include error issue

[namanagrawal007]

Title:
📌 #include errors in C++ despite correct settings in VS Code (MSYS2 GCC)

Description:
I am experiencing persistent #include errors in VS Code with the C/C++ extension, even though my code compiles fine. IntelliSense is failing to detect standard headers, and squiggles appear under #include and other system headers.

VS Code Info:
VS Code Version: 1.97.2 (User Setup)
C/C++ Extension Version: 1.23.6
OS: Windows 11 Home Single Language (Version 24H2)
Compiler: MSYS2 GCC (C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -v output below)

Error Message:
#include errors detected. Please update your includePath.

Steps to Reproduce:
Open a C++ file in VS Code.
Add #include (or any standard library).
The editor shows an #include error, even though the file compiles fine.
What I Have Tried (None Worked):
✅ Installed/Reinstalled the C/C++ Extension
✅ Verified compilerPath in c_cpp_properties.json
✅ Manually added includePath for MSYS2 GCC
✅ Used "C_Cpp.default.includePath" in VS Code Settings
✅ Reset IntelliSense Cache (C/C++: Reset IntelliSense Database)
✅ Ran Extension Bisect (No conflicting extensions found)
✅ Fully reinstalled VS Code and deleted Code folder in AppData
✅ Issue persists with older versions of the C/C++ extension

Expected Behavior:
VS Code should correctly detect #include paths for IntelliSense without showing errors.

Configuration and Logs

{
    "configurations": [
        {
            "name": "Win32",
            "includePath": [
                "${workspaceFolder}/**"
            ],
            "defines": [
                "_DEBUG",
                "UNICODE",
                "_UNICODE"
            ],
            "compilerPath": "C:\\msys64\\ucrt64\\bin\\gcc.exe",
            "intelliSenseMode": "${default}"
        }
    ],
    "version": 4
}

Other Extensions

i have installed only two extensions

1. C/C++ Extension Pack(Microsoft)
2. Coderunner

Additional context

Running gcc.exe -v confirms that the include paths exist.
Downgrading to older versions of the C/C++ extension (e.g., 1.23.4, 1.23.3) does not resolve the issue.

[Colengms]

Hi @namanagrawal007 . I'm not able reproduce this with a simple example. Could you set the setting "C_Cpp.loggingLevel": "Debug", and provide the contents of the C/C++ output channel from launch until the repro? That should give us some clues as to what's happening. Do you have any other C/C++ related VS Code settings set?

[namanagrawal007]

Hi, I enabled "C_Cpp.loggingLevel": "Debug" and here are the logs from the C/C++ Output Channel:

