Access Your Machine via VS Code Server

Code-Server gives you a full VS Code experience in your browser — no local installation required. This guide walks you through first-time setup, including trusting the workspace and opening a terminal.

What You'll Need

An XO account with an active workspace
A workspace machine in the running state (see Manage Your Machine)

Launch Code-Server

Open the Configure Panel

From your project dashboard, click Configure.

Click Configure

Select Code-Server

Click code-server from the list of available IDEs. A new browser tab opens with the editor.

Click code-server

First-Time Setup

On first launch, VS Code shows a welcome screen. This is normal.

VS Code welcome screen

Trust the Workspace

A dialog asks if you trust the files in this folder. Check Trust the authors of all files in the parent folder 'home'.

Check trust checkbox

Confirm Trust

Click Yes, I trust the authors to proceed.

Click Yes, I trust the authors

Dismiss the Welcome Tab

Click Mark Done to close the welcome walkthrough. You're now in the editor.

Click Mark Done

Open a Terminal

You need a terminal to run workspace commands like openclaw config, openclaw start, and others.

Keyboard Shortcut (Fastest)

Press Ctrl + ` (backtick) to toggle the integrated terminal panel.

Terminal opened via keyboard shortcut

Alternatively, use the menu:

Click the hamburger menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top-left corner.

Click Application Menu

Select New Terminal

Navigate to Terminal and click New Terminal.

Click New Terminal

Start Typing Commands

The terminal panel appears at the bottom. Click inside it and start running commands.

Terminal ready for input

The terminal opens in your workspace's home directory by default. All your project files and configs live here.