Visual Studio Code C/C++ Extension doesn't set the include path for the compiler

Question

I installed the C/C++ Extension for Visual Studio Code (ms-vscode.cpptools) and I'm trying to compile a .cpp file, but I keep getting fatal error C1034: iostream: no include path set.

Here is the contents of tasks.json:

{
    "version": "2.0.0",
    "tasks": [
        {
            "type": "shell",
            "label": "C/C++: cl.exe build active file",
            "command": "cl.exe",
            "args": [
                "/Zi",
                "/EHsc",
                "/Fe:",
                "${fileDirname}\\${fileBasenameNoExtension}.exe",
                "${file}"
            ],
            "options": {
                "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}"
            },
            "problemMatcher": [
                "$msCompile"
            ],
            "group": {
                "kind": "build",
                "isDefault": true
            }
        }
    ]
}

Here is the contents of c_cpp_properties.json:

{
    "configurations": [
        {
            "name": "Win32",
            "defines": [
                "_DEBUG",
                "UNICODE",
                "_UNICODE"
            ],
            "windowsSdkVersion": "8.1",
            "compilerPath": "C:/Program Files (x86)/Microsoft Visual Studio/2019/Community/VC/Tools/MSVC/14.26.28801/bin/Hostx64/x64/cl.exe",
            "cStandard": "c11",
            "cppStandard": "c++17",
            "intelliSenseMode": "msvc-x64"
        }
    ],
    "version": 4
}

and here is the exact output:

> Executing task: cl.exe /Zi /EHsc /Fe: c:\Users\User\Documents\C\cpp_workshop-cpp_ex2\main.exe c:\Users\User\Documents\C\cpp_workshop-cpp_ex2\main.cpp <

Microsoft (R) C/C++ Optimizing Compiler Version 19.00.24213.1 for x86 Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

main.cpp

c:\Users\User\Documents\C\cpp_workshop-cpp_ex2\main.cpp(21): fatal error C1034: iostream: no include path set

The terminal process terminated with exit code: 1

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Answer 1

I had same Problem which solved as Ted Lyngmo says :

open vscode with developer command prompt.

Edit :
When i open vscode with Developer Command Prompt(DCP) it don't gives such an error.
To open DCP follow steps below :
1- Open start menu(WIN key) and start typing "Developer Command Prompt" it should appear there.
2- After opening it write code . and run it. This way you opened vs code from DCP.
3- Navigate desired folder inside vscode and create cpp files there.
4- After you write your "Helloworld.cpp" press CTRL + SHIFT + B, this will compile your code

i hope this helps