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For independent projects, open each project folder separately and switch with File > Open Recent. When you regularly work across several related folders at once, add them to a multi-root workspace and save it as a .code-workspace file. Use a VS Code profile when you also want different editor settings, extensions, or layout—not as a substitute for choosing which folders are open.
Choose how your projects should open
In VS Code, a workspace is one or more folders open in a window, plus configuration associated with those folders. Opening a single folder already gives you a workspace; a multi-root workspace puts multiple folders in one window. The word “project” can mean different things across languages and tools, so the relevant choice here is which folders VS Code should show together.
| What you need | Use | How it behaves |
|---|---|---|
| Keep independent projects separate and switch between them | One folder per window; reopen from File > Open Recent | VS Code keeps folder workspace state, such as open files and layout, when you reopen that folder. |
| Work across related folders at the same time | A saved multi-root workspace | Each folder appears as a root in Explorer, and workspace-level configuration can be saved with the group. |
| Use different editor customizations for different work | A profile associated with a folder or workspace | Profiles separate customizations such as user settings, extensions, and UI layout; they do not determine which folders are open. |
For more detail on the distinction, see VS Code’s workspace overview.
Switch between separate projects with Open Recent
For projects that do not need to be visible together, keep each project in its own folder workspace. Open a project folder, then use File > Open Recent to return to another one. This avoids combining unrelated roots while retaining the folder’s saved editor state when you come back.
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Use this arrangement when projects have independent workflows, settings, or trust boundaries. A multi-root workspace is more useful when the same task routinely crosses folders—for example, a source repository and its documentation.
Create and save a multi-root workspace
- Open a folder in VS Code.
- Choose File > Add Folder to Workspace and select another folder. You can add folders from different locations. Other documented ways include dragging folders into Explorer, selecting multiple folders in a native open dialog, or starting VS Code from a command line with multiple folder paths.
- In Explorer, check that the roots are the folders you intend to work with. Give roots descriptive names when useful; a workspace folder entry can include a
nameshown in Explorer. - Save the group as a workspace when you want to reopen it later. VS Code starts with an untitled workspace; saving creates a
.code-workspacefile.
The workspace file records its folder paths, which may be absolute or relative. Relative paths can be useful when sharing or moving the workspace file. It can also contain shared workspace settings and extension recommendations. See the official multi-root workspace guide for workspace-file details.
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Reopen or close the workspace
Reopen a saved workspace by double-clicking its .code-workspace file, choosing File > Open Workspace, or selecting it from File > Open Recent. VS Code marks workspace entries in the Recent list with “(Workspace).” Choose Close Workspace to close the active workspace. If you close an unsaved untitled workspace, VS Code may prompt you to save it first.
Use profiles for editor customization, not folder grouping
A workspace controls which folders are open together and can hold configuration tied to those folders. A profile is for a set of VS Code customizations, such as user settings, extensions, and UI layout. Profiles can be associated with folders and workspaces so that opening an associated item activates the profile. The CLI also supports launching a folder or workspace with --profile; see the VS Code CLI documentation.
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These features solve different problems: save a workspace to preserve a group of folders, and choose a profile when that work benefits from a distinct editor setup. Read about profiles in VS Code and user and workspace settings.
Understand settings and extension behavior across roots
Where configuration is stored depends on what is open. With a single folder, workspace settings, tasks, and launch configurations are stored in that project’s .vscode folder. With a saved multi-root workspace, relevant workspace configuration can be stored in the .code-workspace file. Workspace settings override user settings, and individual roots can have folder-level settings in a multi-root workspace.
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Not every setting can vary by root: resource settings can apply per folder, while editor-wide settings apply at workspace level rather than being set independently for each root. Some extensions may not fully support multi-root workspaces and may work only with the first folder. If a tool behaves unexpectedly after combining roots, check that extension’s multi-root support and configuration scope. The official settings documentation explains the scopes.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Navigate roots and distinguish same-named files
Explorer displays each folder as a root in a multi-root workspace. Global search covers the roots and groups results by folder; to limit search to one root, use an include pattern such as ./folder-name/.
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If different roots contain files with the same name, VS Code can include the root folder in editor tab labels. The workbench.editor.labelFormat setting can show folder or path information to make tabs easier to distinguish. These navigation options are documented in the multi-root workspace guide.
Review trust prompts before combining folders
Adding folders to a workspace can trigger a trust decision. VS Code may ask whether the files in an added folder are trusted; declining can place the whole workspace in Restricted Mode. Review the folders and their contents before trusting them, particularly when a workspace combines repositories from different sources. See Workspace Trust for how trust decisions affect VS Code.
Quick Recap
A practical organization rule
- Keep unrelated projects in separate folder workspaces and use File > Open Recent to switch.
- Save a multi-root workspace for folder groups you routinely need together, and use clear root names.
- Add a profile only when separate settings, extensions, or layout would help; it does not replace workspace folder selection.
- Before relying on a multi-root setup, check configuration scope, extension support, and trust prompts for every root.
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