How Do I See All Errors in VS Code?

To see all errors in VS Code, your primary tool is the PROBLEMS panel, which provides a comprehensive list of all current errors, warnings, and information messages from your workspace. You can open this panel by clicking on the summary of errors and warnings typically found in the Status Bar at the bottom of the VS Code window, or by using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+M (or Cmd+Shift+M on macOS).

Once open, the PROBLEMS panel allows you to inspect, filter, and navigate through all detected issues efficiently.

Accessing the PROBLEMS Panel

There are several straightforward ways to bring up the PROBLEMS panel:

Status Bar Click: Look at the bottom-left of your VS Code window. You'll usually see icons indicating the number of errors (red X) and warnings (yellow triangle). Clicking on this summary will immediately open the PROBLEMS panel.
Keyboard Shortcut: The quickest way to toggle the PROBLEMS panel is by pressing Ctrl+Shift+M (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+M (macOS). Pressing it again will close the panel.
View Menu: You can also access it through the menu bar: Go to View > Problems.
Command Palette: Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P or Cmd+Shift+P), type "Problems", and select View: Toggle Problems.

Navigating and Filtering Errors in the PROBLEMS Panel

The PROBLEMS panel is designed to help you manage issues effectively. Here's what you can do:

List of Issues: It displays a list of all errors, warnings, and information messages, usually grouped by file or by type.
Click to Navigate: Clicking on any item in the list will take you directly to the corresponding line of code in the editor, making it easy to locate and fix issues.
Filtering: Use the filter input field at the top of the panel to search for specific error messages, file names, or types of issues.
- Filter by Type: You can click the funnel icon to filter by Errors, Warnings, or Info messages.
- Filter by Source: If multiple extensions or linters are contributing problems, you can filter by their source (e.g., "TypeScript", "ESLint").
Sorting: Issues can often be sorted by various criteria like file, line number, or severity.
Problem Details: Select an error to see more details in the panel itself, which can include a description, source, and quick fixes if available.

Other Visual Indicators of Errors

Beyond the PROBLEMS panel, VS Code offers several visual cues to help you spot issues as you code:

Red Squiggles: Errors in your code are typically indicated by a red wavy underline (squiggle) beneath the problematic text. Warnings usually have a yellow squiggle.
Scrollbar Markers: The vertical scrollbar on the right side of the editor will display small colored markers. Red markers indicate errors, and yellow markers indicate warnings, showing you where issues exist throughout the file at a glance. Clicking these markers can jump you directly to the problematic line.
Status Bar Summary: As mentioned, the Status Bar at the bottom of the window provides a quick count of total errors and warnings in your open files/workspace.

Practical Tips for Error Management

Understand Your Tools: Be aware of the extensions and language servers contributing to your problems (e.g., ESLint, TypeScript, Python Linter). Each may have its own configuration for error reporting.
Use Quick Fixes: Many errors come with "Quick Fix" suggestions (indicated by a lightbulb icon or by pressing Ctrl+. / Cmd+. when your cursor is on the error). These can often automatically resolve common issues.
Configure Linters: For languages like JavaScript, Python, or Ruby, integrate linters (e.g., ESLint, Pylint, RuboCop) to catch common mistakes and enforce coding styles. These will report issues directly to the PROBLEMS panel.
Inspect Output Channels: For more complex issues or problems related to extensions/build processes, check the Output panel (View > Output) for detailed logs from various VS Code components or language servers.

By leveraging the PROBLEMS panel and understanding these visual cues, you can efficiently identify, diagnose, and resolve issues within your VS Code development environment.