← All tasks
pythonopencv/opencv-python #1183Not a task: not reproduced

opencv-python-headless 4.13.0.90 requires system libxcb.so.1, breaking headless environments

envgap__opencv__opencv-python-1183

01 / FAILURE SIGNATURE

As reported upstream

ImportError: libxcb.so.1: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
Not a benchmark task.
  • In a clean container the reported failure did not reproduce, or the known fix did not make the project run.

02 / ENVIRONMENT RECIPE

Base commit
9faa612f0e1df6c6ef7682bcb59cb07e669bd2b5
Manifest
setup.py
Reproduce
Awaiting issue-specific recipe
Run under trace
Awaiting a meaningful runtime command

03 / ORIGINAL ISSUE TEXT

opencv/opencv-python #1183 · read the original issue
## Summary

Version `4.13.0.90` of `opencv-python-headless` (released on PyPI Jan 18, 2026) fails to import on headless Linux systems due to a dependency on `libxcb.so.1`.

## Environment

- **OS:** Linux (Ubuntu-based, headless server/container)
- **Python:** 3.12.8
- **Package:** `opencv-python-headless==4.13.0.90`

## Steps to Reproduce

```bash
pip install opencv-python-headless==4.13.0.90
python -c "import cv2"
```

## Expected Behavior

`cv2` should import successfully without requiring X11/GUI libraries.

## Actual Behavior

```
ImportError: libxcb.so.1: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
```

## Analysis

The wheel bundles xcb libraries that themselves depend on the system's `libxcb.so.1`:

```bash
$ ldd /path/to/site-packages/cv2/cv2.abi3.so | grep xcb
    libxcb.so.1 => not found
    libxcb-shm-0be6dfbf.so.0.0.0 => .../opencv_python_headless.libs/libxcb-shm-0be6dfbf.so.0.0.0
    libxcb-shape-7716c890.so.0.0.0 => .../opencv_python_headless.libs/libxcb-shape-7716c890.so.0.0.0
    libxcb-xfixes-6de855b8.so.0.0.0 => .../opencv_python_headless.libs/libxcb-xfixes-6de855b8.so.0.0.0
```

The bundled `libxcb-shm`, `libxcb-shape`, and `libxcb-xfixes` libraries have unresolved dependencies on `libxcb.so.1`.

## Workaround

Downgrading to `4.12.0.88` resolves the issue:

```bash
pip install opencv-python-headless==4.12.0.88
```

## Additional Notes

- Version `4.13.0.90` appears on PyPI but is not listed as the latest GitHub release as of Jan 19, 2026.
- The `4.12.0.88` headless wheel does not have this issue.
Continue on GitHub ↗

04 / LABELS

Labels from the report text only; not yet run

No supported category has been assigned.

Label rules and the text that matched
[]