Visual Studio Code lets you change its interface language through the Command Palette, a built-in search tool that runs most of the program's functions

The language setting in Visual Studio Code controls what language menus, buttons, and messages appear in — not the programming languages you write code in. To change it, you open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P on Windows or Linux, Cmd+Shift+P on Mac), type "Configure Display Language", and select the option that appears. A dropdown menu shows available languages. Pick the one you want, close and reopen Visual Studio Code, and the interface switches to that language.

This process is the same whether you are using Visual Studio Code on your own computer or working through GitHub's web editor. The setting saves to your user preferences, so the language stays changed even after you close the program.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the Command Palette with Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+P (Mac), then search for "Configure Display Language" to access the language menu.
  • Visual Studio Code comes with dozens of languages built in, and you can switch between them without installing anything extra.
  • The language setting only changes the interface — your code files and programming languages remain unchanged.
  • After you select a new language, close Visual Studio Code completely and reopen it for the change to take effect.
  • Your language choice saves automatically, so you will not need to change it again unless you want a different language later.

Opening the Command Palette and finding the language setting

The Command Palette is a search box that lets you run commands without clicking through menus. On Windows or Linux, press Ctrl+Shift+P. On Mac, press Cmd+Shift+P. A text box appears at the top of the screen with a > symbol in front of it.

Type "Configure Display Language" into this box. As you type, Visual Studio Code filters the list of available commands. You will see "Configure Display Language" appear as an option. Click it or press Enter to select it. A dropdown menu opens showing all the languages Visual Studio Code supports.

Selecting your preferred language from the list

The dropdown menu displays languages alphabetically. English appears near the top, followed by other languages like Español (Spanish), Français (French), Deutsch (German), 日本語 (Japanese), 中文 (Chinese), and many others. Scroll through the list to find the language you want.

Click on your choice. The menu closes, and Visual Studio Code shows a notification confirming the change. The interface does not switch when ready — you need to close and reopen the program first.

Closing and reopening Visual Studio Code to explore the change

Close Visual Studio Code completely. On Windows, click the X button in the top-right corner of the window. On Mac, use Cmd+Q or go to the menu and select "Quit Visual Studio Code". On Linux, close the window or use the quit command for your desktop environment.

Once the program is fully closed, open Visual Studio Code again. The interface now appears in the language you selected. All menus, buttons, error messages, and settings descriptions display in that language. Your code files themselves do not change — only the program's interface language switches.

Changing the language back or selecting a different one

If you want to switch to a different language later, the process is identical. Open the Command Palette again (Ctrl+Shift+P or Cmd+Shift+P), search for "Configure Display Language", and pick a new language from the dropdown. Close and reopen Visual Studio Code, and the new language takes effect.

You can switch languages as often as you want. There is no limit to how many times you change the setting, and no part of your work is affected by these changes.

How language settings work in GitHub's web editor

GitHub's web-based version of Visual Studio Code (sometimes called GitHub Codespaces or the GitHub web editor) uses the same language-switching process. Open the Command Palette with Ctrl+Shift+P or Cmd+Shift+P, search for "Configure Display Language", and select your preferred language from the dropdown.

The difference is that your language choice saves to your GitHub account rather than your local computer. If you log into GitHub from a different device and open the web editor, your language preference follows you. Close the browser tab or window and reopen it, and the language change takes effect just as it does on your desktop.

Troubleshooting when the language does not change

If you select a language but the interface still appears in the old language after reopening Visual Studio Code, make sure you closed the program completely. Minimizing the window or closing a single folder does not count — the entire Visual Studio Code process must shut down. Check your taskbar or system tray to confirm no Visual Studio Code window is still running.

If the program was fully closed and the language still did not change, try the process again. Open the Command Palette, search for "Configure Display Language", and confirm your selection. Some languages may require a moment to read the first time you select them, though this is rare. Close and reopen Visual Studio Code again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing the interface language affect the code I write?

No. The language setting only changes what language the menus and buttons appear in. Your code files, programming languages, and all your work remain exactly the same. You can write Python, JavaScript, or any other language regardless of what language Visual Studio Code's interface displays.

Can I use multiple languages at the same time?

Visual Studio Code displays its interface in one language at a time. You cannot mix languages in the menus or buttons. However, you can switch between languages as often as you want by repeating the Command Palette process.

What if my language is not in the list?

Visual Studio Code supports over 50 languages, but not every language in the world. If you do not see your language in the dropdown menu, it is not currently supported. You can check the Visual Studio Code documentation or the extension marketplace to see if community-created language packs are available.

Will my language choice save if I use Visual Studio Code on multiple devices?

On your personal computer, the language setting saves locally and only applies to that device. If you use Visual Studio Code on a different computer, you will need to change the language again. In GitHub's web editor, your language preference saves to your GitHub account and carries over across devices.

How do I change the language back to English?

Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P or Cmd+Shift+P), search for "Configure Display Language", and select "English" from the dropdown menu. Close and reopen Visual Studio Code. The interface returns to English.