Yeah, if you're looking for these bits of the Python extension, it's moved over to the debugpy extension now. In case you missed the announcement, it's at https://code.visualstudio.com/updates/v1_86#_python-debugger-extension-installed-by-default. See also https://github.com/microsoft/vscode-python/pull/22502 and the following https://github.com/microsoft/vscode-python/pull/22738.

Make sure the ms-python.debugpy extension is installed (it should be installed automatically as part of the Python extension update), and that it's enabled. Then press F5, and when prompted to select a debugger, select "Python Debugger", and then you'll see the options you want.

Answer from starball on Stack Overflow
🌐
Visual Studio Code
code.visualstudio.com › docs › python › debugging
Python debugging in VS Code
November 3, 2021 - Select the create a launch.json file link (outlined in the image above) or use the Run > Open configurations menu command. Select Python Debugger from the debugger options list.
🌐
Visual Studio Code
code.visualstudio.com › docs › python › python-quick-start
Quick Start Guide for Python in VS Code
November 3, 2021 - From the Command Palette (⇧⌘P (Windows, Linux Ctrl+Shift+P)), select the Python: Start REPL command to open a REPL terminal for the currently selected Python interpreter. In the REPL, you can then enter and run lines of code one at a time. The debugger is a helpful tool that allows you to inspect the flow of your code execution and more easily identify errors, as well as explore how your variables and data change as your program is run.
Discussions

