Can you use Visual Studio Code on Mac? Yes, you can. Visual Studio Code is a native application for macOS. It is a code editor, not a game. It is developed by Microsoft and runs directly on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs without any translation layer. As of February 2026, it is fully compatible and receives regular updates.
Compatibility Status
Visual Studio Code is a native macOS application. It is officially supported by Microsoft. The application is built for both Apple Silicon (M-series) and Intel processor architectures. You download a single universal binary that works on all modern Macs. There is no need for workarounds like Rosetta 2, though it can be used if needed for specific extensions. Support for macOS versions typically follows Apple's own support cycle, with current versions requiring a reasonably recent OS.
Performance on Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, M4)
Performance on M-series Macs is excellent. The application launches quickly and operates smoothly. It uses system resources efficiently. For most coding tasks, CPU usage is low and battery life impact is minimal, even on portable MacBooks. Performance differences between M1, M2, M3, and M4 chips are generally not noticeable for core editor functions. The main performance factors are the extensions you install and the size of the projects you open. Heavy language servers or linters will use more resources, but the editor itself is very fast on all Apple Silicon chips.
Installation Steps
Installation is straightforward. You can download the installer directly from Microsoft. The standard method is to download the .zip file, extract it, and drag the Visual Studio Code app to your Applications folder. It is also available through package managers like Homebrew for command line installation. Once installed, you can run it like any other Mac app. The first launch will set up necessary permissions and create user settings folders.
Tips for Best Experience
To get the most out of Visual Studio Code on your Mac, follow these tips. First, keep the app updated through its built-in update mechanism. Second, be selective with extensions. Install only what you need, as too many can slow down startup and use memory. Use the Settings Sync feature to keep your setup consistent across machines. Adjust the UI theme to match macOS dark or light mode for better system integration. Learn the keyboard shortcuts. Many are tailored for macOS. For large projects, consider adding the folder to your system's Spotlight privacy exclusions to prevent repeated file indexing.
Common Issues
Some users encounter a "code is damaged" error when first opening the app. This is usually due to macOS security settings. You can resolve this by removing the quarantine attribute via the Terminal. Another common issue involves extension compatibility. A small number of older extensions may not be fully optimized for Apple Silicon. If an extension causes problems, try running Visual Studio Code under Rosetta 2 temporarily, or find an alternative extension. File watching in large projects can sometimes use high CPU. You can adjust the files.watcherExclude setting to ignore certain directories. Permission problems with Git or other command line tools integrated into the terminal are often solved by granting full disk access to the terminal app you are using within Visual Studio Code.
