Windsurf Settings and Customization Tips

Windsurf settings customization is more familiar than most developers expect, and more capable than most discover in the first week. Because Windsurf is built on a VS Code fork, the settings system, extension model, and theme engine all behave the way VS Code users already know. The layer that is genuinely new is Cascade AI configuration, and that is where most of the workflow-shaping decisions actually live.

This guide covers both sides: the editor configuration layer that VS Code users will recognize immediately, and the AI behavior settings that are specific to Windsurf. Getting both right takes less than an hour and pays back across every session.

Key Takeaways

• The settings system is VS Code-compatible: JSON-based user and workspace settings, the same command palette shortcuts, and the same settings UI mean developers migrating from VS Code do not need to relearn configuration.
• User settings apply globally; workspace settings apply per project: Understanding which scope to use prevents the common mistake of making project-specific changes that bleed across all codebases.
• Extensions install from the Open VSX Registry, not the VS Code Marketplace: Most popular extensions are available, but some Microsoft-exclusive extensions are not, so it is worth checking before assuming a VS Code extension will carry over.
• Cascade AI behavior is configured separately from the core editor: AI model selection, autocomplete aggressiveness, and rules files are distinct from standard editor settings and live in their own configuration layer.
• Themes and keybindings import from VS Code automatically: The first-launch import prompt copies themes, keybindings, and snippets, so manual reconfiguration is rarely needed after migration.
• Settings sync across machines is plan-dependent: Team-wide settings consistency requires either manual export and import or a plan that supports sync, so knowing which applies to your setup matters before onboarding a team.

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What Settings Can You Customize in Windsurf?

Windsurf exposes three configuration scopes: user settings that apply to every project on the machine, workspace settings that apply only to the current folder, and extension-level settings scoped to a specific extension. Each scope has a distinct use case and a distinct file location.

The configuration surface is wide but well-organized. Knowing which scope to reach for first prevents settings from leaking across projects or requiring repeated corrections.

• User settings are the global default: Changes here apply everywhere on the machine. Use them for preferences that should be consistent across all projects, like font size and terminal shell.
• Workspace settings override user settings per project: Stored in a .vscode/settings.json file in the project root, workspace settings are project-specific and can be committed to version control for team consistency.
• The settings UI is searchable: Open it via File > Preferences > Settings or the command palette. The UI provides a visual interface over the underlying settings.json file.
• Direct JSON editing is faster for bulk changes: Opening settings.json directly allows copying settings between machines or applying a team-wide configuration without navigating the UI field by field.
• Core editor settings worth configuring early: Font size, tab size vs. spaces, word wrap, minimap visibility, auto-save behavior, and terminal shell are all inherited from the VS Code settings model and use the same setting keys.

Because of Windsurf's underlying architecture, any VS Code settings reference is a reliable guide to Windsurf's configuration options. The two systems share the same JSON structure and setting keys.

How Do You Install and Manage Extensions in Windsurf?

Windsurf uses the Open VSX Registry rather than the proprietary VS Code Marketplace. Most popular extensions are available, but Microsoft-owned extensions and some Marketplace-exclusive tools may not be. Checking Open VSX before migrating from VS Code prevents surprises.

The extension installation process is identical to VS Code for any extension that exists on Open VSX. The registry difference is the only meaningful change for most developers.

• Search and install from the Extensions panel: Open the Extensions panel from the activity bar, search by name, and click Install. The workflow matches VS Code exactly for extensions available on Open VSX.
• Microsoft-exclusive extensions may not be available: Some Azure tools, certain GitHub integrations, and other Marketplace-only extensions are absent from Open VSX. Search the registry directly to confirm availability before switching.
• Disable extensions per workspace, not just globally: The Extensions panel allows disabling an extension for the current workspace only, keeping it active in other projects where it is useful.
• Extension recommendations can be committed to a project: Adding a .vscode/extensions.json file to the project folder prompts every team member who opens that folder to install the same extension set, ensuring consistency without manual coordination.
• Update and uninstall from the panel: Installed extensions show an update indicator when new versions are available. Uninstalling is a single click from the same panel.

