docs/content/codespaces/customizing-your-codespace/setting-your-default-editor-for-github-codespaces.md

title, shortTitle, intro, versions, redirect_from, topics, type

title	shortTitle	intro	versions	redirect_from	topics	type
Setting your default editor for GitHub Codespaces	Set the default editor	{% data reusables.codespaces.about-changing-default-editor %}	fpt ghec * *	/codespaces/managing-your-codespaces/setting-your-default-editor-for-codespaces /codespaces/customizing-your-codespace/setting-your-default-editor-for-codespaces	Codespaces	how_to

On the settings page, you can set your editor preference so that when you create a codespace, or open an existing codespace, it is opened in your choice of:

• {% data variables.product.prodname_vscode %} (desktop application)
• {% data variables.product.prodname_vscode %} (web client application)
• JetBrains Gateway - for opening codespaces in a JetBrains IDE
• JupyterLab - the web interface for Project Jupyter

{% data reusables.codespaces.template-codespaces-default-editor %}

If you want to use {% data variables.product.prodname_vscode %} as your default editor for {% data variables.product.prodname_github_codespaces %}, you need to install {% data variables.product.prodname_vscode %} and the {% data variables.product.prodname_github_codespaces %} extension for {% data variables.product.prodname_vscode %}. For more information, see the download page for {% data variables.product.prodname_vscode %} and the {% data variables.product.prodname_github_codespaces %} extension on the {% data variables.product.prodname_vscode %} marketplace.

If you want to work on a codespace in a JetBrains IDE you must install the JetBrains Gateway. For more information, see "Using {% data variables.product.prodname_github_codespaces %} in your JetBrains IDE."

Setting your default editor

{% data reusables.user-settings.access_settings %} {% data reusables.user-settings.codespaces-tab %}

1. Under "Editor preference", select the option you want.

   

   • {% data reusables.codespaces.application-installed-locally %}
     
     

   • If you choose {% data variables.product.prodname_vscode %}, {% data variables.product.prodname_github_codespaces %} will automatically open in the desktop application when you next create or open a codespace.

     You may need to allow access to both your browser and {% data variables.product.prodname_vscode %} for it to open successfully.
     
     

   • If you choose JetBrains Gateway, the Gateway application will automatically open when you next create or open a codespace.

     The first time you open a codespace this way you must give permission to open the application.

     The Gateway application will open and the codespace will then be automatically selected. You can then choose a JetBrains IDE, if you have not previously done so, and click Connect to open the codespace in the JetBrains client. For more information, see "Using {% data variables.product.prodname_github_codespaces %} in your JetBrains IDE."

     To connect to a codespace from the Gateway application, you must have an SSH server running on the codespace. {% indented_data_reference reusables.codespaces.ssh-server-installed spaces=5 %}

   • If you choose JupyterLab, the JupyterLab application must be installed in the codespaces you open. {% data reusables.codespaces.jupyterlab-in-default-image %}