VS Code Python Interpreter Not Found

How to fix it

Try these in order — the most common fix is first.

1. 1. Select the interpreter by path

   Copy steps
   1. Press Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+P and run Python: Select Interpreter
   2. Choose Enter interpreter path
   3. Use .venv/bin/python on macOS/Linux or .venv\Scripts\python.exe on Windows
   Did this fix it? Yes No

2. 2. Open the right folder

   Copy steps
   1. Use File > Open Folder on the project root
   2. Create the .venv in that root; subfolder venvs may not be listed
   Did this fix it? Yes No

3. 3. Reload and refresh

   Copy steps
   1. Run Developer: Reload Window
   2. Run Python: Select Interpreter again
   Did this fix it? Yes No

4. 4. Verify Python works outside VS Code

   Copy steps
   1. Run python --version (or py -0p on Windows) in a normal terminal
   2. If it fails, reinstall Python or recreate the venv
   Did this fix it? Yes No

5. 5. Know the python.defaultInterpreterPath caveat

   Copy steps
   1. python.defaultInterpreterPath only applies the first time a workspace loads
   2. Once an interpreter is selected, changing the setting has no effect; select again from the command
   Did this fix it? Yes No

Symptoms

The interpreter picker is empty, shows 'Select Python Interpreter' again after choosing, or your .venv is missing from the list.

Why it happens

• Opened a single file instead of a folder
• Venv created in a subfolder of the workspace
• Python extension missing or outdated
• Stored workspace interpreter overrides python.defaultInterpreterPath
• Python discovery timeouts in newer extension builds

This guide also covers

• vscode python interpreter not found
• vscode select interpreter not showing
• vscode venv not detected

The same problem in other apps

All not loading, error messages & connection guides →

• Cursor High Load Error (ERROR_RESOURCE_EXHAUSTED) (Cursor)

Other VS Code errors

• VS Code Terminal Not Working
• VS Code IntelliSense Not Working
• VS Code High CPU Usage
• VS Code High Memory Usage
• VS Code Extension Host Terminated Unexpectedly
• VS Code Extensions Not Loading or Installing
• VS Code 'code' Command Not Found
• VS Code Unable to Watch for File Changes (ENOSPC)