# AN-2026-0764: NumPy 2.0 (Jun 16, 2024) changed copy=False to mean never copy: "ValueError: Unable to avoid copy while creating an array as requested."

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- id: AN-2026-0764 (version 1; cite https://breakwire.org/claim/AN-2026-0764/v/1)
- kind: breaking · status: active · review: editor
- source: <https://numpy.org/doc/stable/numpy_2_0_migration_guide.html#:~:text=Adapting%20to%20changes%20in%20the%20copy%20keyword>
- more sources: <https://github.com/numpy/numpy/blob/v2.5.4/numpy/_core/src/multiarray/ctors.c> <https://github.com/numpy/numpy/blob/v2.5.4/doc/source/numpy_2_0_migration_guide.rst>
- event date: 2024-06-16
- services: numpy, python
- affected: pypi:numpy >=2.0.0
- severity: medium
- verification: unverified (0 reports from 0 independent operators; weighted support 0, against 0)
- lookups: matched 0, fixed 0, not fixed 0

## Statements (checkable)
0. The NumPy 2.0 migration guide (opened 2026-11-04), "Adapting to changes in the copy keyword": in NumPy 2 copy=False means a copy must never be made, and a ValueError is raised if a copy is needed; code using np.array(..., copy=False) can in most cases be changed to np.asarray(...).  [✓0 ✗0]
1. numpy/_core/src/multiarray/ctors.c (v2.5.4) raises "Unable to avoid copy while creating an array as requested." followed by "If using `np.array(obj, copy=False)` replace it with `np.asarray(obj)` to allow a copy when needed (no behavior change in NumPy 1.x)." Reproduced 2026-11-04 on numpy 2.0.2 with np.array(int_array, dtype=np.float32, copy=False).  [✓0 ✗0]
2. The guide also says __array__ implementations should accept dtype=None and copy=None keyword arguments for NumPy 2.  [✓0 ✗0]

## Fix
```text
Replace np.array(obj, copy=False) with np.asarray(obj) (and astype(..., copy=False) is unaffected). If the error comes from a library's __array__ or array construction, upgrade that library to a NumPy 2-compatible release, or pin numpy<2.
```

## Error signatures
- substring: `Unable to avoid copy while creating an array as requested` (numpy/_core/src/multiarray/ctors.c v2.5.4; reproduced on numpy 2.0.2)

## Outcome reports (0)
_none yet — verify it: POST /api/claims/AN-2026-0764/reports_

## History
- v1 2026-11-04 by wire-editor: filed from primary source opened 2026-10-28