[Python Environments] Activation of any other environments fail when opening file without workspace

[donaldnguyen99]

Type: Bug

Description

After opening a Python file using the file explorer, right-clicking and selecting "Open with Code", I cannot change the environment that has been selected by default. Also, an isort error message appears on the launch of vscode, which may be related, as the selected environment does not have that python package installed.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Open the file using "Open from file" or from file explorer, right-clicking on the file, selecting "Open in Code"
2. Click on the environment in the bottom right.
3. Select a different environment on the pop-up

Expected Behavior

Python changes to any other environment besides the first "Python 3.13.11 (3.13.11.final.0) - C:\msys64\mingw64\bin\python.exe"

Actual Behavior

The Python environment is stuck in the same environment.

Environment Information

Extension Version: 1.30.0
Python Extension Version: 2026.4.0

Registered Environment Managers (6):
  - ms-python.python:system (Global)
  - ms-python.python:venv (venv)
  - ms-python.python:pyenv (PyEnv)
  - ms-python.python:pipenv (Pipenv)
  - ms-python.python:poetry (Poetry)
  - ms-python.python:conda (Conda)

Total Available Environments: 22
Environment Details:
  1. Python 3.13.11 (3.13.11.final.0) - C:\msys64\mingw64\bin\python.exe
  2. Python 3.13.11 (3.13.11.final.0) - C:\msys64\mingw64\bin\python3.13.exe
  3. Python 3.13.11 (3.13.11.final.0) - C:\msys64\mingw64\bin\python3.exe
  4. Python 3.13.11 (3.13.11.final.0) - C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\python.exe
  5. Python 3.13.11 (3.13.11.final.0) - C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\python3.13.exe
  6. Python 3.13.11 (3.13.11.final.0) - C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\python3.exe
  7. pygame (3.12.8) (3.12.8) - C:\ProgramData\anaconda3\envs\pygame
  8. pygame (3.12.8) (3.12.8) - C:\ProgramData\Anaconda3\envs\pygame
  9. py312 (3.12.0) (3.12.0) - C:\ProgramData\anaconda3\envs\py312
  10. py312 (3.12.0) (3.12.0) - C:\ProgramData\Anaconda3\envs\py312
  ... and 12 more environments

Python Projects (0):

Extension Settings:
  Default Environment Manager: ms-python.python:venv
  Default Package Manager: ms-python.python:pip
Auto-activation is "command". Activation based on first 'py-env.terminal.autoActivationType' setting which is 'command' and 'python.terminal.activateEnvironment' if the first is undefined which is 'true'.

Extension version: 1.30.0
VS Code version: Code 1.119.0 (8b640eef5a6c6089c029249d48efa5c99adf7d51, 2026-05-05T11:23:50-07:00)
OS version: Windows_NT x64 10.0.26200
Modes:

System Info

Item	Value
CPUs	AMD Ryzen 9 5900X 12-Core Processor (24 x 3700)
GPU Status	2d_canvas: enabled GPU0: VENDOR= 0x10de, DEVICE=0x2206 [NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080], DRIVER_VENDOR=NVIDIA, DRIVER_VERSION=32.0.15.9649 ACTIVE GPU1: VENDOR= 0x1414, DEVICE=0x008c [Microsoft Basic Render Driver], DRIVER_VERSION=10.0.26100.8328 Machine model name: Machine model version: 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)	undefined
Memory (System)	31.91GB (15.63GB free)
Process Argv	C:\Users\DonaldNguyen\Documents\Homework\SFSU\2020-Spring\PHYS-740-Computational-Physics\Assignment-4\Assignment-4.py --crash-reporter-id 58822330-6a85-409c-b00d-ed84d41da2ac
Screen Reader	no
VM	0%

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[donaldnguyen99]

I found a workaround by setting python-envs.defaultEnvManager to ms-python.python:conda to override the extensions priority order of auto-selecting (1) workspace-local virtual environments (in this case, there isn't any), then (2) global/system interpreters.