Error when trying to use conda on vs code: conda : The term 'conda' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet

Question

I am trying to build a basic machine learning algorithm, and to do so I am using the anaconda interpreter for python. However, even though visual studio code appears to have recognized conda as the interpreter, and I have the anaconda3 shell working as a separate application, I cannot get conda to work on vs code. Whenever I try to check for conda, I get the following error:

conda : The term 'conda' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.
At line:1 char:1
+ conda activate base
+ ~~~~~
    + CategoryInfo          : ObjectNotFound: (conda:String) [], CommandNotFoundException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : CommandNotFoundException

I have tried the fixes linked here: 'Conda' is not recognized as internal or external command

however, they did not work for me. I tried setting conda to my path yet I still got the same error. Thanks in advance!

Solution

Try the following:

1. Run Anaconda/Miniconda
2. Activate the environment there:

conda activate your-env

3. Start Visual Studio Code from the Anaconda/Miniconda terminal:

code

Then Visual Studio Code should recognize conda:

Comments

[AMC]

Where are you trying to execute that command?

[Jill Cheng]

@Spaceball -Have you tried restarting VSCode after adding the conda system path?

[Spaceball]

@AMC I am executing it in powershell in the terminal in vscode, in the path for my project (i.e. C:\Users\User\Documents\Machine-Learning). Is this what you mean?

[Spaceball]

@JillCheng I just restarted VSCode and it appears that the issue remains.

[Jill Cheng]

@Spaceball -Could you find the three file locations "Anaconda3", "Anaconda3\Scripts", and "\Library\bin"? And could the conda environment be activated in a powershell terminal outside of VSCode?

[Spaceball]

@JillCheng - I could find these file locations in my computer. However, when I try to do anything with conda in the outside PowerShell terminal, I also get the same error.

[Jill Cheng]

@Spaceball -The content displayed on the terminal means that the terminal cannot find anaconda. Therefore, if the environment variables are configured correctly, it is recommended that you try to reinstall Anaconda.

[Robert Sim]

It seems like a bug to me if VS Code can locate the anaconda environment in the editor, but when you launch a terminal inside VS Code the environment can't be found.