Is the Salesforce CLI integrated with VS Code?

Yes. The Salesforce extensions run Salesforce CLI commands behind the scenes, so you install the CLI separately and the extensions use it for authorizing orgs, retrieving, deploying and running tests. You can also run sf commands in the VS Code terminal.

How do I connect VS Code to a Salesforce sandbox?

Run SFDX: Authorize an Org and pick Sandbox as the login URL, or run sf org login web with --instance-url set to the sandbox My Domain URL. The org login web command reference lists every flag.

How do I take a backup of a Salesforce org in VS Code?

Generate a package.xml from the org with sf project generate manifest --from-org, retrieve it with sf project retrieve start --manifest, and commit the files to Git. This copies metadata such as Apex and flows, not record data.

Which VS Code extensions do I need for Salesforce?

Install the Salesforce Extension Pack from Salesforce. It bundles Apex, Lightning Web Components, Aura, Visualforce, the Org Browser and the test tools, so you do not need to pick extensions one by one.

Which Java version does the Salesforce Apex extension need?

JDK 11, 17 or 21, with 21 recommended. Set salesforcedx-vscode-apex.java.home if the extension cannot find it, as described in the Salesforce Extensions Java setup guide .

Connect VS Code to Salesforce Org: Setup, CLI and Options

Use VS Code with the Salesforce CLI and the Salesforce Extension Pack for any Apex or LWC work you plan to keep in source control. Pick Agentforce Vibes IDE (the browser tool Salesforce used to call Code Builder) only when you can’t install software, and keep the Developer Console for a quick look at one class.

Below, we connect VS Code to Salesforce org sfqdev from scratch on Windows 11: install the three pieces, authorize the org, pull code down, run tests, and clear the Java warning that greets most people on day one. Then we open the same class in the two browser tools so you can see where each one stops.

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