Installation and connection prerequisites

What you need

bbg-fetch supports Python 3.10 and newer. The documented live workflow is for Windows with Bloomberg Professional running on the same machine. Access to data depends on the logged-in user’s Bloomberg entitlements; the package does not provide credentials or market data.

A Terminal is not needed for the deterministic installation check, but Bloomberg’s Python package must still be importable because bbg_fetch loads the request layer at import time.

Install Bloomberg’s Python API

Bloomberg distributes blpapi through its own package index. In a fresh virtual environment, run:

python -m pip install --index-url=https://blpapi.bloomberg.com/repository/releases/python/simple/ blpapi

If a corporate proxy blocks that index, download a wheel from the same official index in an approved browser session and install the local file:

python -m pip install C:\path\to\blpapi-wheel.whl

See Bloomberg’s API Library for the current distribution and platform guidance.

Install bbg-fetch

python -m pip install bbg-fetch

Verify the imports and package version:

python -c "import blpapi, bbg_fetch; print(bbg_fetch.__version__)"

This proves that the packages import. It does not prove that a Bloomberg session or a particular entitlement is available. Continue with First success without a Terminal for the terminal-free public-API check.

Live Desktop API boundary

For a live request, Bloomberg Professional must be running and logged in on the same machine. The Desktop API normally connects to localhost:8194. Successful session startup still does not guarantee that a requested security or field is entitled.

The library covers request/response workflows. It does not expose streaming or intraday subscriptions, manage Bloomberg credentials, or bypass entitlements. For connection and response failures, see Troubleshooting.