[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"howto:vsix:windows:en":3},{"resolvedFromAlias":4,"canonicalExt":5,"ext":5,"name":6,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"updatedAt":9,"os":10,"osLabel":11,"quickSolution":12,"stepByStep":13,"recommendedSoftware":16,"alternativeMethods":17,"commonIssues":18,"securityNote":37,"extensionPath":38,"extensionLabel":39,"breadcrumbs":40,"metaDescription":50},false,"vsix","Visual Studio VSIX extension package","archives","Archives","2026-06-12T09:17:03.168Z","windows","Windows","To open .VSIX files on Windows, if the VSIX is for Visual Studio: open Visual Studio and use its extension installation flow, or (for inspection) rename the file from .vsix to .zip and extract it to view extension.vsixmanifest and other contents.",[14,15],"If the VSIX is for Visual Studio: open Visual Studio and use its extension installation flow, or (for inspection) rename the file from .vsix to .zip and extract it to view extension.vsixmanifest and other contents.","If the VSIX is for Visual Studio Code: open VS Code and choose “Install from VSIX” in the Extensions view, or use the command line with: code --install-extension path\\to\\file.vsix.",[],[],[19,25,31],{"title":20,"description":21,"steps":22},"The VSIX installs in the wrong product (Visual Studio vs VS Code)","Both Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code use .vsix for extensions, but the packages target different platforms and extension APIs. A VSIX built for one product typically will not install or function in the other.",[23,24],"Check which product the extension is intended for (for example, the download source or the manifest inside the VSIX).","Install it using the correct tool: Visual Studio for Visual Studio extensions, or VS Code via “Install from VSIX” / code --install-extension for VS Code extensions.",{"title":26,"description":27,"steps":28},"Install fails due to compatibility requirements declared in the manifest","VSIX packages include a manifest (extension.vsixmanifest) that declares installation behavior and requirements; if your installed IDE version doesn’t match, installation can be blocked.",[29,30],"Extract the VSIX (it is a ZIP/OPC container) and review extension.vsixmanifest to understand the declared requirements.","Install the extension in a compatible IDE version, or obtain a VSIX build that targets your IDE version.",{"title":32,"description":33,"steps":34},"Trying to “open” the file in a text editor shows gibberish","A VSIX is a ZIP/OPC package, so opening it as plain text will not display meaningful content.",[35,36],"Inspect it by extracting it as an archive (for example, rename .vsix to .zip and extract).","Look for extension.vsixmanifest and other package files to understand what the extension contains.","A .vsix installs code and tooling into an IDE; treat it like installing software. Only install VSIX packages from sources you trust.","/file-extension/vsix",".VSIX",[41,44,47],{"label":42,"to":43},"Home","/",{"label":45,"to":46},"How To","/file-extension",{"label":48,"to":49},"Open .VSIX on Windows","/how-to/open-vsix-on-windows","Learn how to open .VSIX files on Windows with step-by-step instructions, recommended software, and troubleshooting tips."]