How to setup virtual environment for Python in VS Code?

P.S:

• I have been using vs code for a while now and found an another way to show virtual environments in vs code.

• Go to the parent folder in which venv is there through command prompt.

• Type code . and Enter. [Working on both windows and linux for me.]

• That should also show the virtual environments present in that folder.

Original Answer

I almost run into same problem everytime I am working on VS-Code using venv. I follow below steps, hope it helps:

1. Go to File > preferences > Settings.

2. Click on Workspace settings.

3. Under Files:Association, in the JSON: Schemas section, you will find Edit in settings.json , click on that.

4. Update "python.pythonPath": "Your_venv_path/bin/python" under workspace settings. (For Windows): Update "python.pythonPath": "Your_venv_path/Scripts/python.exe" under workspace settings.

5. Restart VSCode incase if it still doesn't show your venv.

With a newer VS Code version it's quite simple.

Open VS Code in your project's folder.

Then open Python Terminal (Ctrl-Shift-P: Python: Create Terminal)

In the terminal:

python -m venv .venv

you'll then see the following dialog:

click Yes

Then Python: Select Interpreter (via Ctrl-Shift-P)

and select the option (in my case towards the bottom)

Python 3.7 (venv) ./venv/Scripts/python.exe

If you see

Activate.ps1 is not digitally signed. You cannot run this script on the current system.

you'll need to do the following: https://stackoverflow.com/a/18713789/2705777

For more information see: https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/python/environments#_global-virtual-and-conda-environments

I was having the same issue until I worked out that I was trying to make my project directory and the virtual environment one and the same - which isn't correct.

I have a \Code\Python directory where I store all my Python projects. My Python 3 installation is on my Path.

If I want to create a new Python project (Project1) with its own virtual environment, then I do this:

python -m venv Code\Python\Project1\venv

Then, simply opening the folder (Project1) in Visual Studio Code ensures that the correct virtual environment is used.