`client.beta.vector_stores` Not Exposed in Python SDK Despite Documentation (v1.93.2)

[WillFrasier]

Confirm this is an issue with the Python library and not an underlying OpenAI API

• This is an issue with the Python library

Describe the bug

Summary

I am unable to use the vector_stores endpoints in the latest OpenAI Python SDK (openai v1.93.2), even though the official documentation and the SDK's own source code show these features should be available.

---

Environment

• openai package version: 1.93.2
• Python version: 3.13
• OS: macOS
• Virtual environment: Yes (.venv)
• How installed: pip install openai --upgrade

---

What I Did

I am following the official documentation for using the Assistants v2 API with file search, which requires creating a vector store and associating it with an assistant.
The documented code looks like this:

vector_store = client.beta.vector_stores.create(name="my_store")
vector_store_file = client.beta.vector_stores.files.create_and_poll(
    vector_store_id=vector_store.id,
    file_id=file.id,
)
assistant = client.beta.assistants.update(
    assistant_id=assistant.id,
    tools=[{"type": "file_search"}],
    tool_resources={
        "file_search": {
            "vector_store_ids": [vector_store.id]
        }
    }
)

---

What Actually Happens

• The client.beta.vector_stores attribute does not exist in my environment.
• Attempting to access it results in:
  AttributeError: 'Beta' object has no attribute 'vector_stores'
• However, the vector_stores directory and code are present in the installed SDK package.

Debug Output

from openai import OpenAI
client = OpenAI(api_key="sk-...")
print(hasattr(client.beta, "vector_stores"))  # Outputs: False

• Listing the SDK package contents shows vector_stores is present:

  .venv/lib/python3.13/site-packages/openai/resources/vector_stores/
  

---

What I Expect

• client.beta.vector_stores should be available and work as documented.
• The SDK and documentation should match, or there should be a clear indication if this is a gated/beta/feature-flagged API.

---

Additional Notes

• I have tried reinstalling the SDK and recreating my virtual environment.
• This issue persists across different Python versions and environments.
• The official documentation and markdown examples all use client.beta.vector_stores.

---

Questions

• Is there a feature flag or special access required to use vector_stores in the Python SDK?
• Is this a rollout issue, or is the documentation ahead of the SDK release?
• Is there a recommended workaround until this is resolved?

---

Thank you for your help!
(Feel free to request any additional logs or environment details.)

To Reproduce

To Reproduce

Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Install the latest OpenAI Python SDK (pip install --upgrade openai).
2. Set your OpenAI API key in your environment (e.g., export OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-...).
3. Start a Python interpreter or run the following script:

from openai import OpenAI
client = OpenAI(api_key="sk-...")
print(hasattr(client.beta, "vector_stores"))  # Expected: True; Actual: False

4. Observe that client.beta.vector_stores does not exist, even though the documentation and SDK package contents suggest it should.

Code snippets

OS

macOS

Python version

3.13

Library version

1.93.2

[nightcityblade]

Hi, I'd like to work on this. I'll submit a PR shortly.

[nightcityblade]

Hi, I'd like to work on this. I'll submit a PR shortly.

[zuhabul]

Opened a fix PR from @zuhabul: https://github.com/openai/openai-python/pull/3216\n\nThis restores client.beta.vector_stores as a backwards-compatible alias (sync+async, raw+streaming wrappers) and adds targeted tests.