Problem with Python interpreter selection

[llasherme]

Type: Bug

Behaviour

Before

I used to manage all my Python setup and projects with uv. When I needed to create a new Python project, I did it like so:
uv init → code <my-project> → Select Python Interpreter (bottom-right button in the UI) → Browse → .venv\Scripts\python.exe.

VSCode would then switch to my Python context and everything worked correctly.

Now

Same steps, but VSCode refuses to use the interpreter from the venv:
Unable to handle c:\Users\<my-path>\.venv\Scripts\python.exe (Source: Python Environments)

What I tried ?

• Uninstalled the Python Environments extension → same issue
• Re-installed it and tweaked multiple settings: python.defaultInterpreterPath, python.createEnvironment.trigger, etc. → same issue
• Used the global Python interpreter → same issue
• Installed pyenv (apparently used for Python version detection) → same issue
• Changed the Python version → same issue
• Tried the preview version of the extension → same issue

Steps to reproduce:

1. OS: Windows 11 Professionnel
2. VSCode: installed via scoop.sh — version 1.108.2 (extras 2026-01-26)
3. Python manager: uv by Astral — versions: cpython-3.13.1, cpython-3.14.2 (windows-x86_64)
4. Init a Python project with uv init, then open it in VSCode
5. Click Select Python Interpreter → Browse (or manually enter the path): .venv\Scripts\python.exe
   (also reproduced with the global install at C:\Users\[USERNAME]\.local\bin\python.exe)

