Can I use Claude in VS Code?
What the extension does
Anthropic's Claude Code extension adds a panel to VS Code where you can chat with Claude about the files you have open. It can read your project, suggest edits, and show changes you can accept or reject. It uses the same account setup as Claude Code itself. Review each proposed change before you accept it, especially in files you rely on.
How to set it up
Search the VS Code Extensions panel for the official Claude Code extension, and confirm that Anthropic is the publisher before you install. After installing, sign in with your Anthropic account when prompted. Open your project folder so Claude can see your files.
- Open the Extensions panel in VS Code
- Search for Claude Code and check the publisher
- Install and sign in
- Open your project folder
Using chat separately
The regular Claude chat on the web or on your phone is separate from the editor extension. You can paste a snippet into chat for a quick question without installing anything. The extension is better when you want Claude working with the whole project. If you use the chat app often, you can keep both open side by side while you work.
Common mistakes
- Installing an extension with a similar name from an unknown publisher.
- Expecting the extension to work without an eligible account.
- Pasting private code or API keys into chat without checking your privacy settings.
