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

command-palette, json, preference, settings, visual-studio-code

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

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

- Windows `%APPDATA%\Code\User\settings.json`²

- 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 `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

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

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

Problem

I did it many times, and each time I forgot where it was. Menu File → Preferences → Settings. I get this: I want to open file settings.json (editable JSON file) instead. How can I do that?

Original source

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