Select interpreter via file dialog does not properly load virtual env

[bradtse]

Type: Bug

Behaviour

When selecting a Python interpreter using the "Find..." option (File Dialog), it resolves the symlink causing the python virtual environment to not get used. Manually providing the path to the virtual env Python interpreter instead of using the File Dialog works as expected.

Steps to reproduce:

1. Select Python version in bottom right to select interpeter
2. Enter Interpreter path...
3. Find...
4. Navigate to your virtual environment's Python path and select it
5. Click Python version again
6. You will see that the real path of the Python interpeter was resolved instead of using the path of the symlink. This prevents the python virtual environment from being used.

Here are some screenshots after following the above steps:

Diagnostic data

Output for Python in the Output panel (View→Output, change the drop-down the upper-right of the Output panel to Python)

XXX

Extension version: 2024.4.1
VS Code version: Code 1.88.1 (Universal) (e170252f762678dec6ca2cc69aba1570769a5d39, 2024-04-10T17:42:52.765Z)
OS version: Darwin x64 22.6.0
Modes:

• Python version (& distribution if applicable, e.g. Anaconda): 3.10.11
• Type of virtual environment used (e.g. conda, venv, virtualenv, etc.): Global
• Value of the python.languageServer setting: Default

User Settings

languageServer: "Pylance"

Installed Extensions

Extension Name	Extension Id	Version
Atom One Dark Theme	akamud.vscode-theme-onedark	2.3.0
autopep8	ms-python.autopep8	2024.0.0
C/C++	ms-vscode.cpptools	1.20.1
C/C++ Extension Pack	ms-vscode.cpptools-extension-pack	1.3.0
C/C++ Themes	ms-vscode.cpptools-themes	2.0.0
clangd	llvm-vs-code-extensions.vscode-clangd	0.1.28
CMake	twxs.cmake	0.0.17
CodeLLDB	vadimcn.vscode-lldb	1.10.0
Debugger for Java	vscjava.vscode-java-debug	0.57.0
Dev Containers	ms-vscode-remote.remote-containers	0.354.0
Docker	ms-azuretools.vscode-docker	1.29.0
Doxygen Documentation Generator	cschlosser.doxdocgen	1.4.0
Dracula Official	dracula-theme.theme-dracula	2.24.3
EditorConfig for VS Code	EditorConfig.EditorConfig	0.16.4
ESLint	dbaeumer.vscode-eslint	2.4.4
Excel Viewer	GrapeCity.gc-excelviewer	4.2.59
Extension Pack for Java	vscjava.vscode-java-pack	0.26.0
Git Graph	mhutchie.git-graph	1.30.0
Git History	donjayamanne.githistory	0.6.20
GitHub Issue Notebooks	ms-vscode.vscode-github-issue-notebooks	0.0.130
GitHub Theme	GitHub.github-vscode-theme	6.3.4
GitLab Workflow	GitLab.gitlab-workflow	4.9.0
GitLens — Git supercharged	eamodio.gitlens	14.9.0
Hex Editor	ms-vscode.hexeditor	1.9.14
IntelliCode	VisualStudioExptTeam.vscodeintellicode	1.3.1
IntelliCode API Usage Examples	VisualStudioExptTeam.intellicode-api-usage-examples	0.2.8
itos-syntax	undefined_publisher.itos-syntax	0.0.1
JavaScript Debugger	ms-vscode.js-debug	1.88.0
JavaScript Debugger Companion Extension	ms-vscode.js-debug-companion	1.1.2
json	ZainChen.json	2.0.2
Jupyter	ms-toolsai.jupyter	2024.3.1
Jupyter Keymap	ms-toolsai.jupyter-keymap	1.1.2
Jupyter Notebook Renderers	ms-toolsai.jupyter-renderers	1.0.17
Jupyter Slide Show	ms-toolsai.vscode-jupyter-slideshow	0.1.6
Language Support for Java(TM) by Red Hat	redhat.java	1.29.0
Makefile Tools	ms-vscode.makefile-tools	0.9.10
Markdown Preview Enhanced	shd101wyy.markdown-preview-enhanced	0.8.13
Maven for Java	vscjava.vscode-maven	0.44.0
One Monokai Theme	azemoh.one-monokai	0.5.0
Peacock	johnpapa.vscode-peacock	4.2.2
Project Manager for Java	vscjava.vscode-java-dependency	0.23.6
Pylance	ms-python.vscode-pylance	2024.4.1
Python	ms-python.python	2024.4.1
Qt tools	tonka3000.qtvsctools	0.11.0
Rainbow CSV	mechatroner.rainbow-csv	3.11.0
Remote - SSH	ms-vscode-remote.remote-ssh	0.110.1
Remote - SSH: Editing Configuration Files	ms-vscode-remote.remote-ssh-edit	0.86.0
Remote Explorer	ms-vscode.remote-explorer	0.4.3
rust-analyzer	rust-lang.rust-analyzer	0.3.1924
Table Visualizer for JavaScript Profiles	ms-vscode.vscode-js-profile-table	1.0.8
Test Runner for Java	vscjava.vscode-java-test	0.41.0
Todo Tree	Gruntfuggly.todo-tree	0.0.226
Typescript Imports Sort	nsoult.typescript-imports-sort	1.17.0
Vim	vscodevim.vim	1.27.2
VS Code Selfhost Test Provider	ms-vscode.vscode-selfhost-test-provider	0.3.25
vscode-icons	vscode-icons-team.vscode-icons	12.7.0
vscode-pdf	tomoki1207.pdf	1.2.2
XML	redhat.vscode-xml	0.26.1

