If pip keeps installing Pillow into your system Python (e.g. Python313\site-packages) instead of Blender, it means you’re not using Blender’s Python. Do this:
1) Find Blender’s Python
In Blender: Edit → Preferences → System → Open Console, then run:
import sys; print(sys.executable)
Copy the path. It usually looks like:
C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\Blender 4.3\4.3\python\bin\python.exe
(If you use the Steam build, the path will be under your Steam folder.)
2) Install Pillow into Blender’s Python
Close Blender, open Command Prompt (cmd), and run these exact commands with the path you copied:
"<FULL_PATH_TO_BLENDER>\4.3\python\bin\python.exe" -m ensurepip "<FULL_PATH_TO_BLENDER>\4.3\python\bin\python.exe" -m pip install --upgrade pip "<FULL_PATH_TO_BLENDER>\4.3\python\bin\python.exe" -m pip install --no-cache-dir Pillow
Tip: Ifpipstill acts weird, force a per-Blender location:
"<FULL_PATH_TO_BLENDER>\4.3\python\bin\python.exe" -m pip install --no-cache-dir --target "%APPDATA%\Blender Foundation\Blender\4.3\scripts\modules" Pillow
Blender automatically adds …\Blender\4.3\scripts\modules to PYTHONPATH, so it will find Pillow there.
3) Restart Blender
After installation, restart Blender and try the add-on again.
If they’re on macOS/Linux, same idea:
-
macOS (Terminal):
/Applications/Blender.app/Contents/Resources/4.3/python/bin/python3.11 -m ensurepip /Applications/Blender.app/Contents/Resources/4.3/python/bin/python3.11 -m pip install --upgrade pip /Applications/Blender.app/Contents/Resources/4.3/python/bin/python3.11 -m pip install Pillow
-
Linux:
/path/to/blender/4.3/python/bin/python3.11 -m ensurepip /path/to/blender/4.3/python/bin/python3.11 -m pip install --upgrade pip /path/to/blender/4.3/python/bin/python3.11 -m pip install Pillow
If they still get errors, ask them to paste the full console output—usually it’s just the wrong Python path or missing quotes around a path with spaces
And try the solutions from the comments, they should help