VS Code Setup for Beginners: Essential Settings, Extensions, and First Project

A fresh install of VS Code is a blank canvas. With a few settings and one or two extensions, you can turn it into a comfortable workspace in under ten minutes.

This guide picks up after installation. If you have not installed yet, follow the install guide for your operating system first.

What you will have at the end

By the time you finish, the editor will save files automatically.

It will use a theme you like and have language support for your main language.

Copilot Free AI suggestions will be active and you will have a working project.

Enable Auto Save

Auto Save prevents the lost-work moment. Turn it on once and forget about it.

1. Open the editor.
2. Go to File > Auto Save in the menu bar.

A checkmark appears next to Auto Save when it is on. Every file now saves the moment you switch away from it.

You can change the save behavior later. Open the Command Palette with Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+P (macOS).

Type auto save and select Preferences: Open User Settings.

Search for "auto save" and pick the timing that fits your workflow.

Choose afterDelay to save after a pause. Pick onFocusChange to save when you switch tabs. Use onWindowChange to save when you switch apps.

Pick a theme

The default theme works, but one you choose yourself makes the editor feel yours.

• Press Ctrl+K Ctrl+T on Windows/Linux or Cmd+K Cmd+T on macOS. You can also run Preferences: Color Theme from the Command Palette, or go to File > Preferences > Theme > Color Theme on Windows and Linux, or Code > Settings > Theme > Color Theme on macOS.
• Use the arrow keys to preview each theme live. The editor changes as you move.
• Press Enter on the one you like.

The editor ships with light themes, dark themes, and high-contrast themes.

The popular dark choices are Dark Modern, Dark+, and Dark High Contrast.

If none feel right, you can install a theme extension later. Pick a built-in theme for now.

Install your language extension

The editor knows JavaScript and TypeScript out of the box. For every other language, install one extension.

• Click the Extensions icon in the Activity Bar on the left (the four squares).
• Search for your language: Python, Go, Rust, C++, or whatever you use.
• Look for the extension published by the official language team with a high install count and recent update.
• Click Install.

The right extension for common languages:

After installing, open a file with the matching extension to confirm syntax highlighting, IntelliSense, and error underlines work. Install only one language extension for now and add more as you need them.

C# Dev Kit is free for individual, academic, and open-source use, and for commercial teams of up to five developers. Larger commercial teams need an active Visual Studio subscription.

Sign in to GitHub Copilot

GitHub Copilot gives you AI-powered code suggestions and chat inside the editor. The Free plan makes it accessible without paying.

• Click the Accounts icon in the bottom-left corner (the person silhouette).
• Select Sign in with GitHub to use GitHub Copilot and follow the browser prompts.

After sign-in, the Copilot icon in the Status Bar shows a checkmark. You are ready.

If you do not want Copilot, skip this step. The editor works fully without it.

Create your first project

The best way to confirm your setup is to build something small.

Open a project folder

If the shell command is set up, open a terminal and type:

bash

mkdir ~/my-first-project && cd ~/my-first-project && code .

If not, create the folder manually and use File > Open Folder.

Create files

In the Explorer sidebar, click the New File icon. Create a couple of files that work together. For Python: a main script and a helper module. For Node.js: a main file and a small utility file.

Type a few lines of code. Watch for Copilot suggestions appearing in gray. Press Tab to accept one.

Run from the integrated terminal

Press Ctrl+ (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+ (macOS) to open the terminal at the bottom. It is already in your project folder.

Run your code. For Python: python main.py. For Node.js: node main.js. For Go: go run main.go.

You should see your program's output. You just completed the full edit-and-run loop inside a single window.

Where to go next

Your setup is complete. From here, pick the next skill based on what you do most.

Learn the VS Code interface to find every panel and command faster. Master the keyboard shortcuts to edit without the mouse. Learn how to use the Command Palette to run anything from the keyboard.