[BUG] Unable to detect or recognize python executable on certain machines

[mogres]

Type: Bug

Behaviour

Python environments extension is having trouble recognizing the python executable on certain machines accessed via remote explorer. Python environment tool fails after three attempts.

I am able to activate and execute python venv through the command line, but the extension fails with the error: Selected file is not a valid python interpreter

Steps to reproduce:

1. Open a python file
2. Click Select Python Interpreter from the status bar (this should have been auto-recognized)
3. Provide path to executable (.venv/bin/python) in the local directory, verified working through a clean terminal outside vscode.

Diagnostic data

Output for Python in the Output panel (View→Output, change the drop-down the upper-right of the Output panel to Python)

2026-03-13 17:40:54.274 [error] [
  'Failed to activate a workspace, Class name = v, completed in 170ms, has a falsy return value, Arg 1: <Uri:[REDACTED]>, Return Value: undefined',
  [Error: Python Environment Tools (PET) failed after 3 restart attempts. Please reload the window or check the output channel for details. To debug, run "Python Environments: Run Python Environment Tool (PET) in Terminal" from the Command Palette.

Running the python environment tool from the terminal using:

.vscode-server/extensions/ms-python.vscode-python-envs-1.22.0-linux-x64/python-env-tools/bin/pet resolve .venv/bin/python

works as expected with output:

Environment found for ".venv/bin/python"
Environment (Uv)
   Name        : [REDACTED]
   Executable  : .venv/bin/python
   Version     : 3.11.12.final.0
   Prefix      : [REDACTED]
   Architecture: x64
   Symlinks    : ".venv/bin/python"
               : ".venv/bin/python3"
               : ".venv/bin/python3.11"
               : "[REDACTED]"

Resolve completed in 984ms

Output for Python Environments in the Output panel (View→Output, change the drop-down the upper-right of the Output panel to Python Environments)

2026-03-13 18:03:11.767 [debug] Checking venv (ms-python.python:venv) for [REDACTED-LOCAL-PATH-TO-VENV-PYTHON-EXECUTABLE]
2026-03-13 18:03:11.767 [debug] Failed to resolve venv env "[REDACTED-LOCAL-PATH-TO-VENV-PYTHON-EXECUTABLE]": Error: Python Environment Tools (PET) failed after 3 restart attempts. Please reload the window or check the output channel for details. To debug, run "Python Environments: Run Python Environment Tool (PET) in Terminal" from the Command Palette.
2026-03-13 18:03:11.767 [debug] Failed to resolve env "[REDACTED-LOCAL-PATH-TO-VENV-PYTHON-EXECUTABLE]": Error: Python Environment Tools (PET) failed after 3 restart attempts. Please reload the window or check the output channel for details. To debug, run "Python Environments: Run Python Environment Tool (PET) in Terminal" from the Command Palette.
2026-03-13 18:03:11.767 [debug] Manager venv (ms-python.python:venv) cannot handle [REDACTED-LOCAL-PATH-TO-VENV-PYTHON-EXECUTABLE]
2026-03-13 18:03:11.767 [debug] Checking PyEnv (ms-python.python:pyenv) for /a[REDACTED-LOCAL-PATH-TO-VENV-PYTHON-EXECUTABLE]
2026-03-13 18:03:11.768 [debug] Checking Conda (ms-python.python:conda) for [REDACTED-LOCAL-PATH-TO-VENV-PYTHON-EXECUTABLE]
2026-03-13 18:03:11.768 [debug] Checking Global (ms-python.python:system) for [REDACTED-LOCAL-PATH-TO-VENV-PYTHON-EXECUTABLE]
2026-03-13 18:03:11.768 [debug] Failed to resolve env "[REDACTED-LOCAL-PATH-TO-VENV-PYTHON-EXECUTABLE]": Error: Python Environment Tools (PET) failed after 3 restart attempts. Please reload the window or check the output channel for details. To debug, run "Python Environments: Run Python Environment Tool (PET) in Terminal" from the Command Palette.
2026-03-13 18:03:11.768 [warning] Unable to handle [REDACTED-LOCAL-PATH-TO-VENV-PYTHON-EXECUTABLE]

