VSCode UI Freezes After Being Minimized While Files Are Repeatedly Created and Deleted in Opened Folder

[821938089]

Type: Performance Issue

Description

VSCode may freeze for a noticeable period after being restored from a minimized state if the opened workspace contains files that are being repeatedly created and deleted in the background.

The longer VSCode stays minimized while these file changes continue, the longer the UI freeze duration becomes after restoring the window.

Reproduction Steps

1. Open VSCode.
2. Open a folder as the workspace.
3. Ensure the Explorer view is visible in the left sidebar.
4. In the opened folder, continuously create and delete a file repeatedly using an external process or script.
5. Minimize the VSCode window.
6. Leave VSCode minimized for some time while the file changes continue.
7. Restore the VSCode window.

Actual Result

After restoring the window, the VSCode UI freezes for a period of time.
The freeze duration increases the longer VSCode remained minimized.

Expected Result

VSCode should remain responsive when restored, even if many file system changes occurred while minimized.

VS Code version: Code 1.120.0 (0958016, 2026-05-12T20:17:22Z)
OS version: Windows_NT x64 10.0.19045
Modes:

System Info

Item	Value
CPUs	Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-9300H CPU @ 2.40GHz (8 x 2400)
GPU Status	2d_canvas: enabled GPU0: VENDOR= 0x10de, DEVICE=0x1f91 [NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650], DRIVER_VENDOR=NVIDIA, DRIVER_VERSION=32.0.15.9636 ACTIVE GPU1: VENDOR= 0x8086, DEVICE=0x3e9b [Intel(R) UHD Graphics 630], DRIVER_VERSION=31.0.101.2141 GPU2: VENDOR= 0x8086, DEVICE=0x3e9b [Intel(R) UHD Graphics 630], DRIVER_VERSION=31.0.101.2141 GPU3: VENDOR= 0x1414, DEVICE=0x008c [Microsoft Basic Render Driver], DRIVER_VERSION=10.0.19041.5794 Machine model name: Machine model version: direct_rendering_display_compositor: disabled_off_ok gpu_compositing: enabled multiple_raster_threads: enabled_on opengl: enabled_on rasterization: enabled raw_draw: disabled_off_ok skia_graphite: disabled_off trees_in_viz: disabled_off video_decode: enabled video_encode: enabled webgl: enabled webgl2: enabled webgpu: enabled webnn: disabled_off
Load (avg)	undefined
Memory (System)	31.85GB (15.61GB free)
Process Argv	D:\Python\fanqie_windsurf_fts5 --crash-reporter-id 666845cd-128a-4b5a-b93d-58ae479cca6f
Screen Reader	no
VM	33%

Process Info

CPU %	Mem MB	   PID	Process
    1	   140	 11216	code
    0	   328	  2380	window [1] (main.py - fanqie_windsurf_fts5 - Visual Studio Code)
    0	   154	  3040	   gpu-process
    0	    47	  8772	   utility-network-service
    0	   132	 11152	pty-host
    0	     8	 11804	     "c:\Users\Horis\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\0958016b2a\resources\app\node_modules\node-pty\build\Release\conpty\OpenConsole.exe" --headless --width 80 --height 30 --signal 0x5b0 --server 0x5a8
    0	     4	 19848	     C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe
    0	   116	 14332	file-watcher [1]
    0	    30	 17620	   crashpad-handler
    0	   124	 21516	shared-process
    1	   553	 21852	extension-host [1]
    0	     7	  5732	     c:\Users\Horis\.vscode\extensions\ms-python.vscode-python-envs-1.30.0-win32-x64\python-env-tools\bin\pet.exe server
    0	    11	 17560	       C:\Windows\system32\conhost.exe 0x4
    0	    30	  7856	     c:\Users\Horis\.vscode\extensions\openai.chatgpt-26.513.21555-win32-x64\bin\windows-x86_64\codex.exe app-server --analytics-default-enabled
    0	    11	  2140	       C:\Windows\system32\conhost.exe 0x4
    0	   412	 17016	     electron-nodejs (bundle.js)
    0	   106	 17372	     "C:\Users\Horis\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\Code.exe" "c:\Users\Horis\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\0958016b2a\resources\app\extensions\json-language-features\server\dist\node\jsonServerMain" --node-ipc --clientProcessId=21852
    0	   106	 20476	     c:\Users\Horis\.vscode\extensions\codeium.codeium-1.48.2\dist\e03af6ebc40b844314d448f947c80b636d093049\language_server_windows_x64.exe --api_server_url https://server.codeium.com --manager_dir C:\Users\Horis\AppData\Local\Temp\b0051f88-227c-4988-915e-d705f83b9763\codeium\manager --enable_chat_web_server --enable_lsp --ide_name vscode --inference_api_server_url https://inference.codeium.com --csrf_token 88cb805a-e809-4823-99b9-ecabe8c6cc43 --database_dir C:\Users\Horis\.codeium\database\9c0694567290725d9dcba14ade58e297 --enable_index_service --enable_local_search --search_max_workspace_file_count 5000 --indexed_files_retention_period_days 30 --ls_random_port_timeout_seconds 15 --teams_mode --workspace_id file_d_3A_Python_fanqie_windsurf_fts5 --sentry_telemetry
    0	    11	  5132	       C:\Windows\system32\conhost.exe 0x4
    0	   320	  6152	       c:\Users\Horis\.vscode\extensions\codeium.codeium-1.48.2\dist\e03af6ebc40b844314d448f947c80b636d093049\language_server_windows_x64.exe --api_server_url https://server.codeium.com --manager_dir C:\Users\Horis\AppData\Local\Temp\b0051f88-227c-4988-915e-d705f83b9763\codeium\manager --enable_chat_web_server --enable_lsp --ide_name vscode --inference_api_server_url https://inference.codeium.com --csrf_token 88cb805a-e809-4823-99b9-ecabe8c6cc43 --database_dir C:\Users\Horis\.codeium\database\9c0694567290725d9dcba14ade58e297 --enable_index_service --enable_local_search --search_max_workspace_file_count 5000 --indexed_files_retention_period_days 30 --ls_random_port_timeout_seconds 15 --teams_mode --workspace_id file_d_3A_Python_fanqie_windsurf_fts5 --sentry_telemetry --run_child --limit_go_max_procs 4 --random_port --random_port_dir=C:\Users\Horis\AppData\Local\Temp\b0051f88-227c-4988-915e-d705f83b9763\codeium\manager/child_random_port_1778926284766912400_2013895570940366908 --manager_lock_file=C:\Users\Horis\AppData\Local\Temp\b0051f88-227c-4988-915e-d705f83b9763\codeium\manager/locks/manager.lock --child_lock_file C:\Users\Horis\AppData\Local\Temp\b0051f88-227c-4988-915e-d705f83b9763\codeium\manager/locks/child_lock_1778926284766912400_6313290117706748511
    0	    46	 20720	     "C:\Program Files\nodejs\node.exe" c:\Users\Horis\.vscode\extensions\mtxr.sqltools-0.28.5\dist\languageserver.js --node-ipc --clientProcessId=21852
    0	    11	  4516	       C:\Windows\system32\conhost.exe 0x4

