How can I open Visual Studio Code's 'settings.json' file?

I did it many times, and each time I forgot where it was.

Menu File → Preferences → Settings.

I get this:

I want to open file settings.json (editable JSON file) instead. How can I do that?

To open the User settings:

• Open the command palette (either with F1 or Ctrl+Shift+P)
• Type "open settings"
• You are presented with two options, choose Open Settings (JSON)

Which, depending on platform, is one of:

• Windows %APPDATA%\Code\User\settings.json
• macOS $HOME/Library/Application\ Support/Code/User/settings.json
• Linux $HOME/.config/Code/User/settings.json

The Workspace settings will be in a {workspaceName}.code-workspace file where you saved it, and the Folder settings will be in a .vscode folder if and when it has been created.

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Official page on User and Workspace Settings

As stated by sevencardz below, VS Code now includes a button in the Settings UI gutter which can be used to switch between editor and graphical view. The workbench.settings.editor option selects which of these is opened by default when not using the above method, such as ⌘+, or through the application menu.

On the settings UI page, there's a special button in the top right corner gutter that toggles between the settings.json file and the settings UI.

Bonus Answer:

Add "workbench.settings.editor": "json" to your settings.json file. This will make it so that menu File → Preferences → Settings or ⌘ + , opens your settings.json file by default. Optionally, add a comment at the top to remind yourself where the toggle button is.

// Click the Open Settings (UI) button in the top
// right corner gutter to toggle the settings UI
{
    // Other settings in settings.json
    // ...
    "workbench.settings.editor": "json"
}

Follow these steps:

• Shift + CMD + P
• Type "settings"
• Click on "Preferences: Open Settings (JSON)"

Visual Studio Code Tips and Tricks

If you want to edit local workspace/folder settings instead of global user settings, you can edit the file .vscode/settings.json (shortcut: Ctrl/Cmd + P and type "settings.json").

If that settings.json file or the folder .vscode do not exist, you can create them in the folder directory.

These settings will apply to the specific project.

These changes are global, so it will affect all of your projects.

1. You can change the settings.json file from user preferences.

   Menu File → Preferences → Settings → Extensions → search for "Edit in settings.json"

2. Eventually edit these files directly:

   • Linux: $HOME/.config/Code/User/settings.json
   • macOS: $HOME/Library/Application Support/Code/User/settings.json
   • Windows: %APPDATA%\Code\User\settings.json

On Windows:

• Click (Fn) + F1 (or Ctrl + P + >)
• Type open settings json

Select Preferences: open settings (JSON)

On a Mac the settings file is found at ~/Library/Application\ Support/Code/User/settings.json - it can be opened from the command line:

open -a 'visual studio code.app' ~/Library/Application\ Support/Code/User/settings.json