15 Installation
Visual Studio Code is easy to install on both Windows and macOS. Below are step-by-step guides for each operating system.
15.1 Windows
- Download the Installer:
- Visit the Visual Studio Code download page.
- Click on the Windows version to download the
.exeinstaller.
- Run the Installer:
- Once the download is complete, locate and double-click the
.exefile to start the installation process. - Follow the prompts in the Setup Wizard. Be sure to check the boxes to add VS Code to the PATH and create a desktop icon if you prefer easy access.
- Once the download is complete, locate and double-click the
- Launch Visual Studio Code:
- After installation, you can launch VS Code either from the desktop icon or through the Start menu.
- On first launch, VS Code will open a welcome page where you can customize your environment, install extensions, or open a project.
- Optional: Install Additional Components:
- For enhanced functionality, such as terminal integration and shell commands, ensure you check the appropriate options in the installer to integrate VS Code into your system shell.
Adding VS Code to your PATH allows you to launch the editor from the command prompt or terminal by simply typing code.
15.1.1 Installation on macOS
- Download the Installer:
- Navigate to the Visual Studio Code download page.
- Click on the macOS version to download the
.zipfile.
- Install the Application:
- Once downloaded, open the
.zipfolder and extract the Visual Studio Code application. - Drag the Visual Studio Code application to your “Applications” folder.
- Once downloaded, open the
- Launch Visual Studio Code:
- Open your “Applications” folder and double-click on Visual Studio Code to start.
- As with Windows, the first launch will open a welcome page that can guide you through initial setup, including the installation of popular extensions.
- Optional: Add to Path:
- Adding VS Code to your path allows you to launch it from the terminal. To do this, open the Command Palette (
Cmd+Shift+P), type ‘Shell Command: Installcodecommand in PATH’, and press Enter.
- Adding VS Code to your path allows you to launch it from the terminal. To do this, open the Command Palette (
Installing the code command in your PATH enables you to open VS Code from the terminal by typing code . in any directory, making it quick and easy to open projects.
By following these steps, you will have successfully installed Visual Studio Code on your Windows or macOS machine and are ready to begin configuring it for your development needs.