OpenAI Agents SDK Pip Install: Step-by-Step Tutorial for Beginners

The OpenAI Agents SDK is a powerful tool for building multi – agent workflows, enabling developers to create intelligent systems that can collaborate to complete complex tasks. However, many developers get stuck at the first step: pip installation. Common issues like Python version mismatches, dependency conflicts, and network restrictions often frustrate the process.

This guide is designed to help you smoothly complete the OpenAI Agents SDK pip installation, solve common errors, and introduce how to integrate the IPFLY proxy service to avoid network – related problems. IPFLY’s no – client design makes it extremely easy to integrate with the SDK, ensuring stable access to OpenAI services without additional software installation. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer, this guide will save you time and effort.

Prerequisites for OpenAI Agents SDK Pip Installation

Before starting the installation, make sure your environment meets the following requirements to avoid unnecessary errors:

Python Version Requirement

The OpenAI Agents SDK requires Python 3.9 or a newer version. To check your Python version, open the terminal (Windows: PowerShell/CMD; macOS/Linux: Terminal) and run the following command:

python --version
# Or use python3 on macOS/Linux
python3 --version

If your Python version is lower than 3.9, please go to the official Python website to download and install the latest compatible version. Remember to check “Add Python to PATH” during the Windows installation process.

Update Pip to the Latest Version

An outdated pip may cause installation failures. Run the following command to update pip:

pip install --upgrade pip
# Or use pip3 on macOS/Linux
pip3 install --upgrade pip

Virtual Environment Recommendation

It’s recommended to use a virtual environment to avoid dependency conflicts with other Python projects. You can use Python’s built-in venv module or third-party tools like uv.

Step-by-Step: Pip Install OpenAI Agents SDK

Follow these steps to complete the installation. We’ll cover both venv and uv methods to meet different user habits.

Method 1: Using Venv Virtual Environment

1.Create a virtual environment (replace “agent-env” with your preferred name): # Create virtual environment python -m venv agent-env # On Windows, activate the virtual environment agent-env\Scripts\activate # On macOS/Linux, activate the virtual environment source agent-env/bin/activateWhen activated, you’ll see the virtual environment name in the terminal prompt.

2.Install the OpenAI Agents SDK: pip install openai-agents

3.Install optional components (if needed): For voice support or Redis session support, install the corresponding optional packages:# For voice support pip install 'openai-agents[voice]' # For Redis session support pip install 'openai-agents[redis]'

Method 2: Using UV (Faster Package Manager)

If you’re using the uv package manager, the installation process is more concise:

1.Initialize the project and create a virtual environment: uv init uv venv

2.Install the OpenAI Agents SDK: uv add openai-agents # Install optional components (e.g., voice support) uv add 'openai-agents[voice]'

Verify the Installation

After the installation is complete, run a simple test to confirm that the SDK is installed correctly. Create a Python file namedtest_agent.py with the following content:

from agents import Agent, Runner

# Create a simple agent
agent = Agent(name="assistant", instructions="You are a helpful assistant.")
# Run the agent to generate a haiku
result = Runner.run_sync(agent, "Write a haiku about programming.")
print(result.final_output)

Run the file in the terminal:

python test_agent.py

If a haiku is printed successfully, the installation is complete. If an error occurs, refer to the troubleshooting section below.

Troubleshooting Common OpenAI Agents SDK Pip Install Errors

During the installation process, you may encounter various errors. Here are solutions to the most common ones:

ImportError: Cannot Import Name ‘websearchtoolfilters’

This error usually occurs due to incompatibility between the OpenAI Agents SDK version and the openai package version. Solution:

1.Downgrade the OpenAI Agents SDK to a stable version (e.g., 0.2.9): pip install openai-agents==0.2.9

2.Or downgrade the openai package to a compatible version (e.g., 1.102.0): pip install openai==1.102.0 pip install openai-agents

Griffe Dependency Compatibility Issue

Error message: “Could not find a version that satisfies the requirement griffe < 2, >= 1.5.6”. Solution:

# Install the specified version of griffe first
pip install griffe==1.5.6
# Then install the OpenAI Agents SDK
pip install openai-agents

Installation Failure Due to Network Restrictions

If you encounter timeouts or connection errors during installation, it may be due to regional network restrictions. At this point, using a proxy service is an effective solution. IPFLY’s no – client proxy is highly recommended here—it can be configured directly without installing additional client software, perfectly matching the lightweight installation needs of the SDK.

