Resolving the spawn ENOTDIR Error in VS Code Remote-SSH

Discover how to fix the `spawn ENOTDIR` error in Visual Studio Code's Remote-SSH feature and get back to remote development smoothly!
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/66523305/ asked by the user 'Tara Mishra' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/9444219/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/66526196/ provided by the user 'JJ Cheng' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/11742945/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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How to Fix the spawn ENOTDIR Error in VS Code Remote-SSH

If you’ve been using Visual Studio Code’s Remote-SSH feature to connect to remote machines, you might have encountered the frustrating error message stating, “Could not establish connection to ‘’: spawn ENOTDIR.” This error typically indicates that VS Code is unable to locate your SSH executable, an issue that can pop up unexpectedly, particularly after updates. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to resolve this problem quickly and effectively.

Understanding the spawn ENOTDIR Error

The error arises from VS Code failing to find the SSH program needed to establish a remote connection. This can happen for several reasons, including:

Misconfiguration: Changes to your settings or VS Code update may cause the path for the SSH executable to change or become invalid.

Missing Executable: The SSH executable might not be installed on your system or may have been moved or deleted.

Step-by-Step Solution

Here’s how you can resolve the spawn ENOTDIR error to get back to coding on your remote machine:

Step 1: Open Remote-SSH Preferences

Launch Visual Studio Code.

Press Cmd + , (or Ctrl + , on Windows) to open the settings.

In the search bar, type remote-ssh to filter the settings specific to Remote-SSH.

Step 2: Configure the SSH Path

Look for the setting labeled Remote.SSH: Path in the preferences.

If this field is empty, this indicates that VS Code cannot find the SSH executable automatically.

Step 3: Locate Your SSH Executable

Open a terminal window.

Run the command:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This command will return the absolute path to your SSH executable, for example, /usr/bin/ssh.

Step 4: Input the Path in VS Code

Copy the path returned from the previous step.

Go back to the VS Code preferences and paste the path into the Remote.SSH: Path field.

Ensure there are no extra spaces and the path is accurate.

Step 5: Save Settings and Retry

Save your changes in the settings.

Attempt to reconnect via the Remote-SSH feature again.

Conclusion

By specifying the absolute path to your SSH executable, you are letting VS Code establish the necessary connection without running into the spawn ENOTDIR error. This simple fix should resolve the issue, allowing you to continue your remote development work smoothly.

If you still face issues even after following these steps, consider checking for any additional updates to Visual Studio Code or the Remote-Development extension, and ensure that your SSH client is properly installed on your machine. Happy coding!

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