PowerShell execution policy blocking Python virtual environments and npm in VS Code

[lucask]

I keep getting a security error when I try to activate my Python virtual environment or run npm commands inside Visual Studio Code. The terminal throws an error message saying that script execution is disabled on my system due to execution policies.

The full error looks something like this:

scripts cannot be loaded because running scripts is disabled on this system
For more information, see about_Execution_Policies
CategoryInfo: SecurityError: (:) [], PSSecurityException
FullyQualifiedErrorId: UnauthorizedAccess

This happens every time I try to work with virtual environments or node packages. How can I fix this PowerShell restriction so I can use these development tools normally in VS Code?

[Luke_Brilliant]

had this prob too! if u wanna skip admin stuff, you can run Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process in the VSCode terminal. it’ll just apply for that session, so it’s a quick fix without permanently changing your settings.

[SwimmingShark]

Changing the default terminal in Visual Studio Code from PowerShell to Command Prompt or Git Bash effectively resolves the execution policy issue. You can easily select a different shell from the terminal dropdown or modify your VS Code settings to set cmd.exe as the default terminal. This approach allows you to bypass the complications of PowerShell execution policies, which is particularly useful on shared machines where you lack permission to alter system settings. With Command Prompt, your Python virtual environments and npm commands should function without encountering security restrictions.

[mikezhang]

This PowerShell execution policy issue can be quite frustrating. To resolve it, you should run PowerShell as an administrator and execute the command Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser. This setting allows your local scripts to run while preventing unsigned scripts from running remotely, which helps maintain security. Once you apply this change, you should find that your Python virtual environment scripts and npm commands work without issue in Visual Studio Code. Keep in mind that you may need to restart VS Code for the changes to take effect.