Venv is not activated when a new zsh terminal is open

[giulianopicco]

Type: Bug

The current selected python virtual environment is not being activated when a new zsh terminal is opened

VS Code version: Code 1.99.1 (7c6fdfb0b8f2f675eb0b47f3d95eeca78962565b, 2025-04-04T15:58:59.624Z)
OS version: Darwin arm64 24.4.0
Modes:

System Info

Item	Value
CPUs	Apple M1 (8 x 2400)
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: enabled webgl: enabled webgl2: enabled webgpu: enabled webnn: disabled_off
Load (avg)	19, 18, 16
Memory (System)	16.00GB (1.18GB free)
Process Argv	--crash-reporter-id d38c409b-133d-4ade-82e3-c8d63bfe316f
Screen Reader	no
VM	0%

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[curia-damiano]

+1 I have the same problem and I can add more information.

I work in a Python devcontainer, so all my setup is isolated from the pysical machine and is versioned it git.
The environment is configured, but not activated.
I have seen that if I do ">Python: Select Interpreter", if finds the configured environment as first choice. And then all new terminal window has the environment correctly activated.

I can provide a GitHub repo configured where the feature was working in the past and not anymore now.

[drakon]

+1 here.

Maybe this is helpful as well:

I use conda and what happens for me is that it seems to activate the environment ("conda info" shows the active environment py39 correctly) but when I do "which python" it shows not the version inside the environment but as if it wasn't activated. When I do "conda deactivate && conda activate py39" it works as expected again.

It used to work last Friday as expected and I think VSCode was then automatically updated and seems to behave in this way since then.

[AreChen]

+1 It can be confirmed that in Windows 11 WSL and macOS, the conda environment in zsh is always base and cannot automatically activate the selected environment.

[karthiknadig]

Can you share the logs from Output > Python?

[giulianopicco]

Output > Python:

