Attributeerror: module serial has no attribute serial

This time we will deal with Attributeerror: module serial has no attribute serial error. We will show various solutions and how this error occurs.

But before proceeding to solutions, let’s understand first the error…

What is module serial has no attribute serial?

The error Attributeerror: module serial has no attribute serial occurs when we try to import pyserial module however we have a local file named serial.py.

In addition, ‘serial‘ module is a Python library used for serial communication. Particularly, with devices like microcontrollers, sensors, and other hardware devices.

Therefore the error may occur when the code attempts to access a specific attribute of the ‘serial‘ module that does not exist.

Mainly, ‘serial.Serial‘, which would typically be used to open a serial connection to a device.

How this error attributeerror module serial has no attribute serial occur?

As already mentioned, the AttributeError: module ‘serial’ has no attribute ‘serial’ error occurs trying to use a method or attribute that is not defined in the ‘serial‘ module.

Here’s an example code that can generate this error:

import serial

ser = serial.serial('itsc', 9600) # replace 'itsc' with the actual port name

The given example code will give an error because the method “serial” does not exist in the ‘serial‘ module. Instead, the correct method name is “Serial” (with a capital S).

So, to fix this error, you should continue in the next section…

How to solve attributeerror: module ‘serial’ has no attribute ‘serial’

Here are three ways to fix the “AttributeError: module ‘serial’ has no attribute ‘serial’” error in Python, along with example code:

Solution 1: Use the correct method name

This error often occurs when you use an incorrect method name. In the ‘serial’ module, the correct method name is “Serial” with a capital “S”, not “serial” with a lowercase “s”.

Here is an example code that fixes the error by using the correct method name:

import serial

ser = serial.Serial('itsc', 9600) # replace 'itsc' with the actual port name

Solution 2: Check the version of the ‘serial’ module

The ‘serial’ module may be updated from time to time, and a new version may have a different method name or structure. If you have an outdated version of the ‘serial’ module, it can cause the error.

You can update the ‘serial’ module by running the following command in your terminal:

pip install --upgrade pyserial

Solution 3: Reinstall the ‘serial’ module

If you have followed the above steps and are still experiencing the error, it may be caused by a corrupted or incomplete installation of the ‘serial’ module.

In this case, you can uninstall and reinstall the ‘serial’ module using the following commands:

pip uninstall pyserial
pip install pyserial

Here’s an example code that reinstalls the ‘serial’ module and resolves the error:

import serial

ser = serial.Serial('itsc', 9600)  # replace 'itsc' with the actual port name

If you are finding solutions to some errors you might encounter we also have Attributeerror: ‘dict’ object has no attribute ‘read’.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the given ways fix the “AttributeError: module ‘serial’ has no attribute ‘serial’” error in Python. Mainly, using the correct method name, updating the ‘serial’ module, or reinstalling the module.

Following the solutions that work best for you can resolve this error and continue using the ‘serial’ module in your Python programs.

Thank you for reading!

Python AttributeError debugging checklist

• Print the actual type. Insert print(type(obj)) before the failing line — usually reveals the mismatch immediately.
• Use dir(). print(dir(obj)) lists all available attributes on the object.
• Check version compatibility. Many AttributeErrors come from methods that were renamed or removed between library versions.
• Guard with hasattr(). if hasattr(obj, "method"): obj.method() — useful for cross-version code.
• Use type hints + mypy. Static type checking catches most AttributeErrors before you run the code.

Common root causes across all AttributeError variants

• None return values. A function returned None when the caller expected an object.
• Version drift. Library API changed between versions.
• Variable overwrite. A local variable was reassigned with the wrong type (list → dict, str → int).
• Method vs attribute confusion. Calling a property with () or accessing a method without ().
• Missing initialization. Some frameworks require init() before accessing certain attributes.

Modern Python tooling to prevent AttributeError

• Type hints + Optional[T]. Explicit null-handling in signatures.
• mypy or Pyright. Runs your codebase through a type checker before you run it.
• Ruff. Fast linter that catches many attribute-access issues.
• pydantic v2. Runtime validation with the same syntax as static types.
• pytest fixtures. Test with edge-case inputs to catch AttributeError paths early.

Glay Eliver

Programmer & Technical Writer at PIES IT Solution

Glay Eliver is a programmer and writer at PIES IT Solution, author of over 600 tutorials at itsourcecode.com. Specializes in JavaScript tutorials, Microsoft Office how-tos (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), and Python error debugging covering ImportError, TypeError, AttributeError, ModuleNotFoundError, and JavaScript ReferenceError. Authored several of the site’s highest-traffic Excel and MS Office reference articles.

Expertise: JavaScript · MS Excel · MS Word · MS PowerPoint · Python · Python ImportError · Python TypeError · Python AttributeError · ModuleNotFoundError · JavaScript ReferenceError · Pygame
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