Type of Virtual Environment

Oct 13, 2025 by pynkocean.com 143 views

Extension uses hidden default Interpreter Path from User when in Remote

Bug Report

As a user, I have encountered an issue with the Python extension in Visual Studio Code (VS Code) when working remotely. The issue arises from the fact that the default interpreter path set in the User settings is not being used when working in a remote environment. This behavior is unexpected and can cause difficulties in debugging and running Python code.

Behaviour

I have set a default interpreter path in my User settings for local use. However, when I open a remote editing session, the extension tries to use the default interpreter set in the User settings. The problem is that this setting is hidden while in a remote window, and I am unable to change it. This leads to confusion and difficulties in finding the root cause of the issue.

Steps to Reproduce

To reproduce this issue, follow these steps:

Set a User level default interpreter path locally.
Open a remote editing session.
The default interpreter set in step 1 is used, but it cannot be changed.

Diagnostic Data

The following diagnostic data is provided to help resolve this issue:

Python Output Panel: The output panel shows an error message indicating that the command failed to execute due to a missing interpreter.
User Settings: The User settings show the default interpreter path set for local use.
Installed Extensions: The installed extensions list shows the Python extension version and other relevant extensions.
System Info: The system info shows the operating system, CPU, memory, and other relevant system details.

System Configuration

The following system configuration is relevant to this issue:

VS Code Version: Code 1.96.2 (fabdb6a30b49f79a7aba0f2ad9df9b399473380f, 2024-12-19T10:22:47.216Z)
OS Version: Windows_NT x64 10.0.22631
Remote OS Version: Linux x64 5.15.0-88-generic
Python Version: Unknown
Type of Virtual Environment: Unknown
Value of the python.languageServer setting: Default

A/B Experiments

The following A/B experiments are relevant to this issue:

vsliv368:30146709
vspor879:30202332
vspor708:30202333
vspor363:30204092
vscod805cf:30301675
binariesv615:30325510
py29gd2263:31024239
c4g48928:30535728
azure-dev_surveyone:30548225
2i9eh265:30646982
962ge761:30959799
h48ei257:31000450
pythontbext0:30879054
cppperfnew:31000557
dwnewjupytercf:31046870
nativerepl1:31139838
pythonrstrctxt:31112756
nativeloc2:31192216
iacca1:31171482
5fd0e150:31155592
dwcopilot:31170013
6074i472:31201624
dwoutputs:31242946
customenabled:31248079
9064b325:31222308
copilot_t_ci:31222730
f5992895:31254866
jda6j935:31233686
bgtreat:31257678
4d2d8976:31256800
hb9j0513:31256344

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Python extension in VS Code is using the hidden default interpreter path from the User settings when working in a remote environment. This behavior is unexpected and can cause difficulties in debugging and running Python code. To resolve this issue, the extension should use the default interpreter path set in the User settings while working in a remote environment.
Extension uses hidden default Interpreter Path from User when in Remote: Q&A

Q: What is the issue with the Python extension in VS Code when working remotely?

A: The issue arises from the fact that the default interpreter path set in the User settings is not being used when working in a remote environment. This behavior is unexpected and can cause difficulties in debugging and running Python code.

Q: Why is the default interpreter path set in the User settings not being used when working remotely?

A: The default interpreter path set in the User settings is hidden while in a remote window, and it cannot be changed. This leads to confusion and difficulties in finding the root cause of the issue.

Q: How can I reproduce this issue?

A: To reproduce this issue, follow these steps:

Set a User level default interpreter path locally.
Open a remote editing session.
The default interpreter set in step 1 is used, but it cannot be changed.

Q: What diagnostic data is available to help resolve this issue?

A: The following diagnostic data is provided to help resolve this issue:

Python Output Panel: The output panel shows an error message indicating that the command failed to execute due to a missing interpreter.
User Settings: The User settings show the default interpreter path set for local use.
Installed Extensions: The installed extensions list shows the Python extension version and other relevant extensions.
System Info: The system info shows the operating system, CPU, memory, and other relevant system details.

Q: What system configuration is relevant to this issue?

A: The following system configuration is relevant to this issue:

VS Code Version: Code 1.96.2 (fabdb6a30b49f79a7aba0f2ad9df9b399473380f, 2024-12-19T10:22:47.216Z)
OS Version: Windows_NT x64 10.0.22631
Remote OS Version: Linux x64 5.15.0-88-generic
Python Version: Unknown
Type of Virtual Environment: Unknown
Value of the python.languageServer setting: Default

Q: Are there any A/B experiments relevant to this issue?

A: Yes, the following A/B experiments are relevant to this issue:

vsliv368:30146709
vspor879:30202332
vspor708:30202333
vspor363:30204092
vscod805cf:30301675
binariesv615:30325510
py29gd2263:31024239
c4g48928:30535728
azure-dev_surveyone:30548225
2i9eh265:30646982
962ge761:30959799
h48ei257:31000450
pythontbext0:30879054
cppperfnew:31000557
dwnewjupytercf:31046870
nativerepl1:31139838
pythonrstrctxt:31112756
nativeloc2:31192216
iacca1:31171482
5fd0e150:31155592
dwcopilot:31170013
6074i472:31201624
dwoutputs:31242946
customenabled:31248079
9064b325:31222308
copilot_t_ci:31222730
f5992895:31254866
jda6j935:31233686
bgtreat:31257678
4d2d8976:31256800
hb9j0513:31256344

Q: How can I resolve this issue?

A: To resolve this issue, the extension should use the default interpreter path set in the User settings while working in a remote environment. This can be achieved by modifying the extension's code to use the default interpreter path set in the User settings when working in a remote environment.