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Install Ultralytics

Ultralytics offers a variety of installation methods, including pip, conda, and Docker. You can install YOLO via the ultralytics pip package for the latest stable release, or by cloning the Ultralytics GitHub repository for the most current version. Docker is also an option to run the package in an isolated container, which avoids local installation.



Watch: Ultralytics YOLO Quick Start Guide

Install

PyPI - Python Version

Install or update the ultralytics package using pip by running pip install -U ultralytics. For more details on the ultralytics package, visit the Python Package Index (PyPI).

PyPI - Version Downloads

# Install the ultralytics package from PyPI
pip install ultralytics

You can also install ultralytics directly from the Ultralytics GitHub repository. This can be useful if you want the latest development version. Ensure you have the Git command-line tool installed, and then run:

# Install the ultralytics package from GitHub
pip install git+https://github.com/ultralytics/ultralytics.git@main

Conda can be used as an alternative package manager to pip. For more details, visit Anaconda. The Ultralytics feedstock repository for updating the conda package is available at GitHub.

Conda Version Conda Downloads Conda Recipe Conda Platforms

# Install the ultralytics package using conda
conda install -c conda-forge ultralytics

Note

If you are installing in a CUDA environment, it is best practice to install ultralytics, pytorch, and pytorch-cuda in the same command. This allows the conda package manager to resolve any conflicts. Alternatively, install pytorch-cuda last to override the CPU-specific pytorch package if necessary.

# Install all packages together using conda
conda install -c pytorch -c nvidia -c conda-forge pytorch torchvision pytorch-cuda=11.8 ultralytics

Conda Docker Image

Ultralytics Conda Docker images are also available from DockerHub. These images are based on Miniconda3 and provide a straightforward way to start using ultralytics in a Conda environment.

# Set image name as a variable
t=ultralytics/ultralytics:latest-conda

# Pull the latest ultralytics image from Docker Hub
sudo docker pull $t

# Run the ultralytics image in a container with GPU support
sudo docker run -it --ipc=host --gpus all $t            # all GPUs
sudo docker run -it --ipc=host --gpus '"device=2,3"' $t # specify GPUs

Clone the Ultralytics GitHub repository if you are interested in contributing to development or wish to experiment with the latest source code. After cloning, navigate into the directory and install the package in editable mode -e using pip.

GitHub last commit GitHub commit activity

# Clone the ultralytics repository
git clone https://github.com/ultralytics/ultralytics

# Navigate to the cloned directory
cd ultralytics

# Install the package in editable mode for development
pip install -e .

Use Docker to execute the ultralytics package in an isolated container, ensuring consistent performance across various environments. By selecting one of the official ultralytics images from Docker Hub, you avoid the complexity of local installation and gain access to a verified working environment. Ultralytics offers five main supported Docker images, each designed for high compatibility and efficiency:

Docker Image Version Docker Pulls

  • Dockerfile: GPU image recommended for training.
  • Dockerfile-arm64: Optimized for ARM64 architecture, suitable for deployment on devices like Raspberry Pi and other ARM64-based platforms.
  • Dockerfile-cpu: Ubuntu-based CPU-only version, suitable for inference and environments without GPUs.
  • Dockerfile-jetson: Tailored for NVIDIA Jetson devices, integrating GPU support optimized for these platforms.
  • Dockerfile-python: Minimal image with just Python and necessary dependencies, ideal for lightweight applications and development.
  • Dockerfile-conda: Based on Miniconda3 with a conda installation of the ultralytics package.

Here are the commands to get the latest image and execute it:

# Set image name as a variable
t=ultralytics/ultralytics:latest

# Pull the latest ultralytics image from Docker Hub
sudo docker pull $t

# Run the ultralytics image in a container with GPU support
sudo docker run -it --ipc=host --gpus all $t            # all GPUs
sudo docker run -it --ipc=host --gpus '"device=2,3"' $t # specify GPUs

The above command initializes a Docker container with the latest ultralytics image. The -it flags assign a pseudo-TTY and keep stdin open, allowing interaction with the container. The --ipc=host flag sets the IPC (Inter-Process Communication) namespace to the host, which is essential for sharing memory between processes. The --gpus all flag enables access to all available GPUs inside the container, crucial for tasks requiring GPU computation.

Note: To work with files on your local machine within the container, use Docker volumes to mount a local directory into the container:

# Mount local directory to a directory inside the container
sudo docker run -it --ipc=host --gpus all -v /path/on/host:/path/in/container $t

Replace /path/on/host with the directory path on your local machine, and /path/in/container with the desired path inside the Docker container.

For advanced Docker usage, explore the Ultralytics Docker Guide.

