Activate ServiceNow Extensions for VS Code
Activate the ServiceNow Extensions for VS Code to be able to edit applications within your ServiceNow instance.
Before you begin
Install ServiceNow Extensions for VS Code to activate the extension and begin editing your applications in VS code.
Role required: none.
About this task
Activating the extension is the first step you must perform after installation of the extension to access its functionalities.
Procedure
-
Navigate to All > View > Command Palette to open the command palette.
You can also use a keyboard shortcut, Control+Shift+P on Windows or Command+Shift+P on MacOS, to open the command palette.
-
Choose Now: Activate Now Extension from the list.
[Omitted image "vscode-activateservicenow.png"] Alt text: Activate Now extension in command palette
The Setup Workspace link appears at the bottom of the VS Code IDE. After the extension is activated, Set up your workspace in VS Code to begin editing ServiceNow applications.
Parent Topic:ServiceNow Extensions for Visual Studio Code
---
title: Activate ServiceNow Extensions for VS Code
description: Activate the ServiceNow Extensions for VS Code to be able to edit applications within your ServiceNow instance.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/application-development/activate-servicenow-ext.html
release: australia
topic_type: task
last_updated: "2026-09-10"
reading_time_minutes: 1
breadcrumb: [ServiceNow Extensions for Visual Studio Code, Building pro-code applications, Developing your application, Classic app development, Building applications]
---
# Activate ServiceNow Extensions for VS Code
Activate the ServiceNow Extensions for VS Code to be able to edit applications within your ServiceNow instance.
## Before you begin
Install ServiceNow Extensions for VS Code to activate the extension and begin editing your applications in VS code.
Role required: none.
## About this task
Activating the extension is the first step you must perform after installation of the extension to access its functionalities.
## Procedure
1. Navigate to **All** > **View** > **Command Palette** to open the command palette.
You can also use a keyboard shortcut, Control+Shift+P on Windows or Command+Shift+P on MacOS, to open the command palette.
2. Choose **Now: Activate Now Extension** from the list.
\[Omitted image "vscode-activateservicenow.png"\] Alt text: Activate Now extension in command palette
The **Setup Workspace** link appears at the bottom of the VS Code IDE. After the extension is activated, [Set up your workspace](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/application-development/setup-workspace.md) in VS Code to begin editing ServiceNow applications.
**Parent Topic:**[ServiceNow Extensions for Visual Studio Code](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/application-development/vs-code.md)
| title | Activate ServiceNow Extensions for VS Code |
| description | Activate the ServiceNow Extensions for VS Code to be able to edit applications within your ServiceNow instance. |
| locale | en-US |
| canonical_url | https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/application-development/activate-servicenow-ext.html |
| release | australia |
| topic_type | task |
| last_updated | 2026-09-10 |
| reading_time_minutes | 1 |
| breadcrumb | ServiceNow Extensions for Visual Studio CodeBuilding pro-code applicationsDeveloping your applicationClassic app developmentBuilding applications |