How to Set up Python in VS Code

Updated on:

April 10, 2026

By:

Madhav Bhandari

Use this interactive demo to learn how to set up Python in Visual Studio Code.

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Here is a simple step-by-step guide on how to set up Python in VS Code:

To set up Python in VS Code, first download and install Python from python.org.
You can check the progress of the installation in your browser’s download history.
Open the Python installer and follow the steps, such as agreeing to the license terms, until you reach and click the Install button.
Launch VS Code and click the Extensions icon on the left sidebar.
Type and select Python (by Microsoft), then click 'Install.'
Open the Command Palette search bar by pressing Cmd + Shift + P on Mac or Ctrl + Shift + P on Windows.
Type 'Python: Select Interpreter' in the Command Palette search bar and select it.
Choose venv or Quick Create, and VS Code will create the environment and select it automatically.
A successful Python setup in VS Code shows the selected Python interpreter in the bottom-left corner, and running python --version in the terminal displays the correct Python version.

📌 Why this matters

Setting up Python in VS Code gives you a complete development environment where you can write, debug, and run Python code with intelligent features like syntax highlighting, error detection, and autocomplete. Beyond the basics, this setup creates a foundation for managing multiple Python projects with isolated dependencies through virtual environments. When you work on different projects requiring different package versions, proper interpreter selection prevents conflicts that could break your code, saving hours of troubleshooting down the road.

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