Help · Mac apps
How to uninstall VS Code on a Mac.
Visual Studio Code is removed like most Mac apps: move it to the Trash. Its settings and extensions stay behind until you remove them too, which Microsoft's documentation describes.
Uninstall VS Code
- Quit Visual Studio Code.
- In Finder, open Applications, Control-click Visual Studio Code and choose Move to Trash.
Remove its settings and extensions (optional)
Only if you want a completely clean start: this deletes your VS Code settings, extensions and other user data. Microsoft lists these locations:
~/Library/Application Support/Code~/.vscode(extensions)~/.vscode-shared
The last two are hidden folders in your home folder. In Finder, press ⇧⌘. to show hidden files, or use ⇧⌘G and type the path.
If you use Settings Sync, your settings are also stored in your Microsoft or GitHub account and come back when you sign in again.
Afterwards
- Check System Settings › General › Login Items & Extensions for anything still named Visual Studio Code; see login items. An app that's still in your Trash can stay listed there until you empty the Trash or restart; that's normal macOS behaviour.
- Empty the Trash when you're sure. Emptying the Trash is permanent.
Based on Microsoft's own Visual Studio Code documentation, checked October 2026. Menu names can change between versions.
Then check for anything VS Code left behind.
Once the app is gone, Pangalin Uninstaller's free Leftovers scan lists files left behind by apps that are no longer installed, by name and size. Apple's files are never included. It also shows where each one is and moves the ones you choose to the Trash in one go, with Undo.
Completely free · No account · Notarised by Apple · Apple silicon, macOS 13 or later