How to Install and Manage Extensions in VS Code

Almost everything that makes VS Code feel powerful comes from extensions: language support, linters, themes, and AI assistants. Before you add Copilot, Continue, or Cline, it helps to know exactly how the extension system works so you can install, update, and clean things up without confusion. This guide walks through the Extensions view and the equivalent command line tools.

What you need

• VS Code installed (any recent version)
• An internet connection to reach the Marketplace
• Optional: the code command available in your terminal
• About 5 minutes

Step 1: Open the Extensions view

Click the square Extensions icon in the Activity Bar on the far left, or press Ctrl+Shift+X on Windows and Linux, or Cmd+Shift+X on macOS. A search box appears at the top of the panel and results fill the list below it as you type.

Step 2: Install an extension

Click the blue Install button next to a result, or click the extension name first to read its full description, screenshots, and changelog before deciding. After installing, some extensions add icons to the status bar or a new view in the sidebar.

Step 3: Install from the command line

If you set up several machines or want a repeatable setup, the code command can install extensions by their identifier, which is the publisher name and extension name joined with a dot. You can find the identifier on each extension's page under More Info.

Step 4: Disable or uninstall

Click the gear icon next to an installed extension to find Disable, Disable (Workspace), and Uninstall. Disabling keeps the extension installed but inactive, which is handy when you suspect one is slowing things down. Uninstall removes it entirely.

Result

You can now install extensions from the panel or the terminal, read publisher details before trusting a tool, and disable or remove anything you no longer want. With this foundation, adding AI coding assistants in the next guides is straightforward.