To uninstall a VS Code extension that is no longer needed, choose to uninstall or disable. 1. Uninstall the extension: Open VS Code, click the extension icon in the left sidebar (or press Ctrl Shift X), search and find the target extension, click the gear icon to select "Uninstall" or directly click the uninstall button; 2. Disable the extension: Also enter the extension view, click the gear icon next to the extension and select "Disable", or use the command panel (Ctrl Shift P) to enter "Disable extension" to operate; 3. If there are still residual functions after uninstallation, you need to manually delete the configuration file or cache data; 4. If the account synchronization function of VS Code is used, uninstalling the extension may affect other devices, and it is recommended to check the synchronization settings.

If you're looking to get rid of a VS Code extension that you no longer need or want, there are a couple of ways to go about it — either disable or uninstall. Both options serve slightly different purposes: disabling just turns the extension off temporarily, while uninstalling removes it completely from your system.

Here's how to handle both scenarios and what to consider before doing so.

How to Uninstall a VS Code Extension

Uninstalling an extension is the most straightforward way to remove it entirely from your setup. Here's how:

• Open Visual Studio Code .
• Click on the Extensions icon in the left sidebar (or press Ctrl Shift X ).
• In the search bar, optionally type the name of the extension if you're not sure where it is.
• Find the extension you want to remove.
• Click the gear icon next to it and choose Uninstall , or click the uninstall button directly if it's already installed.

Sometimes, especially with large or popular extensions like Prettier or ESLint, you might want to double-check whether any project settings or other extensions depend on it before removing.

How to Disable a VS Code Extension Temporarily

If you're unsure whether you want to keep an extension permanently, or you're troubleshooting performance issues, disabling is a good middle ground.

• Go to the Extensions view again ( Ctrl Shift X ).
• Locate the extension you want to disable.
• Click the gear icon > Disable , or use the command palette:
  • Press Ctrl Shift P
  • Type "Disable Extension" and select it.
  • Choose the extension you want to disable.

You can also disable an extension for just the current workspace if you only need it in certain projects. This is helpful when switching between different tech stacks or teams.

Common Issues When Removing Extensions

Sometimes things don't go as smoothly as expected:

• Extension won't uninstall? Try restarting VS Code first. If that doesn't work, manually delete it from the extensions folder:

  • On Windows: %USERPROFILE%\.vscode\extensions
  • On macOS/Linux: ~/.vscode/extensions

• Still seeing features after uninstalling? Some extensions generate configuration files or cache data. You may need to clean those up manually if they cause conflicts later.

• Shared settings or sync issues? If you use VS Code's account sync feature, uninstalling an extension on one machine might affect others. Be sure to check synced settings if you notice missing features elsewhere.

That's basically all there is to managing extensions in VS Code. Whether you're cleaning up your environment or troubleshooting, knowing how to disable or fully remove an extension gives you more control over your development experience.

The above is the detailed content of How do I disable or uninstall a VS Code extension?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!