How to Customize Built-in Animations in VS Code

Adding animations to VS Code typically refers to customizing the built-in animations that enhance the user interface's visual feedback. You can manage these animations directly within VS Code's settings.

You can customize the animations by running the Animations: Open Animation Settings command or opening settings (Cmd + , or Ctrl + ,) and searching for Animations. There you can change the animation types, toggle animations, and change animation speeds.

Accessing Animation Settings

Visual Studio Code provides a dedicated section in its settings to control how UI elements animate. This allows you to tailor the experience to your preference, whether you prefer subtle transitions or no animations at all.

There are two primary ways to access these settings:

Method 1: Using the Command Palette

1. Open the Command Palette:
   • On macOS: Cmd + Shift + P
   • On Windows/Linux: Ctrl + Shift + P
2. Type Animations: Open Animation Settings.
3. Select the command from the dropdown list.

This action will directly open the relevant section in your VS Code settings.

Method 2: Via Standard Settings

1. Open VS Code Settings:
   • On macOS: Cmd + ,
   • On Windows/Linux: Ctrl + ,
2. In the search bar at the top of the Settings tab, type Animations.
3. The search results will filter the settings to show the options related to UI animations.

Customizing Animations

Once you are in the Animation Settings, you will find various options to configure the built-in animations. The settings typically allow you to control the behavior of elements like panels sliding in, notifications appearing, or tabs transitioning.

Here are the key customizations available, based on the provided reference:

• Change Animation Types: Select different visual styles for transitions.
• Toggle Animations: Turn animations on or off completely. If animations are distracting or impact performance, you can disable them.
• Change Animation Speeds: Adjust how quickly or slowly animations occur.

These options give you fine-grained control over the visual fluidity of the VS Code interface.

Example Settings

While the exact options might vary slightly between VS Code versions, you'll generally find settings under categories like:

• workbench.editor.animations: Controls animations related to opening, closing, and switching editors.
• workbench.panel.animations: Manages animations for showing/hiding panels (Terminal, Output, Debug Console, etc.).
• workbench.sideBar.animations: Controls animations for the side bars (Explorer, Search, Extensions, etc.).

Look for dropdown menus or toggle switches next to these settings to make your adjustments.

Quick Reference: Animation Settings Access

By utilizing these settings, you can easily manage and customize the existing animations in your VS Code environment to suit your workflow and visual preferences.