Vs Code Login Redirect Not Working [Solved]

Issue	Primary Cause	Quick Fix
Auth Loop	Browser-to-App handoff failure	Use “Copy Redirect URL” manually
Timeout Error	Network proxy or firewall	Disable VPN/Proxy during login
Stuck on “Opening Browser”	Default browser protocol error	Change default browser or use –force-device-code

What is VS Code login redirect not working?

The “VS Code login redirect not working” error occurs when Visual Studio Code fails to receive the authentication token from your web browser. This usually happens during the sign-in process for GitHub, Microsoft accounts, or extensions like Settings Sync.

Typically, VS Code launches your browser to verify your identity. Once you click “Authorize,” the browser attempts to send a “callback” or “redirect” back to the VS Code application using a specific protocol handler.

If this communication link is broken by browser security settings, firewall rules, or corrupted cache, VS Code remains in a “Signing in…” state indefinitely, or the browser displays an “Address not found” error.

Step-by-Step Solutions

1. Use the Manual Redirect URL

If the automatic handoff fails, you can manually paste the authentication code into VS Code. This is the most reliable workaround.

When the browser opens and you complete the login, look for a link that says “Having trouble? Click here to use a different method” or “Copy the code.”

In VS Code, open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P) and type:

Developer: Toggle Developer Tools

Check the console for a login URI. If VS Code prompts you for a code, paste the string provided by the browser redirect page.

2. Clear Browser Cache and Cookies

Sometimes your browser stores old session data that interferes with the new redirect. Try clearing your cache or using an Incognito window.

Alternatively, change your default system browser temporarily (e.g., from Chrome to Firefox) and try logging in again. This often resets the protocol handler registration.

3. Check Extension Authentication Settings

Ensure that VS Code is permitted to handle authentication requests. You can reset the local auth cache by running this command in your terminal:

rm -rf ~/.vscode/extensions/microsoft.vsliveshare* # Example for Live Share

Or, sign out of all accounts within VS Code via the Accounts icon (bottom left) and restart the application before trying again.

4. Verify Protocol Handlers

On Windows or macOS, the system must know that “vscode://” links belong to VS Code. If the redirect fails, the registry entry might be corrupted.

You can try re-registering VS Code as a handler by reinstalling the “User Setup” version of VS Code or checking your system’s “Default Apps” settings under “Choose apps by protocol.”

5. Disable Proxy and VPN

Strict network environments often block the local loopback or the specific ports used for the redirect callback. Disable your VPN or Proxy and try the login again.

If you are behind a corporate firewall, ensure that `vscode-auth.github.com` and `login.microsoftonline.com` are whitelisted in your network settings.