Workspace Info

|  Window (main.py - fanqie_windsurf_fts5 - Visual Studio Code)
|    Folder (fanqie_windsurf_fts5): 39 files
|      File types: html(9) utf8(9) py(5) pyc(4) json(2) db(1) so(1) dll(1)
|      Conf files: launch.json(1) settings.json(1)
|      Launch Configs: debugpy(2);

Extensions (39)

Extension	Author (truncated)	Version
copilot-chat	Git	0.48.1
vscode-m3u	af4	1.0.0
vscode-sqlite	ale	0.14.1
codeium	Cod	1.48.2
font-preview	ctc	2.2.1
gitlens	eam	17.12.2
EditorConfig	Edi	0.18.2
prettier-vscode	esb	12.4.0
code-runner	for	0.12.2
vscode-github-actions	git	0.31.5
go	gol	0.52.2
Kotlin	mat	1.7.1
rainbow-csv	mec	3.24.1
vscode-language-pack-zh-hans	MS-	1.118.2026051522
debugpy	ms-	2026.6.0
python	ms-	2026.4.0
vscode-pylance	ms-	2026.2.1
vscode-python-envs	ms-	1.30.0
jupyter	ms-	2025.9.1
jupyter-keymap	ms-	1.1.2
jupyter-renderers	ms-	1.3.0
vscode-jupyter-cell-tags	ms-	0.1.9
vscode-jupyter-slideshow	ms-	0.1.6
hexeditor	ms-	1.11.1
sqltools	mtx	0.28.5
sqltools-driver-sqlite	mtx	0.5.3
indent-rainbow	ode	8.3.1
chatgpt	ope	26.513.21555
material-icon-theme	PKi	5.34.0
prisma	Pri	31.10.0
LiveServer	rit	5.7.10
vs-code-prettier-eslint	rve	6.0.0
vue-vscode-snippets	sdr	3.2.0
opencode	sst	0.0.13
lua	sum	3.18.2
even-better-toml	tam	0.21.2
errorlens	use	3.28.0
volar	Vue	3.2.9
material-theme	zhu	3.19.0

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4je02754:31466945
c3h7c220:31478652
38bie571_auto:31426784
cp_cls_c_1081:31454833
conptydll_true:31498968
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89g7j272:31507493
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i2gc6536:31499202
52612955:31515327
ghj88844:31499326
h08i8180:31475369
ddid_c:31478207
1b2f8594:31514983
getcmakediagnosticson:31489824
ja75b849:31515466
7df3h592:31512476
cp_cls_c_1082:31504161
logging_enabled_new:31498466
j0d79568:31499440
nes-extended-cfe-himalia-004:31500446
jb_cp_cls_c_632:31510883
748c7209:31512887
cg448276_tst_on:31514358
32d76977:31512328
ha629193:31508444
539gd155_c:31506875
jh5f2457_c:31515489

[lramos15]

Could you follow the wiki to see if there are extensions causing this and also collect a perf trace https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/wiki/Performance-Issues

[821938089]

I don’t think it’s an extension issue. I ran into the same problem in Windsurf as well. It’s a fork of VS Code and only has a very limited number of extensions installed.

Trace-20260525T124004.json.gz