Visual Studio Code — Download the Latest Version 2025 (Free & Cross‑Platform)

What is Visual Studio Code?

Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a free, open‑source, lightweight yet powerful code editor developed by Microsoft. It’s designed to support a wide range of programming languages and workflows — from web development and scripting to full‑scale application development — while remaining fast and customizable. Visual Studio Code+1

It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux — giving you the flexibility to code on virtually any modern OS. Visual Studio Code+1

What’s New in 2025 / Latest Version Highlights

• The most recent stable release as of late 2025 is version 1.105, released in October 2025, containing performance improvements, bug fixes and updated support for modern OS platforms. Visual Studio Code+1
• The VS Code team continues monthly (or frequent) updates, ensuring support for the latest development tools, security patches, and new features. Visual Studio Code+1
• For early adopters, there is also an Insiders build available — a nightly build with latest experimental features for developers who want bleeding‑edge updates. Visual Studio Code+1

Key Features of Visual Studio Code

• Cross‑Platform Support — Works on Windows, macOS, and major Linux distributions. Visual Studio Code+1
• Lightweight & Fast — VS Code’s download size is modest (< ~200 MB) and disk footprint stays under ~500 MB — so it runs smoothly even on modest hardware. Visual Studio Code+1
• Extensible via Extensions Marketplace — Supports countless extensions for languages, debugging, formatting, linting, themes, Git integration and more — effectively turning VS Code into a full‑fledged IDE. Visual Studio Code+1
• Built-in Git & Version Control — Native support for Git (and other SCMs via extensions) allows commit, branch, diff, merge workflows directly from the editor. Visual Studio Code+1
• Integrated Terminal & Debugger — Execute shell commands, run tasks and debug code without leaving the editor. Visual Studio Code+1
• Customizable & Personalizable — Adjust themes, keyboard shortcuts, settings; or install language‑specific extensions to tailor the environment to your needs. Visual Studio Code+1
• Frequent Updates & Active Community — Regular updates, active development, and broad community support ensure VS Code stays current with evolving languages, frameworks, and best practices. Visual Studio Code+1

System Requirements (2025)

According to the official documentation: Visual Studio Code+1

• Operating Systems Supported
  • Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64‑bit) Visual Studio Code+1
  • macOS (latest and recent versions supported) Visual Studio Code+1
  • Linux distributions — Debian/Ubuntu, Red Hat, Fedora and other supported variants (glibc 2.28+ required) Visual Studio Code+1
• Hardware Minimum (typical recommended)
  • Processor: ~1.6 GHz or faster Visual Studio Code+1
  • RAM: ≥ 1 GB (more recommended for heavy workloads) Visual Studio Code+1
  • Disk space: small (< 500 MB) for editor itself; plus space for your projects, extensions, and workspace. Visual Studio Code+1

Download & Installation — How to Get VS Code (2025)

1. Visit the official download page of Visual Studio Code. Visual Studio Code+1
2. Choose your platform (Windows / macOS / Linux) and appropriate build (system installer, user installer, .zip/.tar archive, or package for Linux). Visual Studio Code+1
3. Run the installer (or extract the archive) and complete setup. For Windows users, you can use either the User Installer (no admin rights required, updates auto) or System Installer (for all users). Visual Studio Code+1
4. Once installed, launch VS Code. You can further customize with extensions, themes and settings via the built‑in Extensions Marketplace. Visual Studio Code+1

Tip: If you prefer to stay on cutting‑edge features (and accept possible instability), consider downloading the “Insiders” build — it installs alongside Stable and gets nightly updates. Visual Studio Code+1

FAQ

Q: Is Visual Studio Code free?
A: Yes — VS Code is free to download and use. It’s built on open‑source core and maintained by Microsoft. Visual Studio Code+1

Q: Can I use it on Windows, macOS and Linux?
A: Absolutely — VS Code supports all three major desktop platforms. Visual Studio Code+1

Q: Do I need powerful hardware to run it?
A: No. Because VS Code is lightweight (small installer size and modest resource requirements), it runs smoothly even on modest modern hardware. Visual Studio Code+1

Q: Can I customize the editor or add support for multiple languages?
A: Yes. With its extension marketplace, you can install support for numerous programming languages, debuggers, themes, linters, and other tools — turning VS Code into a full-featured development environment. Visual Studio Code+1

Q: How often is it updated?
A: VS Code receives regular updates — typically monthly — and occasionally more frequently for security patches or improvements. Plus there’s an Insiders build for those who want the newest changes daily. Visual Studio Code+1

Official Links & Resources

• Official download page: Download Visual Studio Code Visual Studio Code+1
• Learn more / Docs & System Requirements: VS Code Requirements Page