Bug: Command 'python.getRecommendedEnvironment' already exists in multi-root workspace

[ameicler]

Type: Bug

Behaviour

The Python extension fails to activate properly in multi-root workspaces, throwing a command registration error: command 'python.getRecommendedEnvironment' already exists. The error occurs during workspace activation but doesn't prevent core functionality from working.

Steps to reproduce:

1. Create a minimal multi-root workspace structure:

mkdir -p /tmp/test-bug/{project-a,project-b}
cd /tmp/test-bug
python -m venv project-a/.venv
python -m venv project-b/.venv

2. Create a workspace file test-bug.code-workspace:

{
    "folders": [
        {
            "path": "project-a",
            "settings": {
                "python.defaultInterpreterPath": "${workspaceFolder}/.venv/bin/python"
            }
        },
        {
            "path": "project-b",
            "settings": {
                "python.defaultInterpreterPath": "${workspaceFolder}/.venv/bin/python"
            }
        }
    ]
}

3. Open the workspace in VS Code:
   code /tmp/test-bug/test-bug.code-workspace

4. Open the Output panel (View→Output) and select "Python" from the dropdown

5. Observe the command registration error in the logs when switching context betwen files of different workspaces

Diagnostic data

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

2025-10-09 10:53:13.414 [info] > pyenv which python
2025-10-09 10:53:13.414 [info] cwd: /tmp/python-bug-repro/project-b
2025-10-09 10:53:13.422 [error] [
  'Failed to activate a workspace, Class name = v, completed in 88ms, has a falsy return value, Arg 1: <Uri:/tmp/python-bug-repro/project-b/main.py>, Return Value: undefined',
  [Error: command 'python.getRecommendedEnvironment' already exists
  	at Kb.registerCommand (file:///Applications/Visual%20Studio%20Code.app/Contents/Resources/app/out/vs/workbench/api/node/extensionHostProcess.js:112:40259)
  	at Object.registerCommand (file:///Applications/Visual%20Studio%20Code.app/Contents/Resources/app/out/vs/workbench/api/node/extensionHostProcess.js:199:102897)
  	at d.activate (/Users/antoine.meicler/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.14.0-darwin-arm64/out/client/extension.js:2:530888)
  	at /Users/antoine.meicler/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.14.0-darwin-arm64/out/client/extension.js:2:2457
  	at Array.map (<anonymous>)
  	at v.activateWorkspace (/Users/antoine.meicler/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.14.0-darwin-arm64/out/client/extension.js:2:2447)]
]

Installed Extensions

Extension Name	Extension Id	Version
python	ms-	2025.14.0
vscode-pylance	ms-	2025.8.3

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: enabled_on trees_in_viz: disabled_off video_decode: enabled video_encode: enabled webgl: enabled webgl2: enabled webgpu: enabled webnn: disabled_off
Load (avg)	3, 4, 4
Memory (System)	48.00GB (0.83GB free)
Process Argv
Screen Reader	no
VM	0%

[eleanorjboyd]

Hi! This is very strange, could you try uninstalling and reinstalling the python extension? Usually a command registration error can be fixed with a re-install when I have seen this in other cases

[rdbisme]

Hello,
I have the same problem. Started occuring after the update to the yesterday release. Reverting to the previous one works. I'm on Windows, also in a multi-root workspace.

[ameicler]

Hi @eleanorjboyd, thanks for your reply. Uninstalling and reinstalling the extension doesn't solve the issue unfortunately. I also tried to install previous versions, but facing same error. Do you manage to reproduce the issue on your end?

[eleanorjboyd]

Hello! Gave this a try myself and not seeing this error. Can you send over your full logs?

[github-actions]

Because we have not heard back with the information we requested, we are closing this issue for now. If you are able to provide the info later on, then we will be happy to re-open this issue to pick up where we left off.

Happy Coding!

[kohtala]

Hello, @eleanorjboyd, I am seeing this issue.

I cleaned up my workspace of extensions, uninstalled and installed Python, removed excess folders. While I still had two folders, the error still came. I had the folders run two different Python interpreters from two different .venv with different versions of Python (3.11 and 3.14).

After assigning both folder the same 3.14 venv, the error no longer happened.

