Visual studio code cmd error: Cannot be loaded because running scripts is disabled on this system

Question

Inside of visual studio code, I'm trying to execute a script.bat from the command line, but I'm getting the following error:

File C:\Theses_Repo\train-cnn\environment\Scripts\activate.ps1 cannot be loaded because running scripts is disabled on this system.

After reading this I tried to run the visual studio code in administrator mode, thinking that the problem was a matter of privileges. But the error is throwing anyway.

Solution 1

I found out here that you can add to your visual studio code settings the following and the problem will vanish: For visual studio code settings, go to File -> Preferences -> Settings -> Extensions -> Scroll down and find "Edit in settings.json". Do not forget to restart the visual studio code

"terminal.integrated.shellArgs.windows": ["-ExecutionPolicy", "Bypass"]

The reason is that, in build command line integrations like visual studio code, you need to set the command line policies by your self. By setting the above configurations, the visual studio code will do that for you.

(read this to understand better the command line policies)

Update August 2021

It seems that terminal.integrated.shellArgs is deprecated. This answer shows how to do it in new versions.

Solution 2

the issue is that PowerShell by default restricts running scripts unless we change the execution policies.

we can change the execution policies by adding -ExecutionPolicy Bypass args. in vscode you will have to create a shell profile with these args by adding below in settings.json (ctrl + shift + p and type "settings.json")

"terminal.integrated.profiles.windows": {
  "PowerShell": {
    "source": "PowerShell",
    "icon": "terminal-powershell",
    "args": ["-ExecutionPolicy", "Bypass"]
  }
},
"terminal.integrated.defaultProfile.windows": "PowerShell",

Need to restart VS Code and the Terminal.

Note: terminal.integrated.shellArgs settings have been deprecated.

Solution 3

For more simplicity, I want to add the vs code settings path in addition to Ricardo's answer. you can get it like this:

File -> Preferences -> Settings and in the search bar write "automation".

After that, by looking your operating system enter "edit in settings.json".

Finally, add the following b/n the braces:

"terminal.integrated.shellArgs.windows": ["-ExecutionPolicy", "Bypass"]

Solution 4

The simplest way to deal with this problem from Visual Studio Code is to change from powerShell to cmd (assuming there's no reason for using powershell in your case). To do so, follow these few steps:

1. Terminal -> New Terminal
2. In right lower corner select "Select Default Shell" option

3. Select "Command prompt"

I have not found such solution among current answers. Hope that helps!

Solution 5

Face the same issue and this works for me. open PowerShell as Administrator and paste this.

    Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser  

View more solutions

Comments

[Jacob Fortuna]

This fixed the issue for one run, but then it came back. The solution above worked for me.

[Friedrich Siever]

Thanks a million. This did the trick for me (after 1h of research) and saved me another headache.

[Aros]

OK, my mistake. I also had to set Powershell as my default terminal.

[Sorin Veștemean]

Thank you sir! After you add this in settings.json , you should reload or reopen vscode, a notification will ask you if you want to grant access for execution policy.

[Syafiqur__]

This did me. Thanks for the guide

[Andy]

Where in the VSCode settings do you add this?

[Ricardo Rocha]

@Andy You have in the link associated with the phrase "visual studio code settings "

[CCC]

@Andy, Go to File -> Preferences -> Settings -> Extensions -> Scroll down and find "Edit in settings.json"

[ORCAs]

thank you very much. Now i got more time to core developping.

[LondonAppDev]

This might work but sounds like bad practice from a security standpoint.

[Mohammed Noureldin]

For me I searched for terminal.integrated.shellArgs as @Barani mentioned.

[Corina Roca]

Go to the @null comment (three posts below) and you can see that you just have to change from Powershell to CMD as default command prompt. That's all!

[ajpieri]

Or just hit ctrl + shift + p and type "Open settings.json". You will see the option. Just click it and it will open your settings.json

[Vincenzooo]

there are one million of "Edit in settings.json". Javed's answer worked for me.

[MoishyS]

Note: defaultProfile is known not to work on the initial restored terminal #123188 - when you open the terminal from the + button it should work. hopefully will get fixed soon.

[Tigger]

As of May 2021 this is the correct solution. The old method of setting terminal.integrated.shellArgs.windows no longer works.

[veritaS]

Just some more additional information on this

[Green Y.]

Thank you. And it needs to restart the VS code.

[AbuDawood]

the shellArgs is deprecated in the new versions as it answered below stackoverflow.com/a/67420296/2514158 @MoishyS

[lov2code]

This worked perfectly. The previous answers are depreciated in VS Code. Thank you!

[user2059013]

After entering the above command it works

[PG_eon]

Had to restart the powershell within vscode to make this work. Thanks.

[user2552108]

This works, just needed to restart VS Code and the Terminal afterwards

[Punit]

why do we have shit tools like vscode , just use pycharm , its way better

[Priyank Kotiyal]

I think people working on windows finds it better, WebStorm is also good but its paid.

[DoomGoober]

VSCode might give you three options of settings.json: workspace settings, default settings, and just settings. It didn't work for me unless I chose the last option: Open Workspace Settings.

[Chris Macaluso]

Thank God this worked, thank you

[Punit]

i use windows , i generally use both of them (to keep me updated) , my GitHub desktop is connected to vscode for final reviews/comments but my development env. is pycharm , and pycharm is so much better.

[Ani]

works perfectly. I also had to start a new powershell inside VSCODe with + button.

[Nam Lê Quý]

thank you so much. I was very upset after installing typescript and got this error

[Jovane Mullings]

where should you put this?

[Cyebukayire]

Hi @JovaneMullings I've edited my answer with clear path of where you need to paste this. Thank you:)

[sskular]

Might be a silly question but what's b/n here?

[user1011627]

This solution kind of worked for me. I was unable to change the settings.json file as it was read-only when doing it this way. I had to combine with a "flavor" of Abdu's answer. I had to use File->Preferences->Settings and select "Edit in settings.json" in order to modify the file. I searched for "profiles" instead of "automation" though....not sure what the automation settings are, but they didn't work for me.