# TIL: Disable Built-In AI Features in VS Code

> Source: <https://kondasamy.com/til/2026/vscode-disable-ai-features/>
> Published: 2026-10-15 00:00:00+00:00

## On this page

# Disable Built-In AI Features in VS Code

Today I stripped the built-in AI features out of [VS Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/).

I run [Claude Code](https://kondasamy.com/blog/2025/claude-code-tips-tricks/), [Pi](https://kondasamy.com/blog/2026/pi-agent-multi-tool-workflow/), [omp](https://kondasamy.com/blog/2026/omp-coding-agent-architecture-deep-dive/), and [OpenCode](https://opencode.ai/) in the terminal. I open VS Code to read diffs and jump to definitions.

I left [Cursor](https://cursor.com/) because its editor AI got in the way of my terminal tools. Recent VS Code updates ship that same clutter: Chat panels, title-bar buttons, inline ghost text, and right-click prompts.

## The One-Line Fix

Set `chat.disableAIFeatures` to `true` in your user settings to hide native AI menus and stop the bundled GitHub Copilot extensions.

1. Open the Command Palette with `Cmd+Shift+P` on macOS or`Ctrl+Shift+P` on Windows and Linux.
2. Run **Preferences: Open User Settings (JSON)** .
3. Add `"chat.disableAIFeatures": true` inside the root`{}` object:

```
{
  "chat.disableAIFeatures": true
}
```

1. Save the file. Run **Developer: Reload Window** from the Command Palette if any AI icons remain.

Or click the **Chat** icon in the title bar and pick **Learn How to Hide AI Features** to toggle the checkbox in the Settings UI.

## Before and After

| Surface | Default VS Code | With `chat.disableAIFeatures: true` | 
|---|---|---|
| **Title bar and sidebars** | Copilot Chat icon and AI chat views | Hidden | 
| **Editor canvas** | Inline ghost-text suggestions and inline chat prompts | Disabled | 
| **Copilot extensions** | Running in the extension host | Disabled; no background processes run | 
| **Copilot network calls** | Sends context to Copilot backend when signed in | Blocked; sends no data to Copilot services | 
| **Third-party AI extensions** | Active if installed | Left alone; remove them in the Extensions view | 

If you turn off inline completions by themselves, VS Code keeps the Chat sidebar and Copilot extension processes running. Flip `chat.disableAIFeatures` to `true` and you shut down the whole built-in AI stack at once.

## User vs. Workspace Scope

Configure `chat.disableAIFeatures` in your user profile or per repository:

| Scope | File Location | Use Case | 
|---|---|---|
| **User** | `~/Library/Application Support/Code/User/settings.json` (macOS) | Disable built-in AI across all projects | 
| **Workspace** | `.vscode/settings.json` | Disable built-in AI in one repository | 

VS Code keeps this setting across app updates, so new releases will not turn Copilot Chat back on.

This setting targets VS Code’s built-in AI and GitHub Copilot. Disable or uninstall third-party AI extensions in the Extensions view (`Cmd+Shift+X`).

## What I Learned

- Set `"chat.disableAIFeatures": true` to hide the Chat UI and inline suggestions while disabling the bundled Copilot extensions.
- You stop Copilot background processes and block requests to Copilot backend services when you enable the setting.
- VS Code preserves the setting when you update the editor.
- You must disable or uninstall third-party Marketplace AI extensions in the Extensions view (`Cmd+Shift+X` ).

## References

- [VS Code FAQ: Can I disable AI functionality in VS Code?](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/supporting/faq#_can-i-disable-ai-functionality-in-vs-code)
- [VS Code Docs: Remove AI features from VS Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/setup/copilot#_remove-ai-features-from-vs-code)

*Running terminal coding agents alongside a stripped-down editor? Tell me how your setup looks on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kondasamy/).*