python.DefaultInterpreterPath not working

[trent-abc]

Type: Bug

Behaviour

If I manually run steps:

• Open Command Palette in VS Code (Cmd+Shift+P)
• Click on "Python: Select Interpreter"
• Click on ⚙️ Use Python from python.defaultInterpreterPath setting ./.pixi/envs/default/bin/python

That works, but if I want to use a settings file instead, my settings is ignored (project_dir/.vscode/settings.json):

cat .vscode/settings.json # I also modified /Library/Application\ Support/Code/User/settings.json
{
    "python.defaultInterpreterPath": "/some-path/.pixi/envs/default/bin/python"
}
# python --version
Python 3.11.13

In the output/python terminal I get:

2026-01-30 16:16:30.383 [info] Active interpreter [/some-path]:  /opt/homebrew/bin/python3.10

If I uninstall that version of python via brew I get /usr/bin/python3 instead. Why isn't vscode adhering to my settings.json?

Steps to reproduce:

How to repro

1. Clone the repo

git clone git@github.com:trent-abc/pixi-vscode-imports.git

2. install pixi - https://pixi.prefix.dev/latest/installation/

3. Install pixi deps, and modify your python.defaultInterpreterPath

cd pixi-vscode-imports && pixi install
sed -i "s=/some-path="$(pwd)"=g" .vscode/settings.json

4. Open vscode, make sure Python and Pylance extensions are installed and view repro.py.

Import "attrs" could not be resolvedPylancereportMissingImports

5. See that it's loading the wrong version of python in vscode view

view -> output -> Python

6. Command + Shift + P -> Select default python interpreter. Notice that
   ⚙️ Use Python from python.defaultInterpreterPath setting is not selected by default, but instead a Global value of something else is used.

Diagnostic data

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

2026-02-02 09:57:48.101 [info] Starting Pylance language server.
2026-02-02 09:58:56.636 [info] Native locator: Refresh started
2026-02-02 09:58:56.663 [info] Active interpreter [global]:  /opt/homebrew/bin/python3.10
2026-02-02 09:58:56.691 [info] Native locator: Refresh finished in 55 ms

Extension version: 2026.0.0
VS Code version: Code 1.108.2 (Universal) (c9d77990917f3102ada88be140d28b038d1dd7c7, 2026-01-21T13:52:09.270Z)
OS version: Darwin arm64 25.2.0
Modes:

• Python version (& distribution if applicable, e.g. Anaconda): 3.10.19.final.0
• Type of virtual environment used (e.g. conda, venv, virtualenv, etc.): System
• Value of the python.languageServer setting: Default

User Settings

languageServer: "Pylance"

Installed Extensions

Extension Name	Extension Id	Version
copilot-chat	Git	0.33.5
debugpy	ms-	2025.18.0
direnv	mkh	0.17.0
js-debug	ms-	1.105.0
js-debug-companion	ms-	1.1.3
jupyter	ms-	2025.9.1
jupyter-keymap	ms-	1.1.2
jupyter-renderers	ms-	1.3.0
python	ms-	2026.0.0
remote-containers	ms-	0.437.0
ruff	cha	2026.34.0
test-adapter-converter	ms-	0.2.1
vscode-containers	ms-	2.4.0
vscode-docker	ms-	2.0.0
vscode-js-profile-table	ms-	1.0.10
vscode-jupyter-cell-tags	ms-	0.1.9
vscode-jupyter-slideshow	ms-	0.1.6
vscode-kubernetes-tools	ms-	1.3.29
vscode-pylance	ms-	2025.10.4
vscode-python-envs	ms-	1.16.0
vscode-python-test-adapter	lit	0.8.2
vscode-test-explorer	hbe	2.22.1
vscode-yaml	red	1.19.1

System Info

Item	Value
CPUs	Apple M4 Pro (12 x 2400)
GPU Status	2d_canvas: enabled 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 trees_in_viz: disabled_off video_decode: enabled video_encode: enabled webgl: enabled webgl2: enabled webgpu: enabled webnn: disabled_off
Load (avg)	5, 4, 5
Memory (System)	48.00GB (8.72GB free)
Process Argv	--crash-reporter-id 60d56ebd-60f6-48b4-ae92-32687118ece6
Screen Reader	no
VM	0%

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[trent-abc]

resolved here - microsoft/vscode-python-environments#833 (comment)