 202, in run_commands
dist.run_commands()
File "C:\Users\Moonl\AppData\Local\Temp\pip-build-env-2f3cv2uq\overlay\lib\python3.12\site-packages\setuptools\_distutils\dist.py", line 1002, in run_commands
self.run_command(cmd)
File "C:\Users\Moonl\AppData\Local\Temp\pip-build-env-2f3cv2uq\overlay\lib\python3.12\site-packages\setuptools\dist.py", line 1105, in run_command
super().run_command(command)
File "C:\Users\Moonl\AppData\Local\Temp\pip-build-env-2f3cv2uq\overlay\lib\python3.12\site-packages\setuptools\_distutils\dist.py", line 1021, in run_command
cmd_obj.run()
File "C:\Users\Moonl\AppData\Local\Temp\pip-build-env-2f3cv2uq\overlay\lib\python3.12\site-packages\setuptools\command\bdist_wheel.py", line 370, in run
self.run_command("build")
File "C:\Users\Moonl\AppData\Local\Temp\pip-build-env-2f3cv2uq\overlay\lib\python3.12\site-packages\setuptools\_distutils\cmd.py", line 357, in run_command
self.distribution.run_command(command)
File "C:\Users\Moonl\AppData\Local\Temp\pip-build-env-2f3cv2uq\overlay\lib\python3.12\site-packages\setuptools\dist.py", line 1105, in run_command
super().run_command(command)
File "C:\Users\Moonl\AppData\Local\Temp\pip-build-env-2f3cv2uq\overlay\lib\python3.12\site-packages\setuptools\_distutils\dist.py", line 1021, in run_command
cmd_obj.run()
File "C:\Users\Moonl\AppData\Local\Temp\pip-build-env-2f3cv2uq\overlay\lib\python3.12\site-packages\setuptools\_distutils\command\build.py", line 135, in run
self.run_command(cmd_name)
File "C:\Users\Moonl\AppData\Local\Temp\pip-build-env-2f3cv2uq\overlay\lib\python3.12\site-packages\setuptools\_distutils\cmd.py", line 357, in run_command
self.distribution.run_command(command)
File "C:\Users\Moonl\AppData\Local\Temp\pip-build-env-2f3cv2uq\overlay\lib\python3.12\site-packages\setuptools\dist.py", line 1105, in run_command
super().run_command(command)
File "C:\Users\Moonl\AppData\Local\Temp\pip-build-env-2f3cv2uq\overlay\lib\python3.12\site-packages\setuptools\_distutils\dist.py", line 1021, in run_command
cmd_obj.run()
File "C:\Users\Moonl\AppData\Local\Temp\pip-build-env-2f3cv2uq\overlay\lib\python3.12\site-packages\setuptools\command\build_ext.py", line 99, in run
_build_ext.run(self)
File "C:\Users\Moonl\AppData\Local\Temp\pip-build-env-2f3cv2uq\overlay\lib\python3.12\site-packages\setuptools\_distutils\command\build_ext.py", line 368, in run
self.build_extensions()
File "<string>", line 851, in build_extensions
RequiredDependencyException: zlib

During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "C:\Users\Moonl\Desktop\Checador\.venv\lib\python3.12\site-packages\pip\_vendor\pyproject_hooks\_in_process\_in_process.py", line 389, in <module>
main()
File "C:\Users\Moonl\Desktop\Checador\.venv\lib\python3.12\site-packages\pip\_vendor\pyproject_hooks\_in_process\_in_process.py", line 373, in main
json_out["return_val"] = hook(**hook_input["kwargs"])
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File "C:\Users\Moonl\Desktop\Checador\.venv\lib\python3.12\site-packages\pip\_vendor\pyproject_hooks\_in_process\_in_process.py", line 280, in build_wheel
return _build_backend().build_wheel(
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File "C:\Users\Moonl\AppData\Local\Temp\pip-install-264jpn1l\pillow_ef0a8bee58c741a1b6d2953ef81c345e\_custom_build\backend.py", line 26, in build_wheel
return super().build_wheel(wheel_directory, config_settings, metadata_directory)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File "C:\Users\Moonl\AppData\Local\Temp\pip-build-env-2f3cv2uq\overlay\lib\python3.12\site-packages\setuptools\build_meta.py", line 438, in build_wheel
return _build(['bdist_wheel', '--dist-info-dir', str(metadata_directory)])
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File "C:\Users\Moonl\AppData\Local\Temp\pip-build-env-2f3cv2uq\overlay\lib\python3.12\site-packages\setuptools\build_meta.py", line 426, in _build
return self._build_with_temp_dir(
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File "C:\Users\Moonl\AppData\Local\Temp\pip-build-env-2f3cv2uq\overlay\lib\python3.12\site-packages\setuptools\build_meta.py", line 407, in _build_with_temp_dir
self.run_setup()
File "C:\Users\Moonl\AppData\Local\Temp\pip-install-264jpn1l\pillow_ef0a8bee58c741a1b6d2953ef81c345e\_custom_build\backend.py", line 20, in run_setup
return super().run_setup(setup_script)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File "C:\Users\Moonl\AppData\Local\Temp\pip-build-env-2f3cv2uq\overlay\lib\python3.12\site-packages\setuptools\build_meta.py", line 320, in run_setup
exec(code, locals())
File "<string>", line 1048, in <module>
RequiredDependencyException:

The headers or library files could not be found for zlib,
a required dependency when compiling Pillow from source.

Please see the install instructions at:
https://pillow.readthedocs.io/en/latest/installation/basic-installation.html


[end of output]

note: This error originates from a subprocess, and is likely not a problem with pip.
ERROR: Failed building wheel for pillow
Failed to build pillow
ERROR: Failed to build installable wheels for some pyproject.toml based projects (pillow)


Any help is really appreciated, thanks!

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