title: Setting your default editor for GitHub Codespaces
shortTitle: Set the default editor
intro: '{% data reusables.codespaces.about-changing-default-editor %}'
versions:
fpt: '*'
ghec: '*'
redirect_from:
- >-
/codespaces/managing-your-codespaces/setting-your-default-editor-for-codespaces
- >-
/codespaces/customizing-your-codespace/setting-your-default-editor-for-codespaces
- >-
/codespaces/customizing-your-codespace/setting-your-default-editor-for-github-codespaces
topics:
- Codespaces
type: 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)
- 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.
Setting your default editor
{% data reusables.user-settings.access_settings %} {% data reusables.user-settings.codespaces-tab %}
Under "Editor preference", select the option you want.
{% data reusables.codespaces.application-installed-locally %}
If you choose {% data variables.product.prodname_vscode %} (web client), {% 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 JupyterLab, the JupyterLab application must be installed in the codespaces you open. {% data reusables.codespaces.jupyterlab-in-default-image %}