VS Code Integration

The VS Code extension provides a native graphical interface for Claude Code, integrated directly into your IDE. Features include inline diff preview, @-mentions, and plan review.

Prerequisites

VS Code 1.98.0 or later
Anthropic account (login on first launch)

Installation

Option 1: Direct Install

Option 2: Extension Marketplace

Press Cmd+Shift+X (Mac) or Ctrl+Shift+X (Windows/Linux)
Search “Claude Code”
Click Install

Getting Started

Open Claude Code Panel

Method 1: Editor Toolbar Open any file, click the ✱ icon in the top-right.

Method 2: Command Palette Press Cmd+Shift+P / Ctrl+Shift+P, type “Claude Code”, select “Open in New Tab”.

Method 3: Status Bar Click “✱ Claude Code” in the bottom-right.

Send Prompts

Ask Claude about code—explaining, debugging, or modifying.

Quick Reference: Select text in editor, press Alt+K to insert @-mention with file path and line numbers.

Commands and Shortcuts

Command	Shortcut	Description
Focus Input	`Cmd+Esc` / `Ctrl+Esc`	Toggle focus between editor and Claude
Open in New Tab	`Cmd+Shift+Esc` / `Ctrl+Shift+Esc`	Open conversation in new tab
New Conversation	`Cmd+N` / `Ctrl+N`	Start new conversation (when focused)
Insert @-Mention	`Alt+K`	Insert current file reference

Configuration

Extension Settings

Press Cmd+, / Ctrl+,, navigate to Extensions → Claude Code:

Setting	Description
Selected Model	Default model for new conversations
Use Terminal	Use terminal mode instead of GUI
Initial Permission Mode	Control edit/command approval
Autosave	Auto-save files before Claude reads/writes

Claude Code Settings

Settings in ~/.claude/settings.json are shared between extension and CLI.

Using Third-Party Providers

For Amazon Bedrock, Google Vertex AI, or Microsoft Foundry:

Open Settings, search “Claude Code login”
Enable Disable Login Prompt
Configure provider in ~/.claude/settings.json

Extension vs CLI Features

Feature	CLI	VS Code
Slash commands	Full	Partial
MCP server config	Yes	No (use CLI)
Checkpoints	Yes	Coming soon
`!` bash shortcut	Yes	No
Tab completion	Yes	No

Security Considerations

With auto-accept enabled, Claude may modify VS Code config files (like settings.json) that can be auto-executed.

For untrusted code:

Enable Restricted Mode (Workspace Trust)
Use manual approval mode
Review changes carefully

Troubleshooting

Can’t see ✱ icon?

Open a file (folder only isn’t enough)
Check VS Code version ≥ 1.98.0
Run “Developer: Reload Window”

Claude not responding?

Check network connection
Start new conversation
Run claude in terminal for detailed errors

JetBrains Integration