How to Fix Visual Studio Code Crashing on Windows 11

Visual Studio Code is a popular IDE widely preferred by programming enthusiasts. Microsoft revamped its user interface and made it available on Microsoft Store as well. you could even install multiple extensions in Visual Studio Code to make your programming experience better.

But many users face abrupt crashes in the Visual Studio Code app which impedes their workflow. If you face the same issue repeatedly, don’t worry. We will list out multiple fixes so that you can try and resolve the issue on your computer. Let’s dive into the post.

4

1. Terminate Visual Studio Code and Restart

Before moving on to more complex fixes for the app, completely close Visual Studio Code using Task Manager and restart it. Here’s how to do it:

2. Reboot your System

Restarting the system is the oldest trick in the book. It might not sound effective but resolves most of the system issues. Restarting a system helps in closing all the active processes and services, clearing the system memory, and relaunching them. Due to this, any services or apps that aren’t working will also restart afresh.

Right-clickon the Start button and select theRestartoption from the Power user menu. After the system restarts, run the Visual Studio Code with administrator permissions and check if it crashes.

A display of Visual Studio Code logo on a laptop

3. Disable Hardware Acceleration

Hardware acceleration can cause problems on the low-spec system running the Visual Studio app. There isn’t an option for this feature in the app settings. So, you must modify the argv.json file to disable it. Here’s how:

4. Perform a Clean Boot

Often, third-party apps and services can interfere with other apps and cause app freezes and crashes. So, to rule out this possibility, do aclean boot of your Window systemwith only Microsoft-related services enabled on startup.

If Visual Studio Code works fine after a clean boot, retry the clean boot while enabling some third-party service. Repeat this process until you find the problematic service or app.

Terminate Visual Studio Code and Restart

5. Disable Visual Studio Code Extensions

Visual Studio Code needs extensions to extend language and debugger support for various programming languages. If you use extensions, you must find and remove the troublesome ones. Here’s how to do it:

6. Exclude Visual Studio Code in Windows Defender

Antivirus programs do not play nicely with apps and programs and often wrongly flag them. So, add an exclusion for the Visual Studio Code app. If you use a third-party antivirus on your system, add an exclusion for the Visual Studio Code app directory by accessing its settings. You can eventemporarily disable Windows Securityand run the app to check if it crashes now.

7. Update Visual Studio Code

If you are using a very old version of Visual Studio Code and are facing abrupt crashes, then you must update the app. A new app update brings security improvements and bug fixes which could exist in the old version of the app. Here’s how to update the app:

8. Roll Back the Last Windows Update

Windows updates can break system features or not sit well with third-party apps. If you encounter the app crash issue after a recent update,manually uninstall the most recent Windows updateon your computer. It will revert all the new changes made to your system.

9. Reinstall Visual Studio Code

If the app installation is severely corrupt and unfixable, then a simple app reset won’t be effective. Instead, you must completely remove Visual Studio Code from your system and then reinstall it.

Repeat the following steps to reinstall Visual Studio Code using Winget:

Disable Hardware Acceleration

10. Use the Web Version

Microsoft even offers aweb version of Visual Studio Codewhich it’s possible to use as a temporary solution. You can sign in to the web version and sync your files and settings. Moreover, you can install a PWA from the browser of Visual Studio Code and launch it directly from your desktop.

Visual Studio Code Won’t Crash Anymore on Windows 11

Microsoft’s popular IDE is the go-to tool of programmers. If its crashes abruptly, the projects can get delayed by quite a bit. Start with basic troubleshooting and then disable hardware acceleration on your system. After that, disable extensions and perform a clean boot. Add an exclusion for the app in the antivirus program. Lastly, if nothing works, reinstall the Visual Studio Code app on your system.

Want more from Visual Studio Code? Need improved tools and productivity options? Try these Visual Studio Code extensions.

Disable Visual Studio Code Extensions

Tor spoiled me forever.

Lose your laptop without this feature, and you’ll wish you had turned it on.

Taming data is easier than it looks.

These are the best free movies I found on Tubi, but there are heaps more for you to search through.

I found my TV was always listening—so I shut it down.

Technology Explained

PC & Mobile