Claude Code in VS Code and JetBrains

1:02 Claude Code works inside editors in two ways: a VS Code extension with its own graphical panel, and a JetBrains plugin that connects the terminal version to IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm and the other JetBrains IDEs (Use Claude Code in VS Code, JetBrains IDEs). In VS Code, search "Claude Code" in the Extensions view, install it, open a file and click the spark icon or press Cmd+Esc (Ctrl+Esc on Windows and Linux). For JetBrains, install the Claude Code CLI first, then the "Claude Code [Beta]" plugin from the JetBrains Marketplace, and run claude in the IDE's terminal. Both work with any paid Claude plan (Pro, Max, Ultra, Team or Enterprise) or a Console account, and show Claude's edits as diffs in the editor.

Quick facts

Sources: Use Claude Code in VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, Overview, read Nov 6, 2026.

How do I install Claude Code in VS Code?

1. Use VS Code 1.94.0 or later.
2. Open the Extensions view (Cmd+Shift+X or Ctrl+Shift+X), search "Claude Code" and click Install. In Cursor and other forks, install it the same way or from the Open VSX Registry.
3. Open any file (a folder alone does not show the icon) and click the spark icon at the top right of the editor, or ✻ Claude Code in the status bar.
4. Sign in with your Claude account. No API key is needed; for Amazon Bedrock, Google Cloud or Microsoft Foundry, turn on Disable Login Prompt and set the provider up instead.

Source: Use Claude Code in VS Code, read Nov 6, 2026.

The extension's version number matches the Claude Code version it bundles. It does not add claude to your PATH: to use the command line in VS Code's terminal, install the CLI as well. The CLI and the extension share conversation history, so claude --resume in the terminal continues a conversation started in the panel.

What the VS Code extension does

• Context: Claude sees the open file and any selected text. @file.ts#5-10 mentions specific lines, @terminal:name pulls in a terminal's output, and Option+K / Alt+K inserts a mention of the current selection.
• Inline diffs: in Manual mode each proposed edit appears as a side-by-side diff, accepted or rejected one change at a time or a whole file at once.
• Plan review: in Plan mode the plan opens as a Markdown document you can comment on before Claude starts (/plan).
• Permission modes: Auto, Manual, Plan and Edit automatically, chosen in the prompt box (Claude Code Permissions and Modes).
• Checkpoints: hover over a message to rewind the code, fork the conversation, or both (Claude Code Checkpoints).
• Several conversations in tabs or windows, with a colored dot on the spark icon for each one's state, and a searchable history that also resumes cloud sessions from its Web tab.
• Commands: a subset of the slash commands, including /model, /usage, /mcp, /tasks and /btw, plus @browser for Claude in Chrome.

Source: Use Claude Code in VS Code, read Nov 6, 2026.

VS Code shortcuts

Source: Use Claude Code in VS Code, read Nov 6, 2026.

The extension's settings (Extensions > Claude Code) include initialPermissionMode, preferredLocation (sidebar or panel), useCtrlEnterToSend, attachSelection and useTerminal, which switches back to the terminal look. Permissions, hooks and MCP servers come from the shared ~/.claude/settings.json (Claude Code Settings).

Extension or CLI?

The extension has a subset of commands and skills, no ! shell shortcut and no tab completion; the CLI has everything (Use Claude Code in VS Code). Many developers run both: claude in VS Code's integrated terminal connects to the extension automatically, and /ide connects a CLI running in an outside terminal.

How do I use Claude Code in JetBrains IDEs?

1:32 The JetBrains plugin does not contain Claude Code itself: it runs the claude command in the IDE's terminal and connects to it (JetBrains IDEs).

1. Install the Claude Code CLI (How to Install Claude Code).
2. Install Claude Code [Beta] from the JetBrains Marketplace and restart the IDE.
3. Run claude in the IDE's integrated terminal, or press Cmd+Esc (Ctrl+Esc), or click the Claude Code button.
4. From a terminal outside the IDE, type /ide; Claude Code answers with a line such as "Connected to IntelliJ IDEA."

Source: JetBrains IDEs, read Nov 6, 2026.

Once connected, Claude's changes open in the IDE's own diff viewer (set Diff tool in /config to terminal to keep them in the terminal), your current selection and tab are shared with Claude automatically, Cmd+Option+K (Alt+Ctrl+K) inserts a reference such as @src/auth.ts#L1-99, and Claude can read the IDE's inspection errors and warnings through a local MCP server named ide. The plugin's settings, under Settings > Tools > Claude Code [Beta], set the command to run, for example wsl -d Ubuntu -- bash -lic "claude" for WSL. Anthropic notes that it submits the plugin to the JetBrains Marketplace but that the marketplace is third-party software it does not audit.

Known problems

• No spark icon in VS Code: open a file, check the VS Code version, reload the window and make sure the workspace is trusted; the extension does not run in Restricted Mode (Use Claude Code in VS Code).
• Cmd+Esc does nothing on macOS Tahoe and later: the system's Game Overlay takes the key; clear it under System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Game Controllers or rebind "Claude Code: Focus input."
• The extension keeps reinstalling: starting claude in the terminal on versions before 2.1.318 reinstalled it; set autoInstallIdeExtension to false in ~/.claude.json.
• Esc does not interrupt Claude in JetBrains: under Settings > Tools > Terminal, uncheck "Move focus to the editor with Escape" (JetBrains IDEs).
• "No available IDEs detected" from WSL 2: allow WSL 2 traffic through Windows Firewall or switch WSL to mirrored networking.
• JetBrains Remote Development: install the plugin on the remote host, not the local client.
• Security in JetBrains: in Accept edits or Auto mode, Claude can change IDE configuration files that the IDE may run, which can sidestep command prompts; Anthropic suggests Manual mode there.

Frequently asked questions

Does Claude Code work in Cursor? Yes. The Claude Code VS Code extension installs in Cursor and other VS Code forks such as Kiro and Devin Desktop, from their Extensions view or the Open VSX Registry.

Is the Claude Code JetBrains plugin free? The Claude Code JetBrains plugin costs nothing to install, but Claude Code itself needs a paid Claude plan or a Console account, and the plugin needs the CLI installed.

What is the shortcut to open Claude Code in VS Code? Cmd+Esc on a Mac and Ctrl+Esc on Windows and Linux move focus between the editor and Claude Code; Cmd+Shift+Esc or Ctrl+Shift+Esc opens it in a new tab.

Does Claude Code work in other editors? Anthropic's Claude Code docs list extensions only for VS Code (and its forks) and JetBrains IDEs; for any other editor they say to install the CLI and run claude in the editor's terminal.

Do the VS Code extension and the Claude Code CLI share settings? Yes. Both read ~/.claude/settings.json for permissions, hooks and MCP servers, and they share conversation history.

Sources

• Use Claude Code in VS Code, Claude Code Docs, read Nov 6, 2026
• JetBrains IDEs, Claude Code Docs, read Nov 6, 2026
• Claude Code overview, Claude Code Docs, read Nov 6, 2026
• Claude Code plugin, JetBrains Marketplace, read Nov 6, 2026
• Installing Claude Code, Claude, May 14, 2026 (video)