How to Open a Folder in VS Code from File Explorer?

You can easily open a folder in Visual Studio Code directly from your file explorer (like File Explorer on Windows or Finder on macOS) or by using VS Code's built-in menu options.

Here are the primary ways to open a folder in VS Code, incorporating information from the provided reference:

Methods to Open a Folder in VS Code

There are two main methods based on the reference:

1. Dragging and Dropping:

   • Locate the folder you want to open in your File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (macOS).
   • Click and drag the folder icon directly onto the open Visual Studio Code window.
   • Release the mouse button. VS Code will then open that folder and display its contents in the Explorer sidebar.

2. Using the VS Code Menu:

   • Open Visual Studio Code.
   • From the top menu, choose File > Open Folder.
   • A file browser window will appear. Navigate to the folder you wish to open.
   • Select the folder and click "Select Folder" (or the equivalent button).
   • VS Code will close any currently open folder (if applicable) and open the selected one.

Both of these methods are effective ways to load a project or directory into VS Code for editing and management.

Quickly Accessing Files within an Open Folder

Once you have a folder open in VS Code, you can quickly navigate to specific files within that folder. The reference mentions:

• Choose Go > Go to File
• Hit Cmd–P (Mac) or Ctrl–P (Windows)

This shortcut opens a quick access palette where you can type the name of any file in the current folder (or workspace) to instantly jump to it. This is different from opening the folder itself, but a useful related tip for working efficiently once a folder is loaded.

Using these methods allows you to easily bring your project directories into VS Code, whether you prefer interacting directly with your file system or using the editor's menu commands.