---
id: py-deviceid
version: "0.1.1"
license: py-deviceid Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. MIT License Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the… (full text in the JSON record)
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: aging
---

# py-deviceid — A simple library to get or create a unique device id for a device in Python.

License: permissive · Maintenance: aging · Downloads: 5.0M/mo

## What it is and what it does

py-deviceid is a lightweight Python library that generates a unique identifier for a device based on the DevDeviceId specification. It exposes a single function, get_device_id(), that returns a string representing the device. The package has no runtime dependencies and supports Python 3.8 through 3.12, making it easy to integrate into existing projects.

The library is intended for scenarios where you need a machine-specific identifier—such as device tracking, licensing, telemetry, or system inventory. Because it is in Alpha status and has not been actively updated since its initial release, it should be evaluated carefully for production use, particularly if you need guarantees about identifier stability or cross-platform consistency.

Use it for:

- Tracking or identifying individual machines in a fleet or telemetry system.
- Generating unique device identifiers for software licensing or activation workflows.
- Correlating logs or events to specific hardware in a multi-machine environment.
- Creating device fingerprints for security or fraud-detection systems.

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

Generates or retrieves a unique device identifier for a system based on the DevDeviceId specification, returning a string that can be used to identify individual machines.

Yes, if you need a simple device identifier and can verify that the DevDeviceId specification meets your stability and cross-platform requirements. The zero-dependency design and MIT license make it low-risk to try. However, the Alpha status and lack of recent updates mean you should test thoroughly in your target environment before relying on it in production.

## Install

pip install py-deviceid
uv add py-deviceid
poetry add py-deviceid

## Installing py-deviceid

Before you install: No runtime dependencies and a pure-Python wheel distribution mean installation is straightforward. However, the package is in Alpha status and has not been updated since March 2025, suggesting limited active maintenance.

License in practice: MIT license permits free use, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions—you may use this in commercial or proprietary projects as long as you include the license notice.

Quickstart:

pip install py-deviceid

from deviceid import get_device_id

device_id = get_device_id()
print(f'Device ID is: {device_id}')

Verify before relying:

- What system properties does the DevDeviceId specification use to generate the device ID?
- Whether the device ID is stable across reboots and system updates.
- Cross-platform behavior: does it work identically on Windows, macOS, and Linux?
- Whether the implementation handles virtual machines or containers differently than physical hardware.

## Package facts

- License: py-deviceid Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. MIT License Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the… (full text in the JSON record) (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: aging
- Downloads: 5.0M/month (top 5,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

device id generation, unique machine identifier, system device id, hardware fingerprint, device fingerprinting python, device-identification, system-info

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