---
id: pypiwin32
version: "223"
license: unclear
license_treatment: unclear
maintenance: abandoned
---

# pypiwin32

License: unclear · Maintenance: abandoned · Downloads: 1.4M/mo

## What it is and what it does

pypiwin32 is a thin wrapper package that installs pywin32 as its sole runtime dependency. It provides Python developers with access to Windows API functions, COM automation, and other Windows-specific system interfaces. The package itself has been abandoned since 2018, though it continues to pull down pywin32 when installed.

This package is primarily useful for legacy projects or as a convenience installation method. Most new Windows-Python development should consider using pywin32 directly instead. The package carries no known security vulnerabilities, but its age and lack of maintenance mean it receives no updates or support.

Use it for:

- Automating Windows system tasks in legacy Python applications that depend on this package.
- COM automation for controlling Windows applications from Python scripts.
- Accessing Windows-specific APIs for system monitoring or hardware interaction.

## Worth the install?

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

Installs pywin32 as a dependency, providing access to Windows-specific system interfaces and APIs from Python.

No—this package is abandoned and serves only as an outdated convenience wrapper. Install pywin32 directly instead, which is actively maintained and will receive updates. Use pypiwin32 only if you have legacy code that explicitly depends on it; otherwise, migrate to the underlying dependency.

## Install

pip install pypiwin32
uv add pypiwin32
poetry add pypiwin32

## Installing pypiwin32

Before you install: Low install friction, but the package is abandoned—last release was 2018-02-26, over 3091 days ago. It exists primarily as a convenience wrapper around pywin32; maintenance of the underlying dependency is the real concern.

License in practice: License treatment is unclear; no SPDX identifier or raw license text is available in the metadata. Verify licensing before use in proprietary or commercial contexts.

Quickstart:

pip install pypiwin32
import pywin32

Windows-only; requires a Windows operating system to function.

Verify before relying:

- Whether pypiwin32 is still maintained or if direct use of pywin32 is now recommended.
- Current license terms and compatibility with your project's licensing requirements.
- Whether pywin32 (the underlying dependency) is actively maintained and secure.

## Package facts

- License: not declared (unclear)
- Python support: unspecified
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: abandoned
- Downloads: 1.4M/month (top 5,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

windows api python, pywin32 installer, windows system calls, win32 python bindings, windows automation, windows-only, abandoned, wrapper

[View on SkillFed](https://skillfed.io/packages/pypiwin32) · [View on PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/pypiwin32/)