PyAutoGUI
PyAutoGUI lets Python control the mouse and keyboard, and other GUI automation tasks. For Windows, macOS, and Linux, on Python 3 and 2.
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, with conditions. PyAutoGUI is worth installing if you need cross-platform GUI automation and can manage its platform-specific dependencies (pyobjc on macOS, python3-xlib on Linux, Pillow everywhere). The package is stable, permissively licensed, and widely used, but it is dormant—last released in May 2023—so expect no active maintenance. It works reliably on the primary monitor only and is best suited for scripting and testing, not production services.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Platform-specific dependencies required: pyobjc-core and pyobjc on macOS; python3-xlib on Linux.
- Pillow must be installed and may require system libraries for image support on Linux.
- Installation friction is high due to platform-specific system dependencies: Windows requires no extras, macOS requires pyobjc-core and pyobjc, and Linux requires python3-xlib.
License · maintenance · safety
BSD (permissive) — BSD license is permissive, allowing commercial and private use with minimal restrictions. You may use, modify, and distribute this package freely provided you include the original license notice.
last release 2023-05-24 (1178 days) · last repo commit 2024-08-20 · 12,659 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 2,940,189 downloads/mo, #2,815 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install pyautogui
import pyautogui
# Move mouse and click
pyautogui.moveTo(100, 150)
pyautogui.click()
# Type text
pyautogui.write('Hello world!')
# Take screenshot
im = pyautogui.screenshot()
im.save('screenshot.png')- Whether multi-monitor support has improved since the documented limitation to primary monitor only
- Current stability and bug-fix status given dormant maintenance (last release over 2 years old)
What it is and what it does
PyAutoGUI is a cross-platform Python library that abstracts away the complexity of controlling the mouse and keyboard on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It provides a simple API to move the cursor, click, type, press keys, and perform other GUI automation tasks by hiding the platform-specific details—using ctypes and the Windows API on Windows, the Cocoa API on macOS, and Xlib on Linux.
The package also includes screenshot capture and image-location features (powered by Pillow) to find and interact with on-screen elements. It is commonly used for test automation, repetitive task scripting, and GUI interaction workflows. Installation requires platform-specific system dependencies and Pillow, and the package is currently dormant but remains stable and widely downloaded.
Use it for
- Automate repetitive GUI tasks such as form filling, data entry, or clicking through dialogs in applications without native APIs.
- Write end-to-end GUI tests that simulate user interactions like mouse clicks, keyboard input, and screenshot verification.
- Build scripts to control legacy applications or third-party software that lack programmatic interfaces.
- Capture screenshots and locate UI elements on screen to enable conditional automation workflows.
- Create accessibility tools or macros that simulate keyboard and mouse events for users with mobility constraints.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, with conditions.
PyAutoGUI is worth installing if you need cross-platform GUI automation and can manage its platform-specific dependencies (pyobjc on macOS, python3-xlib on Linux, Pillow everywhere). The package is stable, permissively licensed, and widely used, but it is dormant—last released in May 2023—so expect no active maintenance. It works reliably on the primary monitor only and is best suited for scripting and testing, not production services.
Install
pyautogui on PyPI
Before you install
Installation friction is high due to platform-specific system dependencies: Windows requires no extras, macOS requires pyobjc-core and pyobjc, and Linux requires python3-xlib. Pillow is also required and may need additional system libraries for PNG/JPEG support on Linux. The package is dormant (last release 2023-05-24, last commit 2024-08-20) but remains widely used.
Platform-specific dependencies required: pyobjc-core and pyobjc on macOS; python3-xlib on Linux. Pillow must be installed and may require system libraries for image support on Linux.
License in practice
BSD license is permissive, allowing commercial and private use with minimal restrictions. You may use, modify, and distribute this package freely provided you include the original license notice.
Quickstart
pip install pyautogui
import pyautogui
# Move mouse and click
pyautogui.moveTo(100, 150)
pyautogui.click()
# Type text
pyautogui.write('Hello world!')
# Take screenshot
im = pyautogui.screenshot()
im.save('screenshot.png')Verify before relying
- Whether multi-monitor support has improved since the documented limitation to primary monitor only
- Current stability and bug-fix status given dormant maintenance (last release over 2 years old)
Package facts
| License | BSD permissive |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | High. Source build required |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Dormant 1,178 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 2,940,189 / month, #2,815 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 4 - BetaEnvironment :: MacOS XEnvironment :: Win32 (MS Windows)Environment :: X11 ApplicationsIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: BSD LicenseOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.1Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.2Programming Language :: Python :: 3.3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.4Programming Language :: Python :: 3.5Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9 |
Evidence: PyAutoGUI-0.9.54.tar.gz
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