Visual Studio Code is free to download and install in about five minutes on any computer

Visual Studio Code (often called VS Code) is a text editor made by Microsoft that lets you write and edit code. It runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux. The installation process is straightforward: you download the installer from the official website, run it, and follow the on-screen prompts. The whole process takes less time than a coffee break.

This guide walks you through the exact steps for your operating system, what to do after installation, and how to fix the most common problems people run into.

Key Takeaways

  • Download VS Code from code.visualstudio.com — this is the only official source you should use.
  • Windows users run an installer file; Mac users drag the app to their Applications folder; Linux users use a package manager or download a .deb or .rpm file.
  • After installation, open VS Code and install extensions for the programming languages you plan to use.
  • If VS Code does not open or you get an error, restart your computer first — this solves most installation problems.

Installing on Windows

Go to code.visualstudio.com in your web browser. Click the blue Download button. Your browser will download a file called something like VSCodeSetup-x64-1.XX.X.exe (the numbers change with each version). Find this file in your Downloads folder and double-click it.

A window will open asking where you want to install VS Code. The default location (usually C:\Users\[Your Name]\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code) is fine — do not change it unless you have a specific reason. Click Next. On the next screen, you can choose to add VS Code to your Start menu and create a desktop shortcut. Both are helpful, so leave both boxes checked. Click Next again, then Install. Windows will copy the files to your computer. This takes one to two minutes.

When the installer finishes, click Finish. VS Code will open automatically. You are done with installation. If it does not open, restart your computer and then click the VS Code icon on your desktop or in your Start menu.

Installing on Mac

Go to code.visualstudio.com in your web browser. Click the blue Download button. Your browser will download a file called VSCode-darwin-universal.zip. Your Mac will automatically unzip it, creating a file called Visual Studio Code.app.

Open your Applications folder. You can do this by clicking the Finder icon in your dock, then clicking Applications in the sidebar on the left. Drag the Visual Studio Code.app file from your Downloads folder into the Applications folder. This copies it to the right place on your computer.

Once the copy is done, open Applications and double-click Visual Studio Code to launch it. The first time you open it, Mac will ask if you want to open an app downloaded from the internet — click Open. VS Code will start. You can now drag it to your dock if you want quick access later.

Installing on Linux

The easiest way on Linux is to use your package manager. The exact command depends on which Linux distribution you use.

On Ubuntu or Debian: Open a terminal and type this command, then press Enter:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install code

Your system will download and install VS Code automatically. When it finishes, type code in the terminal and press Enter to launch it.

On Fedora, RHEL, or CentOS: Open a terminal and type:

sudo dnf install code

On Arch: Type:

sudo pacman -S code

If your distribution is not listed or you prefer to install manually, go to code.visualstudio.com, click Download, and choose the .deb or .rpm file that matches your system. Download it, then double-click it to install.

What to Do Right After Installation

When VS Code opens for the first time, you will see a Welcome tab. This is normal. On the left side, you will see a column of icons. The bottom icon looks like four squares — click it to open the Extensions view. This is where you add tools for specific programming languages.

If you plan to write Python, search for "Python" and click the official extension by Microsoft. If you write JavaScript, search for "JavaScript" or look for popular extensions like "ES7+ React/Redux/React-Native snippets". If you use HTML and CSS, search for "Live Server" — this lets you preview web pages as you edit them. Click Install on any extension you want. VS Code will download and set it up automatically.

You do not need to install extensions right now. You can write code without them. But extensions make your work faster and catch mistakes before you run your code, so most people install at least one or two.

Fixing Installation Problems

If VS Code does not open after you finish installing, restart your computer first. This fixes the problem about 80 percent of the time. After restarting, look for the VS Code icon on your desktop (Windows) or in your Applications folder (Mac), or type code in a terminal (Linux).

If you get an error message that says something like "VS Code cannot be opened because it is from an unidentified developer" (on Mac), right-click the VS Code icon, click Open, and then click Open again in the dialog that appears. This tells Mac to trust the app. You only have to do this once.

If you downloaded VS Code from somewhere other than code.visualstudio.com, delete it and download again from the official website. Unofficial copies sometimes have problems or security issues. If you are still stuck after restarting and downloading from the official site, try uninstalling completely (delete the app or use your package manager to remove it), restart your computer, and install fresh.

Updating VS Code

VS Code updates itself automatically in the background. When an update is ready, you will see a notification. You can either install it right away or wait until you close and reopen the program. You do not have to do anything — the update happens on its own.

If you want to check for updates manually, click the gear icon in the bottom left corner of VS Code, then click About. It will tell you which version you have and whether updates are available. On Mac and Linux, you can also update through your package manager by running the same command you used to install (like sudo apt update && sudo apt install code).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is VS Code really free?

Yes. VS Code is free to download, install, and use forever. Microsoft makes it free because they want developers to use it. There are no hidden costs, no premium version, and no ads.

Do I need to create an account to use VS Code?

No. You can open VS Code and start writing code immediately after installation without signing in. Creating a Microsoft account is optional and only useful if you want to sync your settings across multiple computers.

Can I install VS Code on a work computer or school computer?

That depends on your organization's policies. Some workplaces and schools restrict what software you can install. Check with your IT department or administrator before installing on a computer you do not own.

What is the difference between VS Code and Visual Studio?

VS Code is a lightweight text editor designed for quick coding and learning. Visual Studio is a much larger, more complex program made for professional software development teams. For most people starting out, VS Code is the right choice.

Can I uninstall VS Code if I change my mind?

Yes. On Windows, go to Settings, click Apps, find Visual Studio Code, and click Uninstall. On Mac, drag VS Code from Applications to the Trash. On Linux, use your package manager (like sudo apt remove code). Your code files are not deleted — only the program itself is removed.