To access the settings.json file of VS Code, you can directly open it through the command panel (Ctrl Shift P or Cmd Shift P); the default storage location of the file varies according to the operating system, Windows is in %APPDATA%\Code\User\settings.json, macOS is in $HOME/Library/Application Support/Code/User/settings.json, Linux In $HOME/.config/Code/User/settings.json; the settings are divided into user-level and workspace-level. The former is suitable for all projects, while the latter is only for the current project. Common errors include syntax errors, false overwrite settings, and no editor restart. It is recommended to gradually test and backup the original file.
The settings.json
file in VS Code is where you store custom settings that override the default editor preferences. If you're trying to find or edit it, here's how to locate and work with it properly.

How to Access settings.json in VS Code
You don't always need to manually find the file to edit it — VS Code provides a built-in way to open it directly.
To access it:

- Open the Command Palette (
Ctrl Shift P
orCmd Shift P
on Mac) - Type "Preferences: Open Settings (JSON)"
- Click the result, and it will open the
settings.json
file in the editor
This method works whether you're editing user-level settings or workspace-specific ones. It avoids having to dig through folders manually.
Where Is It Stored by Default?
If you do want to locate it manually, the file is usually stored in a specific directory depending on your operating system:

- Windows :
%APPDATA%\Code\User\settings.json
- macOS :
$HOME/Library/Application Support/Code/User/settings.json
- Linux :
$HOME/.config/Code/User/settings.json
These paths can vary slightly if you're using a portable version of VS Code or a different installation. Also, if you're working with a specific workspace, there may be a separate settings.json
inside the .vscode
folder of that project.
When to Use User vs Workspace Settings
There are two main types of settings.json
files:
- User Settings : Apply globally across all projects
- Workspace Settings : Only apply to the current project and are often shared among team members
You can switch between them in the settings UI or by opening each JSON file directly. For example, if you want to set a special font size just for one project, put it in the workspace settings.json
. But if you prefer a certain theme everywhere, use the user-level file.
It's also possible to have multiple profiles in newer versions of VS Code, each with its own settings.json
, which adds more flexibility without cluttering the main file.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Editing settings.json
gives you a lot of control, but it's easy to make small errors that break things:
- Syntax errors like missing commas or incorrect brackets can stop settings from loading entirely
- Overwriting settings without realizing it — especially when sharing workspace files
- Assuming changes take effect immediately — sometimes you need to reload or restart VS Code
A good practice is to test changes incrementally and keep a backup of the original file, especially when troubleshooting issues like extensions not being as expected.
Basically that's it.
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