Python interpreter versions not detected #1335
Description
I encountered an issue where VS Code cannot properly detect Python interpreters.
Environment
OS: Windows 11
VS Code: Latest version
Python extension / Python Environments extension: Latest version
Problem
When selecting Python: Select Interpreter, the interpreter list keeps loading indefinitely and no Python versions are detected.
Even after restarting the Python Environments extension (PET) multiple times (3+ times), the problem persists and the interpreter list remains in an infinite loading state.
Manually specifying the interpreter path also does not work.
What I discovered
After experimenting with several configurations, I found that Python versions are only detected if the directory containing python.exe is added to the system PATH.
My Python installation structure looks like this:
pyenv-win/
versions/
python3.12.4/
python.exe
python3.14.2/
python.exe
If I add the following to the system PATH:
versions/
→ Python interpreters are not detected
However, if I add a directory that directly contains python.exe, such as:
versions/python3.12.4/
then all installed Python versions (3.12.4, 3.14.2, etc.) suddenly appear in "Select Interpreter" and can be selected normally.
Additional notes
Configuring Global Search Paths did not resolve the issue.
Even if I add versions/python3.12.4/ as a global search path, it still fails to detect interpreters.
I also tested installing Python directly using the official installer from Python.org:
https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.14.3/python-3.14.3-amd64.exe
The behavior was the same. If the directory containing python.exe is not added to the system PATH, VS Code does not detect any Python interpreters.
Once I add that directory to the system PATH, VS Code starts detecting all Python versions installed via pyenv-win as well.
On my Windows 10 laptop, pyenv-win works perfectly without any additional configuration.