Guide for downloading VS Code extensions directly from the Visual Studio Marketplace without using the extension manager

download-vscode-extensions-directly.md

How to Download VS Code Extensions Directly from marketplace.visualstudio.com

Sometimes you need to download VS Code extension files (.vsix) directly without using VS Code's built-in extension manager. This is useful for:

• Installing extensions in VS Code forks like VSCodium
• Offline installations
• Installing specific versions
• Corporate environments with restricted internet access

Method: Direct Download from VS Gallery Assets

Step 1: Find the Extension Details

Go to the extension's marketplace page:

https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName={publisher}.{extension-name}

Example: https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=Google.gemini-cli-vscode-ide-companion

Step 2: Extract Publisher and Extension Name

From the URL, identify:

• Publisher: The part before the dot (e.g., Google)
• Extension Name: The part after the dot (e.g., gemini-cli-vscode-ide-companion)

Step 3: Construct the Download URL

Use this URL pattern:

https://{publisher}.gallery.vsassets.io/_apis/public/gallery/publisher/{publisher}/extension/{extension_name}/{version}/assetbyname/Microsoft.VisualStudio.Services.VSIXPackage

For the latest version, use latest as the version:

https://{publisher}.gallery.vsassets.io/_apis/public/gallery/publisher/{publisher}/extension/{extension_name}/latest/assetbyname/Microsoft.VisualStudio.Services.VSIXPackage

Real Examples

Gemini CLI Extension

• Marketplace URL: https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=Google.gemini-cli-vscode-ide-companion
• Publisher: Google
• Extension Name: gemini-cli-vscode-ide-companion
• Download URL: https://Google.gallery.vsassets.io/_apis/public/gallery/publisher/Google/extension/gemini-cli-vscode-ide-companion/latest/assetbyname/Microsoft.VisualStudio.Services.VSIXPackage

Python Extension

• Marketplace URL: https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ms-python.python
• Publisher: ms-python
• Extension Name: python
• Download URL: https://ms-python.gallery.vsassets.io/_apis/public/gallery/publisher/ms-python/extension/python/latest/assetbyname/Microsoft.VisualStudio.Services.VSIXPackage

Installation

Once downloaded, you can install the .vsix file:

In VS Code:

1. Open Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P or Cmd+Shift+P)
2. Type "Extensions: Install from VSIX..."
3. Select your downloaded .vsix file

In VSCodium:

Same process as VS Code - the .vsix files are compatible.

Command Line:

code --install-extension path/to/extension.vsix

Notes

• The download URL will serve the actual .vsix file
• Some extensions may have dependencies that need to be installed separately
• Always download from the official marketplace to ensure security
• The latest keyword automatically gets the most recent version
• For specific versions, replace latest with the version number (e.g., 1.2.3)

Troubleshooting

• If the URL doesn't work, double-check the publisher and extension name formatting
• Some extensions might have different URL structures - this method works for most standard extensions
• Corporate firewalls might block these direct downloads