How to Find and Remove VS Code Extensions Slowing It Down

What Causes This?

VS Code extensions run in the background and can add startup tasks, language services, file watchers, linters, and live analysis that use CPU, memory, and disk activity. If you have too many installed, or one extension is buggy or poorly optimized, VS Code can feel slow even on a decent PC. Conflicts between extensions can also cause delays, especially when several tools try to scan the same files or modify the editor at the same time.

Common Symptoms

• VS Code takes a long time to open or load a project
• Typing feels delayed, especially in large files
• Search, IntelliSense, or file switching becomes sluggish
• CPU or memory usage spikes when VS Code is open
• VS Code works better in Safe Mode or with extensions disabled

How to Fix It Manually

1. Check whether extensions are the problem

   • Close VS Code completely.
   • Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Enter.
   • In Command Prompt, run:

     code --disable-extensions

   • Use VS Code normally for a few minutes. If it feels much faster, one or more extensions are likely causing the slowdown.

2. Open the installed extensions list

   • Start VS Code normally.
   • Press Ctrl + Shift + X to open the Extensions panel.
   • Review recently installed extensions first, especially anything related to AI tools, formatters, linters, themes with extras, Git helpers, or language packs you do not actively use.

3. Disable extensions in batches

   • In the Extensions panel, click the gear icon next to an extension.
   • Select Disable.
   • Start by disabling non-essential extensions in groups of 3-5, then restart VS Code and test performance.
   • If VS Code improves, re-enable them one at a time until the slowdown returns. That helps you identify the specific extension causing it.

4. Use VS Code’s built-in extension performance tools

   • Press Ctrl + Shift + P to open the Command Palette.
   • Type Developer: Show Running Extensions and open it.
   • Look for extensions with high activation time or heavy runtime usage.
   • Also run Developer: Startup Performance to see what is slowing launch time.

5. Check system usage in Windows

   • Open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
   • Click Processes and look for Visual Studio Code.
   • Watch CPU and Memory while opening files or typing in a project.
   • If usage jumps after enabling a certain extension, that extension is a strong suspect.

6. Remove extensions you do not need

   • In VS Code, open the Extensions panel again with Ctrl + Shift + X.
   • Click the gear icon next to any extension you no longer use.
   • Select Uninstall.
   • Restart VS Code after removing several extensions so changes fully apply.

7. Update VS Code and your remaining extensions

   • In VS Code, go to Help > Check for Updates.
   • In the Extensions panel, update installed extensions if updates are available.
   • Sometimes the slowdown is caused by an older extension version that has already been fixed.

Fix It Automatically with Kudu

If you do not want to test extensions one by one, Kudu can help you spot background apps and development tools that are wasting CPU, memory, and startup resources on your PC. It gives you a faster way to clean up unnecessary overhead so VS Code runs more smoothly without as much trial and error.

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