How to Create and Switch Between Profiles in VS Code
Create separate VS Code profiles for different workflows and switch between them in seconds. Each profile keeps its own settings, extensions, and layout.
VS Code profiles let you save separate sets of settings, extensions, keyboard shortcuts, snippets, user tasks, and UI layout. Create multiple profiles and switch between them without losing your current setup.
Each profile keeps its own extensions and settings. When you switch, only the active profile's extensions load. This makes VS Code faster and keeps your interface clean.
Once you understand the basics, learn how to set up /vscode/how-to-use-vs-code-profiles-for-different-projects-and-tech-stacks.
Open the Profiles editor
There are two ways to open the Profiles editor:
- Select File > Preferences > Profiles on Windows and Linux, or Code > Preferences > Profiles on macOS.
- Click the Manage gear button at the bottom of the Activity Bar and select Profiles.
The Profiles editor opens as a modal overlay on top of the editor area. It lists every profile you have created, including the Default Profile.
Create a new profile
Open the New Profile form
In the Profiles editor, select the New Profile button.
Choose what to copy from
You have three options for the starting contents of your new profile:
- Profile Template: Start from a built-in template such as Python or Node.js. Templates come with pre-selected extensions and settings.
- Existing Profile: Copy everything from a profile you already have.
- Empty Profile: Start with no extensions and no custom settings.
Pick what to include
You can include or exclude categories from the copied source. The available categories are Settings, Keyboard Shortcuts, MCP Servers, Snippets, Tasks, and Extensions. If you uncheck a category, VS Code falls back to the Default Profile for that category. Select Open next to any category to browse its contents before creating the profile.
Name the profile and pick an icon
Enter a descriptive name such as "Python Dev" or "Writing." Optionally pick an icon. The icon replaces the Manage gear button in the Activity Bar when the profile is active, so you can see which profile you are in at a glance.
Preview and create
Select the Preview button to open a new VS Code window with the profile applied. Test it before committing. When you are ready, select Create.
After you create the profile, it becomes active in the current window. Your previous profile is untouched.
Switch between profiles
There are three ways to switch profiles:
| Method | How to use it |
|---|---|
| Command Palette | Press Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+P (macOS), run Profiles: Switch Profile, and pick from the list. |
| Profiles editor | Select the Use this Profile for Current Window button next to the profile you want. |
| New Window with Profile | Select File > New Window with Profile and choose the profile for the new window. |
The switch is instant. Extensions from the old profile are unloaded and extensions from the new profile activate. No restart is needed.
Check which profile is active
You can confirm the active profile in several places without opening any menu.
Title bar: The profile name appears at the top of the window.
Manage gear: Hover over the gear button at the bottom of the Activity Bar. The tooltip shows the active profile name. If you set an icon, that icon replaces the gear. If you did not, the gear shows a badge with the first two letters of the profile name.
Profiles editor: The currently active profile is marked with a label in the editor.
If you are using the Default Profile, no profile name appears in the title bar and the gear shows no badge.
How folder associations work
When you switch to a profile, VS Code remembers that choice for the current folder or workspace. The next time you open that same folder, the associated profile activates automatically.
You can view all folder-to-profile associations in the Folders & Workspaces section of the Profiles editor. To remove an association and go back to the Default Profile for a project, open that project, switch to the Default Profile, and the association is cleared.
Delete a profile
In the Profiles editor, select the overflow menu (three dots) on the profile you want to delete and choose Delete Profile. You can also run the Delete Profile command from the Command Palette and pick one or more profiles to remove.
Deleting a profile does not affect your Default Profile or any other profile.
If you want to test a risky configuration change without touching any saved profile, use a /vscode/how-to-create-and-use-a-temporary-profile-in-vs-code instead.
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Key Insights
- Open the Profiles editor from the Manage gear menu or File > Preferences > Profiles.
- Create a new profile by copying from a template, an existing profile, or starting empty.
- Switch profiles instantly with the Profiles: Switch Profile command.
- The active profile is visible in the title bar and on the Manage gear badge.
- Profiles are stored per workspace, so VS Code remembers your choice when you reopen a project.
Powered by Rune AIFrequently Asked Questions
How many profiles can I create in VS Code?
Do profiles affect my existing settings when I create a new one?
What happens to my extensions when I switch profiles?
Conclusion
Profiles let you keep separate VS Code identities for different kinds of work. Create a profile when you need a clean set of extensions and settings, switch with one command, and VS Code remembers which profile belongs to each project.
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