How to Package a PyQt5 Application into an Executable with PyInstaller

The author, while learning PyQt5, records a step‑by‑step tutorial on how to package a PyQt5 project into a Windows executable using PyInstaller.

Step 1 – Prepare the project files : Place all source files in a folder, with frame_main.py as the main script.

Step 2 – Install PyInstaller : Open a command prompt in the project directory and install PyInstaller (e.g., pip install pyinstaller ).

Step 3 – Generate the .spec file : Run the command pyi-makespec frame_main.py . This creates frame_main.spec , which contains the build configuration.

The generated .spec file looks like this:

<code># -*- mode: python ; coding: utf-8 -*-
block_cipher = None

a = Analysis(['frame_main.py'],
             pathex=[],
             binaries=[],
             datas=[],
             hiddenimports=[],
             hookspath=[],
             hooksconfig={},
             runtime_hooks=[],
             excludes=[],
             win_no_prefer_redirects=False,
             win_private_assemblies=False,
             cipher=block_cipher,
             noarchive=False)

pyz = PYZ(a.pure, a.zipped_data, cipher=block_cipher)

exe = EXE(pyz,
          a.scripts,
          [],
          exclude_binaries=True,
          name='frame_main',
          debug=False,
          bootloader_ignore_signals=False,
          strip=False,
          upx=True,
          console=True,
          disable_windowed_traceback=False,
          target_arch=None,
          codesign_identity=None,
          entitlements_file=None)

coll = COLLECT(exe,
               a.binaries,
               a.zipfiles,
               a.datas,
               strip=False,
               upx=True,
               upx_exclude=[],
               name='frame_main')
</code>

Step 4 – Configure the .spec file : Add any required data files (e.g., images) to the datas list and set the icon path (using an absolute path) in the exe configuration.

Step 5 – Build the executable : Execute pyinstaller -F -w frame_main.spec . The -F flag creates a single‑file bundle, and -w suppresses the console window.

After the build completes, a dist folder appears containing the frame_main.exe file.

If the resulting executable still shows a black console window, edit the .spec file to change console = True to console = False , then rebuild with the same PyInstaller command.

Rebuilding after this change produces an executable that runs without displaying a console window.