failed to start vs code remote

[Paaaamao]

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exception was thrown by handler.exception: failed to start vs code remote server

[PraveenMudalgeri]

Hey there! 👋

I see you're encountering the "failed to start VS Code remote server" error with a handler exception. This is a fairly common issue with VS Code's Remote-SSH extension, and there are several troubleshooting steps that typically resolve it.

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Most Common Solutions

1. Kill and Reset the VS Code Server (Most Effective)

Using VS Code Command Palette:

1. Open VS Code
2. Press Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+P (Mac)
3. Type and select: Remote-SSH: Kill VS Code Server on Host...
4. Select your target host from the list
5. Try connecting again

Manual cleanup (if the above doesn't work):

# SSH into your remote server manually
ssh your-host

# Remove all VS Code server files
rm -rf ~/.vscode-server

This forces a fresh installation.

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2. Check for Conflicting Processes

Sometimes old VS Code server processes remain running:

# SSH into your remote server and run:
ps aux | grep -ie ".vscode-server" | awk '{print $2}' | xargs kill

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3. Clear Local VS Code Cache

Corrupted local cache can cause handler exceptions:

1. Close VS Code completely
2. Navigate to:
   • Windows: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Code\User\workspaceStorage
   • Mac/Linux: ~/.config/Code/User/workspaceStorage
3. Delete the contents (especially state.vscdb)
4. Restart VS Code and try connecting

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4. Essential Prerequisites Check

Ensure your remote server has:

• tar installed (needed to extract server files)
• Sufficient disk space in your home directory
• Enough memory (VS Code server can be resource-intensive)

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5. Update Remote-SSH Extension Settings

Add this to your settings.json:

{
    "remote.SSH.useLocalServer": false,
    "remote.SSH.showLoginTerminal": true
}

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6. Check SSH Configuration

• Test SSH connection in a terminal:

ssh your-host

• If using ~/.ssh/config, ensure it’s formatted correctly.
• Run a remote command:

echo "test" | ssh your-host bash

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Platform-Specific Notes

• CS50 Codespaces: Visit https://cs50.dev/restart to reset the environment.
• Raspberry Pi: Add arm_64bit=0 to /boot/config.txt and restart.

---

If Nothing Works

• Check server resources (low memory/disk space can prevent startup)
• Try a different VS Code version (recent updates can cause compatibility issues)
• Disable other extensions temporarily
• Review logs in:

~/.vscode-server/.<hash>.log
~/.vscode-server-insiders/.<hash>.log

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💡 The handler exception usually means VS Code is trying to set up a handler that’s already running. That’s why killing the existing server and starting fresh often works.

Most users fix this by resetting the VS Code server — so try that first! 🚀

Good luck with your remote development setup!

[Prasad-hg]

Hi Paaaamao,

This error usually means the VS Code remote server failed to initialize properly. Here are a few steps to troubleshoot:

Check your internet connection — intermittent or slow connectivity can cause startup failures.

Restart the Codespace or remote environment — sometimes a simple restart fixes transient issues.

Verify the remote server logs — check for more detailed error messages by opening the Codespace terminal and looking at the VS Code server logs (usually under ~/.vscode-server).

Ensure your VS Code and extensions are up to date — mismatched versions sometimes cause compatibility issues.

If you’re behind a proxy or firewall, make sure it’s not blocking necessary connections.

If none of this works, sharing the detailed logs here can help pinpoint the issue.

Hope this helps!

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[bruuhim]

Great answers above from @PraveenMudalgeri and @Prasad-hg! 👏

Just to give a quick summary of the most effective solutions:

Quick Fix (Works 90% of the time):

1. Press Ctrl+Shift+P (or Cmd+Shift+P on Mac)
2. Type: Remote-SSH: Kill VS Code Server on Host...
3. Select your host
4. Try reconnecting

If that doesn't work, manually remove the server:

ssh your-host
rm -rf ~/.vscode-server

Then reconnect - VS Code will reinstall the server fresh.

The Root Cause: This "handler exception" error usually means a VS Code server process got stuck or crashed, and now it's blocking new connections. Killing/removing it allows a clean restart.

If you're still having issues after trying these steps, please share:

• Your remote OS (Linux/Mac/Windows)
• Any error messages from ~/.vscode-server/*.log
• Whether you can SSH normally (ssh your-host works?)

Hope this gets you back to remote coding! 🚀

[github-actions[bot]]

🕒 Discussion Activity Reminder 🕒

This Discussion has been labeled as dormant by an automated system for having no activity in the last 60 days. Please consider one the following actions:

1️⃣ Close as Out of Date: If the topic is no longer relevant, close the Discussion as out of date at the bottom of the page.

2️⃣ Provide More Information: Share additional details or context — or let the community know if you've found a solution on your own.

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Thank you for helping bring this Discussion to a resolution! 💬