System Info

Item	Value
CPUs	Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-9880H CPU @ 2.30GHz (16 x 2300)
GPU Status	2d_canvas: enabled canvas_oop_rasterization: disabled_off 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
Load (avg)	4, 4, 4
Memory (System)	32.00GB (0.35GB free)
Process Argv	--crash-reporter-id 8d2c29d3-5729-4e0f-9a20-44f7a9b228e9
Screen Reader	no
VM	0%

A/B Experiments

vsliv368:30146709
vspor879:30202332
vspor708:30202333
vspor363:30204092
vscod805:30301674
binariesv615:30325510
vsaa593:30376534
py29gd2263:30899288
c4g48928:30535728
azure-dev_surveyone:30548225
vscrpc:30673769
a9j8j154:30646983
962ge761:30959799
pythongtdpath:30769146
welcomedialogc:30910334
pythonidxpt:30866567
pythonnoceb:30805159
asynctok:30898717
pythontestfixt:30902429
pythonregdiag2:30936856
pyreplss1:30897532
pythonmypyd1:30879173
pythoncet0:30885854
h48ei257:31000450
pythontbext0:30879054
accentitlementst:30995554
dsvsc016:30899300
dsvsc017:30899301
dsvsc018:30899302
cppperfnew:31000557
d34g3935:30971562
fegfb526:30981948
bg6jg535:30979843
ccp2r3:30993541
dsvsc020:30976470
pythonait:31006305
666c4381:30973075
gee8j676:31009558
dsvsc021:30996838
f3je6385:31013174

[karthiknadig]

Looks like we need to trun off symlink resolution for the file dialog.

[karthiknadig]

This is really a VS Code issue see here microsoft/vscode#169563 . I have requested to provide guidance on this.

[eleanorjboyd]

Hello! Are you still facing this issue?

[bradtse]

Hello! Are you still facing this issue?

Just checked and yes this is still a bug.

Version: 1.129.1 (Universal)
Commit: 8a7abeba6e03ea3af87bfbce9a1b7e48fed567b8
Date: 2026-07-17T15:35:09Z (1 wk ago)
Electron: 42.6.0
ElectronBuildId: 14623276
Chromium: 148.0.7778.280
Node.js: 24.18.0
V8: 14.8.178.38-electron.0
OS: Darwin x64 24.6.0