loggingLevel: Debug
LSP: (received) cpptools/initialize (id: 1)
LSP: (invoked) cpptools/initialize (id: 1)
cpptools version (TypeScript): 1.23.6
cpptools version (native): 1.23.6.0
Autocomplete is enabled.
Error squiggles are enabled if all header dependencies are resolved.
Hover is enabled.
IntelliSense Engine = default.
LSP: Sending response (id: 1)
LSP: (received - deferred) cpptools/didChangeVisibleTextEditors
LSP: (received) cpptools/queryCompilerDefaults (id: 2)
LSP: (invoked) cpptools/queryCompilerDefaults (id: 2)
Querying compiler for default C++ language standard using command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -x c++ -E -dM nul
Querying compiler for default C++ language standard using command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -x c++ -E -dM /dev/null
Detected language standard version: c++98
Querying compiler's default target using command line: "C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe" -dumpmachine
Compiler returned default target value: x86_64-w64-mingw32
Compiler info database not connected - skipping load.
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c17 -m64 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c nul
Failed to query compiler. Falling back to 32-bit intelliSenseMode.
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c17 -m32 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c nul
Failed to query compiler. Falling back to no bitness.
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c17 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c nul
Attempting to get defaults from C compiler in "compilerPath" property: 'C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe'
Compiler info database not connected - skipping load.
Unable to configure for compiler cl.exe.
Attempting to get defaults from compiler found on the machine: 'C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe'
Compiler info database not connected - skipping load.
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c17 -m64 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c nul
Failed to query compiler. Falling back to 32-bit intelliSenseMode.
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c17 -m32 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c nul
Failed to query compiler. Falling back to no bitness.
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c17 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c nul
No suitable compiler found. Please set the "compilerPath" in c_cpp_properties.json.
Compiler info database not connected - skipping load.
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c++98 -m64 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c++ nul
LSP: Message ignored due to no registered handler: $/setTrace
Failed to query compiler. Falling back to 32-bit intelliSenseMode.
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c++98 -m32 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c++ nul
Failed to query compiler. Falling back to no bitness.
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c++98 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c++ nul
Attempting to get defaults from C++ compiler in "compilerPath" property: 'C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe'
Compiler info database not connected - skipping load.
Unable to configure for compiler cl.exe.
Attempting to get defaults from compiler found on the machine: 'C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe'
Compiler info database not connected - skipping load.
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c++98 -m64 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c++ nul
Failed to query compiler. Falling back to 32-bit intelliSenseMode.
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c++98 -m32 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c++ nul
Failed to query compiler. Falling back to no bitness.
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c++98 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c++ nul
No suitable compiler found. Please set the "compilerPath" in c_cpp_properties.json.
LSP: Sending response (id: 2)
LSP: (received) cpptools/queryCompilerDefaults (id: 3)
LSP: (invoked) cpptools/queryCompilerDefaults (id: 3)
LSP: (received) cpptools/didChangeCppProperties (id: 4)
LSP: (received) cpptools/didChangeSettings
Compiler info database not connected - skipping load.
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c17 -m64 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c nul
Failed to query compiler. Falling back to 32-bit intelliSenseMode.
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c17 -m32 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c nul
Failed to query compiler. Falling back to no bitness.
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c17 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c nul
Attempting to get defaults from C compiler in "compilerPath" property: 'C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe'
Compiler info database not connected - skipping load.
Unable to configure for compiler cl.exe.
Attempting to get defaults from compiler found on the machine: 'C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe'
Compiler info database not connected - skipping load.
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c17 -m64 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c nul
Failed to query compiler. Falling back to 32-bit intelliSenseMode.
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c17 -m32 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c nul
Failed to query compiler. Falling back to no bitness.