Diagnostic data

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

2026-03-10 14:32:59.694 [info] [test-by-project] Activating project-based testing mode
2026-03-10 14:32:59.695 [info] [test-by-project] Discovering projects for workspace: c:\Users\[USERNAME]\Documents\workspace\01-[COMPANY]\06-formation\anthropic\introduction-to-model-context-protocol\cli_project
2026-03-10 14:32:59.695 [info] Native locator: Refresh started
2026-03-10 14:32:59.695 [info] [test-by-project] Found 1 total Python projects from API
2026-03-10 14:32:59.695 [info] [test-by-project] Filtered to 1 projects in workspace
2026-03-10 14:32:59.695 [info] [test-by-project] Creating adapter for: cli_project at file:///c%3A/Users/[USERNAME]/Documents/workspace/01-[COMPANY]/06-formation/anthropic/introduction-to-model-context-protocol/cli_project
2026-03-10 14:32:59.781 [info] > pyenv which python
2026-03-10 14:32:59.781 [info] cwd: .
2026-03-10 14:33:40.423 [info] Skipping ActivatedEnv Detection:  process.env.VSCODE_CLI !== '1'
2026-03-10 14:33:40.428 [info] > pyenv which python
2026-03-10 14:33:40.428 [info] cwd: .
2026-03-10 14:34:30.431 [error] Autoselection timeout out, this is likely a issue with how consumer called execution factory API. Using default python to execute.
2026-03-10 14:34:30.455 [info] > python -c "import sys;print(sys.executable)"
2026-03-10 14:34:36.668 [error] [test-by-project] Failed to create adapter for c:\Users\[USERNAME]\Documents\workspace\01-[COMPANY]\06-formation\anthropic\introduction-to-model-context-protocol\cli_project: [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.
	at S.ensureProcessRunning (C:\Users\[USERNAME]\scoop\persist\vscode\data\extensions\ms-python.vscode-python-envs-1.20.1-win32-x64\dist\extension.js:2:535872)
	at S.doRefresh (C:\Users\[USERNAME]\scoop\persist\vscode\data\extensions\ms-python.vscode-python-envs-1.20.1-win32-x64\dist\extension.js:2:540575)
	at c.workerFunc (C:\Users\[USERNAME]\scoop\persist\vscode\data\extensions\ms-python.vscode-python-envs-1.20.1-win32-x64\dist\extension.js:2:535168)
	at o.workFunc (C:\Users\[USERNAME]\scoop\persist\vscode\data\extensions\ms-python.vscode-python-envs-1.20.1-win32-x64\dist\extension.js:2:287619)
	at o.start (C:\Users\[USERNAME]\scoop\persist\vscode\data\extensions\ms-python.vscode-python-envs-1.20.1-win32-x64\dist\extension.js:2:286434)]
2026-03-10 14:34:36.668 [info] [test-by-project] All adapters failed, falling back to default project
2026-03-10 14:34:36.668 [info] [test-by-project] Creating default project for: c:\Users\[USERNAME]\Documents\workspace\01-[COMPANY]\06-formation\anthropic\introduction-to-model-context-protocol\cli_project
2026-03-10 14:34:36.669 [info] Native locator: Refresh finished in 96973 ms
2026-03-10 14:34:36.670 [error] [
  'Failed to activate a workspace, Class name = v, completed in 96975ms, has a falsy return value, Arg 1: <Uri:c:\\Users\\[USERNAME]\\Documents\\workspace\\01-[COMPANY]\\06-formation\\anthropic\\introduction-to-model-context-protocol\\cli_project\\mcp_client.py>, Arg 2: {"started":1773149579428}, 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.
  	at S.ensureProcessRunning (C:\Users\[USERNAME]\scoop\persist\vscode\data\extensions\ms-python.vscode-python-envs-1.20.1-win32-x64\dist\extension.js:2:535872)
  	at S.doRefresh (C:\Users\[USERNAME]\scoop\persist\vscode\data\extensions\ms-python.vscode-python-envs-1.20.1-win32-x64\dist\extension.js:2:540575)
  	at c.workerFunc (C:\Users\[USERNAME]\scoop\persist\vscode\data\extensions\ms-python.vscode-python-envs-1.20.1-win32-x64\dist\extension.js:2:535168)
  	at o.workFunc (C:\Users\[USERNAME]\scoop\persist\vscode\data\extensions\ms-python.vscode-python-envs-1.20.1-win32-x64\dist\extension.js:2:287619)
  	at o.start (C:\Users\[USERNAME]\scoop\persist\vscode\data\extensions\ms-python.vscode-python-envs-1.20.1-win32-x64\dist\extension.js:2:286434)]
]
2026-03-10 14:34:36.670 [error] Failure during activation. [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.
	at S.ensureProcessRunning (C:\Users\[USERNAME]\scoop\persist\vscode\data\extensions\ms-python.vscode-python-envs-1.20.1-win32-x64\dist\extension.js:2:535872)
	at S.doRefresh (C:\Users\[USERNAME]\scoop\persist\vscode\data\extensions\ms-python.vscode-python-envs-1.20.1-win32-x64\dist\extension.js:2:540575)
	at c.workerFunc (C:\Users\[USERNAME]\scoop\persist\vscode\data\extensions\ms-python.vscode-python-envs-1.20.1-win32-x64\dist\extension.js:2:535168)
	at o.workFunc (C:\Users\[USERNAME]\scoop\persist\vscode\data\extensions\ms-python.vscode-python-envs-1.20.1-win32-x64\dist\extension.js:2:287619)
	at o.start (C:\Users\[USERNAME]\scoop\persist\vscode\data\extensions\ms-python.vscode-python-envs-1.20.1-win32-x64\dist\extension.js:2:286434)]
2026-03-10 14:34:36.670 [error] sendStartupTelemetry() failed. [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.
	at S.ensureProcessRunning (C:\Users\[USERNAME]\scoop\persist\vscode\data\extensions\ms-python.vscode-python-envs-1.20.1-win32-x64\dist\extension.js:2:535872)
	at S.doRefresh (C:\Users\[USERNAME]\scoop\persist\vscode\data\extensions\ms-python.vscode-python-envs-1.20.1-win32-x64\dist\extension.js:2:540575)
	at c.workerFunc (C:\Users\[USERNAME]\scoop\persist\vscode\data\extensions\ms-python.vscode-python-envs-1.20.1-win32-x64\dist\extension.js:2:535168)
	at o.workFunc (C:\Users\[USERNAME]\scoop\persist\vscode\data\extensions\ms-python.vscode-python-envs-1.20.1-win32-x64\dist\extension.js:2:287619)
	at o.start (C:\Users\[USERNAME]\scoop\persist\vscode\data\extensions\ms-python.vscode-python-envs-1.20.1-win32-x64\dist\extension.js:2:286434)]
2026-03-10 14:34:36.671 [info] [test-by-project] Registered 1 project(s) for c:\Users\[USERNAME]\Documents\workspace\01-[COMPANY]\06-formation\anthropic\introduction-to-model-context-protocol\cli_project
2026-03-10 14:34:36.673 [info] [test-by-project] Activated 1 project(s) for c:\Users\[USERNAME]\Documents\workspace\01-[COMPANY]\06-formation\anthropic\introduction-to-model-context-protocol\cli_project
2026-03-10 14:34:36.675 [info] [test-by-project] Subscribed to Python project changes
2026-03-10 14:34:42.417 [error] Autoselection timeout out, this is likely a issue with how consumer called execution factory API. Using default python to execute.
2026-03-10 14:34:49.083 [error] Autoselection timeout out, this is likely a issue with how consumer called execution factory API. Using default python to execute.
2026-03-10 14:34:58.794 [error] Autoselection timeout out, this is likely a issue with how consumer called execution factory API. Using default python to execute.
2026-03-10 14:35:04.697 [error] Autoselection timeout out, this is likely a issue with how consumer called execution factory API. Using default python to execute.
2026-03-10 14:35:07.998 [error] Autoselection timeout out, this is likely a issue with how consumer called execution factory API. Using default python to execute.
2026-03-10 14:36:33.081 [info] Active interpreter [global]:  ./.venv/Scripts/python.exe
2026-03-10 14:36:33.090 [info] > ./.venv/Scripts/python.exe -c "import sys;print(sys.executable)"
2026-03-10 14:36:33.409 [error] Unable to find workspace for given file
2026-03-10 14:36:34.747 [error] Unable to find workspace for given file

