VSCode does not execute Python files after clean Windows reinstall (process hangs and exits silently)

[Julian7668]

Does this issue occur when all extensions are disabled?: Yes

• VS Code Version: 1.107.1 (Stable)
• OS Version: Windows 10 (fresh install)

Steps to Reproduce:

1. Perform a clean Windows reinstall.
2. Install Python from python.org (not from Microsoft Store).
3. Verify that Python works correctly from CMD (python, pip, running scripts).
4. Install Visual Studio Code (stable) and open it.
5. Manually select the Python interpreter located at:
   C:\Users\...\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python312\python.exe
6. Create a simple test.py file (e.g. print("test")).
7. Run the file using the Run button or by pressing F5.

Observed Result:

• VS Code stays in a “running” state with no output.
• No error is shown in the terminal.
• When closing the run tab, an error briefly flashes and disappears.
• The Python script does not execute.

Expected Result:

• The Python file should execute normally, the same way it does when run from CMD or from the VS Code integrated terminal using python test.py.

Additional Notes:

• The issue occurs even with all extensions disabled.
• Running python test.py from the VS Code integrated terminal works correctly.
• Before the Windows reinstall, the same setup worked correctly on this machine.

[eleanorjboyd]

How do you do: "Manually select the Python interpreter located at: C:\Users...\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python312\python.exe"

[eleanorjboyd]

additionally if you could check your logs for the python extension and include those that would be great!

[jmpcm]

I'm having the same problem, but in Linux. I don't see any information in the logs window.

Not sure how this is related, but setting "python.useEnvironmentsExtension" : true solved the issue. See issue #25694.

[Julian7668]

I previously selected the second option, where I chose the location of python.exe on my computer, and now I have the third option, which is what I meant by “Manually select the Python interpreter located at: C:\Users...\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python312\python.exe.” I disabled all extensions and enabled only the Python one, but it keeps loading indefinitely, as shown in the following image.