Extension version: 1.22.0
VS Code version: Code 1.111.0 (Universal) (ce099c1ed25d9eb3076c11e4a280f3eb52b4fbeb, 2026-03-06T23:06:10Z)
OS version: Darwin arm64 24.6.0
Modes:
Remote OS version: Linux x64 6.8.0-101-generic

System Info

Item	Value
CPUs	Apple M3 Pro (11 x 2400)
GPU Status	2d_canvas: enabled GPU0: VENDOR= 0x106b [Google Inc. (Apple)], DEVICE=0x0000 [ANGLE (Apple, ANGLE Metal Renderer: Apple M3 Pro, Version 15.7.4 (Build 24G517))], DRIVER_VENDOR=Apple, DRIVER_VERSION=15.7.4 ACTIVE Machine model name: Mac Machine model version: 15.6 direct_rendering_display_compositor: disabled_off_ok gpu_compositing: enabled multiple_raster_threads: enabled_on opengl: enabled_on rasterization: enabled raw_draw: disabled_off_ok skia_graphite: enabled_on trees_in_viz: disabled_off video_decode: enabled video_encode: enabled webgl: enabled webgl2: enabled webgpu: enabled webnn: disabled_off
Load (avg)	5, 7, 7
Memory (System)	18.00GB (0.13GB free)
Process Argv	--crash-reporter-id 4cc5ea00-98f8-4d51-a3d7-5459c121cccd
Screen Reader	no
VM	0%

Item	Value
Remote	SSH: [REDACTED]
OS	Linux x64 6.8.0-101-generic
CPUs	Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5-2620 v4 @ 2.10GHz (32 x 1200)
Memory (System)	251.76GB (246.42GB free)
VM	0%

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[anthonykim1]

@mogres Thanks for the issue. Instead of select interpreter, are you able to see your interpreters, when you hover over to environment extension panel on the left hand side?

Also in terms of finding interpreters, what is output when you run python-envs.runPetInTerminal command from the command palette?

[mogres]

Instead of select interpreter, are you able to see your interpreters, when you hover over to environment extension panel on the left hand side?

They are not detected in this window:

Also in terms of finding interpreters, what is output when you run python-envs.runPetInTerminal command from the command palette?

Output for python-envs.runPetInTerminal from the command palette

�[2m   0.455010409s�[0m �[33m WARN�[0m �[2mpet_conda::package�[0m�[2m:�[0m Unable to find conda package Python in "$HOME/miniconda3", trying slower approach
�[2m   0.462262719s�[0m �[33m WARN�[0m �[2mpet_conda::package�[0m�[2m:�[0m Unable to find conda package Conda in "$HOME/miniconda3", trying slower approach
�[2m   0.462597955s�[0m �[33m WARN�[0m �[2mpet_conda::package�[0m�[2m:�[0m Unable to find conda package Conda in "$HOME/miniconda3", trying slower approach

Breakdown by each locator:
--------------------------
Conda                : 335.92537ms
Homebrew             : 89.87066ms
LinuxGlobal          : 71.370743ms
PipEnv               : 1.045479ms
Pixi                 : 467ns
Poetry               : 10.190875ms
PyEnv                : 56.423233ms
Uv                   : 51.50655ms
Venv                 : 320ns
VirtualEnv           : 345ns
VirtualEnvWrapper    : 396ns

Breakdown for finding Environments:
-----------------------------------
GlobalVirtualEnvs    : 2.324333ms
Locators             : 336.923111ms
Path                 : 122.89279ms
Workspaces           : 66.019745ms

Environment Paths:
------------------

LinuxGlobal:
  - /usr/bin/python3

Conda:
  - $HOME/miniconda3/envs/$ENVNAME/bin/python
  - $HOME/miniconda3/bin/python

Uv:
  - $PROJECT_PATH/.venv/bin/python

Pyenv:
  - $HOME/.pyenv/versions/3.10.15/bin/python
  - $HOME/.pyenv/versions/3.9.20/bin/python
  - $HOME/.pyenv/versions/3.12.6/bin/python
  - $HOME/.pyenv/versions/3.11.10/bin/python

Managers:
---------
Conda                : 1
Pyenv                : 1

Environments (8):
------------------
Conda                : 2
LinuxGlobal          : 1
Pyenv                : 4
Uv                   : 1

Completed in 516ms

Disabling the Python Environments extension works as a fallback.