# Cannot use Plots

**URL:** <https://discourse.julialang.org/t/cannot-use-plots/37616>\
**Category:** General Usage\
**Tags:** question, plotting\
**Created:** [April 15, 2020, 4:09am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/cannot-use-plots/37616 "2020-04-15T04:09:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 12\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![fhkm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@fhkm](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/fhkm)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2020, 4:09am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/cannot-use-plots/37616/1 "2020-04-15T04:09:36Z")

</div>

I am unable to create plots with Julia v1.4 on Windows 7 x64.  
The package cannot be initiated.  
see the screenshot and error message below.

 ![init_error](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/original/3X/a/5/a5860a8f952c9ee67a3f7b77fa0528adc3d07bea.png)

> Blockquote

julia\> using Plots  
ERROR: InitError: could not load library “C:\Users\a225.julia\artifacts\8e5c0ff  
96e49241eec5822be35ce7109c2bcf934\bin\libogg-0.dll”  
The specified module could not be found.  
Stacktrace:  
[1] dlopen(::String, ::UInt32; throw\_error::Bool) at D:\buildbot\worker\package  
_win64\build\usr\share\julia\stdlib\v1.4\Libdl\src\Libdl.jl:109  
[2] dlopen at D:\buildbot\worker\package\_win64\build\usr\share\julia\stdlib\v1.  
4\Libdl\src\Libdl.jl:109 [inlined] (repeats 2 times)  
[3] **init** () at C:\Users\a225.julia\packages\Ogg\_jll\fUOuz\src\wrappers\x86_  
64-w64-mingw32.jl:35  
[4] \_include\_from\_serialized(::String, ::Array{Any,1}) at .\loading.jl:697  
[5] \_require\_search\_from\_serialized(::Base.PkgId, ::String) at .\loading.jl:781

[6] \_tryrequire\_from\_serialized(::Base.PkgId, ::UInt64, ::String) at .\loading.  
jl:712  
[7] \_require\_search\_from\_serialized(::Base.PkgId, ::String) at .\loading.jl:770

[8] \_require(::Base.PkgId) at .\loading.jl:1006  
[9] require(::Base.PkgId) at .\loading.jl:927  
[10] require(::Module, ::Symbol) at .\loading.jl:922  
during initialization of module Ogg\_jll

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![pixel27](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/pixel27/32/8902_2.png) [@pixel27](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/pixel27)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2020, 7:02pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/cannot-use-plots/37616/2 "2020-04-15T19:02:41Z")

</div>

Does that `libogg-0.dll` file exist? If it exists then it’s probably a permission issue. Also you might try removing Plots and adding it again, look at the log when you add it make sure there are no errors reported, like a failure to download or create that dll.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![fhkm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@fhkm](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/fhkm)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2020, 7:45pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/cannot-use-plots/37616/3 "2020-04-15T19:45:49Z")

</div>

No. There is no such a file.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![PetrKryslUCSD](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/petrkryslucsd/32/215825_2.png) [@PetrKryslUCSD](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/PetrKryslUCSD)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2020, 8:08pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/cannot-use-plots/37616/4 "2020-04-15T20:08:11Z")

</div>

What is your Windows version? I haven’t tested with Win 7 for Julia 1.4, but I know it was failing for one of my students who has a Win 7 laptop.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![fhkm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@fhkm](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/fhkm)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2020, 8:13pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/cannot-use-plots/37616/5 "2020-04-15T20:13:39Z")

</div>

I am running Julia v1.4 on windows 7 x64.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![oheil](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/oheil/32/220745_2.png) [@oheil](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/oheil)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2020, 8:15pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/cannot-use-plots/37616/6 "2020-04-15T20:15:21Z")

</div>

Don’t open several topics for one problem:

> [@Unable to add Plots package in V1.4](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/unable-to-add-plots-package-in-v1-4/37610/6):
>
> And to be sure (if you stay with Windows 7) you should upgrade your PowerShell to some recent version:

[https://stackoverflow.com/questions/61219814/julia-unable-to-add-plots-package-in-v1-4](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/61219814/julia-unable-to-add-plots-package-in-v1-4)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![fhkm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@fhkm](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/fhkm)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2020, 8:17pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/cannot-use-plots/37616/7 "2020-04-15T20:17:10Z")

</div>

I deleted that one posted on stackoverflow

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mkborregaard](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/mkborregaard/32/556_2.png) [@mkborregaard](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/mkborregaard)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2020, 10:22pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/cannot-use-plots/37616/8 "2020-04-15T22:22:35Z")

</div>

are you sure that error os from Plots? Do you not get it when loading other packages?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![fhkm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@fhkm](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/fhkm)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 4:14am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/cannot-use-plots/37616/10 "2020-04-16T04:14:02Z")

</div>

As a beginner of Julia, I found it is quite frustrating for this type of bugs.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![oheil](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/oheil/32/220745_2.png) [@oheil](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/oheil)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 7:20am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/cannot-use-plots/37616/11 "2020-04-16T07:20:44Z")

</div>

At the same time you weren’t able to [add Plots](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/unable-to-add-plots-package-in-v1-4/37610) and to use Plots (this thread). the first issue is solved and I think the two issues are related and, in general, not a Plots.jl issue.

Maybe its best to remove Julia and start over with a new clean install: Deinstall Julia and remove folder `C:\Users\a225\.julia`

> As a beginner of Julia, I found it is quite frustrating for this type of bugs.

Please try to communicate more open, it helps to find solutions and to help you. I understand that you are frustrated if things doesn’t work smoothly but, as a beginner, you are possibly not the one to decide what a bug is and for me it seems, that the problems you have, derive from your Windows 7 system, which is not in the best state (despite that it is a massive security thread for your own personal data).

I say that because you are talking about bugs in Plots.jl AFTER you got the solution in the other thread (which, by the way, maybe still uncomplete).

In general you should upgrade to Windows 10 (if possible). It is still free, e.g. [https://www.howtogeek.com/509087/how-to-upgrade-from-windows-7-to-windows-10-for-free/](https://www.howtogeek.com/509087/how-to-upgrade-from-windows-7-to-windows-10-for-free/)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mkborregaard](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/mkborregaard/32/556_2.png) [@mkborregaard](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/mkborregaard)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 7:25am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/cannot-use-plots/37616/12 "2020-04-16T07:25:41Z")

</div>

This looks like an install issue with the FFMPEG package on Windows. That has been causing problems but I thought they had been resolved.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![fhkm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@fhkm](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/fhkm)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 3:59pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/cannot-use-plots/37616/13 "2020-04-16T15:59:20Z")

</div>

> [@mkborregaard](#):
>
> oks like an install issue with the FFMPEG package on Windows. That has been causing problems but I thought they had b

Thank you. I resolved the problem by doing these things:

1. Uninstall Julia
2. Delete the entire folder

> C:\Users\ [user name] .julia

1. Have a clean install of Julia v1.4

2. Add the Plots package.

> Using Pkg  
> Pkg.add(“Plots”)