How to install VSCode extensions from command line on Linux
Jul 13, 2025 am 12:05 AMYes, you can install VSCode extensions from the Linux command line by first ensuring the VSCode CLI is available, either by verifying the code command or creating a symlink if necessary. Next, find the extension ID from the Visual Studio Marketplace, such as ms-python.python for the Python extension. Then, use code --install-extension ms-python.python to install it, optionally specifying a version like ms-python.python@2023.18.1. If dependencies are missing, install them separately upon warning messages, or manually install a .vsix file in restricted environments using code --install-extension /path/to/your-extension.vsix.
Yes, you can install Visual Studio Code (VSCode) extensions directly from the command line on Linux, which is especially handy if you're setting up a development environment quickly or managing multiple machines. Here's how to do it.

Make sure VSCode CLI is available
Before installing extensions via the terminal, check that the code
command is available in your shell. This allows you to interact with VSCode from the command line.

If it’s not set up yet, follow these steps:
- On most Linux systems where you installed VSCode via
.deb
or.rpm
, the CLI should already be installed. - If not, you can manually create a symlink:
sudo ln -s /usr/share/code/bin/code /usr/local/bin/code
Once done, test it by running:

code --version
You should see version info printed — that means you’re good to go.
Find the extension ID
To install an extension via the command line, you need its extension ID, which usually looks like publisher.extension-name
.
Here’s how to find it:
- Go to Visual Studio Marketplace.
- Search for the extension you want.
- Open its page and look at the URL or details section — the ID will appear there.
For example, the Python extension has the ID: ms-python.python
.
Install the extension using the CLI
Once you have the extension ID, use this simple command:
code --install-extension ms-python.python
Replace ms-python.python
with whatever extension ID you found earlier.
? Pro tip: You can also include a specific version:
code --install-extension ms-python.python@2023.18.1
This is useful for keeping environments consistent across different machines or CI setups.
Handle dependencies and warnings
Sometimes, an extension might depend on another one. In that case, VSCode will print a warning like:
"The extension 'ms-python.python' depends on extension 'ms-vscode.vscode-js-debug' which is not installed."
In that case, just run the install command again for the missing dependency.
Also, if you're behind a proxy or in an air-gapped environment, you can download the .vsix
file manually and install it like this:
code --install-extension /path/to/your-extension.vsix
That’s all it takes to install VSCode extensions from the Linux command line. It’s straightforward once you have the right ID and CLI access.
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