Force Close All File Tabs

Force close all file tabs without saving — instantly discard unsaved changes in VS Code, no confirmation dialogs! Perfect for those who want to swiftly close multiple unsaved files without clicking "Don't Save" over and over again.

Ported from the popular Sublime Text plugin (3K+ installs).

The Problem

You've searched and replaced across dozens of files — or opened a huge project and now have 50+ tabs. Closing them with unsaved changes means VS Code asks "Do you want to save?" for every. single. file. This extension fixes that.

Features

• Zero config — install, run, done
• The nuclear option — force close all file tabs at once, saved and unsaved. One prompt to confirm, or none at all
• Choose your scope — all editor groups or just the active one
• Fine-tunable — by default, a single prompt lets you choose the scope. Disable it for instant, zero-click execution
• Keybinding-ready — two commands, bind them however you like

Installation

Via VS Code Marketplace

1. Open VS Code
2. Press Ctrl+Shift+X (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+X (macOS) to open Extensions
3. Search for "Force Close All File Tabs"
4. Click Install

Via Command Line

code --install-extension ddbln.close-all-without-confirmation

Usage

Command Palette

Press Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+P (macOS), then type:

• "Force Close All File Tabs" — main command with scope selection
• "Force Close File Tabs in Active Group" — directly closes file tabs in the active group

Default Behavior

When you run "Force Close All File Tabs", a Quick Pick menu appears with two options:

1. Force close all file tabs — closes file tabs in all editor groups
2. Force close file tabs in active group — only closes file tabs in the currently active group

All unsaved changes are discarded. No per-file confirmation dialogs.

Keybindings

This extension does not add keybindings by default. To set your own, open your keybindings JSON (Ctrl+K Ctrl+S > Open Keyboard Shortcuts JSON) and add e.g.:

macOS:

{
    "key": "cmd+alt+shift+w",
    "command": "closeAllNoConfirm.closeAll"
}

Windows / Linux:

{
    "key": "ctrl+alt+shift+w",
    "command": "closeAllNoConfirm.closeAll"
}

Settings

Setting	Type	Default	Description
closeAllNoConfirm.askBeforeClosing	boolean	true	Show a Quick Pick menu before closing file tabs. Disable for instant close.
closeAllNoConfirm.activeGroupOnly	boolean	false	When Quick Pick is disabled: only close file tabs in the active group.

Example: Close instantly without any prompt

{
    "closeAllNoConfirm.askBeforeClosing": false,
    "closeAllNoConfirm.activeGroupOnly": false
}

FAQ

Q: Does it close all file tabs or only unsaved ones? A: It closes all file tabs — both saved and unsaved. The key benefit is that unsaved files are closed without per-file confirmation dialogs.

Q: Does it close terminal or output tabs? A: No. Only file tabs (text editors) are force-closed. Terminal, output, and other non-file tabs remain open.

Q: Is there any risk of losing work? A: By default, a Quick Pick prompt reminds you that unsaved changes will be discarded. If you disable the prompt via settings, the extension closes everything immediately — so use with care!

Q: Does it work in Cursor? A: Yes! Cursor is based on VS Code, so this extension works there as well. Install the .vsix file manually or via the Cursor extension marketplace.

Q: Will it slow down VS Code? A: No. The extension is lightweight and only activates when you explicitly run one of its commands.

License

MIT — Copyright (c) 2023-2026 Dirk Dassow