Search the file explorer in Visual Studio Code

The VS Code Explorer has a nifty trick up its sleeve. Focus the Explorer, start typing, and VS Code highlights or filters the files and folders.

Sadly, when using the Vim extension, this handy feature no longer works. Or so I thought.

In true Vim fashion, you need to type / to search.

• Command-Shift-E, to open and focus the Explorer
• / to start searching

Settings

The workbench.list.keyboardNavigation setting controls what happens when you search:

• simple “focuses” matching items, but is of limited use in a large codebase
• filter (my preference) hides non-matching items
• highlight highlights matching items