[BUG] VSCode extension doesn't allow the use of the locally installed CLI version

[barryjpodonovan]

Describe the bug
As per the FAQ for the VSCode extension, the extension should allow the use of an already installed version of the CLI. However, it doesn't do this automatically, and there is no setting to point the extension to where the extension is already installed. The only option is to use the bundled cli in %userprofile%/.vscode/extensions/databricks.databricks-2.16.0-win32-x64/bin/databricks.exe.

Our company's IT policies/controls prevent .exe being run unless there are installed from our internal App Store. This App Store has the databricks cli which is installed to c:/program files/databricks/databricks.exe and runs correctly. However, the VSCode extension can't be pointed to it.

This results in the VSCode extension not running properly as it just triggers a Windows popup for admin access which our users don't have:

The application you are attempting to run is not permitted in this environment.

Executable: DATABRICKS.EXE
Path: %USERPROFILE%\.VSCODE\EXTENSIONS\DATABRICKS.DATABRICKS-2.16.0-WIN32-X64\BIN
Parent Process: cmd.exe /d /c ""%USERPROFILE%\.vscode\extensions\databricks.databricks-2.16.0-win32-x64\bin\databricks.exe" "bundle" "validate" "--target" "feature_branch""

Deciding Rule: Trusted Ownership

Click here for instructions to run this software

To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Install VSCode extension
2. Try to run without admin permissions on a machine where user install and running of .exe are forbidden unless officially installed from company App Store
3. Try to point VSCode extension to existing install of the databricks cli
4. See error

System information:

Version: 1.137.0 (user setup)
Commit: 645f29cc3176500b4b5762ba887cf2a7f0ffdf2c
Date: 2026-09-08T13:43:59-07:00
Electron: 42.10.0
ElectronBuildId: 15109253
Chromium: 148.0.7778.280
Node.js: 24.18.1
V8: 14.8.178.38-electron.0
@github/copilot: 1.0.84.70.gdb75d0d
@github/copilot-sdk: 1.0.13-preview.4
OS: Windows_NT x64 10.0.26200

Databricks Extension Version: 2.16.0

[rclarey]

Hi @barryjpodonovan, I agree we should have a setting to override the bundled CLI for cases such as yours. I'll work on adding this for the next scheduled release.

Please note: this extension is tightly coupled to the CLI, and it's common for new versions of the extension to require the newest CLI version released the same day (that's why we bundle it). When the setting is added, if you update this extension without also updating the CLI override you'll get errors for new CLI commands / flags that the extension expects to be available.

As for the FAQ, I'll make sure it's updated to remove the incorrect information.

[barryjpodonovan]

Thanks @rclarey, appreciate the response and change. That's a fair trade-off in using an unbundled cli install.

[PeteACousins]

Hi @barryjpodonovan, I agree we should have a setting to override the bundled CLI for cases such as yours. I'll work on adding this for the next scheduled release.

Please note: this extension is tightly coupled to the CLI, and it's common for new versions of the extension to require the newest CLI version released the same day (that's why we bundle it). When the setting is added, if you update this extension without also updating the CLI override you'll get errors for new CLI commands / flags that the extension expects to be available.

As for the FAQ, I'll make sure it's updated to remove the incorrect information.

Fantastic - can't get it to work without this for the same reason.