How to Install a VS Code Extension from a VSIX File

A VSIX file is a packaged VS Code extension. You install it when the extension is not available through the regular Marketplace search, when you are offline, or when someone shares a private extension with you.

VS Code provides two ways to install from a VSIX: through the Extensions view and from the command line. Both work identically. The main difference is that auto-update is disabled for VSIX-installed extensions by default.

Before you install a VSIX file, make sure you trust its source. A VSIX file can run arbitrary code on your machine with the same permissions as VS Code itself. If you received the file from someone else, verify the publisher and the source before proceeding. Read the guide on checking extension safety for a full checklist.

How to install a VSIX from the Extensions view

You can also use the Command Palette instead of the More Actions menu. Press Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+P (macOS), run Extensions: Install from VSIX, and select the file.

How to install a VSIX from the command line

Open a terminal and run:

bash

code --install-extension /path/to/extension.vsix

Replace /path/to/extension.vsix with the actual path to your VSIX file. The extension installs into VS Code and is immediately available.

If you use VS Code Insiders, use code-insiders instead of code:

bash

code-insiders --install-extension /path/to/extension.vsix

You can install multiple VSIX files at once by repeating the flag. This is useful for setting up a new machine with a set of private extensions:

bash

code --install-extension extension-one.vsix --install-extension extension-two.vsix

Where to get VSIX files

To download a VSIX from the Marketplace: search for the extension, right-click it in the results, and choose Download VSIX. You can also choose Download Specific Version VSIX to get an older version.

The VSIX file downloads to your default download folder. You can then share it, archive it, or install it on another machine.

What changes after VSIX install

When you install an extension from a VSIX file, VS Code treats it differently from a Marketplace install in two ways:

Auto-update is turned off. The extension will not receive updates automatically. If a newer version is released on the Marketplace, you will not be prompted to update. To update, you must download a new VSIX file and install it again.

The extension appears in your installed list normally. It works the same as any other extension. You can enable, disable, or uninstall it through the Extensions view. The only visible difference is the lack of automatic updates.

If you later want the extension to receive Marketplace updates, uninstall it and reinstall from the Marketplace search.

Signature verification for VSIX files

The Visual Studio Marketplace signs all extensions when they are published. VS Code verifies this signature when you install any extension, including from a VSIX file.

If you see the error Cannot install extension because Visual Studio Code cannot verify the extension signature, do not disable signature verification unless you fully trust the source. The error means the extension package has been tampered with, was not signed properly, or comes from an untrusted publisher.

VS Code will also show a trust dialog when you install a VSIX from a third-party publisher. This is the same dialog that appears during Marketplace installs since version 1.97.

When to use VSIX instead of the Marketplace

If you are developing your own extension, you can create a VSIX file by installing the @vscode/vsce npm package and running vsce package in your extension's root folder.

For more on managing extensions after installation, read the guide on installing, disabling, and updating extensions.