How to open Settings.json in VS Code

Visual Studio (VS) Code is one of the best code editors for many reasons. But what makes this code editor a choice for many programmers is the ability to customize it to suit your needs. One of the many ways programmers customize VS Code is by accessing and editing the settings.json file.

But how exactly do you access this file? Keep reading to find out how to do the process.

How to open Settings.json in VS Code

Users can easily modify most VS Code settings using the provided user interface (UI). However, some customizations are not available in the interface and you must access the settings.json file to modify them.

Fortunately, opening the settings.json file is relatively easy and there are a few ways to do it.

Using the VS Code Command Palette – Windows or Linux

The shortcuts and commands can be overwhelming to navigate, especially if you are not an avid computer user. The good thing is that VS Code provides an intuitive command palette that makes it easy to access the settings.json file. Here’s how to use the VS Code command palette to access the file on a Windows or Linux computer:

1. OpenVS codeand press the shortcut “Ctrl + Shift + P” to access the command palette.
   
2. Type “Settings.json” in the search bar and select the specific settings.json file you want to edit. Note that there are two settings.json files: one for user settings and one for workspace settings.
   
3. Modify your settings through the file.

If you don’t like keyboard shortcuts, consider using the following method:

1. Openvisual studio code.
   
2. Click on the settings icon in the lower left corner of the screen.
   
3. Select “Settings.”
   
4. Click the file icon in the upper right corner of the screen.
   
5. The settings.json file should open immediately and you should be able to make any modifications you want.
   

Using the VS Code Command Palette – Mac

If you’re on a Mac, follow the steps below to open the settings.json file using the command palette.

1. Openvisual studio code.
   
2. Select “Code” and select “Preferences.”
   
3. Gonna:
   • “User” tab for user settings.
     
   • “Workspace” tab for workspace settings.
     
4. Click the file icon in the top right corner of the screen to open your chosen settings.json file.
   
5. Make the necessary changes.
6. Save and close the file.

Please note that any changes made to the user’s settings.json file will be reflected in all VS Code projects currently in progress. Therefore, it makes sense to edit the user’s settings.json file if you want to adjust settings that affect all projects in the editor.

If you want the changes to only affect the project you are currently working on, edit the workspace settings.json file. This way, any changes you make won’t affect other projects.

Using File Explorer – Windows

You can also use File Explorer to access the settings.json file. If you’re on a Windows computer, here’s how to use the program to open the settings.json file:

1. Press “Windows + R” keys to open the run box.
   
2. Type “%userprofile%” without the quotes and press “Enter.”
   
3. Select “Application Data”. By default, you cannot see the “AppData” file. So, go to “View” and check the “Hidden Items” checkbox to get permission to view the file.
   
4. Go to “Roaming” and then “Code.”
   
5. Locate the “Settings.json” file and then right-click on it. Go to “Open with.”
   
6. Select “VS Code” to open the file in Visual Studio Code.
   
7. Make any necessary changes and save the file before exiting.

Alternatively, you can write “%userprofile%\AppData\Roaming\Code\User” (without quotes) in the run box, then open the settings.json file in VS Code. From there, make any necessary modifications and save your changes before closing the file.

Using File Explorer – Linux

To open the settings.json file on Linux, follow the directory path below and open the file using VS Code:

$HOME/.config/Code/User/settings.json

Using File Explorer – Mac

If you are on a Mac, follow the steps below to open the settings.json file in VS Code:

1. Navigate to “Go” and select the “Library” option.
   
2. If the “Library” option is missing, navigate to “Go” and then “Go to Folder.” Type “~/Library” and then press the “Go” button to make the Library option available.
   
3. Once the “Library” folder is open, click “Application Support.”
   
4. Navigate to “Code” and open the “User” directory.
   
5. Open the “Settings.json” file using VSCode.
   
6. Change the file as necessary and be sure to save it before exiting.

How to edit settings using Settings.json file

Accessing the settings.json file is only part of the process. You also need to know how to edit the file settings.

First, you need to understand the JSON format. Simply put, it is a text-based data exchange format. The format is used to exchange data between computers and other devices. Each data element in JSON contains an ID along with the value that represents it. So when you open the settings.json file, each setting will have its ID and the value it is currently set to. The same thing happens when you want to add an edit: specify the ID and its value.

Consider the following example:

Let’s say you want to automatically save your files after a certain delay. In that case, you can add the following line of code in the settings.json file anywhere between the opening and closing braces:

“files.AutoSave”: “AfterDelay”,

The first part of the above line of code is the ID of the “Auto-save file” setting and the second is the newly assigned value.

Even better, the settings.json file is integrated with IntelliSense and smart predictions. So whenever you start typing the ID of a configuration, it should be automatically predicted. You can press the “Enter” key to accept the suggested ID. The respective configuration ID values ​​are predicted in the same way.

Whenever you misspell a configuration ID or its value, it will be highlighted in red, making it easier to identify and correct errors. You can see the list of all settings that you can edit via settings.json by pressing “Ctrl +” keys. You can also see a list of all the default settings on the official site. VS Code Settings Page.

Additional FAQs

Why did the changes I made via the settings.json file not take effect?

Any changes you make through the settings.json file will only take effect once you have restarted the code editor. So if there are changes you made that didn’t take effect, restart the editor and see if that solves the problem. If that doesn’t work, consider restarting the entire computer.

Why am I getting an error that says VS Code can’t write my configuration?

If you are trying to change a setting but still receive an error message, there was probably an error editing the settings.json file. For example, you may have misspelled a particular value. To resolve the issue, open the settings.json file again and check for errors marked with red scribbles.

How do I reset all my settings in VS Code?

The easiest way to reset all VS Code settings to their default values ​​is by deleting the contents of the user’s settings.json file, except for the opening and closing brackets. However, keep in mind that this action cannot be reversed, so you must be very careful before continuing. Once you’ve deleted everything, save the file and restart the editor.

Start customizing your VS Code settings using Settings.json files

The settings.json file is one of the essential files that you should be used to if you want to customize the VS Code editor to suit your needs. Fortunately, VS Code makes accessing this file relatively easy. For example, you can open the file by pressing “Ctrl + Shift” + P” and selecting the settings.json file you want to edit. You can also access the file through File Explorer if you know its specific file path.

What is your preferred way to open settings.json in VS Code? Let us know in the comments section below.