CLI Commands Reference - Visual Studio Code

This page provides a comprehensive reference for all Visual Studio Code CLI commands, options, and usage patterns.

Basic Syntax

code [options] [paths...]

Opening Files and Folders

The default behavior (no subcommand) launches VS Code with the specified files or folders.

Options

string[]

One or more files, folders, or URIs to open. Can also use - to read from stdin.

Examples

code myfile.txt

code file1.txt file2.txt file3.txt

code /path/to/project

echo "console.log('Hello')" | code -

Editor Options

string[]

Compare two files with each other.

code --diff file1.txt file2.txt

string

Add folder(s) to the last active window.

code --add /path/to/folder

string

Open a file at the specified line and character position. Format: file:line[:character]

code --goto myfile.txt:42:5

boolean

Force to open a new window.

code --new-window

boolean

Force to open a file or folder in an existing window.

code --reuse-window myfile.txt

boolean

Wait for the files to be closed before returning. Useful for using VS Code as an editor for git commit messages.

code --wait myfile.txt

string

The locale to use (e.g., en-US or zh-TW).

code --locale ja

string[]

Enables proposed API features for extensions. Can receive one or more extension IDs.

code --enable-proposed-api ms-vscode.example-extension

Extension Commands

Manage VS Code extensions from the command line.

`code ext list`

List installed extensions.

boolean

Show versions of installed extensions.

code ext list --show-versions

string

Filters installed extensions by provided category.

code ext list --category "Programming Languages"

`code ext install`

Install one or more extensions.

string[]

required

Extension identifier(s) in the format publisher.name or path(s) to VSIX file(s).

code ext install ms-python.python
code ext install ms-vscode.cpptools ms-dotnettools.csharp
code ext install /path/to/extension.vsix

boolean

Installs the pre-release version of the extension.

code ext install ms-python.python --pre-release

boolean

Update to the latest version of the extension if it’s already installed.

code ext install ms-python.python --force

boolean

Don’t include installing pack and dependencies of the extension.

`code ext uninstall`

Uninstall one or more extensions.

string[]

required

Extension identifier(s) to uninstall in the format publisher.name.

code ext uninstall ms-python.python
code ext uninstall ms-vscode.cpptools ms-dotnettools.csharp

`code ext update`

Update all installed extensions to their latest versions.

code ext update

Status Command

`code status`

Print process usage and diagnostics information.

code status

This command displays information about running VS Code processes, resource usage, and system diagnostics.

Version Commands

Manage which version of VS Code the CLI uses.

`code version show`

Show the currently configured editor version.

code version show

Output:

Current quality: stable
Installation path: /Applications/Visual Studio Code.app/Contents/Resources/app/bin/code

`code version use`

Switch the version of VS Code you’re using.

string

required

The version to use. Can be:

stable - Latest stable release
insiders - Latest insiders build
x.y.z - Specific version number
Absolute path to an existing install

code version use stable
code version use insiders
code version use 1.85.0
code version use /path/to/vscode

string

The directory where the version can be found.

code version use stable --install-dir /custom/path

Tunnel Commands

Create and manage secure remote tunnels. See the Remote Tunnels page for detailed information.

`code tunnel`

Create a tunnel that’s accessible on vscode.dev from anywhere.

code tunnel

string

Sets the machine name for port forwarding service.

code tunnel --name my-dev-machine

boolean

Randomly name machine for port forwarding service.

code tunnel --random-name

boolean

Accept the server license terms automatically without a user prompt.

code tunnel --accept-server-license-terms

boolean

Prevents the machine from going to sleep while the tunnel is running.

code tunnel --no-sleep

Tunnel Subcommands

Get tunnel status information.

code tunnel status

Returns JSON output with tunnel and service status.

Stop any running tunnel on the system.

code tunnel kill

Restart any running tunnel on the system.

code tunnel restart

Rename the machine associated with the tunnel.

code tunnel rename new-machine-name

Remove this machine’s association with the port forwarding service.

code tunnel unregister

Delete all tunnel servers which are not currently running.

code tunnel prune

Tunnel User Commands

Manage authentication for tunnels.

login
logout
show

code tunnel user login

string

The auth provider to use. Options: github, microsoft

code tunnel user login --provider github

string

Provide an access token for authentication. Requires --provider.

code tunnel user login --provider github --access-token TOKEN

Can also use environment variable: VSCODE_CLI_ACCESS_TOKEN

Log out of the port forwarding service.

code tunnel user logout

Show the currently logged-in account.

code tunnel user show

Tunnel Service Commands

Manage the tunnel as a system service (runs in background).

install
uninstall
log

Install the tunnel service on the machine.

code tunnel service install

string

Sets the machine name for the service.

boolean

Accept server license terms automatically.

Uninstall and stop the tunnel service.

code tunnel service uninstall

Show logs for the running service.

code tunnel service log

Serve Web Command

Run a local web version of VS Code.

`code serve-web`

code serve-web

string

default:"localhost"

Host to listen on.

code serve-web --host 0.0.0.0

number

default:"8000"

Port to listen on. If 0 is passed, a random free port is picked.

code serve-web --port 3000
code serve-web --port 0  # Random port

string

Path to a socket file for the server to listen to.

code serve-web --socket-path /tmp/vscode.sock

string

A secret that must be included with all requests.

code serve-web --connection-token my-secret-token

string

A file containing a secret that must be included with all requests.

code serve-web --connection-token-file /path/to/token.txt

boolean

Run without a connection token. Only use if the connection is secured by other means.

code serve-web --without-connection-token

string

Specifies the path under which the web UI and code server are provided.

code serve-web --server-base-path /vscode

string

Specifies the directory that server data is kept in.

code serve-web --server-data-dir ~/.vscode-server-data

string

Use a specific commit SHA for the client.

code serve-web --commit-id abc123def456

boolean

Accept the server license terms automatically.

