ms-python uses a different Python version than selected

[yurivict]

Type: Bug

Behaviour

In "Python: Select Interpreter" I chose python3.11.
However, when the Python code is run interactively it still uses python3.12 that is considered to be a "Recommended" version.

Steps to reproduce:

1. Have multiple Python versions installed.
2. In "Python: Select Interpreter" choose the Python version different/earlier than than recommended version.
3. Observe how it still uses the recommended version to run Python code interactively.

Diagnostic data

Details

This version is always used, regardless of the user's choice: 3.12.11 (main, Jun 14 2025, 01:06:11) [Clang 18.1.6 (https://github.com/llvm/llvm-project.git llvmorg-18.1.6-0-g1118c

Extension version: 2025.4.0
VS Code version: Code - OSS 1.101.2 (2901c5ac6db8a986a5666c3af51ff804d05af0d4, 2025-07-02T06:37:13.501Z)
OS version: FreeBSD x64 14.3-STABLE
Modes:

• Python version (& distribution if applicable, e.g. Anaconda): 3.11.13
• Type of virtual environment used (e.g. conda, venv, virtualenv, etc.): Global
• Value of the python.languageServer setting: Default

User Settings

languageServer: "Jedi"

Installed Extensions

Extension Name	Extension Id	Version
debugpy	ms-	2025.6.0
js-debug	ms-	1.100.1
js-debug-companion	ms-	1.1.3
python	ms-	2025.4.0
vscode-js-profile-table	ms-	1.0.10

System Info

Item	Value
CPUs	Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 930 @ 2.80GHz (8 x 3439)
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: disabled_software vulkan: disabled_off webgl: enabled webgl2: enabled webgpu: disabled_off webnn: disabled_off
Load (avg)	6, 4, 3
Memory (System)	23.95GB (0.52GB free)
Process Argv
Screen Reader	no
VM	0%
DESKTOP_SESSION	xfce
XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP	XFCE
XDG_SESSION_DESKTOP	undefined
XDG_SESSION_TYPE	undefined

[eleanorjboyd]

Hello! Can you check if you see a python logo in your sidebar? We are rolling out a new extension that handles environments and this might be related. Thanks

[yurivict]

No Python logo is shown in the VS Code's side bar.
Python logo only appears when extensions are shown.

[eleanorjboyd]

Could you try updating your extension to the latest version and try again? I see you are on Extension version: 2025.4.0

[yurivict]

I am on the Python extension version 2025.4.0 but the "Check for extension updates" command says that all extensions are up to date.

[anthonykim1]

@yurivict Does the same problem happen if you try on different OS other than BSD?

[yurivict]

I can't try this on the Linux system because I don't have the root access there to install multiple Python versions.
But the problem on FreeBSD is very clear: it doesn't use the user-chosen Python version for running programs interactively.

[NGC13009]

My PowerShell integrated terminal shows that the environment is activated, but in reality, it's still using the base pip and Python. I have to manually enter conda activate py312 to activate the new environment.

This does not affect normal operation and debugging, as well as code hinting and syntax highlighting, because VSCode attempts to access using an absolute path.

Issues only occur when executing tasks directly in the terminal, because the called Python is not from the current environment.

plugin version: 2025.10.0
vscode: 1.100.2