2025-04-14 12:51:46.753 [info] Experiment 'pythonRecommendTensorboardExt' is active
2025-04-14 12:51:46.753 [info] Experiment 'pythonTerminalEnvVarActivation' is active
2025-04-14 12:51:46.753 [info] Native locator: Refresh started
2025-04-14 12:51:46.753 [info] > pyenv which python
2025-04-14 12:51:46.753 [info] cwd: .
2025-04-14 12:51:46.753 [info] Python interpreter path: ./.venv/bin/python
2025-04-14 12:51:46.753 [info] Conda environment manager found at: /Users/user/opt/anaconda3/bin/conda
2025-04-14 12:51:46.753 [info] Using conda: /Users/user/opt/anaconda3/bin/conda
2025-04-14 12:51:48.011 [info] > . ./.venv/bin/activate && echo 'xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx' && python ~/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.5.2025041001-darwin-arm64/python_files/printEnvVariables.py
2025-04-14 12:51:48.011 [info] shell: zsh
2025-04-14 12:51:48.024 [info] Native locator: Refresh finished in 2999 ms
2025-04-14 12:51:48.416 [info] > ~/.pyenv/versions/3.10.1/bin/python ~/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.5.2025041001-darwin-arm64/python_files/printEnvVariables.py
2025-04-14 12:51:48.416 [info] shell: zsh
2025-04-14 12:51:48.692 [info] Setting environment variable GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY in collection to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":true}
2025-04-14 12:51:48.692 [info] Prepending environment variable PATH in collection with /Users/user/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.5.2025041001-darwin-arm64/python_files/deactivate/zsh:/Users/user/Developer/django_projects/eagle_eye_logistics/.venv/bin: {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":true}
2025-04-14 12:51:48.693 [info] Setting environment variable VIRTUAL_ENV in collection to /Users/user/Developer/django_projects/eagle_eye_logistics/.venv {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":true}
2025-04-14 12:51:48.693 [info] Prepending environment variable PS1 in collection with (.venv) {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":false}
2025-04-14 12:51:48.693 [info] Setting environment variable VIRTUAL_ENV_PROMPT in collection to (.venv) {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":true}
2025-04-14 12:51:48.693 [info] Send text to terminal: /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/usr/bin/python3 /Users/user/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.5.2025041001-darwin-arm64/python_files/printEnvVariablesToFile.py /Users/user/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.5.2025041001-darwin-arm64/python_files/deactivate/zsh/envVars.txt
2025-04-14 12:51:53.668 [info] Starting Pylance language server.
2025-04-14 12:53:21.759 [info] > ~/opt/anaconda3/bin/conda info --json
2025-04-14 12:59:02.187 [info] Experiment 'pythonRecommendTensorboardExt' is active
2025-04-14 12:59:02.188 [info] Experiment 'pythonTerminalEnvVarActivation' is active
2025-04-14 12:59:02.195 [info] Native locator: Refresh started
2025-04-14 12:59:02.212 [info] Native locator: Refresh started
2025-04-14 12:59:02.228 [info] > pyenv which python
2025-04-14 12:59:02.228 [info] cwd: .
2025-04-14 12:59:02.868 [info] Python interpreter path: ./.venv/bin/python
2025-04-14 12:59:02.896 [info] Conda environment manager found at: /Users/user/opt/anaconda3/bin/conda
2025-04-14 12:59:02.896 [info] Using conda: /Users/user/opt/anaconda3/bin/conda
2025-04-14 12:59:02.981 [info] Native locator: Refresh finished in 786 ms
2025-04-14 12:59:03.990 [warning] Shell integration may not be active, environment activated may be overridden by the shell.
2025-04-14 12:59:04.027 [info] > . ./.venv/bin/activate && echo 'xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx' && python ~/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.4.0-darwin-arm64/python_files/printEnvVariables.py
2025-04-14 12:59:04.027 [info] shell: zsh
2025-04-14 12:59:04.071 [info] > ~/.pyenv/versions/3.12.2/bin/python ~/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.4.0-darwin-arm64/python_files/printEnvVariables.py
2025-04-14 12:59:04.071 [info] shell: zsh
2025-04-14 12:59:04.400 [info] Starting Pylance language server.
2025-04-14 12:59:05.138 [info] Setting environment variable GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY in collection to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":true}
2025-04-14 12:59:05.138 [info] Prepending environment variable PATH in collection with /Users/user/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.4.0-darwin-arm64/python_files/deactivate/zsh:/Users/user/Developer/django_projects/eagle_eye_logistics/.venv/bin: {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":true}
2025-04-14 12:59:05.138 [info] Setting environment variable VIRTUAL_ENV in collection to /Users/user/Developer/django_projects/eagle_eye_logistics/.venv {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":true}
2025-04-14 12:59:05.138 [info] Prepending environment variable PS1 in collection with (.venv) {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":true}
2025-04-14 12:59:05.138 [info] Setting environment variable VIRTUAL_ENV_PROMPT in collection to (.venv) {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":true}
2025-04-14 12:59:06.145 [info] Send text to terminal: /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/usr/bin/python3 /Users/user/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.4.0-darwin-arm64/python_files/printEnvVariablesToFile.py /Users/user/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.4.0-darwin-arm64/python_files/deactivate/zsh/envVars.txt
2025-04-14 13:00:05.879 [info] Native locator: Refresh started
2025-04-14 13:00:05.895 [info] Conda environment manager found at: /Users/user/opt/anaconda3/bin/conda
2025-04-14 13:00:05.895 [info] Conda set to: /Users/user/opt/anaconda3/bin/conda
2025-04-14 13:00:05.964 [info] Native locator: Refresh finished in 85 ms
2025-04-14 13:00:08.136 [info] Active interpreter [/Users/user/Developer/django_projects/eagle_eye_logistics]: /Users/user/Developer/django_projects/eagle_eye_logistics/.venv/bin/python
2025-04-14 13:00:08.136 [info] Discover tests for workspace name: eagle_eye_logistics - uri: /Users/user/Developer/django_projects/eagle_eye_logistics
2025-04-14 13:00:09.139 [info] Setting environment variable GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY in collection to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":true}
2025-04-14 13:00:09.139 [info] Prepending environment variable PATH in collection with /Users/user/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.4.0-darwin-arm64/python_files/deactivate/zsh:/Users/user/Developer/django_projects/eagle_eye_logistics/.venv/bin: {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":true}