When I again assigned different .venvs, the error started to appear. It is very persistent and appears every time I restart VSCode.

And, it seems it also happens when both have the same 3.11 .venv.

Output

2026-01-19 11:37:26.214 [info] Not enabling terminal env var experiment in multiroot remote workspaces
2026-01-19 11:37:26.585 [info] > pyenv which python
2026-01-19 11:37:26.585 [info] cwd: ~/REDACTED/3rdparty/python-torch-docker
2026-01-19 11:37:31.450 [info] Active interpreter [/home/kohtala/REDACTED/3rdparty/python-torch-docker]:  /home/kohtala/REDACTED/3rdparty/python-torch-docker/.venv314/bin/python
2026-01-19 11:37:31.466 [info] Running installed packages checker:  {
  id: '/home/kohtala/REDACTED/3rdparty/python-torch-docker/.venv314/bin/python',
  displayName: '.venv314 (3.14.2)',
  detailedDisplayName: '.venv314 (3.14.2)',
  envType: 'Venv',
  envPath: '/home/kohtala/REDACTED/3rdparty/python-torch-docker/.venv314',
  type: 'Virtual',
  path: '/home/kohtala/REDACTED/3rdparty/python-torch-docker/.venv314/bin/python',
  version: {
    raw: '3.14.2.final.0',
    major: 3,
    minor: 14,
    patch: 2,
    build: [],
    prerelease: []
  },
  sysVersion: '3.14.2.final.0',
  architecture: 3,
  sysPrefix: '/home/kohtala/REDACTED/3rdparty/python-torch-docker/.venv314'
} /home/kohtala/.vscode-server/extensions/ms-python.python-2026.0.0-linux-x64/python_files/installed_check.py /home/kohtala/REDACTED/3rdparty/python-torch-docker/constraints-2.9.1.txt
2026-01-19 11:37:31.466 [info] > ~/REDACTED/3rdparty/python-torch-docker/.venv314/bin/python ~/.vscode-server/extensions/ms-python.python-2026.0.0-linux-x64/python_files/installed_check.py ~/REDACTED/3rdparty/python-torch-docker/constraints-2.9.1.txt
2026-01-19 11:37:33.226 [info] Starting Pylance language server.
2026-01-19 11:37:34.683 [info] > pyenv which python
2026-01-19 11:37:34.683 [info] cwd: ~/REDACTED/3rdparty/jira
2026-01-19 11:37:34.714 [error] [
  'Failed to activate a workspace, Class name = v, completed in 154ms, has a falsy return value, Arg 1: <Uri:/home/kohtala/REDACTED/3rdparty/jira/jira/client.py>, Return Value: undefined',
  [Error: command 'python.getRecommendedEnvironment' already exists
  	at mA.registerCommand (file:///home/kohtala/.vscode-server/cli/servers/Stable-585eba7c0c34fd6b30faac7c62a42050bfbc0086/server/out/vs/workbench/api/node/extensionHostProcess.js:116:40445)
  	at Object.registerCommand (file:///home/kohtala/.vscode-server/cli/servers/Stable-585eba7c0c34fd6b30faac7c62a42050bfbc0086/server/out/vs/workbench/api/node/extensionHostProcess.js:213:101356)
  	at d.activate (/home/kohtala/.vscode-server/extensions/ms-python.python-2026.0.0-linux-x64/out/client/extension.js:2:533173)
  	at /home/kohtala/.vscode-server/extensions/ms-python.python-2026.0.0-linux-x64/out/client/extension.js:2:2457
  	at Array.map (<anonymous>)
  	at v.activateWorkspace (/home/kohtala/.vscode-server/extensions/ms-python.python-2026.0.0-linux-x64/out/client/extension.js:2:2447)]
]
2026-01-19 11:37:34.715 [info] Active interpreter [/home/kohtala/REDACTED/3rdparty/jira]:  /home/kohtala/REDACTED/3rdparty/jira/.venv/bin/python
2026-01-19 11:37:34.716 [info] Starting Pylance language server.

I run VSCode on Windows and workspace is on a SSH remote. All the versions are latest release versions (no pre-releases or versions to upgrade).