How can I change the Python version in Visual Studio Code?

These are my settings:

1. User Settings

   {
       "atomKeymap.promptV3Features": true,
       "editor.multiCursorModifier": "ctrlCmd",
       "editor.formatOnPaste": true,
       "python.pythonPath": "python3",
       "command": "python3",
   }
   

2. Workspace Settings

   {
       "python.pythonPath": "${workspaceFolder}/env/bin/python3.6",
       "git.ignoreLimitWarning": true
   }
   

3. tasks.json

   {
       // See https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=733558
       // for the documentation about the tasks.json format
       "version": "0.1.0",
       "command": "python3",
       "isShellCommand": true,
       "args": ["${file}"],
       "showOutput": "always"
   }
   

If I use the debug console, the version and path is right:

But the output always defaults to "python2.7", no matter what I do.

How can I fix this?

Under the view menu select 'show command pallet'. One of the commands you can then select from the command palette is 'Python: Select Interpreter'. Selecting this option will allow you to choose which version of python to use.

UPD. First, read the update #1 part in the bottom

(Try update#1 first) Looking at your screenshots I see you are using Code Runner extension. And I guess that is the way you are launching your programs. I don't know how it works internally, but adding this line into Code-Runner extension setting.json file fixed it:

"code-runner.executorMap.python": {...
"python": "python3 -u",
...}

Found it in Code-Runner GitHub repository: https://github.com/formulahendry/vscode-code-runner/issues/366

If you type "python --help", you'll see "-u" flag stands for "unbuffered binary stdout and stderr..." - don't know why it matters here.

Update #1. This became not so convenient further - I started using python's virual environments and the solution above couldn't launch these environments, cause python3 (symlink) is always linking to the same python environment.

The solution here is to use Code-Runner's supported customized parameters, so you should change "python" line in it's settings.json to:

...
"python": "$pythonPath $fullFileName",
...

Tot's answer is what worked for me on windows 10, with a few modifications.

1. File -> Preferences -> Settings
2. Type in "python.pythonPath" in the search bar.
3. Change it to what you normally run python with from the command line. If you have your Path environment variable set, that's just python. If not, it's likely the full path to the executable.

This solution is for Mac and Linux:

To change your Python version from 2.7 to 3 do this:

1. In Vscode click on file > preferences > settings.

2. On the right side click on the ... (the three dots) and select (open settings.json)

3. In the search bar type code-runner.executorMap.

4. You can only change the settings on the right side.

5. After the last setting type a comma then "code-runner.executorMap" and hit enter, this will copy all the settings from the default file.

6. Look for "python" and change the command next to it to "python3".

7. Save the changes and you should be good to go.

In VSCode there are two paths of python:

1. Path that is used when you the python code using green play button up in the top right corner. This path can be set under CTRL+SHIFT+P Python: Select Interpreter.

2. Path that is used when you type "python" in the terminal, and this is in "Environment Variables" in Windows 10 (Similar locations under Linux and Mac). In Windows 10 you can choose to have several Python versions, usually under C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python##. Just make sure you change Environment variables C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python## and C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python##\Scripts accordingly. This will also affect which pip you use, i.e. a pip that belongs to Python 3.8, or a pip that belongs to Python 3.9. Terminal in VSCode in general pertains to your default terminal I think. So in Windows 10 when you type "python" in CMD Line, it should be the same version as VSCode terminal.

For sanity purposes you should make sure that both "Python: Select Interpreter" and the system environment variables point to the same version of Python.

Bonus goodie in Windows 10. If you don't have environment variable setup, and you type 'python' in VSCode terminal, it'll point to C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\python.exe, which just opens up python link in Windows AppStore 🙄.