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jsonvisual-studio-codesettingspreferencecommand-palette

How to open Visual Studio Code's 'settings.json' file

I did it many times, and each time I forgot where it was.

Menu File → Preferences → Settings.

I get this:

Enter image description here

I want to open file settings.json (editable JSON file) instead. How can I do that?

Solution

  • To open the User settings:

    • Open the command palette (either with F1 or Ctrl+Shift+P)
    • Type "open settings"
    • You are presented with a few options¹, choose Open User Settings (JSON)

    This image was taken in the VS Code online editor The dropdown list seen of the "open settings" options

    Which, from the manual and depending on platform, is one of:

    • Windows %APPDATA%\Code\User\settings.json²
    • macOS $HOME/Library/Application\ Support/Code/User/settings.json
    • Linux $HOME/.config/Code/User/settings.json

    The Workspace settings will be in a {workspaceName}.code-workspace file where you saved it, and the Folder settings will be in a .vscode folder if and when it has been created.

    Official page on User and Workspace Settings

    As stated by sevencardz below, VS Code includes a button in the Settings UI gutter which can be used to switch between JSON and graphical view.

    The location of the settings UI/JSON toggle in the top-right corner

    The workbench.settings.editor option selects which of the settings files is opened by default when not using the above method, such as with the shortcut ⌘+, or through the application menu.

    Footnotes

    1. The aforementioned settings, User and Workspace. Remote settings will appear when using WSL.

    2. By a test this maps to %APPDATA%\Roaming\Code\User\settings.json, I am not sure by what logic.