Table of Contents

Visual Studio Code Setup Guide

Simple, screenshot-driven steps to get VS Code set up. This guide is written for Windows and uses short steps, clear menu paths, and annotated images.

How to use this guide

  • Menu paths are written like: File » New Window with Profile » New Profile…
  • Keyboard keys use + signs: Ctrl + Shift + P
  • Screenshots live in the :vscode: namespace and include red arrows and labels
  • Each step includes 1–2 images with captions. Replace the placeholders with your screenshots.

1) Create a new VS Code profile

Why profiles? Profiles let you keep separate extensions, settings, and UI layout for different tasks (e.g., Python vs. Web). They’re easy to switch without changing your default setup.

Steps

  1. In VS Code, go to: File » New Window with Profile » New Profile…
  2. Choose Create a new profile
  3. Give it a name (e.g., “Web Dev” or “Python Data”)
  4. Select copy from None for an Empty profile with default settings
  5. Click Create and wait for the new window to open with that profile

Screenshots

Image A — Open the profile menu
Open Profile Menu

Image B — Create new profile dialog
Create New Profile

2) Turn on Settings Sync with GitHub

Sync keeps your settings, keybindings, extensions, UI state, and snippets consistent across devices.

Steps

  1. Go to: Manage (gear icon, bottom-left) » Turn on Settings Sync…
  1. Click Sign in & Turn on and choose GitHub when prompted
  2. Your browser opens to GitHub — authorize VS Code, then return to VS Code
  3. Pick what to sync (Settings, Keybindings, Extensions, UI State, Snippets) and confirm
  4. Verify the Accounts menu shows: Settings Sync is on

Screenshots

Image A — Turn on Settings Sync

Turn on Settings Sync

  • If you use multiple profiles, turn Sync on in the profile you want as your baseline.
  • You can limit what gets synced (e.g., extensions only) in the turn-on dialog.
  • Docs: Settings Sync

3) Install and sign in to GitHub Copilot

Copilot suggests code in real time. Requires a GitHub account and an active Copilot subscription (free for some users like students/teachers; see GitHub’s terms).

Steps

  1. Open Extensions: Ctrl + Shift + X, search: GitHub Copilot (publisher: GitHub), then Install
  2. After install, click Sign in to GitHub if prompted; complete the browser auth flow and return to VS Code
  3. Confirm Copilot is enabled (status icon appears in the status bar)
  4. Test: open a code file and start typing a comment; accept a suggestion with Tab

Screenshots

Image A — Install GitHub Copilot extension
Install GitHub Copilot

  • If you don’t see suggestions, ensure: View » Extensions » GitHub Copilot is Enabled.
  • You can toggle Copilot per-language in the extension settings.
  • Docs: GitHub Copilot

4) Explore Welcome and Walkthroughs

VS Code’s Welcome page includes built-in walkthroughs, like “Get started with VS Code”, guiding you through core features. Extensions can also contribute their own walkthroughs (for example: Python, Docker, GitHub Copilot), which show up alongside the built-in ones.

Steps

  1. Open the Welcome page: Help » Get Started
  1. Click Get started with VS Code and complete the mini-tasks (Open Folder, Run and Debug, Source Control, Terminal, etc.)
  2. Optional: Keep showing the Welcome page at startup — Settings (Ctrl + ,) » Workbench » Startup Editor = welcomePage

Screenshots

Image A — Welcome (Get Started) page
Welcome Page

  • Extensions add their own walkthroughs; after installing an extension, check Welcome. Tip: you can also open a specific one directly via Ctrl + Shift + P > Welcome: Open Walkthrough…
  • Docs: Getting Started