To run code remotely in Visual Studio Code, open your project in the environment where its files and tools live. Use Remote – SSH for an SSH-accessible machine, Remote Tunnels when you need a connection without SSH, WSL for a Linux environment on Windows, or Dev Containers for a containerized toolchain. VS Code remains your interface, while terminals, workspace operations and relevant extensions work in the selected environment.
Choose the remote workflow that fits your setup
The key choice is where the project files and runtime should live, and how your computer can reach that environment. VS Code’s remote development features open a workspace in its target context rather than merely sending a command to another machine. See Microsoft’s Remote Development overview.
| Workflow | Choose it when | Where code and tools run | Main consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remote – SSH | You can authenticate to a machine over SSH. | The project workspace and remote extensions operate on the SSH host. | Requires an OpenSSH-compatible client and access to the host. Microsoft’s tutorial says PuTTY is not supported for this workflow. |
| Remote Tunnels | You need to reach a machine without configuring an SSH connection. | The host runs the VS Code Server and tunnel service; the client works with the remote workspace. | Set up the tunnel on the remote machine, then connect from desktop or web VS Code. Follow the current tunnel instructions because authentication and interface steps can change. |
| WSL | You use Windows but want Linux tools and filesystem context. | Commands and most workspace extensions run in the selected WSL distribution. | Install WSL and a distribution, then open a folder in WSL. |
| Dev Containers | You want an isolated or repeatable toolchain described by a devcontainer configuration. | Code and development tools run inside the container. | Docker must be available where the container runs. A separate remote Docker host has different filesystem-mount behavior. |
| GitHub Codespaces | You want a managed cloud development environment rather than a machine you configure. | The development environment is hosted as a Codespace. | This is a hosted alternative, not the procedure for connecting to a machine you already control. Check current service terms separately. |
For more on the trade-offs among local, containerized and hosted environments, see Microsoft’s development environment guide.
Run code on an SSH-accessible machine
Use Remote – SSH when the target has an SSH service you can access and you want to work with its files, installed toolchain and runtime. VS Code starts or installs its server components on the host as needed. Microsoft’s Remote development over SSH tutorial describes the connection setup.
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- Prepare the client: Install Visual Studio Code and an OpenSSH-compatible SSH client on your local computer. The official workflow does not support PuTTY.
- Install the extension: In VS Code, open Extensions and install Remote – SSH.
- Set up host access: Configure the host and authentication using your normal SSH configuration and credentials.
- Connect: Use Remote Explorer or the Remote-SSH command to connect to the host.
- Open the project: In the remote VS Code window, open the folder stored on that machine.
- Run or debug: Use the integrated terminal and debugger in that remote window. They act on the remote environment, not the local computer’s runtime.
Connect with Remote Tunnels instead of SSH
Remote Tunnels is Microsoft’s option for connecting to a machine without setting up SSH. The remote machine runs the tunnel and VS Code Server side; you can connect from desktop or web VS Code. The VS Code CLI supports creating a tunnel with code tunnel. Consult Microsoft’s Remote Tunnels guide for the current host setup, sign-in and connection steps.
The VS Code Server documentation describes the server as “a service you can run on a remote development machine, like your desktop PC or a virtual machine (VM).”
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Use a Linux development environment through WSL
On Windows, WSL lets VS Code work directly with a Linux distribution’s files and tools. Install WSL and a distribution, install VS Code on Windows, and add the WSL extension. Microsoft’s Developing in WSL guide gives the current setup details.
- Open a WSL terminal and change to the project directory.
- Run
code .to open that folder in VS Code with the WSL context. - Alternatively, use the WSL connect command from VS Code and then open the project folder.
- Run commands in the integrated terminal; they execute in the selected WSL distribution.
WSL 1 has known development limitations, and some native extensions have library dependencies. Check the WSL guidance and the compatibility requirements of the specific extension you need.
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Run a project in a Dev Container
A Dev Container places the project workspace and development tools in a container, commonly described by .devcontainer/devcontainer.json, a Dockerfile or a Compose configuration. For an ordinary setup, install Docker where the container will run and install the Dev Containers extension. Open a configured project and run Dev Containers: Reopen in Container from the Command Palette. After the container opens, use its integrated terminal to run the project.
When Docker is on a separate remote host
For a container hosted on another machine, Microsoft’s remote Docker host guide documents this pattern:
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- Connect to the Docker host with Remote – SSH or Remote Tunnels.
- Install Docker on that remote host.
- Open the project folder on the host.
- Run Dev Containers: Reopen in Container.
Docker does not support mounting the client computer’s local filesystem into a remote dev container. As a result, a default configuration that bind-mounts local source files will not carry over unchanged; the source must be available in the remote-host workflow.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check connectivity and host compatibility
Remote development depends on more than being able to reach the machine. The client must download VS Code Server components, and extensions may need access to their distribution services. Microsoft’s Remote Development FAQ identifies these checks:
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- Allow outbound HTTPS from the local computer to
update.code.visualstudio.comandvscode.download.prss.microsoft.comfor VS Code Server installation. - Allow access to the Visual Studio Marketplace and gallery CDN as needed for extension installation.
- Check the relevant communication path: SSH uses its authenticated secure tunnel, containers use Docker’s configured channel, and WSL uses a random local port.
- Check the target Linux distribution and native extension dependencies. The FAQ gives general requirements of kernel 4.18 or later, glibc 2.28 or later, and libstdc++ 3.4.25 or later.
Requirements can change by release. Starting with VS Code release 1.99, released in March 2025, prebuilt VS Code Servers are compatible only with Linux distributions based on glibc 2.28 or later. Treat this as a release-specific compatibility floor, not a guarantee that every extension will work on every distribution.
Fix extensions that are unavailable in the remote workspace
Some extensions run in the local user interface, while others need to run alongside the remote workspace. If an extension appears installed but is unavailable after connecting, install it in the remote extension host when VS Code offers that option. Placement depends on how the extension is designed; the Remote Development FAQ and WSL guide explain the distinction.
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