Rename Service Settings (F2 in Preview 2026.1.1) changes splatting variable

[juergsteiger]

Prerequisites

• I have written a descriptive issue title.
• I have searched all open and closed issues to ensure it has not already been reported.
• I have read the troubleshooting guide.
• I am sure this issue is with the extension itself and does not reproduce in a standalone PowerShell instance.
• I have verified that I am using the latest version of Visual Studio Code and the PowerShell extension.
• If this is a security issue, I have read the security issue reporting guidance.

Summary

The variable $SplatProcessss has a typo. It is also used for splatting later in the code

---

$SplatProcessss = @{
FilePath = 'C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe'
}

Start-Process @SplatProcessss

---

Pressing F2 to rename the variable to SplatProcess results in changing the splatting variable to $SplatProcess instead of @SplatProcess

$SplatProcess = @{
FilePath = 'C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe'
}

Start-Process $SplatProcess <--- wrong

Expected result renaming the variable

---

$SplatProcess = @{
FilePath = 'C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe'
}

Start-Process @SplatProcess <--- correct

---

Thank you for the great feature

PowerShell Version

PS C:\> $PSVersionTable; $Host

Name                           Value                                                                                                                                                                            
----                           -----                                                                                                                                                                            
PSVersion                      5.1.26100.8655                                                                                                                                                                   
PSEdition                      Desktop                                                                                                                                                                          
PSCompatibleVersions           {1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0...}                                                                                                                                                          
BuildVersion                   10.0.26100.8655                                                                                                                                                                  
CLRVersion                     4.0.30319.42000                                                                                                                                                                  
WSManStackVersion              3.0                                                                                                                                                                              
PSRemotingProtocolVersion      2.3                                                                                                                                                                              
SerializationVersion           1.1.0.1                                                                                                                                                                          

Name             : Visual Studio Code Host
Version          : 2026.1.1
InstanceId       : 9c176ed1-2a2d-4562-b60e-cf1e6c8f9775
UI               : System.Management.Automation.Internal.Host.InternalHostUserInterface
CurrentCulture   : de-CH
CurrentUICulture : de-DE
PrivateData      : Microsoft.PowerShell.ConsoleHost+ConsoleColorProxy
DebuggerEnabled  : True
IsRunspacePushed : False
Runspace         : System.Management.Automation.Runspaces.LocalRunspace

Visual Studio Code Version

PS C:\> code --version
1.125.1
fcf604774b9f2674b473065736ee75077e256353
x64

Extension Version

PS C:\> code --list-extensions --show-versions | Select-String powershell

ms-vscode.powershell@2026.1.1

Steps to Reproduce

See summary

Visuals

No response

Logs

No response

[github-actions]

Rename (textDocument/rename) drops the @ splat sigil when renaming a splatted variable — genuine, actionable bug.

For maintainers

Reproducibility
High confidence. The report is self-contained: minimal before/after code snippet, unambiguous expected vs. actual output, and full version details (PS 5.1.26100.8655, VS Code 1.125.1, extension 2026.1.1). No missing information.

Copilot-fix suitability
Maybe. The bug is well-scoped and clearly defined: renaming a variable that is used as a splat argument (@VarName) incorrectly replaces the @ sigil with $. However, the rename edit list is computed by PowerShellEditorServices (the textDocument/rename LSP handler), not by this extension — the extension only proxies the request. A fix would need to target the PSES repo, making it a poor fit for a Copilot fix here.

Likely area
PowerShellEditorServices — the rename handler that produces WorkspaceEdit text edits. PSES likely uses the variable name without distinguishing $var (assignment/regular reference) from @var (splat) call sites, so the sigil is not preserved. The relevant code is probably in src/PowerShellEditorServices/Services/TextDocument/Handlers/RenameHandler.cs or the rename/refactoring subsystem of PSES.

Reproduction steps (inferred)

1. Open a new .ps1 file and paste:

   $SplatProcessss = @{
       FilePath = 'C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe'
   }
   Start-Process `@SplatProcessss`

2. Place the cursor on $SplatProcessss.
3. Press F2 and rename to SplatProcess.
4. Actual: @SplatProcessss → $SplatProcess (sigil changed).
5. Expected: @SplatProcessss → @SplatProcess (sigil preserved).

Related issues

• "Smart" variable rename vscode-powershell#261 — "Smart" variable rename (open; broader rename feature request, different root cause — not a duplicate)

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[JustinGrote]

Thanks @juergsteiger! Surprised I missed that.

@copilot prepare a test to replicate the behavior and a PR to resolve it.

[JustinGrote]

Whoops meant to direct this to PSES