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c17 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c nul
No suitable compiler found. Please set the "compilerPath" in c_cpp_properties.json.
Compiler info database not connected - skipping load.
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c++98 -m64 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c++ nul
Failed to query compiler. Falling back to 32-bit intelliSenseMode.
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c++98 -m32 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c++ nul
Failed to query compiler. Falling back to no bitness.
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c++98 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c++ nul
Attempting to get defaults from C++ compiler in "compilerPath" property: 'C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe'
Compiler info database not connected - skipping load.
Unable to configure for compiler cl.exe.
Attempting to get defaults from compiler found on the machine: 'C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe'
Compiler info database not connected - skipping load.
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c++98 -m64 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c++ nul
Failed to query compiler. Falling back to 32-bit intelliSenseMode.
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c++98 -m32 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c++ nul
Failed to query compiler. Falling back to no bitness.
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c++98 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c++ nul
No suitable compiler found. Please set the "compilerPath" in c_cpp_properties.json.
LSP: Sending response (id: 3)
LSP: (invoked) cpptools/didChangeCppProperties (id: 4)
Code browsing service initialized
Populating file name cache...
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c17 -m64 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c nul
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c++98 -m64 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c++ nul
Done populating filename cache. Elapsed time: 2 ms
Failed to query compiler. Falling back to 32-bit intelliSenseMode.
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c17 -m32 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c nul
Failed to query compiler. Falling back to 32-bit intelliSenseMode.
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c++98 -m32 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c++ nul
Failed to query compiler. Falling back to no bitness.
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c17 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c nul
Failed to query compiler. Falling back to no bitness.
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c++98 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c++ nul
Attempting to get defaults from C compiler in "compilerPath" property: 'C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe'
Attempting to get defaults from C++ compiler in "compilerPath" property: 'C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe'
Unable to configure for compiler cl.exe.
Attempting to get defaults from compiler found on the machine: 'C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe'
Unable to configure for compiler cl.exe.
Attempting to get defaults from compiler found on the machine: 'C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe'
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c++98 -m64 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c++ nul
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c17 -m64 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c nul
Failed to query compiler. Falling back to 32-bit intelliSenseMode.
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c17 -m32 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c nul
Failed to query compiler. Falling back to 32-bit intelliSenseMode.
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c++98 -m32 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c++ nul
Failed to query compiler. Falling back to no bitness.
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c++98 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c++ nul
Failed to query compiler. Falling back to no bitness.
Compiler query command line: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin\gcc.exe -std=c17 -Wp,-v -E -dM -x c nul
No suitable compiler found. Please set the "compilerPath" in c_cpp_properties.json.
No suitable compiler found. Please set the "compilerPath" in c_cpp_properties.json.
Folder: C:\USERS\NAMAN AGRAWAL\ONEDRIVE\DESKTOP\PRACTISE\ will be indexed
LSP: (queued) cpptools/didChangeVisibleTextEditors
LSP: Sending response (id: 4)
LSP: (invoked) cpptools/didChangeSettings
Discovering files...
Autocomplete is enabled.
Error squiggles are enabled if all header dependencies are resolved.
Hover is enabled.
IntelliSense Engine = default.
Enhanced Colorization is enabled.
LSP: (invoked) cpptools/didChangeVisibleTextEditors
Processing folder (recursive): C:\USERS\NAMAN AGRAWAL\ONEDRIVE\DESKTOP\PRACTISE
Discovering files: 1 file(s) processed
0 file(s) removed from database
Done discovering files.
Populating include completion cache.
Parsing remaining files...
Parsing: 0 files(s) processed
Done parsing remaining files.
LSP: (received) cpptools/didChangeVisibleTextEditors
LSP: (invoked) cpptools/didChangeVisibleTextEditors
LSP: (received) cpptools/didChangeVisibleTextEditors
LSP: (invoked) cpptools/didChangeVisibleTextEditors
