How to Change Explorer Folder in VS Code
Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a versatile and powerful code editor that offers a wide range of features to enhance the coding experience. One of the essential aspects of VS Code is the ability to navigate and manage your project files efficiently. By default, VS Code opens a folder in the Explorer pane, but sometimes you may need to switch to a different folder for various reasons. In this article, we will guide you through the process of changing the explorer folder in VS Code.
1. Open VS Code
Firstly, launch Visual Studio Code on your computer. If you haven’t installed it yet, you can download and install it from the official website (https://code.visualstudio.com/).
2. Open the desired folder
When VS Code opens, it will automatically detect and open the most recently used folder. To change the folder, you can follow these steps:
2.1. Click on the folder icon on the left side of the window, next to the search bar.
2.2. A dropdown menu will appear, displaying the currently open folder and recent folders. If you want to open a new folder, click on “Open Folder…”
2.3. Navigate to the folder you want to open using the file explorer dialog that appears. Select the folder and click “Open” to open it in VS Code.
3. Use keyboard shortcuts
VS Code provides keyboard shortcuts to quickly switch between folders. To change the explorer folder using keyboard shortcuts, follow these steps:
3.1. Press “Ctrl + Shift + P” (or “Cmd + Shift + P” on macOS) to open the Command Palette.
3.2. Type “Switch Workspace” or “Open Folder…” in the search bar and press Enter.
3.3. A dropdown menu will appear, displaying the currently open folders and recent folders. Select the folder you want to open using the arrow keys and press Enter.
4. Use the “Explorer” pane
The “Explorer” pane in VS Code allows you to navigate through your project files and switch between folders. To change the explorer folder using the “Explorer” pane, follow these steps:
4.1. Click on the folder icon on the left side of the window, next to the search bar.
4.2. A dropdown menu will appear, displaying the currently open folder and recent folders. Click on the folder you want to switch to.
5. Use the integrated terminal
VS Code includes an integrated terminal that allows you to run commands directly in the editor. To change the explorer folder using the terminal, follow these steps:
5.1. Click on the integrated terminal icon on the left side of the window, next to the “Explorer” pane.
5.2. In the terminal, navigate to the folder you want to open using the “cd” command, for example:
“`bash
cd /path/to/folder
“`
5.3. Once you have navigated to the desired folder, you can use the “code” command to open it in VS Code:
“`bash
code .
“`
Conclusion
Changing the explorer folder in VS Code is a straightforward process, whether you want to switch between folders using the UI, keyboard shortcuts, or the integrated terminal. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily manage your project files and enhance your coding experience in VS Code.
