Install Visual Studio Code on Windows – Complete Beginner's Guide

Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is one of the most popular code editors in the world. Whether you are learning FastAPI, Python, JavaScript, C++, or any other programming language, VS Code provides a fast, lightweight, and feature-rich development environment. It is free, easy to use, and supported by Microsoft.

In this guide, you will learn how to download, install, and verify Visual Studio Code on Windows. By the end of this tutorial, you'll have everything ready to start developing FastAPI applications.

What is Visual Studio Code?

Visual Studio Code (commonly called VS Code) is a free source-code editor developed by Microsoft. Unlike the full Visual Studio IDE, VS Code is lightweight, highly customizable, and supports almost every programming language through extensions.

Some of the key features include:

• Intelligent code completion (IntelliSense)

• Built-in debugging tools

• Integrated Git and GitHub support

• Terminal inside the editor

• Thousands of extensions

• Fast performance

• Cross-platform support (Windows, macOS, and Linux)

• AI coding assistance with GitHub Copilot support

Why Do We Need Visual Studio Code for FastAPI?

Throughout this FastAPI course, VS Code will be our primary code editor.

We will use it to:

• Write Python code

• Create FastAPI projects

• Install Python packages

• Run the FastAPI development server

• Debug applications

• Connect to GitHub

• Manage project files

• Install useful development extensions

Learning VS Code early will make the rest of the course much easier.

System Requirements

Before installing Visual Studio Code, ensure your computer meets these minimum requirements:

VS Code is lightweight and runs well on most modern computers.

Download Visual Studio Code

Always download Visual Studio Code from the official Microsoft website.

Official Download Page

Visual Studio Code Download

On the download page, choose:

• Windows

• User Installer (Recommended)

The User Installer installs VS Code only for your Windows user account and does not usually require administrator privileges.

Install Visual Studio Code

Once the download is complete:

Step 1

Open your Downloads folder.

Locate the downloaded file, such as:

VSCodeUserSetup-x64.exe

Double-click the installer.

Step 2

If Windows asks:

Do you want to allow this app to make changes?

Click:

Yes

Step 3

Accept the License Agreement.

Select:

I accept the agreement

Click Next.

Step 4

Choose the installation location.

The default location is recommended.

Click Next.

Step 5

Choose the Start Menu folder.

Keep the default option.

Click Next.

Step 6 (Very Important)

On the Additional Tasks screen, enable the following options:

✅ Create a desktop icon

✅ Add "Open with Code" action to Windows Explorer (File)

✅ Add "Open with Code" action to Windows Explorer (Directory)

✅ Register Code as an editor

✅ Add to PATH (Important)

Adding VS Code to your PATH allows you to open it directly from the Command Prompt or PowerShell using the code command.

Click Next.

Step 7

Click Install.

The installation usually takes less than a minute.

Step 8

After installation finishes:

Check:

Launch Visual Studio Code

Click Finish.

VS Code will now open automatically.

Verify the Installation

There are several ways to verify that VS Code is installed correctly.

Method 1

Open the Start Menu.

Search for:

Visual Studio Code

If it opens successfully, the installation is complete.

Method 2

Open Command Prompt.

Run:

code --version

If you see a version number, VS Code has been added to your system PATH successfully.

Understanding the VS Code Interface

When you open VS Code for the first time, you'll see:

• Activity Bar

• Explorer

• Search

• Source Control

• Run and Debug

• Extensions

• Editor Area

• Status Bar

• Integrated Terminal

Don't worry if these seem unfamiliar—we'll explore each of them throughout this course.

Why VS Code is Popular Among Developers

Millions of developers choose VS Code because it offers:

• Fast startup

• Low memory usage

• Excellent Python support

• Git integration

• Thousands of free extensions

• Cross-platform compatibility

• Regular updates

• AI-assisted coding features

Common Installation Problems

VS Code won't open

Restart your computer and try again.

code command is not recognized

You likely did not enable Add to PATH during installation.

Reinstall VS Code and enable that option, or manually add it to your PATH.

Installation blocked by antivirus

Temporarily disable overly restrictive antivirus software or allow the installer to run.

Unable to install

Make sure you downloaded the installer from the official Microsoft website and that your Windows version is supported.

Best Practices

• Always use the latest Stable version.

• Download only from the official Microsoft website.

• Keep VS Code updated.

• Install only the extensions you actually need.

• Enable automatic updates.

Summary

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Visual Studio Code on your Windows computer.

In the next lessons, we will configure VS Code specifically for Python and FastAPI development by installing useful extensions such as Python, Pylance, and Black Formatter.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Visual Studio Code free?

Yes. VS Code is completely free to download and use.

Is Visual Studio Code the same as Visual Studio?

No. Visual Studio Code is a lightweight code editor, while Visual Studio is a full-featured Integrated Development Environment (IDE).

Can I use VS Code for Python?

Absolutely. VS Code is one of the best editors for Python development.

Can I build FastAPI applications in VS Code?

Yes. This entire FastAPI course will use VS Code for development.

Official Download Links

• Visual Studio Code: Download Visual Studio Code
  

• VS Code Documentation: Visual Studio Code Documentation