"Open File" dialog does not open to current file directory

Open
#320,284 1 comment 0 reactions 1 assignee View on GitHub

@deepak1556 is already working on this.

Since Jun 8, 2026.

Assessment

This issue has not been assessed yet.

Description

linux

Type: Bug

Steps to Reproduce
  1. Open a file in a fresh window (no folder/workspace)
  2. Use Ctrl + O or File > Open File

This opens the Recent tab in the file dialog rather than opening the same directory as the currently open file.

Notes

I updated VS Code yesterday, which maybe caused the issue.

Yes, this same bug popped up in June 2022 and June 2024 (so expect the same in June 2028). I borrowed some wording from one of those issues.

Similar issues

https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/issues/216905
https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/issues/151945

System

VS Code version: Code 1.123.0 (6a44c352bd24569c417e530095901b649960f9f8, 2026-06-03T11:29:03+02:00)
OS version: Linux x64 7.0.9-76070009-generic
Modes:

System Info
Item Value
CPUs 13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-13700H (20 x 769)
GPU Status 2d_canvas: enabled
GPU0: VENDOR= 0x10de, DEVICE=0x28a1, DRIVER_VENDOR=Mesa, DRIVER_VERSION=25.1.5
GPU1: VENDOR= 0x8086, DEVICE=0xa7a0, DRIVER_VENDOR=Mesa, DRIVER_VERSION=25.1.5 ACTIVE
Machine model name:
Machine model version:
direct_rendering_display_compositor: disabled_off_ok
gpu_compositing: enabled
multiple_raster_threads: enabled_on
opengl: enabled_on
rasterization: enabled
raw_draw: disabled_off_ok
skia_graphite: disabled_off
trees_in_viz: disabled_off
video_decode: enabled
video_encode: disabled_software
vulkan: disabled_off
webgl: enabled
webgpu: enabled
webgpu_on_vk_via_gl_interop: enabled
webnn: disabled_off
Load (avg) 1, 1, 1
Memory (System) 15.28GB (3.71GB free)
Process Argv --crash-reporter-id dcd84bd5-aaeb-45c1-bf39-abd5e241cb1f
Screen Reader no
VM 0%
DESKTOP_SESSION cinnamon
XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP X-Cinnamon
XDG_SESSION_DESKTOP cinnamon
XDG_SESSION_TYPE x11
Extensions (25)
Name Identifier Author Version
Coder coder.coder-remote coder 1.14.6
Docker DX docker.docker docker 0.18.0
Git History donjayamanne.githistory donjayamanne 0.6.20
Marp for VS Code marp-team.marp-vscode marp-team 3.5.1
Rainbow CSV mechatroner.rainbow-csv mechatroner 3.24.1
Git Graph mhutchie.git-graph mhutchie 1.30.0
Container Tools ms-azuretools.vscode-containers ms-azuretools 2.4.5
Docker ms-azuretools.vscode-docker ms-azuretools 2.0.0
.NET Install Tool ms-dotnettools.vscode-dotnet-runtime ms-dotnettools 3.0.2
Python Debugger ms-python.debugpy ms-python 2026.6.0
Python ms-python.python ms-python 2026.4.0
Pylance ms-python.vscode-pylance ms-python 2026.2.1
Python Environments ms-python.vscode-python-envs ms-python 1.30.0
Jupyter ms-toolsai.jupyter ms-toolsai 2025.9.1
Jupyter Keymap ms-toolsai.jupyter-keymap ms-toolsai 1.1.2
Jupyter Notebook Renderers ms-toolsai.jupyter-renderers ms-toolsai 1.3.0
Jupyter Cell Tags ms-toolsai.vscode-jupyter-cell-tags ms-toolsai 0.1.9
Jupyter Slide Show ms-toolsai.vscode-jupyter-slideshow ms-toolsai 0.1.6
Dev Containers ms-vscode-remote.remote-containers ms-vscode-remote 0.459.1
Remote - SSH ms-vscode-remote.remote-ssh ms-vscode-remote 0.124.0
Remote - SSH: Editing Configuration Files ms-vscode-remote.remote-ssh-edit ms-vscode-remote 0.87.0
C/C++ DevTools ms-vscode.cpp-devtools ms-vscode 0.5.13
Live Preview ms-vscode.live-server ms-vscode 0.4.19
Makefile Tools ms-vscode.makefile-tools ms-vscode 0.12.17
Remote Explorer ms-vscode.remote-explorer ms-vscode 0.5.0
A/B Experiments 
vsliv368cf:30146710
binariesv615:30325510
nativeloc1:31344060
dwcopilot:31170013
dwoutputs:31242946
copilot_t_ci:31333650
e5gg6876:31282496
pythonrdcb7:31342333
6518g693:31463988
aj953862:31281341
6abeh943:31336334
envsactivate1:31505457
editstats-enabled:31346257
cloudbuttont:31379625
3efgi100_wstrepl:31403338
ec5jj548:31422691
cp_cls_t_966_ss:31526232
inlinechat_v2_hd992725:31505030
4je02754:31466945
8hhj4413:31478653
38bie571_auto:31426784
cp_cls_c_1081:31454833
conptydll_true:31498968
ia-use-proxy-models-svc:31452481
e9c30283:31461165
test_treatment2:31471001
46204921:31447328
idci7584:31464702
e3e4d672:31494082
ei9d7968:31496641
chat:31457767
8hig5102:31480529
89g7j272:31518289
7e187181:31503455
i2gc6536:31499202
52612955:31516516
ghj88844:31499326
ddid_c:31478207
hmra_i5g22:31518061
getcmakediagnosticson:31489824
7df3h592:31512476
cp_cls_t_1082:31516087
logging_enabled_new:31498466
db5d2638:31499441
nes-extended-cfe-himalia-004:31500446
jb_cp_cls_c_632:31524806
56dj4588:31512888
32d76977:31512328
ha629193:31508444
cdk-lw-on:31524445
nes-charagree-1:31521370
31fi7170_t:31522396
jh5f2457_c:31515489
61138546:31518536
jf4hg949:31526829
Dominant language
TypeScript
Stars
193k
Forks
42.9k
PR metrics pending

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

More from microsoft/vscode

All issues in microsoft/vscode

Similar issues

More TypeScript issues

Get new issues in your inbox

A short digest of beginner-friendly GitHub issues.