How to Disable Git in Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio Code (VS Code) comes with built-in Git integration that many developers find helpful. However, there are situations where you may want to disable Git features—for example, if you’re working on a non-Git project, reducing resource usage, or using another version control system.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through several ways to turn off or disable Git support in VS Code, either temporarily or permanently.

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🎯 Why Disable Git in VS Code?

Here are a few reasons you might want to disable Git integration:

• You’re not using Git for the current project.
• VS Code is slowing down due to large Git repositories.
• You prefer to manage Git entirely through the terminal or another tool.

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🔧 Method 1: Disable Git in VS Code Settings

The simplest way to disable Git support is through the settings.

✅ Steps:

1. Open Command Palette:
   Press Ctrl + Shift + P (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Shift + P (Mac)
2. Type and select:
   Preferences: Open Settings (UI)
3. In the search bar, type:
   git.enabled
4. Uncheck the option:
   Git: Enabled

This disables Git support across all projects in VS Code.

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🛠 Method 2: Disable Git for a Specific Workspace

If you only want to disable Git for a specific folder or project:

1. Open your project in VS Code.
2. Go to .vscode/settings.json. If it doesn’t exist, create it.
3. Add the following setting:

{
  "git.enabled": false
}

This disables Git only for this project/workspace.

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🚫 Method 3: Disable Git Extension (Advanced)

If you want to disable Git integration completely, including the Git extension:

1. Go to the Extensions panel (Ctrl + Shift + X).
2. Search for Git.
3. Click the gear icon ⚙ next to the Git extension (usually built-in).
4. Choose Disable (Workspace) or Disable (Always).

Note: Disabling a built-in extension might require reloading or restarting VS Code.

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🧠 Bonus Tips

• You can also reduce Git-related background tasks using: { "git.autorefresh": false, "git.autoRepositoryDetection": "off" }
• To re-enable Git later, simply reverse any of the above settings or re-enable the Git extension.

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✅ Summary

Method	Action
Settings UI	Uncheck Git: Enabled
Workspace only	Set "git.enabled": false in settings.json
Disable extension	Disable built-in Git extension
Performance tweaks	Disable auto-refresh and detection

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🏁 Conclusion

While Git integration is a powerful feature in Visual Studio Code, disabling it can streamline your workflow in specific situations. Whether you want to turn it off temporarily or permanently, VS Code gives you multiple flexible options.