About This Tool: VSIX Downloader for VS Code Marketplace
This little tool (called a "UserScript") makes it super easy to download VS Code extensions directly from the official Marketplace website!
Normally, when you click "Install" for a VS Code extension, VS Code handles everything in the background. But sometimes, you might want to have the actual extension file on your computer. This tool adds a special "Download VSIX" button to every extension's page, so you can grab that file whenever you need it.
What's a VSIX file? Think of it like a .zip file for VS Code extensions. It's a single package containing everything the extension needs to work.
What This Tool Does
- Adds a "Download VSIX" button: You'll find a new green button on extension pages, typically on the right side, near the "More information" section.
- Works smoothly: It cleverly figures out the extension's name and version, even if the page loads slowly, so the button is ready when you are.
- Shows download progress: As the file downloads, the button will show you a percentage (e.g., "Downloading VSIX... 50%").
- Smart File Naming: Your downloaded files will be named clearly, like
[ExtensionName][Version].vsix (e.g., prettier-vscode1.20.5.vsix). No more confusing filenames!
- Helps when things go wrong: If there's an issue finding the extension details or during the download, it tries to tell you what happened right on the page.
Why You Might Need to Download VSIX Files
You might find this useful for:
- Installing without internet: Handy if you need to set up VS Code extensions on a computer that's not connected to the internet.
- Using a specific version: Sometimes a new extension update might cause issues, or you just prefer an older version. Downloading the VSIX lets you install exactly the version you want.
- Testing custom extensions: Great for developers who want to test their own extensions before publishing them officially.
- Sharing with others: An easy way to give an extension to a colleague or friend without them needing internet access.
- Just for your curiosity: If you're curious about what's inside an extension package!
Getting Started: How to Install This Tool
This tool works with a browser extension called a "User Script Manager." The most popular and recommended one is Tampermonkey.
- Install Tampermonkey:
- Open your browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave, etc.).
- Go to your browser's extension store and search for "Tampermonkey".
- Install it. Here are direct links for convenience:
- Create a New Script:
- Once Tampermonkey is installed, click its icon in your browser's toolbar (usually looks like a black square).
- Choose "Create a new script..." (or "New script...").
- Paste the Code:
- A new tab will open with a text editor. Delete any default code that's already there.
- Copy all the code for the "VSCode Marketplace VSIX Downloader" script (from
// ==UserScript== to the very last })();).
- Paste the copied code into the Tampermonkey editor.
- Save the Script:
- Go to
File > Save within the Tampermonkey editor (or click the disk icon, or simply close the tab/window – Tampermonkey usually saves automatically).
That's it! The tool is now active in your browser.
How to Use the "Download VSIX" Button
- Go to any VS Code Marketplace extension page in your browser (for example, search for "Prettier" and click on it, or visit
https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=esbenp.prettier-vscode).
- Once the page loads, look for the new green "Download VSIX" button. It's usually on the right side of the page, below the installation instructions and near the "More information" section.
- Click the button.
- The button will change to "Downloading VSIX... X%" and your browser will then start downloading the
.vsix file.
Help! It's Not Working / Common Questions
If you don't see the button or the download isn't working, here are some things to check:
- Is Tampermonkey turned on? Make sure the Tampermonkey extension icon in your browser's toolbar is active (usually colored) and not greyed out.
- Is the script enabled? In your Tampermonkey dashboard (click the icon -> "Dashboard"), make sure the "VSCode Marketplace VSIX Downloader" script is listed and its toggle switch is turned ON.
- Give the page a moment: Sometimes, the VS Code Marketplace page loads slowly. The tool waits for a bit, but on very slow connections, it might need an extra second.
- Look for red messages on the page: If the tool can't find the information it needs, it might display a red error message directly on the Marketplace page.
- What if the filename is weird? If the downloaded file has a strange name like
error_unknown_extension.vsix, it means the tool couldn't figure out the extension's name or version properly. This is rare.
- Download fails or shows "Error":
- Internet connection: Make sure your internet is working.
- File not available: Very rarely, an old version of an extension's file might no longer be stored on Microsoft's servers (it would usually show an "Error 404").
- Temporary issue: Sometimes websites have tiny hiccups. Try clicking the button again.
If none of these help, the Marketplace website might have changed in a way that the tool doesn't understand yet. This would require an update to the tool itself.
