# How to Open Visual Studio Code Automatically on Mac

By Karan Kartikeya. Published 2026-10-30, updated 2026-10-30. Canonical: https://clapsnap.viberank.co.in/open/visual-studio-code

> To open Visual Studio Code automatically on a Mac, go to System Settings, General, Login Items and add Visual Studio Code under Open at Login. To open it only when you start work, together with your other apps, use an Apple Shortcut or ClapSnap, which opens the whole set on a double clap or snap.

Visual Studio Code is Microsoft's free code editor. By default it reopens the folders and files from your last session, which makes opening it automatically especially useful.

## Open Visual Studio Code at every login

macOS can open Visual Studio Code each time you log in. Follow the steps below, or right-click Visual Studio Code in the Dock and choose **Options**, then **Open at Login**.

Some apps also offer an "open at login" option in their own settings. If Visual Studio Code does, use either that or Login Items, not both, or you may get duplicate windows.

## Open Visual Studio Code with the rest of your workspace

To open Visual Studio Code only when you start work, together with your other apps:

- **Apple Shortcuts:** add an **Open App** action for Visual Studio Code and each companion app, then run the shortcut from a hotkey or the menu bar. See [how to open multiple apps with one shortcut](/blog/open-multiple-apps-one-shortcut-mac).
- **ClapSnap:** add Visual Studio Code to your app list and double clap or snap; everything opens together, with no keyboard. See [how to make your Mac open apps when you clap](/blog/clap-to-open-apps-mac).

## When to open Visual Studio Code on demand

On days without coding, VS Code at login is just memory spent. Opening it with your developer workspace when you sit down to code keeps it out of the way otherwise.

## Apps people open with Visual Studio Code

- [Terminal](/open/terminal)
- Google Chrome
- [Slack](/open/slack)
- [Notion](/open/notion)

Visual Studio Code is part of the [developer workspace](/workspaces/developer). For every method in one place, see [7 ways to open apps automatically on Mac](/blog/launch-apps-automatically-mac).

## Add Visual Studio Code to Login Items

1. **Open System Settings.** Choose Apple menu, then System Settings.
2. **Go to Login Items.** Select General, then Login Items.
3. **Add Visual Studio Code.** Under Open at Login, click the add button and choose Visual Studio Code from Applications.
4. **Restart to check.** Log out and back in; Visual Studio Code should open on its own.

## Questions

### Does VS Code reopen my last project when it opens automatically?

Yes, by default VS Code restores the windows and folders from your previous session, whichever way it was opened.

### How do I stop Visual Studio Code opening at login on Mac?

Open System Settings, General, Login Items, select Visual Studio Code under Open at Login and click the minus button.

**Try ClapSnap.** Double clap or snap to open your whole Mac workspace, and steer the cursor with your hand. Pay what you want, minimum €8, one-time purchase, with a 14-day refund. [Get ClapSnap](https://clapsnap.viberank.co.in/#download)

## Keep reading

- [The Developer Mac Workspace: Apps to Open Every Morning](https://clapsnap.viberank.co.in/workspaces/developer): A ready-made Mac workspace for developers: Visual Studio Code, Terminal, Google Chrome, Slack and Notion, opened together with one double clap.
- [How to Open Figma Automatically on Mac](https://clapsnap.viberank.co.in/open/figma): Make Figma open by itself on macOS: at every login with Login Items, or on demand with your other apps using Shortcuts or a clap.
- [How to Open Notion Automatically on Mac](https://clapsnap.viberank.co.in/open/notion): Make Notion open by itself on macOS: at every login with Login Items, or on demand with your other apps using Shortcuts or a clap.
- [How to Open Safari Automatically on Mac](https://clapsnap.viberank.co.in/open/safari): Make Safari open by itself on macOS: at every login with Login Items, or on demand with your other apps using Shortcuts or a clap.