The terminal process failed to launch in VS Code

VS Code’s terminal process allows users to run scripts and commands within the editor environment, improving workflow efficiency. It provides a command-line interface for code compilation, version control management, dependency installation, and server-side application execution. However, we have noticed that sometimes, the Terminal process fails to launch in VS Code. In this post, we will see what you can do to resolve this issue.

The terminal process failed to launch

The accompanying sub-error messages could be Path to Shell executable, Exit Code 1, Starting directory, A native exception occurred or Windows cannot open this program.

Fix The terminal process failed to launch in VS Code

If the terminal process fails to launch in Visual Studio Code, follow the solutions mentioned below.

1. Review user settings
2. Update VS Code to the latest version
3. Install the latest version of Shell
4. Turn on Trace logging to capture a log when launching the terminal

Let us talk about them in detail.

1] Review user settings

First of all, we need to check and verify that there have been no alterations made to the user setting due to which we are facing this issue. To do the same, first of all, go to File > Preferences > Settings or hit Ctrl + ,.

Now, we need to check and alter the terminal.integrated settings. Following are the settings, we need to take care of.

• terminal.integrated.defaultProfile.{platform} – To check the default shell profile of the user.
• terminal.integrated.profiles.{platform} – The defined shell profiles set the path and arguments for the shell.
• terminal.integrated.cwd – To check the current working directory.
• terminal.integrated.env.{platform} – To check the environment variables that will be added to the shell process.
• terminal.integrated.inheritEnv – To allow new shells the privilege to inherit their environment from VS Code.
• terminal.integrated.automationProfile.{platform} – To alter the shell profile for automation-related terminal usage like tasks and debugging.
• terminal.integrated.splitCwd – To control the current working directory a split terminal starts with.
• terminal.integrated.windowsEnableConpty – To allow the privilege to use ConPTY for communication in Windows Terminal

If you are not sure where you have made the changes, try using the Modified filter. You can either click on the Filter icon and select Modified or just enter @modified in the search icon.

To modify most Integrated Terminal settings, you will need to access your user JSON file. You can open it by clicking on the “Edit in settings.json” link in the Settings editor, or by using the “Preferences: Open User Settings (JSON)” command from the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P).

2] Update VS Code to the latest version

There is a possibility that the issue you are facing is due to a bug, and since we are not a developer at Microsoft, our best shot to resolve these bugs is by installing the latest version of Visual Studio Code. So, open VS Code, and go to Help > Check for updates. Now, check if there is a version released that you can install. Install it to the latest version and you will be good to go.

3] Install the latest version of Shell

If your command-line interface is installed separately from your operating system, consider installing the most recent available version of the interface. The same recommendation applies if you are using an older build of your OS. For instance, some earlier versions of Windows 10 were not compatible with the terminal in VS Code.

4] Turn on Trace logging to capture a log when launching the terminal

Enable trace logging when launching the terminal to identify the problem. The log records all arguments used to create the process which often reveals the issue. Incorrect shell names, arguments, or environment variables can prevent the terminal from launching. To do the same, follow the steps mentioned below.

1. First of all, open the Task Manager and end all the processes related to VS Code.
2. Now, open VS Code (To open it from Terminal, run code –log trace).
3. Hit F1 or Fn + F1.
4. Write “Developer: Open Log File…” and hit Enter.
5. Now, select one of the following options.
   • Terminal: Frontend input logs.
   • PTY Host: Backend logs

This will do the job for you.

Hopefully, these solutions will do the trick for you.

Read: Best ChatGPT extensions for VS Code

Why is my terminal not working in VS Code?

If you encounter issues with launching the terminal in VS Code, it could be related to your shell installation rather than VS Code itself. There must be an exit code shown in the terminal, so you may be able to troubleshoot the problem by searching for the specific shell and exit code online.

Read: How to change font size and font-weight in Windows Terminal?

How do I launch VS Code from Terminal code?

It’s pretty simple to launch VS Code from the Terminal. All you have to do is open Terminal or any other command-line utility such as Command Prompt or PowerShell and run “code –log trace”. This will do the trick for you.

Also Read: How to backup Windows Terminal settings?