VS Code stuck on “Discovering Python Interpreters”, interpreter picker unresponsive on fresh Windows install

[Rabea707]

Description

On a fresh Windows OS reset, VS Code fails to discover Python interpreters and becomes stuck on
“Discovering Python Interpreters”. The Python: Select Interpreter action becomes unresponsive.

The Run / Play button does not work and Python cannot be selected or used.

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Environment

• VS Code: latest stable
• Python extension: latest
• Python Environments extension: installed (ms-python.vscode-python-envs)
• OS: Windows 10 / 11
• Python version: 3.14 (installed system-wide)

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What I’ve tried

• Fresh OS reset
• Reinstalled VS Code and Python multiple times
• Installed Python Environments extension
• Enabled "python.useEnvironmentsExtension": true
• Manually setting python.defaultInterpreterPath
• Restarting VS Code
• Issue persists

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Observed behavior

• Status bar shows “Discovering Python Interpreters” indefinitely
• Interpreter picker does not complete or respond
• Run button does nothing

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Expected behavior

VS Code should discover installed Python interpreters and allow selection and execution.

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Screenshots

(Attached below)

[Rabea707]

Anything new?, Im start to lose hope I tried eveything, I rest my whole labtop
This labtop costed me 2500$ for nothing
Im using my macbook and my pc
But I really need python to work in this labtop
Omg why isnt it workkinngn
Sorry I got mad :/

Btw Python works in ever other ide expect vs code 🥲🥲🥲

I tought my labtop hardwear is the problem but no since IT WORKS IN EVERYTHING EXPECT VS so yeah
🥲🥲🥲

[ericpassmore]

Same for me

Version: 1.108.0 (user setup)
Commit: 94e8ae2b28cb5cc932b86e1070569c4463565c37
Date: 2026-01-08T13:53:10.781Z
Electron: 39.2.7
ElectronBuildId: 12953945
Chromium: 142.0.7444.235
Node.js: 22.21.1
V8: 14.2.231.21-electron.0
OS: Windows_NT x64 10.0.26100

C:\Users\E>where python3
C:\Users\E\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\python3.exe
C:\Users\E\AppData\Local\Python\bin\python3.exe