Reset Visual Studio Code to Default Settings: A Comprehensive Guide

This guide provides instructions for resetting Visual Studio Code (VS Code) on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Why Reset VS Code?

• Resolve unexpected behavior
• Improve performance
• Start fresh for new projects or workflows

Prerequisites

• Ensure VS Code is completely closed before proceeding
• Consider backing up your current settings

Step-by-Step Reset Process

1. Locate and Backup User Settings

   Find your settings.json file:

   • Windows: %APPDATA%\Code\User\settings.json
   • macOS: $HOME/Library/Application Support/Code/User/settings.json
   • Linux: $HOME/.config/Code/User/settings.json

   Optional backup:

   # Navigate to parent directory
   cd /path/to/parent/directory
   
   # Create backup
   mv Code Code.backup
   

2. Delete User Settings

   Remove customizations:

   # Linux/macOS
   rm -rf Code
   
   # Windows (PowerShell)
   Remove-Item -Path Code -Recurse -Force
   

3. Uninstall Extensions (Optional)

   # Bash/zsh
   code --list-extensions | xargs -n1 code --uninstall-extension
   
   # PowerShell
   code --list-extensions | ForEach-Object { code --uninstall-extension $_ }
   

4. Restart VS Code

   Launch VS Code. It should now be reset to its default configuration.

Troubleshooting

If issues persist:

• Ensure all VS Code processes are terminated before resetting
• Check for any remaining configuration files in the user directory
• Consider a clean reinstall of VS Code

Additional Resources

• VS Code Documentation: Managing Settings
• VS Code Documentation: Extension Management

By following these steps, you should successfully reset VS Code to its default state, resolving many common issues and improving performance.