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

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

visual-studio-code

Solution 1:^[1]

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

Solution 2:^[2]

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

Solution 3:^[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

Solution 4:^[4]

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:

Solution 5:^[5]

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

Solution 6:^[6]

VSCode Extension: Wrap Console Log use Ctrl + Alt + W to wrap

VSCode use ^ + ? + W to Toggle Tab Visiblity

VSCode use ? + ? + W to Close Window

It's easy to make mistakes ?.

Solution 7:^[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?

Solution 8:^[8]

On VsCode version 1.64.2 , do the following :

Open VsCode settings and search for "Show Tabs", like shown in this screen shot:
Check and select the option for "Show Tabs" as pointed.

Solution 9:^[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

? + ^ + W

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

Solution 10:^[10]

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.

Solution 11:^[11]

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

Solution 12:^[12]

Follow this,

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

and Restart, Enjoy (y)

Solution 13:^[13]

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

Solution 14:^[14]

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.

Solution 15:^[15]

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

Solution 16:^[16]

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.

Solution 17:^[17]

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.

Solution 18:^[18]

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

Solution 19:^[19]

Try this

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

Solution 20:^[20]

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.

Solution 21:^[21]

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.

Solution 22:^[22]

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

Solution 23:^[23]

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.

Solution 24:^[24]

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

Workbench › Editor: Show Tabs = checked
Workbench › Editor: Tab Sizing = shrink

Solution 25:^[25]

File > Preferences > Settings

Search editor enable preview on search bar, Disable Enable Preview option (Just untick or set false).

Solution 26:^[26]

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
        }

Solution 27:^[27]

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

Solution 28:^[28]

quick fix, click on the page you want to display in another tab next to it and drag it there and it will revert back to its normal ways of opening each page as a new tab.

my reference is i did it now so i decided to sign up here hoping to make things easier for anyone having this problem.

Solution 29:^[29]

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

Sources

This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Overflow and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Source: Stack Overflow

Solution	Source
Solution 1	Eric Aya
Solution 2	Machavity
Solution 3	apaderno
Solution 4	Noach Magedman
Solution 5	Vivek Singh
Solution 6	Jon
Solution 7	Kevin_Kinsey
Solution 8	Alferd Nobel
Solution 9	Habib
Solution 10	Bharat Mallapur
Solution 11	deva11
Solution 12	Sam
Solution 13	AEM
Solution 14	olammy
Solution 15	Zoe stands with Ukraine
Solution 16	Henk Kruger
Solution 17
Solution 18	Job M
Solution 19	ricky
Solution 20	suresh
Solution 21	Alexander Immanuel D
Solution 22	Ruli
Solution 23	BrianB
Solution 24	vikramvi
Solution 25	XpressGeek
Solution 26
Solution 27	Rafael Guimarães
Solution 28	nooru73
Solution 29	Sujay

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

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