Get started with Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio Code is a free, open-source code editor for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It brings together multiple ways of working in one tool. Describe a task in natural language and an AI agent plans, edits, and verifies the work. Write code yourself with a powerful editor that has built-in Git, IntelliSense, debugging, and testing tools. Or combine both approaches to get the best of both worlds.

VS Code runs on your desktop or a remote machine, or access it instantly from your browser with VS Code for the Web).

VS Code puts you in control. Choose your language model, whether from your GitHub Copilot subscription or your own API key, and pick the agent that fits the task. Customize VS Code for your technology stack with extensions from the Marketplace, and shape the editor to your workflow with settings, keybindings, and themes.

What you can do with VS Code

VS Code adapts to how you want to work, whether you write every line yourself or hand off tasks to an AI agent. Most workflows combine both.

• Build with AI agents. Describe what you want in natural language, and an agent plans a solution, edits files across your project, runs commands, and fixes its own errors. Run agents in the Agents window for an agent-first workflow, or in the Chat view while you write code in the editor. Learn more about AI agents in VS Code.

  

• Write, test, and debug code. Edit with IntelliSense, refactoring, and multi-cursor support, then find and fix problems with the built-in debugger and testing tools. Track your work with integrated source control, and add language support for the stack you use.

  

• Extend and customize. Install extensions and MCP servers to add languages, tools, and data sources. Tailor the agent experience to your specific project needs with custom instructions, custom agents, and your choice of language model.

  

Get started in three steps

New to VS Code? These three steps take you from a fresh install to building your first app with an AI agent.

1. Install VS Code. Download the installer for your platform and follow the install steps below.

2. Enable AI features. Sign in to unlock inline suggestions and AI agents. See Enable AI features.

3. Take the tutorial. Build an app with the agentic coding tutorial or learn the basics of writing code in VS Code.

Install VS Code

Download the installer for your platform and follow the steps below. VS Code is lightweight and runs on most available hardware. Review the system requirements for details.

VS Code ships weekly Stable releases with auto-update. To preview upcoming features, install the Insiders build, which ships nightly and runs side by side with Stable.

Enable AI features

VS Code has built-in support for AI features like inline suggestions and AI agents that help you with coding tasks. You can get started with AI features by signing in to GitHub and use your GitHub Copilot subscription to get access to a variety of large language models and other AI features in VS Code.

Follow these steps to get started with Copilot in VS Code:

1. Select Sign In from the VS Code title bar or hover over the Copilot icon in the Status Bar and select Enable AI features.

   

2. Choose a sign-in method and follow the prompts.

   • If you already have a Copilot subscription for your account, VS Code will use that subscription.

   • If you don't have a Copilot subscription yet, you'll be signed up for the Copilot Free plan and get a monthly allowance of inline suggestions and AI credits.

3. Start using Copilot in VS Code!

Explore VS Code

Pick a path based on what you want to do next.

Common questions