LSP: (received) textDocument/didOpen: file:///c%3A/Users/Naman%20Agrawal/OneDrive/Desktop/practise/p.cpp
LSP: (invoked) textDocument/didOpen: file:///c%3A/Users/Naman%20Agrawal/OneDrive/Desktop/practise/p.cpp
LSP: (received) cpptools/getCodeActions: file:///c%3A/Users/Naman%20Agrawal/OneDrive/Desktop/practise/p.cpp (id: 5)
LSP: (invoked) cpptools/getCodeActions: file:///c%3A/Users/Naman%20Agrawal/OneDrive/Desktop/practise/p.cpp (id: 5)
LSP: Sending response (id: 5)
LSP: (received) cpptools/didChangeVisibleTextEditors
LSP: (invoked) cpptools/didChangeVisibleTextEditors
Intellisense update pending for: file:///c%3A/Users/Naman%20Agrawal/OneDrive/Desktop/practise/p.cpp
LSP: (received) cpptools/didChangeActiveEditor: file:///c%3A/Users/Naman%20Agrawal/OneDrive/Desktop/practise/p.cpp
LSP: (invoked) cpptools/didChangeActiveEditor: file:///c%3A/Users/Naman%20Agrawal/OneDrive/Desktop/practise/p.cpp
LSP: (received) cpptools/getDocumentSymbols: file:///c%3A/Users/Naman%20Agrawal/OneDrive/Desktop/practise/p.cpp (id: 6)
LSP: (invoked) cpptools/getDocumentSymbols: file:///c%3A/Users/Naman%20Agrawal/OneDrive/Desktop/practise/p.cpp (id: 6)
LSP: (received) cpptools/didChangeTextEditorSelection
LSP: (invoked) cpptools/didChangeTextEditorSelection
LSP: Sending response (id: 6)
IntelliSense update scheduled and TU acquisition started for: file:///c%3A/Users/Naman%20Agrawal/OneDrive/Desktop/practise/p.cpp
Resolving recursive includes...
Done resolving recursive includes.
LSP: (received) cpptools/getCodeActions: file:///c%3A/Users/Naman%20Agrawal/OneDrive/Desktop/practise/p.cpp (id: 7)
LSP: (invoked) cpptools/getCodeActions: file:///c%3A/Users/Naman%20Agrawal/OneDrive/Desktop/practise/p.cpp (id: 7)
LSP: Sending response (id: 7)
LSP: (received) cpptools/getFoldingRanges: file:///c%3A/Users/Naman%20Agrawal/OneDrive/Desktop/practise/p.cpp (id: 8)
LSP: (invoked) cpptools/getFoldingRanges: file:///c%3A/Users/Naman%20Agrawal/OneDrive/Desktop/practise/p.cpp (id: 8)
LSP: Sending response (id: 8)
LSP: (received) cpptools/getFoldingRanges: file:///c%3A/Users/Naman%20Agrawal/OneDrive/Desktop/practise/p.cpp (id: 9)
LSP: (invoked) cpptools/getFoldingRanges: file:///c%3A/Users/Naman%20Agrawal/OneDrive/Desktop/practise/p.cpp (id: 9)
LSP: Sending response (id: 9)
sending compilation args for C:\Users\Naman Agrawal\OneDrive\Desktop\practise\p.cpp
include: C:\USERS\NAMAN AGRAWAL\ONEDRIVE\DESKTOP\PRACTISE
define: _DEBUG
define: UNICODE
define: _UNICODE
stdver: ms_c++17
intelliSenseMode: windows-msvc-x64
Error squiggles will be disabled in: file:///c%3A/Users/Naman%20Agrawal/OneDrive/Desktop/practise/p.cpp
Update IntelliSense time (sec): 0.555
LSP: (received) cpptools/getFoldingRanges: file:///c%3A/Users/Naman%20Agrawal/OneDrive/Desktop/practise/p.cpp (id: 10)
LSP: (invoked) cpptools/getFoldingRanges: file:///c%3A/Users/Naman%20Agrawal/OneDrive/Desktop/practise/p.cpp (id: 10)
LSP: Sending response (id: 10)
LSP: (received) cpptools/getCodeActions: file:///c%3A/Users/Naman%20Agrawal/OneDrive/Desktop/practise/p.cpp (id: 11)
LSP: (invoked) cpptools/getCodeActions: file:///c%3A/Users/Naman%20Agrawal/OneDrive/Desktop/practise/p.cpp (id: 11)
LSP: Sending response (id: 11)
LSP: (received) cpptools/getFoldingRanges: file:///c%3A/Users/Naman%20Agrawal/OneDrive/Desktop/practise/p.cpp (id: 12)
LSP: (invoked) cpptools/getFoldingRanges: file:///c%3A/Users/Naman%20Agrawal/OneDrive/Desktop/practise/p.cpp (id: 12)
LSP: Sending response (id: 12)
LSP: (received) cpptools/hover: file:///c%3A/Users/Naman%20Agrawal/OneDrive/Desktop/practise/p.cpp (id: 13)
LSP: (invoked) cpptools/hover: file:///c%3A/Users/Naman%20Agrawal/OneDrive/Desktop/practise/p.cpp (id: 13)
LSP: Sending response (id: 13)
LSP: (received) cpptools/hover: file:///c%3A/Users/Naman%20Agrawal/OneDrive/Desktop/practise/p.cpp (id: 14)
LSP: (invoked) cpptools/hover: file:///c%3A/Users/Naman%20Agrawal/OneDrive/Desktop/practise/p.cpp (id: 14)
LSP: Sending response (id: 14)
LSP: (received) cpptools/getCodeActions: file:///c%3A/Users/Naman%20Agrawal/OneDrive/Desktop/practise/p.cpp (id: 15)
LSP: (invoked) cpptools/getCodeActions: file:///c%3A/Users/Naman%20Agrawal/OneDrive/Desktop/practise/p.cpp (id: 15)
LSP: Sending response (id: 15)
LSP: (received) cpptools/hover: file:///c%3A/Users/Naman%20Agrawal/OneDrive/Desktop/practise/p.cpp (id: 16)
LSP: (invoked) cpptools/hover: file:///c%3A/Users/Naman%20Agrawal/OneDrive/Desktop/practise/p.cpp (id: 16)
LSP: Sending response (id: 16)
LSP: (received) cpptools/getCodeActions: file:///c%3A/Users/Naman%20Agrawal/OneDrive/Desktop/practise/p.cpp (id: 17)
LSP: (invoked) cpptools/getCodeActions: file:///c%3A/Users/Naman%20Agrawal/OneDrive/Desktop/practise/p.cpp (id: 17)
LSP: Sending response (id: 17)
LSP: (received) cpptools/didChangeVisibleTextEditors
LSP: (invoked) cpptools/didChangeVisibleTextEditors
LSP: (received) cpptools/pauseCodeAnalysis
LSP: (invoked) cpptools/pauseCodeAnalysis
LSP: (received) cpptools/resumeCodeAnalysis
LSP: (invoked) cpptools/resumeCodeAnalysis
LSP: (received) cpptools/getCodeActions: file:///c%3A/Users/Naman%20Agrawal/OneDrive/Desktop/practise/p.cpp (id: 18)
LSP: (invoked) cpptools/getCodeActions: file:///c%3A/Users/Naman%20Agrawal/OneDrive/Desktop/practise/p.cpp (id: 18)
LSP: Sending response (id: 18)
LSP: (received) cpptools/didChangeVisibleTextEditors
LSP: (invoked) cpptools/didChangeVisibleTextEditors

Additionally, my current C/C++ related settings in settings.json are:

{
    "C_Cpp.default.compilerPath": "C:\\msys64\\ucrt64\\bin\\gcc.exe",
    "C_Cpp.default.intelliSenseMode": "${default}",
    "C_Cpp.default.includePath": [
        "${workspaceFolder}/**"
    ],
    "C_Cpp.loggingLevel": "Debug"
}