VSCode showing only one file in the tab bar (can't open multiple files)

Question

I hit some shortcut and I can't find the setting the turn it off. But opening multiple files doesn't show different tabs.

Here's what I'm seeing

But this is what I'm expecting when I open a new tab

Answer 1

Check User interface / Tabs. You just need to add the following line in the configuration file.

"workbench.editor.showTabs": false

I also think that How do I disable tabs in Visual Studio Code? is asking the exact opposite of what you are asking.

Answer 2

On a mac, if both of the existing answers didn't work, you can try command + ctrl + w, worked for me.

Answer 3

The accepted answer didn't work for me for some reason. The answer given in Open files always in a new tab did.

In short: In the menu bar, click on File > Preferences > Settings. Then add the following line to the settings file.

"workbench.editor.enablePreview": false

Answer 4

try command + ctrl + w in Mac, it works fine

Answer 5

This feature is toggled with the command “View: Toggle Tab Visibility”. Internally, it is known as workbench.action.toggleTabsVisibility.

On MacOS, the default keybinding is command + control + w, which is dangerously close to the OS’s "Lock Screen" command command + control + q. (Hitting this accidentally while trying to lock my screen is how I got here!)

On Linux, the default keybinding is meta + control + w

On Windows, the keybinding used to be win + control + w, but it looks like they removed it. See these github issues:

• Windows key in default keybindings on Windows
• Add toggleTabsVisibility to keybinding actions

Answer 6

By mistake i tap on mac ctrl + command + w button on visual studio code then open file tabs hide.

Then i tap same button Ctrl+ Cmd + w then its again shows

Answer 7

As of the most recent update, in my VSC, you have to double-click the file icon to get a new tab.

And this just when I was finally getting used to clicking ONCE in the older version. I mean, I get "push out a new feature set ASAP" if Microsoft wants to compete with F/OSS, but haven't they heard of POLA ... and not breaking it?

Answer 8

This is a "feature" albeit a confusing one of Visual Studio code called the "Preview" tab!

I know I struggled with it until I took the time out and searched here for an answer!.

Normally you can single-click on a file and open it in a preview tab, go over it and move on to the next one. This can be handy when you've opened a folder and quickly want to go through the files therein.

However, it is confusing when you're actually working on files. The simplest solution is to double-click on a file in the explorer tab, this opens up the file in it's own separate tab.

IMHO, an alternate approach to disabling the feature, is getting used to this "default" setting of a preview tab, rather than turning it off in settings and later on, when you re-install it or go to another machine, struggling with "Ahh...I knew I did something to disable this behaviour!".

If this thought process doesn't work for you, you can always do what's suggested in the other answers.

Answer 9

For mac, if your tab close icon disappears and showing every page in a new tab just press (as shown in image).

Command + Control + W

or

⌘ + ^ + W

It will appear your tab icons (as shown in the picture).

Answer 10

Go to Preferences -> Settings -> UserSettings -> Workbench -> EditorManagement
check "Show Tabs" . Tabs will appear immediately .Enjoy

Answer 11

Follow this,

Go to Preferences -> Settings -> UserSettings -> Workbench -> EditorManagement
check "Show Tabs"

and Restart, Enjoy (y)

Answer 12

This has nothing to do with setting workbench.editor.showTabs:true.Just double click on the file you want open in new tab and it will VS Code will open it for you in new tab.

Answer 13

I think it's the property "workbench.editor.showTabs": true. I had the same problem and I just changed this setting to true.

Answer 14

If you still feel you have this problem it could be that "Preview Mode" is enabled. The title of the tab will be in italics, meaning it is in preview mode and the same tab will be used when you open the next file, unless you start modifying the file.

Go to settings and find "Workbench > Editor: Enable Preview" and deselect it. Now every file will be opened in a new tab.

Answer 15

In latest visual studio code , by double clicking on any of the file in file explorer will open in new tab. It assumes single click as a file preview option and many people get confused with it.

Answer 16

In short: double-click (Open) rather than single-click

Answer 17

I believe this is a new feature in VS Code, When you are opening a new project and skimming through the code file by file, each file will get replaced in the same tab, Whilst if you do some changes in a file and save it, and try opening a new file it will open in a new file.

May be it is trying to do some kind of tab clean up by restricting the user to open multiple tabs and restricting them to use multiple tabs only when they need to edit the files in them.

Answer 18

Goto Settings (Ctrl + ,) Type 'workbench.editor' Click Checkbox on Controls whether opened editors... your problem is solved

Answer 19

Try this

"workbench.editor.showTabs": true,
"workbench.editor.enablePreview": false,

Answer 20

In VSCode, click Manage (is the gear shown at lower-left corner) > Settings >

in the search bar on top type "showtabs" , do below 2 changes

1. Workbench › Editor: Show Tabs = checked

2. Workbench › Editor: Tab Sizing = shrink

Answer 21

This error happens because workbench.editor.showTabs is set to false. Open the Settings.json Press cmd+Shift+p and then type Open Setting and hit Enter

In the settings.json file add this line at the bottom.

"workbench.editor.showTabs": true

Answer 22

In vscode ,click on file>preferance>setting. In setting, there would be a search-bar. There, you have to search "workbench.editor.enablePreview": false. Then you will get one option with checked-box. If it is already checked then you mark it as unchecked.

Answer 23

you need edit setting.json file,

settings.json, located at

Windows %APPDATA%\Code\User\settings.json
macOS $HOME/Library/Application Support/Code/User/settings.json
Linux $HOME/.config/Code/User/settings.json


        {
          "workbench.editor.showTabs": true,
          "workbench.editor.enablePreview": false
        }

Answer 24

On a mac and maybe other OSs you can double click on the filename to pin the file open in the editor. This way, you can selectively choose which files you want to remain open in the VS Code editor.

Answer 25

go to preferences > workbench > enable preview, or just open preferences and search 'preview', mark as true.

Answer 26

I had the same problem and I just changed the following settings inside visual studio 2017.

Tools > Environment > Tabs and windows

visual studio 2017 view