can't import matplotlib in vs code

[snate28]

Importing matploblib doesn't work in vs code when I choose an interpreter from an anaconda environment. In the conda console matplotlib is imported without issues in python launched in that specific anaconda envrionment. Also in vs code if I choose python interpreter from the 'base' environment (anaconda3/python.exe) then I'm able to import matploblib in vs code. But it doesn't work with interpreter from another environment. I get the error:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "c:/Users/snate/Desktop/test.py", line 2, in
import matplotlib
File "C:\Users\snate\anaconda3\envs\pyt37\lib\site-packages\matplotlib_init_.py", line 109, in
from . import _api, _version, cbook, docstring, rcsetup
File "C:\Users\snate\anaconda3\envs\pyt37\lib\site-packages\matplotlib\rcsetup.py", line 27, in
from matplotlib.colors import Colormap, is_color_like
File "C:\Users\snate\anaconda3\envs\pyt37\lib\site-packages\matplotlib\colors.py", line 51, in
from PIL import Image
File "C:\Users\snate\anaconda3\envs\pyt37\lib\site-packages\PIL\Image.py", line 100, in
from . import _imaging as core
ImportError: DLL load failed: Access is denied.

Logs from output > Python:
2025-03-26 16:00:10.908 [info] Python interpreter path: ~\anaconda3\envs\pyt37\python.exe
2025-03-26 16:00:20.018 [info] Discover tests for workspace name: undefined - uri: c:\Users\snate\Desktop\test.py

[karthiknadig]

@snate28 Can you make sure that you have right versions of python in both base and pyt37? Also, ensure that you install matplotlib in the pyt37 environment, there could be a mismatch between the base and the environment.

[snate28]

I have different versions of python, in base I have python 3.12.3 and in pyt37 I have python 3.7.1. If I activate the environment pyt37 in the conda power shell, then launch python there, I can import matplotlib without issues, it also works in Spyder, so I'm sure matploblib is installed in that environment. However in vs code I get this error if I pick python interpreter from the pyt37 environment.

[karthiknadig]

Have you tried launching VS Code from the activated conda powershell. You can type code . to launch from that location.

[snate28]

It works if I launch it from the conda powershell. Thank you.