python - The specified device is not open or is not recognized by MCI

Question

I was programming a game using Python and a sound effect needed to be played, so I used the playsound module:

from playsound import playsound

playsound("Typing.wav", False)

And when I attempted the run the program this error was returned:

Error 263 for command:
        open Typing.wav
    The specified device is not open or is not recognized by MCI.

I did some research and some sources indicated that it was an issue with my sound drivers. I updated & reinstalled it, but the issue persists. Is there any way to solve this?

Answer 1

Try downgrading to Python 3.7 or 3.8

I had successfully used playsound in a project several months ago, but upon revisiting it today with a Python 3.9 virtual environment I ran into the same error as the OP. Downgrading to either a Python 3.7 or 3.8 venv fixed things right up.

I know this feels like a cheap answer, and I don't like it either, especially since playsound's CI system explicitly does a build for Python 3.9 on Windows, Linux, and Mac. If someone else has more insight into why playsound doesn't seem to work in Python >3.8 I'd love to hear it!