Completely Remove VS Code from Ubuntu with Step-by-Step Guides

Removing Visual Studio Code (VS Code) from an Ubuntu system can be a straightforward process, depending on how it was initially installed. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the steps to uninstall VS Code completely, whether it was installed via APT, Snap, or manually with dpkg. Follow this guide to ensure all components are removed, leaving your system clean and free of VS Code.

Identifying the Installation Method

The first step in removing VS Code is determining how it was installed. You can use the whereis command to find out the installation method.

Using the Whereis Command

To start, open your terminal and run the whereis command with the VS Code binary name:

whereis code

If your output looks like this:

/snap/bin/code

This indicates that VS Code was installed via Snap. If the output is different, such as:

/usr/bin/code

It suggests that VS Code was installed via APT. Knowing this will guide you to the appropriate removal process.

Removing VS Code via Snap

If you installed VS Code using Snap, you can remove it using the following command:

sudo snap remove code

This command will uninstall VS Code and its associated files from your system.

Removing VS Code via APT

If you installed VS Code using APT, the appropriate removal commands are:

Uninstalling All Components with Purge

To remove all VS Code components, including its configuration and data, run:

sudo apt purge code

This command will not only remove the VS Code binary but also delete associated configuration files and settings.

Uninstalling All Components but Retaining Configuration

If you prefer to retain the configuration and data files, you can use:

sudo apt remove code

This command will remove the VS Code binary and any related packages but will leave your configuration and data files intact.

Additional Considerations

After removing VS Code, it's a good practice to clean up the package list to ensure no residual dependencies remain. You can do this by running:

sudo apt autoremove

This command will remove any unused dependencies and ensure your package list is clean.

Conclusion

Following these steps will help you completely remove VS Code from your Ubuntu system, whether it was installed via Snap, APT, or manually with dpkg. Ensure you identify the installation method and choose the appropriate removal commands to achieve a thorough uninstallation of VS Code.