How To Stop Python Script Vscode

by

Visual Studio Code (VSCode) is a popular code editor for developers working in various programming languages, including Python. Sometimes, you might need to stop a Python script that’s running in VSCode due to an infinite loop or a long-running process. In this blog post, we will discuss multiple ways to stop a Python script in VSCode.

1. Using the “Stop” Button in the Terminal

When you run a Python script in VSCode, it usually opens a terminal window to display the output. You can stop the script by clicking the “Stop” button (a square icon) in the terminal toolbar. This button sends a keyboard interrupt to the running script, which should stop the execution.

2. Using Keyboard Shortcuts

You can also stop a Python script in VSCode by using keyboard shortcuts. Here are the default shortcuts for different operating systems:

  • Windows: Ctrl + C
  • macOS: Cmd + C
  • Linux: Ctrl + C

Make sure the terminal window is focused (click on it) before pressing the keyboard shortcut.

3. Using the Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (macOS)

If the above methods don’t work, you can force-stop the Python script by using the Task Manager on Windows or the Activity Monitor on macOS. Here’s how to do it:

On Windows:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
  2. Find the “python.exe” or “pythonw.exe” process in the list (you might see multiple instances).
  3. Select the process associated with your script (check the CPU usage, memory usage, or the command line arguments in the “Details” tab).
  4. Click on the “End task” button to stop the script.

On macOS:

  1. Press Cmd + Space and search for “Activity Monitor” in the Spotlight search.
  2. Find the “Python” process in the list (you might see multiple instances).
  3. Select the process associated with your script (check the CPU usage, memory usage, or the process ID).
  4. Click on the “X” button in the top-left corner and choose “Quit” or “Force Quit” to stop the script.

4. Using Command Line

If you know the process ID of the Python script, you can stop it using the command line. Here’s how to do it:

On Windows:

  1. Open the Command Prompt as Administrator.
  2. Type the following command, replacing “process_id” with the actual process ID:
  3.             taskkill /F /PID process_id

On macOS and Linux:

  1. Open the Terminal.
  2. Type the following command, replacing “process_id” with the actual process ID:
  3.             sudo kill process_id

In conclusion, there are several ways to stop a Python script in Visual Studio Code. Depending on your situation and preferences, you can use the “Stop” button in the terminal, keyboard shortcuts, the Task Manager/Activity Monitor, or the command line. It’s essential to know these methods to efficiently manage your Python scripts and save valuable time during development.