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Live Server in VS Code: Install, Launch, and Configure a Local Preview

Install the Ritwick Dey Live Server extension, open your website folder, and select Go Live to preview it locally with browser reload as you edit.
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To use Live Server in VS Code, install the Live Server extension published by Ritwick Dey, open your website project folder, then select Go Live in the status bar. It opens a local browser preview and reloads it when you change files. This is a development preview, not a way to publish your site on the public internet.

Install the correct Live Server extension

  1. In VS Code, open the Extensions view with Ctrl+Shift+X on Windows or Linux. On other platforms, use the Extensions view control or the shortcut shown in VS Code.
  2. Search for Live Server. Check that the publisher is Ritwick Dey and the extension identifier is ritwickdey.LiveServer before installing. View Live Server on the Visual Studio Marketplace.
  3. Open the folder containing your website files in VS Code. Working from the project folder makes it easier for the server to serve the intended files.

VS Code’s Extensions view lets you search for and install Marketplace extensions. For general installation guidance, see Microsoft’s Extension Marketplace documentation.

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Start and stop the local preview

Start with Go Live

For a typical HTML project, select Go Live in the VS Code status bar. Live Server starts and opens the site in your browser. The extension documents live browser reload as you edit files.

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Use the Command Palette

If you prefer a command, open the Command Palette and run Live Server: Open With Live Server. To end the server, run Live Server: Stop Live Server. These commands are also useful if the status-bar control is unavailable; the extension README notes alternate command methods for workspaces without an .html or .htm file. See the Live Server project README for the extension’s documented commands.

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Understand the address and what Live Server runs

Live Server serves a local development preview. It does not upload your files or make the site publicly available. Use the address and port shown by your running instance: settings can change the port, and the default may not be usable if it is already occupied.

Live Server is intended for previewing website files; do not assume it runs server-side application code. The project README points users who need server-side pages, such as PHP, to separate setup guidance.

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Adjust the port or served folder

Live Server documents a default port of 5500. You can configure extension settings in your user settings or for a project in .vscode/settings.json. Project settings apply to that workspace.

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Setting Effect Example
liveServer.settings.port Sets the server port. The documented default is 5500; use 0 to request a random port. "liveServer.settings.port": 0
liveServer.settings.root Sets the served root to a folder under the workspace. "liveServer.settings.root": "/sub_folder1/sub_folder2"

After changing a setting, start Live Server again if needed and use the address shown by the running instance rather than assuming a particular URL. The extension’s FAQ and settings guidance also documents browser and ignored-file options.

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Live Server, Live Preview, or the Integrated Browser?

These are separate VS Code options, not different names for the same feature. Choose based on the workflow you want:

Option How to open a preview Best fit
Live Server by Ritwick Dey Select Go Live or run Live Server: Open With Live Server. You specifically want this extension’s local server and its port or root settings.
Microsoft Live Preview Install the separate extension, then select Show Preview from the HTML editor context menu. You want to follow Microsoft’s Live Preview workflow. See the VS Code Live Preview tutorial.
VS Code Integrated Browser preview Open an HTML file in the Integrated Browser. You want a built-in way to preview HTML. VS Code documents that the preview updates as the HTML changes; see Integrated Browser documentation.

If you installed Live Server but do not see the expected controls, first confirm you installed the Ritwick Dey listing, opened the project folder, and have an HTML file in the workspace. Otherwise, try the extension’s Command Palette command.

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