Extension doesn't activate in terminal

[normanlorrain]

Type: Bug

Behaviour

After creating a new environment in my folder, it's not activated. e.g.

(Get-Command python).Path
C:\Program Files\Python313\python.exe

Steps to reproduce:

1. open VScode on an empty folder
2. create a fresh Python environment
3. open a new terminal
4. in the terminal, run (Get-Command python).Path

Diagnostic data

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

XXX

Extension version: 2025.0.0
VS Code version: Code 1.97.2 (e54c774e0add60467559eb0d1e229c6452cf8447, 2025-02-12T23:20:35.343Z)
OS version: Windows_NT x64 10.0.19045
Modes:

• Python version (& distribution if applicable, e.g. Anaconda): 3.13.1
• Type of virtual environment used (e.g. conda, venv, virtualenv, etc.): Venv
• Value of the python.languageServer setting: Default

User Settings

languageServer: "Pylance"

Installed Extensions

Extension Name	Extension Id	Version
autopep8	ms-	2024.2.0
black-py	mik	1.0.3
code-spell-checker	str	4.0.40
copilot	Git	1.277.0
copilot-chat	Git	0.24.1
debugpy	ms-	2025.0.1
js-debug	ms-	1.97.1
js-debug-companion	ms-	1.1.3
powershell	ms-	2025.0.0
python	ms-	2025.0.0
rainbow-csv	mec	3.17.0
vscode-github-actions	git	0.27.1
vscode-js-profile-table	ms-	1.0.10
vscode-markdown-paste-image	tel	1.3.1
vscode-pylance	ms-	2025.2.1
vscode-sqlite	ale	0.14.1
vscode-xml	red	0.27.2

System Info

Item	Value
CPUs	Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-4690 CPU @ 3.50GHz (4 x 3492)
GPU Status	2d_canvas: enabled canvas_oop_rasterization: enabled_on 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 video_decode: enabled video_encode: enabled vulkan: disabled_off webgl: enabled webgl2: enabled webgpu: enabled webnn: disabled_off
Load (avg)	undefined
Memory (System)	15.91GB (6.29GB free)
Process Argv	--crash-reporter-id 245b55e5-2480-46f1-9c72-293f57038fa6
Screen Reader	no
VM	0%

A/B Experiments

vsliv368cf:30146710
vspor879:30202332
vspor708:30202333
vspor363:30204092
vswsl492:30256859
pythonvspyt551cf:31249601
vscod805:30301674
binariesv615:30325510
py29gd2263:31024239
c4g48928:30535728
azure-dev_surveyone:30548225
2i9eh265:30646982
962ge761:30959799
h48ei257:31000450
pythontbext0:30879054
cppperfnew:31000557
dwnewjupyter:31046869
nativerepl1:31139838
pythonrstrctxt:31112756
nativeloc2:31192216
iacca1:31171482
5fd0e150:31155592
dwcopilot:31170013
6074i472:31201624
dwoutputs:31242946
customenabled:31248079
9064b325:31222308
copilot_t_ci:31222730
jda6j935:31233686
copilothoveroff:31248523

[normanlorrain]

Python.log

[normanlorrain]

workaround:
.\.venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1

[karthiknadig]

@normanlorrain Can you this to your User settings? and reload VS Code:

    "python.experiments.optOutFrom": ["pythonTerminalEnvVarActivation"]

[normanlorrain]

Thanks for the reply. Today it works. Fresh reboot, and start a new empty folder. I create a new environment and it works:

The log file looks much different:
Python2.log

I tried several times and it's consistent. It's also without your suggested User setting. I will try that next.

[normanlorrain]

With "python.experiments.optOutFrom": ["pythonTerminalEnvVarActivation"]

Python3.log

[normanlorrain]

You may close this issue, thanks for the help. I'll keep the link to this and perhaps reopen if it happens again or I have more information.

[normanlorrain]

OK it happened again. I was jumping between recent folders, and went to my original problematic folder. I created a new environment there and there seems to be something out of sync :

later:

output log attached.

Python4.log

[normanlorrain]

Opening a fresh terminal works, though (btw, I like this behaviour with the prompt indicating the venv):