Extension version: 2026.2.0
VS Code version: Code 1.108.2 (c9d77990917f3102ada88be140d28b038d1dd7c7, 2026-01-21T13:52:09.270Z)
OS version: Windows_NT x64 10.0.26200
Modes:

• Python version (& distribution if applicable, e.g. Anaconda):
• Type of virtual environment used (e.g. conda, venv, virtualenv, etc.): Unknown
• Value of the python.languageServer setting: Default

User Settings

languageServer: "Pylance"

Installed Extensions

Extension Name	Extension Id	Version
debugpy	ms-	2025.18.0
gitlens	eam	17.11.0
js-debug	ms-	1.105.0
js-debug-companion	ms-	1.1.3
material-icon-theme	PKi	5.32.0
python	ms-	2026.2.0
terraform	has	2.39.0
vscode-containers	ms-	2.4.1
vscode-docker	ms-	2.0.0
vscode-js-profile-table	ms-	1.0.10
vscode-pylance	ms-	2026.1.1
vscode-python-envs	ms-	1.20.1

System Info

Item	Value
CPUs	Intel(R) Core(TM) Ultra 5 235U (14 x 3187)
GPU Status	2d_canvas: enabled 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: disabled_off trees_in_viz: disabled_off video_decode: enabled video_encode: enabled webgl: enabled webgl2: enabled webgpu: enabled webnn: disabled_off
Load (avg)	undefined
Memory (System)	15.46GB (3.64GB free)
Process Argv	--crash-reporter-id 586dcc4e-3f5a-4e7f-91a8-d97c8465520e
Screen Reader	no
VM	0%

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[theandychase]

I have the same issue:

• Project managed with uv, with python 3.10
• MacOS 15.7.3 (24G419)
• VS Code Version: 1.111.0 (Universal) Commit: ce099c1ed25d9eb3076c11e4a280f3eb52b4fbeb
  • attached to a Docker container

If I click "Select Python Interpreter" and browse to /path/to/venv/bin/python3, VS Code says:

Unable to handle /path/to/venv/bin/python3
Source: Python environments

If I quit and restart vs code and re-attach to the container, it spins for several minutes and fails with:

Default interpreter path '/path/to/venv/bin/python3' could not be resolved: Could not resolve interpreter path '/path/to/venv/bin/python3
Source: Python environments

I explicitly added the venv path to the workspace python-envs.workspaceSearchPaths settings and it shows up in the python extension sidebar under both 'global' and 'workspace'.

The status bar seems to show the correct interpreter when I'm visiting the settings.json tab, but as soon as I switch to a python file it reverts to Select Python Interpreter

[eleanorjboyd]

Hello! Can you try the two of the following so I can help diagnose:

Run the Python Environment Tool and share the output? Here’s how:

1. Open VS Code
2. Press Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+P
3. Run: Python: Run Python Environment Tool (PET) in Terminal...
4. When prompted, choose “Search all”
5. Wait until it finishes and a terminal called “Python Environment Tool” appears at the bottom
6. Copy everything printed there and paste it here (or attach it as a text file)

This will show us which environments VS Code detected and how they were resolved, which is very helpful for debugging interpreter issues 👍

🐍 How to Get Logs from the Python Environments Output Channel

1. Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P or Cmd+Shift+P on Mac).
2. Run the command: Developer: Set Log Level…
   • Select Trace.
3. Reproduce the issue.
4. Open the Output panel (you can do this via the Command Palette: View: Toggle Output).
5. In the Output panel dropdown, select Python.
6. Copy the relevant logs and paste them here along with any error messages.