VS Code Python January 2024 "Run and Debug" how to re-enable "select a debug configuration" - Stack Overflow
I did not create one previously. I have tried restarting vscode, and restarting my laptop. I have look for vs code debug settings to change - none seem appropriate for fixing this · if I select Show all automatic debug configurations, I get only two options: Node.js.. Python Debugger... More on stackoverflow.com
🌐 stackoverflow.com
How to set up python debugger for VS Code? - Stack Overflow
The Python extension supports debugging of a number of types of Python applications. ... A configuration drives VS Code's behavior during a debugging session. Configurations are defined in a launch.json file that's stored in a .vscode folder in your workspace. More on stackoverflow.com
🌐 stackoverflow.com
python - Default VS Code debugger - Stack Overflow
You could read document about VSCode Python Debugging. To initialize debug configurations, first select the Run view in the sidebar: More on stackoverflow.com
🌐 stackoverflow.com
How to debug Python 3.6 in VSCode?
You have to install an older version of the main VSCode Python extensions. I have a Django (v1.11.3) project using Python 3.6.15, so I had to install the following VSCode extensions at these versions: Python v2022.8.1 Pylance v2022.6.30 Python Debugger v2023.1.XXX (pre-release version | debugpy v1.5.1) After that, I had to configure my launch.json file, so it looked like this: { // Use IntelliSense to learn about possible attributes. // Hover to view descriptions of existing attributes. // For more information, visit: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=830387 "version": "0.2.0", "configurations": [ { "name": "project-name", "type": "python", "request": "launch", "python": "${workspaceFolder}/venv/project-name/bin/python", "program": "${workspaceFolder}/project-name/manage.py", "args": [ "runserver", "0.0.0.0:8000" ], "django": true, "justMyCode": true } ] } It may vary from project to project, so I recommend reading the Python debugging in VS Code documentation for it. References: https://github.com/microsoft/vscode-python/issues/19427 https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ms-python.debugpy More on reddit.com
🌐 r/learnpython
8
7
February 1, 2024
🌐
Visual Studio Code
code.visualstudio.com › docs › debugtest › debugging
Debug code with Visual Studio Code
November 3, 2021 - For simple applications, VS Code tries to run and debug the currently active file. For more complex applications or debugging scenarios, you need to create a launch.json file to specify the debugger configuration.
🌐
Visual Studio Code
code.visualstudio.com › docs › python › python-tutorial
Getting Started with Python in VS Code
November 3, 2021 - Since this is your first time debugging this file, a configuration menu will open from the Command Palette allowing you to select the type of debug configuration you would like for the opened file.
🌐
Qodo
qodo.ai › blog › learn › tutorial: how to debug python code in visual studio code
Tutorial: How to Debug Python code in Visual Studio Code - Qodo
September 17, 2025 - This configuration packs the essentials: it uses debugpy (VS Code’s Python debugger), launches your current file, and runs it in the integrated terminal.
🌐
Python Land
python.land › home › creating python programs › python in vscode: running and debugging
Python in VSCode: Running and Debugging • Python Land Tutorial
September 5, 2025 - Such a configuration allows you to store specific parameters, so we can start the program exactly how we want it to. To create a run configuration, click Run -> Add Configuration. Pick the ‘Python file’ option again.
Find elsewhere
🌐
Medium
medium.com › @jonathan_b › debugging-in-visual-studio-code-a-python-app-with-arguments-8d75a69bbd66
Debugging in Visual Studio Code — A Python app with arguments | by BLAKELY | Medium
June 25, 2024 - // For more information, visit: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=830387 "version": "0.2.0", "configurations": [ { "name": "Python Debugger: Current File with Arguments", "type": "debugpy", "request": "launch", "program": "${workspaceFolder}/my_project/runner.py", "console": "integratedTerminal", "args": ["arg1", "arg2"] } ] }
🌐
Donjayamanne
donjayamanne.github.io › pythonVSCodeDocs › docs › debugging
Debugging | Python in Visual Studio Code
The setting "stopOnEntry":true will cause the debugger to break at the first line of the python program being debugged. If this is not desired, then change the value from true to false. The default value of this setting is true. This setting controls the display of a terminal (console window) for debugging. By default this is turned off (with a value of "none"). If a terminal (console window) is to be displayed whilst debugging, then use one of the following settings:
🌐
Stack Overflow
stackoverflow.com › questions › 78093500 › default-vs-code-debugger
python - Default VS Code debugger - Stack Overflow
Select Python Debugger from the debugger options list. A configuration menu will open from the Command Palette allowing you to choose the type of debug configuration you want to use for our Python project file.
🌐
Keploy
keploy.io › home › community › vscode python debugging tips & tricks
VSCode Python Debugging Tips & Tricks | Keploy Blog
August 25, 2025 - First, install the Microsoft Python Extension. You then have to load your Python file, and click on F5 or "Run and Debug" button. If you’d like to get more granular control, you can create a .vscode/launch.json file to customize your debugging ...
🌐
Visual Studio Code
code.visualstudio.com › docs › debugtest › debugging-configuration
Visual Studio Code debug configuration
March 25, 2026 - Learn how to configure debugging in Visual Studio Code with launch.json, including attributes, variable substitution, and compound configurations.
🌐
GeeksforGeeks
geeksforgeeks.org › python › how-to-debug-a-python-module-in-vscode
How to debug a python module in VSCode - GeeksforGeeks
July 23, 2025 - This configuration tells VSCode how to run and debug your code. First, open the Debug view by clicking on the debug icon in the activity bar. Then click on the gear icon to open the 'launch.json' file.
🌐
Medium
medium.com › grabngoinfo › setting-up-python-debugger-in-vscode-d999002e70c5
Setting Up Python Debugger in VSCode | by Amy @GrabNGoInfo | GrabNGoInfo | Medium
March 28, 2023 - Setting Up Python Debugger in VSCode Install Python in Visual Studio Code, debug configuration, set up breakpoints, and understand different debugging actions in VSCode Visual Studio Code (VSCode) is …
🌐
Medium
m-ruminer.medium.com › vscode-and-debugging-python-in-virtual-environments-d975125b455c
VSCode and Debugging Python in Virtual Environments | by Michael Ruminer | Medium
January 10, 2026 - You can have the debug window create a launch.json in the .vscode folder of the root workspace directory or create it yourself from scratch. Here is one of my modified ones. { // Use IntelliSense to learn about possible attributes. // Hover to view descriptions of existing attributes. // For more information, visit: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=830387 "version": "0.2.0", "configurations": [ { "name": "Python: crewai series day_04", "type": "debugpy", "request": "launch", "program": "${file}", "console": "integratedTerminal", "env": { "PYTHONPATH": "${workspaceFolder}\\crewai_series"
🌐
Microsoft Learn
learn.microsoft.com › en-us › visualstudio › python › debugging-python-in-visual-studio
Debug Python code, set breakpoints, inspect code - Visual Studio (Windows) | Microsoft Learn
Use rich interactive debugging for Python code in Visual Studio, including setting breakpoints, stepping, inspecting values, looking at exceptions, and more.
🌐
YouTube
youtube.com › watch
Debugging Python with Visual Studio Code (VSCode) - YouTube
In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of debugging Python code with Visual Studio Code (VSCode). VSCode is a popular code editor with debug...
Published   April 19, 2023
🌐
Towards Data Science
towardsdatascience.com › home › latest › a comprehensive guide to debugging python scripts in vs code
A comprehensive guide to debugging Python scripts in VS Code | Towards Data Science
March 5, 2025 - The debugging configuration drives VS Code’s behavior during a debugging session. The configuration is defined in a launch.json file that is stored in the .vscode folder in our workspace.
🌐
VS Code debug specs
vscode-debug-specs.github.io › python
How to Debug Python with VS Code | VS Code debug specs - Python
{ "version": "0.2.0", "configurations": [ { "name": "Python", "type": "python", "request": "launch", "program": "${workspaceFolder}/main.py", "args": ["4", "3", "2", "1"] } ] }