How To Update to the Latest Version of Visual Studio Code Quickly

Keeping Visual Studio Code (VSCode) up-to-date is pretty important, especially if you wanna avoid bugs or missing out on new features. Sometimes, the update check isn’t super obvious or might fail silently, so knowing the workaround helps. Here’s how to do it manually and also ensure it updates automatically when possible.

Step 1: Launch Visual Studio Code

Open up Visual Studio Code. Yeah, duh, but sometimes folks forget if it’s running or need to restart after an update. Make sure it’s actually open before digging into menus.

Step 2: Find the update menu

Now, look at the top-right corner—there’s those three dots or a gear icon depending on your version and OS. Click on the Three vertical dots. On some setups, it’s the gear icon, but the menu path should be the same—like Help or the main menu bar dropdowns, depending on OS.

Step 3: Check for updates

From that dropdown, try selecting Help > Check for Updates. If you can’t see the menu directly, on some versions it’s just directly under Help. If your VSCode is on a Mac, it’s usually under Code > Check for Updates (or sometimes under the menu bar at the top).

Note: If clicking doesn’t trigger the update, try using the command palette (Ctrl + Shift + P or Cmd + Shift + P on Mac) and then type Check for Updates. Still no luck? Sometimes downloading a new installer from the VSCode downloads page is the fastest fix.

Step 4: Download and restart

If it detects an update, it will usually start downloading automatically. When it’s ready, VSCode will prompt you to restart to finish. Sometimes, it takes a couple of tries or rebooting because of how Windows or Mac handles file locks. Not sure why it works, but on one setup it’s instant, on another… I had to restart twice.

Step 5: Verify your update

Once restarted, click on Help then About. Here, the version number shows up, so just scan for the latest release number. If it matches the latest notes on the [VSCode update page](https://code.visualstudio.com/updates), you’re good.

Step 6: Make updates automatic (if you want to skip the hassle)

To avoid chasing updates manually all the time, turn on auto-updates. Head into File > Preferences > Settings or hit Ctrl + ,. Search for ‘update’ in the search bar, then toggle Update: Mode to default or automatic. Sometimes, on Linux or custom builds, it doesn’t always stick, so keep an eye.

And on some systems, you might need to update using the command line tool, like code --install-update or reinstall if the update process is bizarrely broken. Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary.

Extra tips & common issues

Here are a few extra pointers:

Make sure your internet connection isn’t acting up during update checks—no one wants partial downloads.
If VSCode refuses to update or gets stuck, try completely closing it, ending the process in Task Manager or Activity Monitor, then launching again.
If all else fails, uninstall and reinstall from the latest installer. That’s usually faster than debugging weird update issues.
Check your system’s date and time. Weird clock settings can mess with the update servers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I tell what version of VSCode I am currently using?

Just go to Help > About. The version number is right there. Easy.

What if my VSCode doesn’t show any updates?

If it says no updates, you’re probably already on the latest. But if you suspect otherwise, visit the official update page to compare the release notes.

Can I revert to an earlier version?

Sure, but it’s a bit more manual. Head over to the download archive and pick what you want. Just note that downgrading can cause extension or profile issues if not done carefully.

Summary

Check for updates via menu or command palette
Restart after download—sometimes twice
Use the settings to turn automatic updates on if preferred
Visit the VSCode website if all else fails

Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. It’s kinda weird how some updates just refuse to show up, but this covers the typical workarounds. Fingers crossed this helps.