Extension uses hidden default Interpreter Path from User when in Remote

[arijun]

Type: Bug

Behaviour

I have default interpreter path set on my User settings for local use, and the remote (and in this case) tries to use that. That would be an OK choice, except that that setting is hidden while in a remote window. It doesn't show up on the User pane of the UI settings, and when trying to edit it manually in the json, I get the error "This setting cannot be applied in this window. It will be applied when you open a local window."

These are saying opposite things--either the default interpreter set at the User level is relevant on remote or it isn't. And trying to find where the issue comes from when the setting is hidden can be difficult.

Steps to reproduce:

1. Set a User level default interpreter path locally
2. Open a remote editing session
3. The default interpreter set in 1 is used but can't be changed

Diagnostic data

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

2025-03-12 16:33:32.088 [error] Error: Command failed: C:\Users\me\micromamba\python.exe -I /homes/me/.vscode-server/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.2.0/python_files/get_output_via_markers.py /homes/me/.vscode-server/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.2.0/python_files/interpreterInfo.py
/bin/sh: 1: C:Usersmemicromambapython.exe: not found

    at genericNodeError (node:internal/errors:984:15)
    at wrappedFn (node:internal/errors:538:14)
    at ChildProcess.exithandler (node:child_process:422:12)
    at ChildProcess.emit (node:events:530:35)
    at maybeClose (node:internal/child_process:1104:16)
    at Socket.<anonymous> (node:internal/child_process:456:11)
    at Socket.emit (node:events:518:28)
    at Pipe.<anonymous> (node:net:343:12) {
  code: 127,
  killed: false,
  signal: null,
  cmd: 'C:\\Users\\me\\micromamba\\python.exe -I /homes/me/.vscode-server/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.2.0/python_files/get_output_via_markers.py /homes/me/.vscode-server/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.2.0/python_files/interpreterInfo.py'
}

Extension version: 2025.2.0
VS Code version: Code 1.96.2 (fabdb6a30b49f79a7aba0f2ad9df9b399473380f, 2024-12-19T10:22:47.216Z)
OS version: Windows_NT x64 10.0.22631
Modes:
Remote OS version: Linux x64 5.15.0-88-generic
Remote OS version: Linux x64 5.15.0-88-generic

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

User Settings

languageServer: "Pylance"

Installed Extensions

Extension Name	Extension Id	Version
copilot	Git	1.270.0
copilot-chat	Git	0.23.2
copy-filepath-with-line-number	nis	0.0.5
copy-python-path	yar	1.0.4
cpptools	ms-	1.23.6
debugpy	ms-	2025.4.1
gitlab-workflow	Git	4.7.0
gitlens	eam	16.3.2
hexeditor	ms-	1.11.1
isort	ms-	2023.10.1
js-debug	ms-	1.96.0
jupyter	ms-	2024.11.0
jupyter-renderers	ms-	1.1.0
lldb-vscode	lan	0.2.3
magit	kah	0.6.66
me-vscode	ME-	0.0.19
python	ms-	2025.2.0
python-path	mge	0.0.14
regex	chr	0.5.1
toggle	reb	0.0.2
vscode-better-align	cho	1.4.2
vscode-clangd	llv	0.1.33
vscode-eslint	dba	3.0.10
vscode-helix-emulation	jas	0.6.3
vscode-js-profile-table	ms-	1.0.10
vscode-jupyter-cell-tags	ms-	0.1.9
vscode-jupyter-slideshow	ms-	0.1.6
vscode-pylance	ms-	2025.3.1
vscode-settings-cycler	hoo	1.0.1
vscode-yaml	red	1.17.0

System Info

Item	Value
CPUs	12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-1270P (16 x 2496)
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 vulkan: disabled_off webgl: enabled webgl2: enabled webgpu: enabled webnn: disabled_off
Load (avg)	undefined
Memory (System)	15.67GB (1.46GB free)
Process Argv	--crash-reporter-id 144b1f82-f8b0-46f8-928a-cab01d76d2da
Screen Reader	no
VM	0%

Item	Value
Remote	SSH: ubuvdi437
OS	Linux x64 5.15.0-88-generic
CPUs	Intel(R) Xeon(R) Gold 6354 CPU @ 3.00GHz (8 x 0)
Memory (System)	31.34GB (15.90GB free)
VM	100%

Item	Value
Remote	SSH: ubuvdi437
OS	Linux x64 5.15.0-88-generic
CPUs	Intel(R) Xeon(R) Gold 6354 CPU @ 3.00GHz (8 x 0)
Memory (System)	31.34GB (15.90GB free)
VM	100%

A/B Experiments

vsliv368:30146709
vspor879:30202332
vspor708:30202333
vspor363:30204092
vscod805cf:30301675
binariesv615:30325510
py29gd2263:31024239
c4g48928:30535728
azure-dev_surveyone:30548225
2i9eh265:30646982
962ge761:30959799
h48ei257:31000450
pythontbext0:30879054
cppperfnew:31000557
dwnewjupytercf:31046870
nativerepl1:31139838
pythonrstrctxt:31112756
nativeloc2:31192216
iacca1:31171482
5fd0e150:31155592
dwcopilot:31170013
6074i472:31201624
dwoutputs:31242946
customenabled:31248079
9064b325:31222308
copilot_t_ci:31222730
f5992895:31254866
jda6j935:31233686
bgtreat:31257678
4d2d8976:31256800
hb9j0513:31256344

[karthiknadig]

The defaultInterpreterPath is defined as machine overridable. So you should be able to set it using the Remote User settings.

I see that you have python-path extension installed, is it modifying this in some way?