Incorrect background colour on PowerShell terminal

[BradyMcIntosh]

Type: Bug

• Start a PowerShell terminal in VS Code
  
• Type test input
• test is highlighted normally as a command while input is displayed with an unusual black background colour
  
• Remove this input with backspace
• All the spaces that once contained test input now have a black background
  

VS Code version: Code 1.116.0 (560a9db, 2026-04-15T00:28:13Z)
OS version: Windows_NT x64 10.0.19045
Modes:

System Info

Item	Value
CPUs	AMD Ryzen 9 9900X 12-Core Processor (24 x 4392)
GPU Status	2d_canvas: enabled GPU0: VENDOR= 0x10de, DEVICE=0x2482 [NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti], DRIVER_VENDOR=NVIDIA, DRIVER_VERSION=32.0.15.7602 ACTIVE GPU1: VENDOR= 0x1002, DEVICE=0x13c0 [AMD Radeon(TM) Graphics], DRIVER_VERSION=32.0.21030.31 GPU2: VENDOR= 0x1414, DEVICE=0x008c [Microsoft Basic Render Driver], DRIVER_VERSION=10.0.19041.5794 Machine model name: Machine model version: direct_rendering_display_compositor: disabled_off_ok gpu_compositing: enabled multiple_raster_threads: enabled_on opengl: enabled_on rasterization: enabled raw_draw: disabled_off_ok skia_graphite: disabled_off trees_in_viz: disabled_off video_decode: enabled video_encode: enabled webgl: enabled webgl2: enabled webgpu: enabled webnn: disabled_off
Load (avg)	undefined
Memory (System)	61.61GB (54.21GB free)
Process Argv	--crash-reporter-id 248e52a1-b2f7-415a-aee7-b097c1e8375d
Screen Reader	no
VM	0%

Extensions (11)

Extension	Author (truncated)	Version
ruff	cha	2026.40.0
vscode-containers	ms-	2.4.1
debugpy	ms-	2025.18.0
python	ms-	2026.4.0
vscode-pylance	ms-	2026.2.1
vscode-python-envs	ms-	1.28.0
remote-wsl	ms-	0.104.3
cpptools	ms-	1.31.5
rust-analyzer	rus	0.3.2870
even-better-toml	tam	0.21.2
vscode-lldb	vad	1.12.1

A/B Experiments

vsliv368:30146709
binariesv615:30325510
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copilot_t_ci:31333650
e5gg6876:31282496
pythonrdcb7:31342333
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aj953862:31281341
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envsactivate1:31464700
cloudbuttont:31379625
42190218_ostrepl:31403339
56b7f661:31457055
use-responses-api:31390855
ec5jj548:31422691
cp_cls_t_966_ss:31454198
inlinechat_v2_hd992725:31499106
4je02754:31466945
8hhj4413:31478653
cp_cls_t_1081:31454832
conptydll_true:31498968
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idci7584:31464702
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chat:31457767
jc933416:31497036
dfc2j404:31499613
cpptoolsoff-v2:31475362
ghj88844:31499326
h08i8180_copy:31475368
ec1eg703:31491645
client_tst_t:31495907
ddid_c:31478207
getcmakediagnosticsoff:31489825
cp_cls_c_1082:31491634
logging_enabled_new:31498466
db5d2638:31499441
output_1x:31496637
748c7209:31497895

[BradyMcIntosh]

I have been able to resolve this by disabling the setting terminal.integrated.windowsUseConptyDll.

[meganrogge]

@anthonykim1 I think we've seen a similar report, but narrowing it down to the above setting is helpful

[anthonykim1]

Wasnt able to repro on my windows with conpty enabled.

@BradyMcIntosh Which vscode theme are you using?

Maybe conflict between windows 10 and the newer conpty

[BradyMcIntosh]

@anthonykim1 I'm using the Dark 2026 theme.