Resetting Visual Studio Code in macOS

After installing too many extensions, VS Code can slow down noticeably. This guide shows how to reset it to a clean state while keeping a backup of your old settings so you can selectively restore what you actually need.

Step 1: Close VS Code

Make sure VS Code is fully closed before running any commands.

Step 2: Back up your settings and extensions

mv ~/Library/Application\ Support/Code ~/Library/Application\ Support/backup-Code
mv ~/.vscode ~/backup-vscode

Your old settings and all installed extensions are now safely backed up in those folders.

Step 3: Launch VS Code

Open VS Code — it will start fresh with no extensions or custom settings.

Step 4: Apply your preferred settings

Press ⌘ + , to open Settings, switch to the JSON view, and paste:

{
  "workbench.colorTheme": "ArtSchool",
  "editor.fontFamily": "Operator Mono",
  "editor.fontLigatures": true,
  "editor.wordWrap": "on",
  "editor.mouseWheelZoom": true,
  "editor.formatOnSave": true,
  "editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode",
  "[javascript]": {
    "editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode"
  }
}

You’ll need to install the ArtSchool theme, Operator Mono font, and Prettier extension for these settings to take effect.

After applying the settings, your editor should look clean and fast again: