To add a .env file outside the .exe file when using PyInstaller, you can use the --add-data option to include the .env file in the distribution. Assuming that your .env file is located in the root directory of your project, and you want to include it in the same directory as the PyInstaller-generated .exe file, you can use the following command:

main.py

pyinstaller --add-data=".env;." myscript.py


# This command tells PyInstaller to include the .env file in the distribution, and to place it in the same directory as the .exe file.

# Note that the --add-data option takes two arguments separated by a semicolon: the first argument is the path to the .env file, and the second argument is the destination directory for the file. In this case, the destination directory is the current directory, denoted by the . symbol.

# After running this command, PyInstaller will generate a new directory containing the .exe file and the .env file, as well as any other necessary files for your script to run.

To add .env file outside the .exe file using pyinstaller

Hello @Shrestha7 ,
I used this command and even the .env file was packaged inside "_internal" folder. But when the program runs, the environment variables are empty.

So I moved .env file outside "_internal" folder and kept it next to .exe file. Then it started working.

But, thank you very much for the command. I was searching for it for couple of hours. This saved my day.