See the ultralytics pyproject.toml file for a list of dependencies. Note that all examples above install all required dependencies.

Tip

PyTorch requirements vary by operating system and CUDA requirements, so install PyTorch first by following the instructions at PyTorch.

PyTorch Installation Instructions

Use Ultralytics with CLI

The Ultralytics command-line interface (CLI) allows for simple single-line commands without needing a Python environment. CLI requires no customization or Python code; run all tasks from the terminal with the yolo command. For more on using YOLO from the command line, see the CLI Guide.

Example

Ultralytics yolo commands use the following syntax:

yolo TASK MODE ARGS
- TASK (optional) is one of (detect, segment, classify, pose, obb) - MODE (required) is one of (train, val, predict, export, track, benchmark) - ARGS (optional) are arg=value pairs like imgsz=640 that override defaults.

See all ARGS in the full Configuration Guide or with the yolo cfg CLI command.

Train a detection model for 10 epochs with an initial learning rate of 0.01:

yolo train data=coco8.yaml model=yolo11n.pt epochs=10 lr0=0.01

Predict a YouTube video using a pretrained segmentation model at image size 320:

yolo predict model=yolo11n-seg.pt source='https://youtu.be/LNwODJXcvt4' imgsz=320

Validate a pretrained detection model with a batch size of 1 and image size of 640:

yolo val model=yolo11n.pt data=coco8.yaml batch=1 imgsz=640

Export a YOLOv11n classification model to ONNX format with an image size of 224x128 (no TASK required):

yolo export model=yolo11n-cls.pt format=onnx imgsz=224,128

Count objects in a video or live stream using YOLO11:

yolo solutions count show=True

yolo solutions count source="path/to/video.mp4" # specify video file path

Monitor workout exercises using a YOLO11 pose model:

yolo solutions workout show=True

yolo solutions workout source="path/to/video.mp4" # specify video file path

# Use keypoints for ab-workouts
yolo solutions workout kpts="[5, 11, 13]" # left side
yolo solutions workout kpts="[6, 12, 14]" # right side

Use YOLO11 to count objects in a designated queue or region:

yolo solutions queue show=True

yolo solutions queue source="path/to/video.mp4" # specify video file path

yolo solutions queue region="[(20, 400), (1080, 400), (1080, 360), (20, 360)]" # configure queue coordinates

Perform object detection, instance segmentation, or pose estimation in a web browser using Streamlit:

yolo solutions inference

yolo solutions inference model="path/to/model.pt" # use model fine-tuned with Ultralytics Python package

Run special commands to see the version, view settings, run checks, and more:

yolo help
yolo checks
yolo version
yolo settings
yolo copy-cfg
yolo cfg
yolo solutions help

Warning

Arguments must be passed as arg=value pairs, split by an equals = sign and delimited by spaces. Do not use -- argument prefixes or commas , between arguments.

  • yolo predict model=yolo11n.pt imgsz=640 conf=0.25
  • yolo predict model yolo11n.pt imgsz 640 conf 0.25 ❌ (missing =)
  • yolo predict model=yolo11n.pt, imgsz=640, conf=0.25 ❌ (do not use ,)
  • yolo predict --model yolo11n.pt --imgsz 640 --conf 0.25 ❌ (do not use --)
  • yolo solution model=yolo11n.pt imgsz=640 conf=0.25 ❌ (use solutions, not solution)

CLI Guide

Use Ultralytics with Python

The Ultralytics YOLO Python interface offers seamless integration into Python projects, making it easy to load, run, and process model outputs. Designed for simplicity, the Python interface allows users to quickly implement object detection, segmentation, and classification. This makes the YOLO Python interface an invaluable tool for incorporating these functionalities into Python projects.

For instance, users can load a model, train it, evaluate its performance, and export it to ONNX format with just a few lines of code. Explore the Python Guide to learn more about using YOLO within your Python projects.

Example

from ultralytics import YOLO

# Create a new YOLO model from scratch
model = YOLO("yolo11n.yaml")

# Load a pretrained YOLO model (recommended for training)
model = YOLO("yolo11n.pt")

# Train the model using the 'coco8.yaml' dataset for 3 epochs
results = model.train(data="coco8.yaml", epochs=3)

# Evaluate the model's performance on the validation set
results = model.val()

# Perform object detection on an image using the model
results = model("https://ultralytics.com/images/bus.jpg")

# Export the model to ONNX format
success = model.export(format="onnx")

Python Guide

Ultralytics Settings

The Ultralytics library includes a SettingsManager for fine-grained control over experiments, allowing users to access and modify settings easily. Stored in a JSON file within the environment's user configuration directory, these settings can be viewed or modified in the Python environment or via the Command-Line Interface (CLI).

