How to set up VS Code for Claude Code (in one command)

What is VS Code?

Visual Studio Code, or VS Code, is a free code editor from Microsoft, for Mac and Windows.

You won't write code in it. For Claude Code, it's a fast window onto your files, with the agent in a panel beside them.

That's why I use it. I see every file Claude changes, I keep my own notes open next to it, and I can run Claude, Codex and Gemini side by side.

VS Code or the Claude desktop app?

Both run the same Claude, with the same account and the same subscription.

The Claude desktop app's Code tab works on your files directly, with a file editor, a terminal and diff review. If Claude Code is the only agent you use, it's a good place to work, and there's nothing to set up.

VS Code is for the other case: more than one agent on the same folder. Claude does the work, and Codex checks it, so the review comes from something that didn't write the code.

New to Codex? My Codex prompt generator writes a good first prompt for it.

How to set up VS Code for Claude Code

This is the command. It downloads the setup, installs the 9 extensions and applies the settings:

npx degit thenavidm/vscode-setup-guide vscode-setup && bash vscode-setup/scripts/install.sh

It backs up your settings first and prints where the copy went, so nothing you had is lost. The script is about 60 lines, if you'd like to read it first.

Already running Claude Code? Paste the command in, let Claude run it, then ask it to restart VS Code.

You'll know it worked when the editor turns dark and quiet, the file icons change, and Claude appears in a panel at the bottom.

Rather keep your current setup as it is? Import the profile file instead: the gear at the bottom left, then Profiles, then Import Profile. It lands as a separate profile you can switch in and out of.

The 9 extensions

Each one installs straight from the VS Code marketplace.

Claude Code

Made by

Anthropic

What it does

Claude in a panel, reading and editing the files in your folder

Codex

Made by

OpenAI

What it does

OpenAI's agent in the same window, good for reviewing what Claude wrote; comes with a paid ChatGPT plan

Gemini Code Assist

Made by

Google

What it does

Google's agent, for a third opinion, with a free tier

Min Theme

Made by

Miguel Solorio

What it does

A minimal dark and light theme; the setup opens in Min Dark

Symbols

Made by

Miguel Solorio

What it does

Quiet file icons that match the theme

SlashMD

Made by

SlashMD

What it does

A Notion-style editor for markdown files; the newest of the 9, so expect rough edges

Office Viewer

Made by

Database Client

What it does

Opens Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF files inside the editor

Live Preview

Made by

Microsoft

What it does

Shows a web page as you change it

Pixel Agents

Made by

Pablo De Lucca

What it does

Your Claude Code agents as pixel-art characters in an office while they work

Extension	Made by	What it does
Claude Code	Anthropic	Claude in a panel, reading and editing the files in your folder
Codex	OpenAI	OpenAI's agent in the same window, good for reviewing what Claude wrote; comes with a paid ChatGPT plan
Gemini Code Assist	Google	Google's agent, for a third opinion, with a free tier
Min Theme	Miguel Solorio	A minimal dark and light theme; the setup opens in Min Dark
Symbols	Miguel Solorio	Quiet file icons that match the theme
SlashMD	SlashMD	A Notion-style editor for markdown files; the newest of the 9, so expect rough edges
Office Viewer	Database Client	Opens Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF files inside the editor
Live Preview	Microsoft	Shows a web page as you change it
Pixel Agents	Pablo De Lucca	Your Claude Code agents as pixel-art characters in an office while they work

Pixel Agents is there for fun. Remove it if you'd rather not have it.

Want Claude to read your PDFs and Word files? Turn them into markdown first with my PDF to Markdown and Word to Markdown converters.

The settings that change

The extensions are half of it. The other half turns off what a code editor does that gets in the way when you're writing.

• Word wrap on – long paragraphs wrap to the window instead of running off the right edge.
• Autosave after 1 second – you never lose a change.
• No autocomplete in markdown – no popup finishing your words mid-sentence, and no spellcheck squiggles under names.
• Real tabs – each file you open stays open, instead of the next one replacing it.
• No clutter – no minimap, breadcrumbs, sticky headers or lightbulb hints.
• SlashMD for .md files – notes open as a Notion-style page, not raw text.

Prefer light mode? Press Cmd + Shift + P (Ctrl + Shift + P on Windows), type theme, and pick Min Light.

Using Cursor instead

Cursor is VS Code underneath, so the setup works there too. Install the 9 extensions from Cursor's sidebar and paste the settings file into its settings.

If you get stuck

For your first real task, my Claude Code prompt generator turns a rough idea into a prompt Claude Code can run.

Stuck on the setup itself? Copy the guide into Claude and tell it which step you're on:

Ask Claude for help
I'm following this VS Code setup guide and I'm stuck on [step].
Here's what I'm seeing: [describe it or paste a screenshot].
Walk me through it and explain what each part does.

What you need

• A computer – a Mac or a Windows computer.
• VS Code – free from Microsoft.
• A Claude plan – Pro or Max, for Claude Code. No API key needed.
• Optional – a paid ChatGPT plan for Codex, and a Google account for Gemini Code Assist.

Final thoughts on setting up VS Code for Claude Code

The setup takes about 5 minutes. After that, VS Code stops getting in your way, and Claude works where you can see it.

Keep reading:

• How I use AI – the AI OS I run my business on
• Free tools – over 400 tools I built with Claude Code
• Claude Code prompt generator – turn a rough idea into a prompt Claude Code can run
• The setup on GitHub – every file in this guide

Run the command, open a fresh folder, and ask Claude to tell you what's in it.