How to Manually Update VS Code Extensions
While Visual Studio Code typically updates your installed extensions automatically in the background, you may occasionally need to trigger updates manually to access new features, bug fixes, or compatibility patches immediately. This article provides a quick, step-by-step guide on how to locate outdated extensions in VS Code and install their latest versions manually.
Step 1: Open the Extensions View
To manage your extensions, you must first open the Extensions sidebar. You can do this by: * Clicking on the Extensions icon on the Activity Bar on the left side of the window (it looks like four blocks with one detached). * Using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+X on Windows/Linux or Cmd+Shift+X on macOS.
Step 2: Filter for Outdated Extensions
Once the Extensions view is open, you can filter your list to display
only the extensions that have pending updates: 1. Click inside the
search box at the top of the Extensions sidebar. 2. Clear any existing
text, type @outdated, and press Enter.
Alternatively, you can click the Views and More
Actions button (the three dots ... icon at the
top-right corner of the Extensions pane) and select Show
Outdated Extensions from the dropdown menu.
Step 3: Install the Updates
You can choose to update your extensions either individually or all at once:
- To update a single extension: Find the extension you want to update in the filtered list. Click the blue Update button next to its name.
- To update all extensions at once: Click the
Views and More Actions button (the three dots
...icon) at the top of the Extensions pane, and select Update All Extensions from the menu.
Step 4: Restart or Reload (If Required)
While most extension updates take effect immediately, some may
require you to reload the editor. If an update requires a reload, a blue
Reload Required button will appear next to the
extension. Click this button, or open the Command Palette
(Ctrl+Shift+P or Cmd+Shift+P) and run
the command Developer: Reload Window to complete the
process.