Microsoft has released the March 2026 update for its Python extension in Visual Studio Code, bringing two transformative features: the ability to search Python symbols across installed packages and an experimental Rust-based parallel indexer that promises 10x faster performance. The update is immediately available for download.
“This release fundamentally improves how developers navigate large codebases and third-party libraries,” said Maria Chen, Principal Product Manager for Python at Microsoft. “The new indexer is a game-changer for IntelliSense responsiveness on big projects.”
Search Python Symbols in Installed Packages
Pylance, the language server behind the extension, now includes symbols from packages in the active virtual environment in Workspace Symbol search (Cmd/Ctrl+T). The feature is controlled by the setting Python › Analysis: Include Venv In Workspace Symbols.
- What it does: Surfaces symbols from packages in
site-packages, enabling navigation into third-party libraries without leaving VS Code. - Scope: For libraries without
py.typed, only symbols exported via__init__.pyor__all__appear, keeping results focused. - Performance control: The feature is opt-in by design to avoid overhead. Developers can fine‑tune indexing depth per package using Python › Analysis: Package Index Depths.
“This eliminates the constant context switch to external documentation,” noted Chen. “You stay in the editor and explore library internals as if they were your own code.”
Experimental: Rust-Based Parallel Indexer
The second major change replaces Pylance’s traditional indexer with a Rust-based parallel implementation that runs out‑of‑process. In internal tests, it achieves an average 10× speedup on large Python projects, drastically reducing wait times for completions and auto‑imports.
To try it, enable Python › Analysis: Enable Parallel Indexing in settings, or add "python.analysis.enableParallelIndexing": true to settings.json. Afterward, reload VS Code (Ctrl+Shift+P → Reload Window).
“We are deliberately keeping this experimental until we validate reliability across the diverse project setups our users have,” said Chen. “We’re eager for feedback on both performance and stability.”
Background
Pylance has long been the engine powering Python IntelliSense in VS Code, but its indexer—responsible for completions, symbol search, and auto‑imports—could lag on multi‑file projects. The March 2026 update addresses two pain points: navigating into third‑party code and indexing speed. The Rust indexer processes files in parallel, leveraging the language’s memory safety and speed, while the symbol search expansion closes a gap in cross‑package discovery.
What This Means
For developers working on large codebases or with many dependencies, the update promises a more fluid coding experience. The symbol search feature eliminates guesswork when exploring unfamiliar libraries, and the faster indexer means less waiting after opening a workspace or switching branches. However, because the indexer is experimental, users should test it in their specific environment. The improvements are optional—defaults remain unchanged—so teams can adopt at their own pace.
Microsoft has published the full changelog for the Python extension and Pylance. Developers are encouraged to try the new features and provide feedback through the VS Code issue tracker.