Skip to content

VS Code with multiple windows on a Mac

Open several VS Code windows, move an editor into its own window, and keep them arranged beside your browser and terminal without hunting for them.

Guide · Updated 13 October 2026

Press ⇧ ⌘ N for a new VS Code window, then open a folder in it. To pull one file out of a window, right click its tab and choose Move into New Window (or Copy into New Window).

Ways to split work

You wantUse
Two files in one windowSplit the editor: ⌘ \
Two projects at onceTwo windows, one folder each
One file beside the browserMove into New Window, then place it next to the browser
Terminal beside the codeThe built in terminal, or a separate terminal window

Switching between windows

⌘ ` cycles VS Code windows. Inside a window, ⌃ R lists recent folders and opens one.

Keeping it arranged

Two VS Code windows, a browser and a terminal do not fit side by side on most screens. ClutterFreeMac puts each in a column on a strip: code wide in the middle, browser and terminal beside it, the second project one swipe along. See the developer setup and code editor and browser side by side.

Questions

How do I open a new window in VS Code on Mac?

Press ⇧ ⌘ N, or choose File, New Window.

Can I drag a VS Code tab into its own window?

Yes. Right click the tab and choose Move into New Window, or drag it out of the window.