Open VS Code with an existing workspace

Oct 13, 2025 by magicalceylontours.com 34 views

Introduction

When working with multiple terminals in Visual Studio Code (VS Code), it's essential to have a seamless experience. However, some users have reported an issue where the terminals don't remember their working directories after closing and reopening the application. This can be frustrating, especially when you need to pick up where you left off. In this article, we'll delve into the details of this issue, explore the possible causes, and provide a step-by-step guide to help you troubleshoot and potentially fix the problem.

Understanding the Issue

The issue occurs when you close VS Code with an existing workspace open, and then reopen it. When you do so, the terminal's working directory is reset to the workspace root, instead of remembering the last directory you navigated to. This can be a significant inconvenience, especially when you're working on complex projects that require frequent navigation between directories.

Steps to Reproduce the Issue

To reproduce the issue, follow these steps:

Open VS Code with an existing workspace: Start by opening VS Code with a workspace that contains multiple files and folders.
Have a terminal open in the panel or the editor area: Open a terminal in the VS Code panel or editor area. You can do this by clicking on the "Terminal" button in the top menu bar or by pressing Ctrl + Shift + `` (backtick) on Windows or Cmd + Shift + `` on macOS.
Navigate to a subfolder of the current workspace: Use the terminal to navigate to a subfolder within the current workspace. For example, you can use the cd command to change directories.
Close VS Code: Close VS Code by clicking on the "Close" button or by pressing Ctrl + W on Windows or Cmd + W on macOS.
Open VS Code with the same workspace: Open VS Code again with the same workspace.
See terminal restore: Observe that the terminal's working directory has been reset to the workspace root, instead of remembering the last directory you navigated to.

Expected Behavior

The expected behavior is that the terminal's working directory should be restored to the last directory you navigated to before closing VS Code. This would allow you to pick up where you left off and continue working without any interruptions.

Actual Behavior

Unfortunately, the actual behavior is that the terminal's working directory is reset to the workspace root. This can be frustrating, especially when you need to navigate to specific directories to perform tasks.

Possible Causes

There are several possible causes for this issue, including:

Extension conflicts: Some extensions may be interfering with the terminal's behavior, causing it to reset to the workspace root.
VS Code configuration: The VS Code configuration may be set to reset the terminal's working directory to the workspace root.
Operating system issues: Issues with the operating system, such as file system corruption or permissions problems, may be causing the issue.

Troubleshooting Steps

To troubleshoot the issue, follow these steps:

Disable all extensions: Disable all extensions in VS Code by clicking on the "Extensions" button in the left sidebar and then clicking on the "Disable" button for each extension.
Launch with code --disable-extensions: Launch VS Code with the --disable-extensions flag by running the command code --disable-extensions in the terminal.
Check for extension conflicts: If the issue persists, try enabling each extension one by one to see if any of them are causing the issue.
Check VS Code configuration: Check the VS Code configuration to see if it's set to reset the terminal's working directory to the workspace root.
Check operating system issues: Check the operating system for any issues that may be causing the problem.

Conclusion

Restoring terminals not remembering their working directories can be a frustrating issue in VS Code. By following the steps outlined in this article, you should be able to troubleshoot and potentially fix the problem. If you're still experiencing issues, consider reaching out to the VS Code community or filing a bug report with Microsoft.

Additional Information

VS Code Version: 1.99.0-insider
OS Version: Windows 11, 10.0.26120
Steps to Reproduce: Follow the steps outlined in the "Steps to Reproduce" section above.
Expected Behavior: The terminal's working directory should be restored to the last directory you navigated to before closing VS Code.
Actual Behavior: The terminal's working directory is reset to the workspace root.

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored the issue of VS Code terminals not remembering their working directories after closing and reopening the application. In this article, we'll provide a Q&A section to help you better understand the issue and its possible causes.

Q: What is the expected behavior of VS Code terminals?

A: The expected behavior of VS Code terminals is that they should remember their working directories after closing and reopening the application. This means that when you navigate to a specific directory within a terminal, it should remain the same even after closing and reopening VS Code.

Q: What is the actual behavior of VS Code terminals?

A: The actual behavior of VS Code terminals is that they reset to the workspace root after closing and reopening the application. This means that when you navigate to a specific directory within a terminal, it is lost and the terminal returns to the workspace root.

Q: Why do VS Code terminals not remember their working directories?

A: There are several possible reasons why VS Code terminals may not remember their working directories, including:

Extension conflicts: Some extensions may be interfering with the terminal's behavior, causing it to reset to the workspace root.
VS Code configuration: The VS Code configuration may be set to reset the terminal's working directory to the workspace root.
Operating system issues: Issues with the operating system, such as file system corruption or permissions problems, may be causing the issue.

Q: How can I troubleshoot the issue?

A: To troubleshoot the issue, follow these steps:

Disable all extensions: Disable all extensions in VS Code by clicking on the "Extensions" button in the left sidebar and then clicking on the "Disable" button for each extension.
Launch with code --disable-extensions: Launch VS Code with the --disable-extensions flag by running the command code --disable-extensions in the terminal.
Check for extension conflicts: If the issue persists, try enabling each extension one by one to see if any of them are causing the issue.
Check VS Code configuration: Check the VS Code configuration to see if it's set to reset the terminal's working directory to the workspace root.
Check operating system issues: Check the operating system for any issues that may be causing the problem.

Q: Can I report this issue to Microsoft?

A: Yes, you can report this issue to Microsoft by filing a bug report on the VS Code GitHub page. Make sure to include as much detail as possible, including the steps to reproduce the issue and any relevant configuration or extension information.

Q: Are there any workarounds for this issue?

A: Yes, there are a few workarounds you can try to mitigate the issue:

Use the cd command: You can use the cd command to navigate to the desired directory within the terminal.
Use the pwd command: You can use the pwd command to print the current working directory and then navigate to the desired directory.
Use a different terminal: You can try using a different terminal, such as the built-in terminal or a third-party terminal extension.

Q: Will this issue be fixed in future versions of VS Code?

A: Microsoft is actively working on resolving this issue, and it's possible that it will be fixed in future versions of VS Code. However, there is no guarantee that the issue will be resolved, and it's always a good idea to report the issue and provide feedback to help Microsoft prioritize the fix.

Q: Can I get help from the VS Code community?

A: Yes, you can get help from the VS Code community by posting on the VS Code forum or by joining the VS Code Discord channel. The community is active and helpful, and you may be able to find a solution or get guidance from other users who have experienced similar issues.

Additional Information

VS Code Version: 1.99.0-insider
OS Version: Windows 11, 10.0.26120
Steps to Reproduce: Follow the steps outlined in the "Steps to Reproduce" section above.
Expected Behavior: The terminal's working directory should be restored to the last directory you navigated to before closing VS Code.
Actual Behavior: The terminal's working directory is reset to the workspace root.