2025-04-14 13:00:09.139 [info] Setting environment variable VIRTUAL_ENV in collection to /Users/user/Developer/django_projects/eagle_eye_logistics/.venv {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":true}
2025-04-14 13:00:09.139 [info] Prepending environment variable PS1 in collection with (.venv) {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":true}
2025-04-14 13:00:09.139 [info] Setting environment variable VIRTUAL_ENV_PROMPT in collection to (.venv) {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":true}
2025-04-14 13:02:22.170 [info] Native locator: Refresh started
2025-04-14 13:02:22.188 [info] Conda environment manager found at: /Users/user/opt/anaconda3/bin/conda
2025-04-14 13:02:22.188 [info] Conda set to: /Users/user/opt/anaconda3/bin/conda
2025-04-14 13:02:22.240 [info] Native locator: Refresh finished in 71 ms
2025-04-14 13:02:40.650 [info] Experiment 'pythonRecommendTensorboardExt' is active
2025-04-14 13:02:40.650 [info] Experiment 'pythonTerminalEnvVarActivation' is active
2025-04-14 13:02:40.650 [info] Native locator: Refresh started
2025-04-14 13:02:40.650 [info] Native locator: Refresh started
2025-04-14 13:02:40.665 [info] Conda environment manager found at: /Users/user/opt/anaconda3/bin/conda
2025-04-14 13:02:40.665 [info] Using conda: /Users/user/opt/anaconda3/bin/conda
2025-04-14 13:02:40.667 [info] Python interpreter path: ./.venv/bin/python
2025-04-14 13:02:40.689 [info] > pyenv which python
2025-04-14 13:02:40.689 [info] cwd: .
2025-04-14 13:02:41.050 [info] Native locator: Refresh finished in 510 ms
2025-04-14 13:02:41.731 [warning] Shell integration may not be active, environment activated may be overridden by the shell.
2025-04-14 13:02:41.734 [info] > . ./.venv/bin/activate && echo 'xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx' && python ~/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.4.0-darwin-arm64/python_files/printEnvVariables.py
2025-04-14 13:02:41.734 [info] shell: zsh
2025-04-14 13:02:41.781 [info] > ~/.pyenv/versions/3.10.1/bin/python ~/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.4.0-darwin-arm64/python_files/printEnvVariables.py
2025-04-14 13:02:41.781 [info] shell: zsh
2025-04-14 13:02:41.999 [info] Starting Pylance language server.
2025-04-14 13:02:42.841 [info] Setting environment variable GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY in collection to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":true}
2025-04-14 13:02:42.841 [info] Prepending environment variable PATH in collection with /Users/user/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.4.0-darwin-arm64/python_files/deactivate/zsh:/Users/user/Developer/django_projects/eagle_eye_logistics/.venv/bin: {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":true}
2025-04-14 13:02:42.841 [info] Setting environment variable VIRTUAL_ENV in collection to /Users/user/Developer/django_projects/eagle_eye_logistics/.venv {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":true}
2025-04-14 13:02:42.841 [info] Prepending environment variable PS1 in collection with (.venv) {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":true}
2025-04-14 13:02:42.841 [info] Setting environment variable VIRTUAL_ENV_PROMPT in collection to (.venv) {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":true}
2025-04-14 13:02:43.844 [info] Send text to terminal: /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/usr/bin/python3 /Users/user/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.4.0-darwin-arm64/python_files/printEnvVariablesToFile.py /Users/user/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.4.0-darwin-arm64/python_files/deactivate/zsh/envVars.txt
2025-04-14 13:07:27.937 [info] Experiment 'pythonRecommendTensorboardExt' is active
2025-04-14 13:07:27.937 [info] Experiment 'pythonTerminalEnvVarActivation' is active
2025-04-14 13:07:27.937 [info] Native locator: Refresh started
2025-04-14 13:07:28.013 [info] Conda environment manager found at: /Users/user/opt/anaconda3/bin/conda
2025-04-14 13:07:28.013 [info] Using conda: /Users/user/opt/anaconda3/bin/conda
2025-04-14 13:07:28.070 [info] Python interpreter path: ./.venv/bin/python
2025-04-14 13:07:28.081 [info] Native locator: Refresh finished in 813 ms
2025-04-14 13:07:30.959 [info] > pyenv which python
2025-04-14 13:07:30.959 [info] cwd: .
2025-04-14 13:07:33.977 [info] > . ./.venv/bin/activate && echo 'xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx' && python ~/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.5.2025041001-darwin-arm64/python_files/printEnvVariables.py
2025-04-14 13:07:33.977 [info] shell: zsh
2025-04-14 13:07:34.122 [info] > ~/.pyenv/versions/3.10.1/bin/python ~/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.5.2025041001-darwin-arm64/python_files/printEnvVariables.py
2025-04-14 13:07:34.122 [info] shell: zsh
2025-04-14 13:07:34.428 [info] Setting environment variable GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY in collection to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":true}
2025-04-14 13:07:34.428 [info] Prepending environment variable PATH in collection with /Users/user/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.5.2025041001-darwin-arm64/python_files/deactivate/zsh:/Users/user/Developer/django_projects/eagle_eye_logistics/.venv/bin: {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":true}
2025-04-14 13:07:34.428 [info] Setting environment variable VIRTUAL_ENV in collection to /Users/user/Developer/django_projects/eagle_eye_logistics/.venv {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":true}
2025-04-14 13:07:34.428 [info] Prepending environment variable PS1 in collection with (.venv) {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":false}
2025-04-14 13:07:34.428 [info] Setting environment variable VIRTUAL_ENV_PROMPT in collection to (.venv) {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":true}
2025-04-14 13:07:34.428 [info] Send text to terminal: /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/usr/bin/python3 /Users/user/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.5.2025041001-darwin-arm64/python_files/printEnvVariablesToFile.py /Users/user/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.5.2025041001-darwin-arm64/python_files/deactivate/zsh/envVars.txt
2025-04-14 13:07:35.627 [info] Starting Pylance language server.
2025-04-14 13:07:43.211 [info] > ~/opt/anaconda3/bin/conda info --json

[karthiknadig]

@giulianopicco Try disabling the following experiment, by adding this setting to your User Settings then reload and see if it works better.

    "python.experiments.optOutFrom": ["pythonTerminalEnvVarActivation"]

[giulianopicco]

@karthiknadig Your solution worked perfectly—thanks for the quick and effective fix! 🙌