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Open Folders in Any Code Editor with One Click (Mac)

· 3 min read
Darren Lin
Darren Lin
Blogger

Ever get annoyed having to launch VS Code first, then navigate to your project folder? Me too! Here's a super simple way to add an "Open in VS Code" option to your right-click menu in Finder.

The Problem​

As developers, we constantly open project folders in our code editors. If you're a Windows user, you're probably used to simply right-clicking on any folder and seeing "Open with VS Code" in the context menu - it's a native feature that makes life much easier.

But on macOS? Not so lucky. The default workflow usually looks like this:

  1. Launch VS Code (Or any other code editor)
  2. File > Open...
  3. Navigate to your folder
  4. Click Open

That's way too many steps for something we do dozens of times a day! While you can drag folders to the VS Code icon in the dock, it's still not as convenient as a simple right-click option.

The Solution: Automator (Custom Quick Action)​

The simplest solution is to create a Quick Action with Automator that adds an "Open in VS Code" option directly to your Finder's context menu. No shell scripts needed, so it won't break with OS updates.

Here's how to set it up in less than 2 minutes:

Step 1: Launch Automator​

Open Automator from your Applications folder and select "Quick Action" when prompted to create a new document.

Automator Quick Action

Step 2: Configure the Quick Action Settings​

At the top of the workflow pane, configure these settings:

  • Set "Workflow receives selected" to files or folders
  • Set "in" to Finder
  • Choose an image (I recommend selecting VS Code's icon for easy recognition)

Automator Settings

Step 3: Add the "Open Finder Items" Action​

In the search bar on the left, type "open" and find Open Finder Items. Either double-click it or drag it to your workflow area.

Step 4: Choose VS Code as the Application​

In the "Open Finder Items" section, click the "Open with:" dropdown, select "Other..." and navigate to Visual Studio Code in your Applications folder.

Step 5: Save Your Quick Action​

Press ⌘+S (CMD+S) to save and name it "Open in VS Code". That's it! Your Quick Action is now available in Finder's context menu.

Name your Action

Using Your New Quick Action​

Now when you right-click on any file or folder in Finder, you'll see "Open in VS Code" under the "Quick Actions" submenu.

Right Click to Use

How to Remove the Quick Action (If Needed)​

If you ever want to remove this Quick Action:

  1. In Finder, click on Go > Home from the menu bar
  2. Navigate to Library/Services folder (press ⌘+Shift+. if the Library folder is hidden)
  3. Find your "your-action.workflow" file and move it to trash

Remove Quick Action

Other Editors​

You can create similar Quick Actions for other code editors. Just follow the same steps but choose a different application in Step 4.

This tiny time-saver has made a huge difference in my workflow. No more clicking through menus or dragging folders into VS Code's icon. Just right-click and you're coding!