Desktop Code Options

These options apply whenever the desktop editor is launched.

string

Set the root path for extensions.

code --extensions-dir ~/.vscode-extensions

string

Specifies the directory that user data is kept in. Can be used to open multiple distinct instances of the editor.

code --user-data-dir ~/.vscode-dev

string

Sets the editor version to use for this command. Can be stable, insiders, a version number, or an absolute path.

code --use-version insiders myfile.txt

Troubleshooting Options

boolean

Disable all installed extensions.

code --disable-extensions

string[]

Disable specific extension(s).

code --disable-extension ms-python.python

boolean

Disable GPU hardware acceleration.

code --disable-gpu

string

Turn sync on or off. Values: on, off

code --sync off

number

Allow debugging and profiling of extensions. Specify the debug port.

code --inspect-extensions 9333

number

Allow debugging and profiling of extensions with the extension host being paused after start.

code --inspect-brk-extensions 9333

boolean

Run CPU profiler during startup.

code --prof-startup

boolean

Show all telemetry events which the editor collects.

code --telemetry

Global Options

These options are available for all commands.

boolean

Print verbose output.

code --verbose tunnel

string

Log level to use. Values: off, critical, error, warn, info, debug, trace

code --log debug tunnel

string

Directory where CLI metadata should be stored.

code --cli-data-dir ~/.my-vscode-cli tunnel

Can also set via environment variable: VSCODE_CLI_DATA_DIR

boolean

Disable telemetry for the current command.

code --disable-telemetry tunnel

string

Sets the initial telemetry level. Values: off, crash, error, all

code --telemetry-level off

Standalone CLI Commands

These commands are only available in standalone CLI installations.

`code update`

Update the CLI to the latest version.

code update

boolean

Only check for updates without actually updating.

code update --check

Server Options

Options available for tunnel and serve-web commands that start a server.

string[]

Requests that extensions be preloaded and installed on connecting servers.

code tunnel --install-extension ms-python.python

string

Specifies the directory that server data is kept in.

code tunnel --server-data-dir ~/.vscode-server

string

Set the root path for extensions on the server.

code tunnel --extensions-dir ~/.vscode-server-extensions

number

default:"10800"

Reconnection grace time in seconds. Default is 10800 (3 hours).

code tunnel --reconnection-grace-time 7200

Environment Variables

The CLI respects these environment variables:

string

Override the CLI data directory.

string

Provide access token for tunnel authentication.

string

Provide refresh token for tunnel authentication.

string

Require token string for command shell connections.

string

Disable interactive prompts.

string

Disable colored output.

string

Custom user agent for tunnel service.

Exit Codes

The CLI uses standard exit codes:

0 - Success
1 - General error or operation failed
Other non-zero values indicate specific error conditions

Tips and Best Practices

Using VS Code as Git Editor

Configure VS Code as your git commit message editor:

git config --global core.editor "code --wait"

The --wait flag makes git wait for you to close the file before continuing.

Opening Large Projects Efficiently

Use --new-window to avoid interfering with existing workspaces:

code --new-window /path/to/large/project

Working with Multiple Profiles

Use --user-data-dir to maintain separate profiles:

# Personal profile
code --user-data-dir ~/.vscode-personal

# Work profile
code --user-data-dir ~/.vscode-work

Batch Extension Management

Install multiple extensions at once:

code ext install ms-python.python ms-vscode.cpptools ms-dotnettools.csharp

Export and import extension lists:

# Export
code ext list > extensions.txt

# Import
cat extensions.txt | xargs -L 1 code ext install

Next Steps

Remote Tunnels

Learn about secure remote access

Configuration

Configure the CLI for your workflow

Installation

Install the CLI on your system

Overview

Back to CLI overview

​Basic Syntax

​Opening Files and Folders

​Options

​Examples

​Editor Options

​Extension Commands

​code ext list

​code ext install

​code ext uninstall

​code ext update

​Status Command

​code status

​Version Commands

​code version show

​code version use

​Tunnel Commands

​code tunnel

​Tunnel Subcommands

​Tunnel User Commands

​Tunnel Service Commands

​Serve Web Command

​code serve-web

​Desktop Code Options

​Troubleshooting Options

​Global Options

​Standalone CLI Commands

​code update

​Server Options

​Environment Variables

​Exit Codes

​Tips and Best Practices

​Next Steps

Remote Tunnels

Configuration

Installation

Overview

Basic Syntax

Opening Files and Folders

Options

Examples

Editor Options

Extension Commands

`code ext list`

`code ext install`

`code ext uninstall`

`code ext update`

Status Command

`code status`

Version Commands

`code version show`

`code version use`

Tunnel Commands

`code tunnel`

Tunnel Subcommands

Tunnel User Commands

Tunnel Service Commands

Serve Web Command

`code serve-web`

Desktop Code Options

Troubleshooting Options

Global Options

Standalone CLI Commands

`code update`

Server Options

Environment Variables

Exit Codes

Tips and Best Practices

Next Steps