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VS Code’s built-in Git tools let you inspect changes, compare versions, and stage selected edits without leaving the editor. A few deliberate choices—diff layout, gutter markers, and blame context—make that review easier to follow. Here’s how to set them up, and how to avoid confusing staging with reverting.
Choose a diff layout that fits your screen
Open the Source Control view, select a changed file, and VS Code opens its diff editor. Use the diff view’s layout menu to choose Automatic, Side by Side, or Inline. Automatic adapts the layout; side-by-side places the versions next to each other, while inline shows changes in one column.
- Side by Side: Useful when you want to trace corresponding lines across versions and have enough horizontal space.
- Inline: Uses less horizontal space, which can be easier on a narrow window or when reviewing long lines.
- Automatic: Lets VS Code adapt between layouts rather than locking in one choice.
For keyboard-oriented or screen-reader-friendly navigation, use the Accessible Diff Viewer. Press F7 to move to the next change and Shift+F7 to move to the previous one. See Microsoft’s VS Code tips and tricks.
Tune change markers only when they help
The editor gutter marks added, modified, and deleted lines: green indicates additions, blue indicates modifications, and a red triangle marks deletions. These cues can help you scan a file before examining each diff. If they are too subtle, distracting, or easy to trigger accidentally, VS Code exposes settings for their placement, visibility, width, pattern, and click action.
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Open Settings with Ctrl+, on Windows or Linux, or ⌘+, on macOS, then search for the setting name. The documented options include:
scm.diffDecorationscontrols change-decoration placement.scm.diffDecorationsGutterActioncontrols what selecting a gutter marker does.scm.diffDecorationsGutterPatterncontrols the gutter marker pattern.scm.diffDecorationsGutterVisibilitycontrols whether markers are always visible or appear on hover.scm.diffDecorationsGutterWidthcontrols marker width.scm.diffDecorationsIgnoreTrimWhitespacecontrols whether whitespace-only differences are ignored.
Change one setting at a time to address a specific annoyance, and check its current description in your installed VS Code version before choosing a value. The available settings and defaults can change between releases. Microsoft explains gutter markers and change handling in its staging and committing guide.
Stage selected edits; revert only to discard them
When only part of a file belongs in the next commit, stage the relevant lines or blocks from the diff editor. Staging selects changes to include in a commit; it does not mean the remaining working edits have been discarded.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsReverting selected changes is different: it removes those working changes. Use it only when you intend to discard the selected edits, not as a way to undo staging. If you staged something by mistake, use the unstage action instead. Review the selected lines carefully before choosing an action, especially when a file contains both wanted and unwanted work.
Show blame context when line history helps
Git blame can display commit context for individual lines, either as editor decorations or in the status bar. Search Settings for git.blame.editorDecoration.enabled to control inline blame decorations, and git.blame.statusBarItem.enabled to control the status-bar item. The settings guide also points to templates for choosing which commit details appear.
Blame is a navigation aid: it can help you find the change that introduced a line or open its history. It does not establish that the current code is correct, nor should a line’s author be treated as its sole owner. Turn it on when that context helps your review; otherwise, the diff itself may be clearer without added labels. See Microsoft’s tips and tricks.
Keep personal preferences separate from team conventions
User settings follow your VS Code profile and are the natural place for individual preferences such as a preferred diff layout. Workspace settings apply to a project; they are stored in the project’s .vscode folder and can be shared through version control.
Put a convention in workspace settings only if that setting permits workspace scope. Some application-wide or security-related settings cannot be overridden by a project. Before committing a shared setting, consider whether it genuinely helps everyone reviewing the repository or merely reflects one person’s display preference. Microsoft details the distinction in its user and workspace settings guide.
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Keep AI review optional
VS Code can run AI-powered review on uncommitted changes in the Source Control view, with generated comments displayed as overlays. This is separate from opening diffs, navigating changes, and staging edits: the built-in Git review workflow does not depend on AI.
AI review and Copilot suggestions depend on the relevant feature being available and, for Copilot features, may require subscription access. Treat generated suggestions as prompts to inspect, not as a replacement for checking the diff and deciding what belongs in a commit. See Microsoft’s AI settings reference and GitHub Copilot FAQ.
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