Python Interpreter unable to handle any virtual environment (PET failed)

[Daniel-Lin-S]

Issue

My VSCode suddenly fails to handle any virtual environment with the following error message:

Debug

Output of Python Environments: Run Python Environment Tool (PET) in Terminal shows the environments despite few warnings.

/home/home/.../....../.../.vscode-server/extensions/ms-python.vscode-python-envs-1.20.1-linux-x64/python-env-tools/bin/pet find --verbose
/bin/pet find --verboseools 
   0.048639606s  WARN identify_python_executables_using_locators{executables=["/home/home/.../.../miniconda3/bin/python", "/home/home/.../.../miniconda3/bin/python3", "/home/home/.../.../miniconda3/bin/python3.1", "/home/home/.../.../miniconda3/bin/python3.13"] executable_count=4}:identify_python_environment_using_locators{env=PythonEnv { executable: "/home/home/.../.../miniconda3/bin/python", prefix: None, version: None, symlinks: None } executable=/home/home/.../.../miniconda3/bin/python}:try_from_locator{locator=Conda}: pet_conda::package: Unable to find conda package Python in "/home/home/.../.../miniconda3", trying slower approach
   0.067117716s  WARN identify_python_executables_using_locators{executables=["/home/home/.../.../miniconda3/bin/python", "/home/home/.../.../miniconda3/bin/python3", "/home/home/.../.../miniconda3/bin/python3.1", "/home/home/.../.../miniconda3/bin/python3.13"] executable_count=4}:identify_python_environment_using_locators{env=PythonEnv { executable: "/home/home/.../.../miniconda3/bin/python", prefix: None, version: None, symlinks: None } executable=/home/home/.../.../miniconda3/bin/python}:try_from_locator{locator=Conda}: pet_conda::package: Unable to find conda package Conda in "/home/home/.../.../miniconda3", trying slower approach
   0.118754169s  WARN pet_conda::package: Unable to find conda package Python in "/home/home/.../.../miniconda3/envs/brain", trying slower approach
   0.119353148s  WARN pet_conda::package: Unable to find conda package Python in "/home/home/.../.../miniconda3", trying slower approach
   0.119652768s  WARN pet_conda::package: Unable to find conda package Python in "/home/home/.../.../miniconda3/envs/fl", trying slower approach
   0.119870927s  WARN pet_conda::package: Unable to find conda package Python in "/home/home/.../.../miniconda3/envs/seq2seq", trying slower approach

Breakdown by each locator:
--------------------------
Conda                : 210.766697ms
Homebrew             : 702.819µs
LinuxGlobal          : 184.603366ms
PipEnv               : 1.978627ms
Pixi                 : 4.2µs
Poetry               : 3.051686ms
PyEnv                : 2.336538ms
Uv                   : 191.859µs
Venv                 : 210ns
VirtualEnv           : 530ns
VirtualEnvWrapper    : 660ns

Breakdown for finding Environments:
-----------------------------------
GlobalVirtualEnvs    : 3.314097ms
Locators             : 211.594646ms
Path                 : 275.579357ms
Workspaces           : 10.049089ms

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

Conda:
  - /home/home/.../.../miniconda3/bin/python
  - /home/home/.../.../miniconda3/envs/matlab/bin/python
  - /home/home/.../.../miniconda3/envs/brain/bin/python
  - /home/home/.../.../miniconda3/envs/seq2seq/bin/python
  - /home/home/.../.../miniconda3/envs/nwb/bin/python
  - /home/home/.../.../miniconda3/envs/eeg/bin/python
  - /home/home/.../....../.../miniconda3/envs/fl/bin/python
  - /home/home/.../.../miniconda3/envs/speech/bin/python

LinuxGlobal:
  - /usr/bin/python
  - /usr/bin/python3

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

Environments (10):
------------------

These environment all works in terminal with conda activate, and python scripts can be executed.

I tried manually adding the interpreter path, but the page says "Python not installed" despite python actually installed. (I have also tried re-installing, still not working)


Entering the interpreter path to minoconda3 environment and clicking enter shows the following error message, despite this environment can be used in terminal with conda activate brain

Attempted but failed solutions

• Developer: Reload window

• add "python.defaultInterpreterPath": "/home/home/…/…/miniconda3/envs/brain/bin/python" to .vscode/settings.json.
• Let VSCode create new environment under the project (environment created, but Python interpreter still cannot handle this path)
• Re-install python extension
• Switching to pre-release Python extension
• Install and use the latest version of VSCode (1.108.0 to 1.109.5)
• Reconnect to remote ssh
• Restart my terminal device.

My current settings.json has the following environment-related lines:

    "python-envs.defaultEnvManager": "ms-python.python:conda",
    "python-envs.defaultPackageManager": "ms-python.python:conda",
    "python.defaultInterpreterPath": "path/to/my/project/.conda/bin/python"

Device information

VSCode:
Version: 1.109.5 (Universal)
Commit: 072586267e68ece9a47aa43f8c108e0dcbf44622
Date: 2026-02-19T19:43:32.382Z
Electron: 39.3.0
ElectronBuildId: 13313481
Chromium: 142.0.7444.265
Node.js: 22.21.1
V8: 14.2.231.22-electron.0
OS: Darwin arm64 24.0.0

Python extension version: 2026.2.0

Terminal Device:
MacOS Sequoia 15.0.1
Apple M1 chip

Remote Server: Linux x86
Version: CentOS-7

[karthiknadig]

@Daniel-Lin-S Can you try removing this setting default and try reloading?

[Daniel-Lin-S]

Thank you very much for the quick reply! Unfortunately, this did not solve the issue.

[karthiknadig]

Set this to false to unblock:

[Daniel-Lin-S]

Solved, Thank you very much!