I have VS Code 1.15.1 and when I work at two projects at once, I choose File -> New Window and open the second project. Clicking File -> New Window opens new window with VS Code. On my other computer (not sure about the VS Code version there), when I click File -> New Window, instead of opening new window, it will rather open new tab, so that I end up with two tabs in one window, each tab for one project and the active tab occupies whole screen estate.

Any ideas what should I change in Settings to achieve this "single window, multiple tabs" layout when having multiple projects?

I use macos (not sure if OS may be somehow related to the window management settings)

starball's user avatar

starball

54k34 gold badges236 silver badges931 bronze badges

asked Aug 28, 2017 at 9:50

Peter's user avatar

PeterPeter

2,4623 gold badges24 silver badges30 bronze badges

  1. Go to Preferences > Settings.
  2. Search for native tabs
  3. Check the checkbox

Native tabs checkbox

  1. Code will prompt for restart to take effect.

Dialog box prompt for restart

  1. After restart, make sure you have multiple projects open. And then merge all windows as shown below:

Merge all windows

  1. Enjoy multiple tabs in single window.

Note: I think this applies to all Mac OS >= Sierra. Tested with Catalina, Big Sur, Ventura, Sonoma recently.

answered Apr 2, 2019 at 8:29

Tenzin Chemi's user avatar

Tenzin ChemiTenzin Chemi

5,9013 gold badges30 silver badges33 bronze badges

4

Just set in your user settings "window.nativeTabs": true and do Window -> Merge All Windows

note: If you have High Sierra installed, that might be an issue.

Here's the link: Better macOS native window tabs support

answered Nov 30, 2017 at 21:20

Alex Brazh's user avatar

Alex BrazhAlex Brazh

5306 silver badges13 bronze badges

2

In Mac OS, there is a system setting outside of VS Code. Set this and then opening files/folders from the command line will also automatically open the file/folder in a new tab instead of a new window.

In MacOS 12.3 (Monterrey) this is under:

  • System Preferences > General > Prefer tabs ____ when opening documents.

Change this setting to always. (The default is in full screen).

You might additionally need to set the setting in VS Code "window.nativeTabs": true as the other commenters have already suggested.

answered Mar 29, 2022 at 6:41

Dave's user avatar

DaveDave

1411 silver badge2 bronze badges

1

I'm using vscode 1.81.1, and you just need to go to settings -> window. Check the Native Tabs (Applies to all profiles). It will prompt for a restart, do that and you're good to go

answered Aug 16, 2023 at 13:24

Niscolinx's user avatar

1

Start asking to get answers

Find the answer to your question by asking.

Ask question

Explore related questions

See similar questions with these tags.