Inspecting Settings

To view the current configuration of your settings:

View settings

Use Python to view your settings by importing the settings object from the ultralytics module. Print and return settings with these commands:

from ultralytics import settings

# View all settings
print(settings)

# Return a specific setting
value = settings["runs_dir"]

The command-line interface allows you to check your settings with:

yolo settings

Modifying Settings

Ultralytics makes it easy to modify settings in the following ways:

Update settings

In Python, use the update method on the settings object:

from ultralytics import settings

# Update a setting
settings.update({"runs_dir": "/path/to/runs"})

# Update multiple settings
settings.update({"runs_dir": "/path/to/runs", "tensorboard": False})

# Reset settings to default values
settings.reset()

To modify settings using the command-line interface:

# Update a setting
yolo settings runs_dir='/path/to/runs'

# Update multiple settings
yolo settings runs_dir='/path/to/runs' tensorboard=False

# Reset settings to default values
yolo settings reset

Understanding Settings

The table below overviews the adjustable settings within Ultralytics, including example values, data types, and descriptions.

Name Example Value Data Type Description
settings_version '0.0.4' str Ultralytics settings version (distinct from the Ultralytics pip version)
datasets_dir '/path/to/datasets' str Directory where datasets are stored
weights_dir '/path/to/weights' str Directory where model weights are stored
runs_dir '/path/to/runs' str Directory where experiment runs are stored
uuid 'a1b2c3d4' str Unique identifier for the current settings
sync True bool Option to sync analytics and crashes to Ultralytics HUB
api_key '' str Ultralytics HUB API Key
clearml True bool Option to use ClearML logging
comet True bool Option to use Comet ML for experiment tracking and visualization
dvc True bool Option to use DVC for experiment tracking and version control
hub True bool Option to use Ultralytics HUB integration
mlflow True bool Option to use MLFlow for experiment tracking
neptune True bool Option to use Neptune for experiment tracking
raytune True bool Option to use Ray Tune for hyperparameter tuning
tensorboard True bool Option to use TensorBoard for visualization
wandb True bool Option to use Weights & Biases logging
vscode_msg True bool When a VS Code terminal is detected, enables a prompt to download the Ultralytics-Snippets extension.

Revisit these settings as you progress through projects or experiments to ensure optimal configuration.

FAQ

How do I install Ultralytics using pip?

Install Ultralytics with pip using:

pip install ultralytics

This installs the latest stable release of the ultralytics package from PyPI. To install the development version directly from GitHub:

pip install git+https://github.com/ultralytics/ultralytics.git

Ensure the Git command-line tool is installed on your system.

Can I install Ultralytics YOLO using conda?

Yes, install Ultralytics YOLO using conda with:

conda install -c conda-forge ultralytics

This method is a great alternative to pip, ensuring compatibility with other packages. For CUDA environments, install ultralytics, pytorch, and pytorch-cuda together to resolve conflicts:

conda install -c pytorch -c nvidia -c conda-forge pytorch torchvision pytorch-cuda=11.8 ultralytics

For more instructions, see the Conda quickstart guide.

What are the advantages of using Docker to run Ultralytics YOLO?

Docker provides an isolated, consistent environment for Ultralytics YOLO, ensuring smooth performance across systems and avoiding local installation complexities. Official Docker images are available on Docker Hub, with variants for GPU, CPU, ARM64, NVIDIA Jetson, and Conda. To pull and run the latest image:

# Pull the latest ultralytics image from Docker Hub
sudo docker pull ultralytics/ultralytics:latest

# Run the ultralytics image in a container with GPU support
sudo docker run -it --ipc=host --gpus all ultralytics/ultralytics:latest

For detailed Docker instructions, see the Docker quickstart guide.

How do I clone the Ultralytics repository for development?

Clone the Ultralytics repository and set up a development environment with:

# Clone the ultralytics repository
git clone https://github.com/ultralytics/ultralytics

# Navigate to the cloned directory
cd ultralytics

# Install the package in editable mode for development
pip install -e .

This allows contributions to the project or experimentation with the latest source code. For details, visit the Ultralytics GitHub repository.

Why should I use Ultralytics YOLO CLI?

The Ultralytics YOLO CLI simplifies running object detection tasks without Python code, enabling single-line commands for training, validation, and prediction directly from your terminal. The basic syntax is:

yolo TASK MODE ARGS

For example, to train a detection model:

yolo train data=coco8.yaml model=yolo11n.pt epochs=10 lr0=0.01

Explore more commands and usage examples in the full CLI Guide.

📅 Created 1 year ago ✏️ Updated 4 days ago

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