VScode Error: spawn python ENOENT

John D K -

The VScode error "Error: spawn python ENOENT" typically occurs when Visual Studio Code is unable to locate the Python executable on the machine.

The full error from the logs:

originalException: [Error: spawn python ENOENT
      at ChildProcess._handle.onexit (node:internal/child_process:283:19)
      at onErrorNT (node:internal/child_process:478:16)
      at process.processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:83:21)] {
	errno: -2,
	code: 'ENOENT',
	syscall: 'spawn python',
	path: 'python',
	spawnargs: [

and

	interpreter: undefined,
	id: '.python3./python./.-m#ipykernel_launcher'

Fix spawn python ENOENT

Here are a few steps you can try to resolve the issue:

Verify Python installation

Verify that Python is installed on your computer by opening a command prompt or terminal of VScode and typing:

python -V

If Python is installed, you should see the version number and a prompt:

Python 3.8.10

If you see something like: Command 'python' not found, did you mean then you need to install Python.

Install Jupyter

If you try to run code from Jupyter notebook then you need to install Jupyter notebook by:

pip install jupyter
pip install jupyterlab

In some cases upgrade of package pyzmq is needed

pip install --upgrade pyzmq

or reinstall:

pip uninstall pyzmq
pip install pyzmq

Create virtualenv

If there are multiple versions of Python installed on the computer, try specifying the path to the specific version you want to use in the settings.

In case of multiple Python versions we need to use virtual environments. To create new or select existing virtual environment in VScode do:

  • Command Palette or CTRL + Shift + P
    • Python: Select Interpreter
      • select existing environment
    • Python: Create Environment
      • Select venv or conda
      • select base Interpreter path

Reasons for Error: spawn python ENOENT

Error "spawn python ENOENT" can happen if:

  • Python is not properly installed on your computer
  • The path to the Python executable is not included in the system's PATH environment variable
  • The path to the Python executable is not configured correctly in Visual Studio Code's settings.

More on Error: spawn python ENOENT

Additionally you can check

  • Check that the path to the Python executable is included in the system's PATH environment variable. You can do this by:

Mac/Linux

echo $PATH

Windows

echo %PATH%

  • In VS Code go to settings and check the python.pythonPath setting. Make sure that it points to the correct location of your python executable

  • Reinstall Python and configure the path to the executable correctly