Integrate IPFLY Proxy for Stable OpenAI Agents SDK Usage

Even after successful installation, you may face network issues when using the OpenAI Agents SDK to call OpenAI services (such as regional access restrictions or rate limits). Integrating IPFLY proxy can solve these problems.

Why Choose IPFLY Proxy?

• No – Client Design: No need to install any client software, which is consistent with the simple installation concept of the OpenAI Agents SDK and avoids increasing the complexity of the development environment.
• 99.9% Uptime: IPFLY’s self – built global residential IP network and BGP multi – line redundancy ensure stable proxy connections, avoiding service interruptions during SDK usage.
• Easy Configuration: It can be integrated with the OpenAI Agents SDK through simple environment variables or HTTP client configuration.
• Cost – Effective: The pay – as – you – go pricing starts at $0.8/GB, which is more affordable than competitors like Bright Data and Oxylabs.

Step-by-Step: Integrate IPFLY Proxy with OpenAI Agents SDK

Step 1: Get IPFLY Proxy Details

Log in to your IPFLY account, generate a residential proxy, and obtain the proxy information in the format: socks5://username:password@proxy-ip:port (SOCKS5 protocol is recommended for better compatibility).

Step 2: Configure Proxy in the SDK

There are two common configuration methods. You can choose according to your development needs:

Method 1: Configure via Environment Variables

Set the proxy environment variable before running the SDK code, which is suitable for quick testing:

# On Windows
set OPENAI_BASE_URL=http://localhost:2020/v1
set http_proxy=socks5://username:password@proxy-ip:port
set https_proxy=socks5://username:password@proxy-ip:port

# On macOS/Linux
export OPENAI_BASE_URL=http://localhost:2020/v1
export http_proxy=socks5://username:password@proxy-ip:port
export https_proxy=socks5://username:password@proxy-ip:port

Then run your SDK code as usual.

Method 2: Configure via HTTP Client in Code

For more flexible control, you can configure the proxy directly in the code through the HTTP client configuration. Take the integration with langroid (a common framework for OpenAI Agents) as an example:

import langroid.language_models as lm
from agents import Agent, Runner

# Configure IPFLY proxy in the OpenAI model settings
config = lm.OpenAIGPTConfig(
    chat_model="gpt-4",
    http_client_config={
        "proxies": {
            "http": "socks5://username:password@proxy-ip:port",
            "https": "socks5://username:password@proxy-ip:port"
        },
        "timeout": 30.0
    }
)

llm = lm.OpenAIGPT(config)

# Create and run the agent
agent = Agent(name="assistant", instructions="You are a helpful assistant.")
result = Runner.run_sync(agent, "Explain the concept of multi-agent systems.")
print(result.final_output)

Step 3: Verify the Proxy Connection

After configuration, run the code. If the SDK can normally call the OpenAI service and return results, the proxy integration is successful. You can also check the current IP address through the code to confirm that the proxy is in use.

Proxy Service Comparison: IPFLY vs. Competitors

To help you better understand why IPFLY is the best choice for the OpenAI Agents SDK, here’s a comparison with mainstream proxy services Bright Data and Oxylabs:

Key Takeaway: For developers using the OpenAI Agents SDK, IPFLY’s no-client design, high uptime, and affordable pricing make it the most cost-effective choice. Competitors require additional client installations, increasing development environment complexity, and are more expensive.

Heads up! The IPFLY Telegram community just dropped a “2026 Anti-Crawl Proxy Guide”—only for new joiners! First visit IPFLY.net to check services, then join the group to grab it—spots fill fast. If you want to save time, act now!

Smooth Installation & Stable Usage with OpenAI Agents SDK + IPFLY

Pip installing the OpenAI Agents SDK doesn’t have to be a frustrating experience. By following the step-by-step guide in this article, you can complete the installation quickly and solve common errors easily. When facing network restrictions, integrating IPFLY’s no-client proxy is the optimal solution—it ensures stable access to OpenAI services without adding extra complexity to your development environment.

Whether you’re building simple multi-agent workflows or complex intelligent systems, mastering the correct installation and proxy configuration methods is the foundation. Now, follow this guide to start your OpenAI Agents SDK journey!