How to download and install Visual Studio Code on Ubuntu 24.04

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  • Post Updated: December 13, 2024

Visual Studio Code on Mac, Windows & Linux

Navigating through your system on Ubuntu 24.04 to manage your code is easy with the right tools. Visual Studio Code, or VS Code, is widely recognized as one of the best code editors available.

Thankfully, in 2025, installing this important or rather popular piece of software is straightforward. If you’re searching for how to download and install VS Code on Ubuntu, this guide will walk you through the process, ensuring you can start coding without any problems.

If you are looking for a stable and complete source code editor, I highly recommend you try VS Code, let us know in the comments below what you think about it once you decide to try it.

How to install Visual Studio Code on Ubuntu 24.04

Steps on how to install VS code on Ubuntu using Terminal:

  1. Update Packages
    sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
  2. Install Dependencies
    sudo apt install wget gpg
  3. Add Microsoft GPG Key
    wget -qO- https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc | gpg --dearmor | sudo tee /usr/share/keyrings/ms-packages.gpg > /dev/null
  4. Enable VS Code Repository
    echo "deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/ms-packages.gpg] https://packages.microsoft.com/repos/code stable main"
    sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/vscode.list
  5. Install VS Code
    sudo apt update
    
    sudo apt install code
  6. Launch VS Code
    code

How to download Visual Studio Code on Ubuntu 24.04

If you prefer a quick and hassle-free method, you can download and install the Snap version of VS Code with just a click:

👉 Download Visual Studio Code for Ubuntu (Snap)

This method is perfect if you want to skip the terminal steps and get started instantly. Snap ensures automatic updates, so you’ll always have the latest version.

What Is Visual Studio Code About?

Visual Studio Code is a versatile source code editor that operates on your desktop and is compatible with Linux, macOS, and Windows. It provides native support for JavaScript, TypeScript, and Node.js, as well as a thriving ecosystem of extensions for other languages, including C++, C#, Java, Python, PHP, Go, and runtimes like .NET and Unity.

Blending the simplicity of a source code editor with robust developer tools such as IntelliSense code completion and debugging, Visual Studio Code is designed to streamline your workflow. It prioritizes an unobtrusive editing experience, allowing you to focus on your ideas rather than your environment.

At its core, Visual Studio Code boasts an ultra-fast source code editor, ideal for daily use. With support for hundreds of languages, VS Code enhances productivity through syntax highlighting, bracket matching, auto-indentation, box selection, snippets, and more. Intuitive keyboard shortcuts, simple customization, and community-contributed shortcut mappings enable seamless code navigation.

For more advanced coding, Visual Studio Code offers built-in IntelliSense code completion, in-depth semantic code understanding and navigation, and code refactoring capabilities, providing a comprehensive toolset that goes beyond basic text editing.

Visual Studio Code Features:

  • IntelliSense Code Completion: Visual Studio Code offers an intelligent code completion feature called IntelliSense, which provides context-aware suggestions for code completion, speeding up development and reducing potential errors.
  • Built-in Debugging: VS Code comes with a powerful built-in debugger, allowing developers to easily set breakpoints, step through code, and inspect variables within their applications, making the process of finding and fixing bugs more efficient.
  • Integrated Terminal: Visual Studio Code features an integrated terminal, which allows developers to run command-line tools and tasks directly within the editor, streamlining the development process.
  • Extensibility: VS Code has a rich ecosystem of extensions that can be used to add support for various languages, frameworks, and tools, enabling developers to customize their environment and enhance their productivity.
  • Version Control Integration: Visual Studio Code has built-in support for Git and other version control systems, allowing developers to manage their code repositories, commit changes, and view diffs directly within the editor. This integration simplifies the process of collaborating on code and tracking changes over time.

Visual Studio Code Screenshot

Visual Studio Code Video


We have a list of the best code editors on Ubuntu or try Sublime Text, a popular alternative.