Default save / open location

[yoberner]

Would it be possible to change the default opening and saving location when trying to open and/or save a file.
For example, instead of it automatically being the root folder I would prefer the desktop.
Thanks!

[leighmcculloch]

It would be helpful if it was also possible if this applies to opening folders too.

When using the File -> Open in VSCode on Mac the default folder to display is the home folder.

It would be convenient if there was a configuration open to change the default folder.

I keep all my code in a sub-directory of home, and it would be convenient if VSCode could be configured to default to that subdirectory.

This problem has been discussed prior in a few places, so it seems others are also interested in this capability:

• Stack Overflow: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/46419613/visual-studio-code-default-folder
• Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learnprogramming/comments/a1sign/how_to_change_default_working_directory_in_vscode/

[thernstig]

Similar issue everyone here might also want to upvote/support: #140358

[orinwalker]

Yes this would be very helpful!

[obsius]

Would be super helpful and an extremely simple feature to implement.

[thernstig]

Please consider upvoting #140358 otherwise it will be closed

[trullock]

This. Drives me mad!

[thernstig]

#140358 has been fixed at least 😄

[silkfire]

I find this more useful. Hopefully it can be fixed in a near future.

[mackeyaj]

This would be extremely time saving!

[jjsekela]

Please 🥺

[serhiikartashov]

Please don't ignore this feature request :) It's useful.

[maxrks]

I think so, open folder in default location saving time.

[torext]

Yes, please implement this as it's a basic quality-of-life feature. Moreover, with the last update "Open Folder..." suddenly defaults to "Recent" on my Ubuntu installation and so it's even worse than the /home folder default it was before. Either don't touch defaults or, way better, make them user adjustable (as they should be).

[FedeAbella]

Just going to up @torext here: Last update on Ubuntu defaults Open Folder to Recent, which is a maddening headache for anyone trying to type their way into the appropriate folder (even if it is in the Recent items list). At the very least, keep it in /home/$USER

[gleacher]

Open Folder Recent is a disaster as Recent appears to be simply an arbitrary list of files that may have been edited at some time in the past. Even worse, the list is behind the editor, which must be moved to select the Default directory.

[FedeAbella]

@gleacher you mean the Open Folder window pops up in the background instead of above the editor window? God, I thought that was just me. It's incredibly annoying, and also started happening same time as it defaulted to Recent

[depascalis]

I only would like this behavior when opening a new empty window, not when I'm in a workspace or project.

Example
Open File/Folder from:

1. Workspace/Project -> Current behavior (Optional of course)
2. New empty window -> Get path from user specified settings.json

Also, consider support for these variable substitutions:
${userHome}, ${workspaceFolder}, ${fileWorkspaceFolder}, and ${env:MyEnvVar}. Did I miss any?

[FedeAbella]

Can't tell if there's been an update since the last comments on this, but Open Folder is now defaulting to ~ when no folder is open. It's defaulting to the open folder when one is already open (which I think makes sense)

The file dialog window is still sometimes popping up in the background though.

[zackwoo808]

Temporary hack for MacOS users...

Follow the instructions to set up an Automator Service (now called Quick Action) here https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/51481/quickly-open-your-favorite-folders-on-os-x#:~:text=In%20the%20sidebar%2C%20under%20'Library,you%20want%20a%20shortcut%20for.

BUT, for step 2, set the "in" variable to VSCode. And for step 5, make sure to also set the "Open with..." variable to VSCode.

Then follow the rest of the instructions for mapping this custom Service to a keyboard shortcut.

Now you can use this shortcut within VSCode to open a new window at your favorite directory each time, and from there when you open a file/folder, the "Open" dialogue will open in that directory.

[dani1113]

👍

[markict]

+1

[PCASME]

+1

[hym3242]

+1, even having to edit it with defaults write is fine

[patrickmagee]

+1 would be great.

[gjsjohnmurray]

I have submitted PR #182908 to address this.

[gjsjohnmurray]

Pinging @bpasero because of his comment at #174228 (comment) in relation to a previous PR that was withdrawn by its author.

[bpasero]

I am not entirely sure changing the fallback (which is currently user-home) to a custom folder solves the issue as reported. We may not use this fallback at all unless maybe you open an empty workspace and have no file opened?

[gjsjohnmurray]

I am not entirely sure changing the fallback (which is currently user-home) to a custom folder solves the issue as reported. We may not use this fallback at all unless maybe you open an empty workspace and have no file opened?

I think the majority of interest here is in the fallback case. For example, #115730 (comment) and following.

Still, I think it would be possible to enhance my PR so that the setting gets scoped as machine-overridable rather than machine, then use inspect() to make a workspace-level value override the current behaviour when a workspace (folder or .code-workspace) is open.

[trullock]

My 2p:

When i open VS it remembers where I was, this is good. When I do File->open it starts in the location of the folder/project thats open. Thats great.

When I do close folder, or otherwise open VS and there is nothing already open, I dont want it to start in c:/users/trullock, because never in my life has that ever been a working folder for anything

[bpasero]

Thanks to #182908, a new setting files.dialog.homePath allows to set the default path in contexts where we do not pick on the workspace or active file.

[silkfire]

Finally! 🚀

[gjsjohnmurray]

Setting renamed to files.dialog.defaultPath in #186156 and will be available in tomorrow's Insiders.

[leighmcculloch]

@bpasero @gjsjohnmurray Is there a way to set a home relative path in files.dialog.defaultPath? E.g. Can I set the value to $HOME/Code? Or ~/Code?

[bpasero]

No, we do not support variables or path expansion in settings. though we have feature requests pending for that.