The guide to projects that benefit from Windsurf covers the project types where a well-configured extension stack alongside Cascade makes the biggest difference to development speed.

How Do You Configure Cascade AI Behavior and Preferences?

Configuring Cascade behavior starts with understanding what Windsurf's AI features include. Each setting maps to a specific part of the AI system, and knowing which feature a setting controls makes the options easier to reason about.

The AI configuration layer is separate from the standard settings UI. Most Cascade behavior is shaped through the Cascade panel settings and the rules file system, not through settings.json.

• AI model selection is in the Cascade panel: Choose which model powers Cascade responses from the Cascade panel settings. Different models carry different credit costs and reasoning strengths.
• Autocomplete aggressiveness is adjustable: Settings control how frequently inline suggestions appear, how long Windsurf waits before showing them, and whether suggestions trigger automatically or only on a keyboard shortcut.
• The .windsurfrules file is the highest-leverage AI configuration step: A plain text file at the project root, it gives Cascade standing instructions for naming conventions, preferred libraries, files to avoid, and output format preferences.
• Global rules vs. project-level rules have distinct scopes: Windsurf supports a global rules file that applies to all projects and a per-project .windsurfrules that applies only to that folder. The project-level file takes precedence and overrides global instructions for that codebase.
• Cascade can be restricted per file type: Teams that want AI suggestions off for configuration files or files containing secrets can set this in the rules layer, preventing Cascade from touching those files during a run.

Getting the rules file right is a one-time investment. Three well-chosen standing instructions in .windsurfrules will shape Cascade's output across every session in that project without repeated manual correction.

How Do You Set Up Themes and UI Customization in Windsurf?

Windsurf's visual layer is fully customizable through the same mechanisms as VS Code. Color themes, file icon themes, fonts, and layout all follow VS Code conventions and are controlled through the settings system and the Extensions panel.

Theme setup is usually the fastest part of migrating from VS Code. If you imported your VS Code settings on first launch, your theme may already be active.

• Color themes install from the Extensions panel: Search Open VSX for any theme extension, install it, and switch to it via the command palette using "Color Theme." The picker previews options before applying.
• File icon themes are a separate setting: Controlling the icons in the Explorer panel is independent from the color theme. Popular options like Material Icon Theme are available on Open VSX.
• Font customization is done in settings: Set the editor font family, size, line height, and font ligatures via settings.json. Ligature-capable fonts like Fira Code and JetBrains Mono require only a settings change to activate.
• Layout adjustments are available via the View menu: Move the activity bar, adjust panel positions, hide the minimap, and toggle the sidebar. Right-clicking on interface elements surfaces the same options.
• Keybindings import from VS Code on first launch: The import prompt copies keybindings.json automatically. Adjustments afterward are made via the Keyboard Shortcuts UI or by editing keybindings.json directly.
• Custom CSS and JS injection is supported: Windsurf inherits VS Code's support for style injection via extensions like Custom CSS and JS Loader, giving developers fine-grained visual control beyond the built-in theme engine.

How Do You Sync Settings Across Machines or Teams in Windsurf?

Windsurf does not use VS Code's Microsoft or GitHub account-based Settings Sync. The two products manage sync independently, and VS Code sync does not extend to Windsurf. Teams need either a manual approach or a plan that includes sync support.

Being direct about this gap saves time. The manual alternatives are reliable and worth understanding before deciding on a sync strategy.

• Manual export and import is the most portable approach: Copy settings.json, keybindings.json, and the extensions list from one machine to another. On macOS the config directory is in ~/Library/Application Support/Windsurf/User/. On Linux it is in ~/.config/Windsurf/User/.
• A dotfiles repository is the most maintainable pattern: Store Windsurf configuration files in a Git repository and symlink them on each machine. This is the same approach used for shell configs and works reliably across multiple machines.
• Workspace settings sync automatically through version control: Committing .vscode/settings.json to the project repository applies workspace-level settings for every team member who opens that folder, with no per-machine setup required.
• Extension recommendations in .vscode/extensions.json fill the extension gap: Workspace extension recommendations prompt collaborators to install the same extensions, covering the part of the stack that settings files cannot sync directly.

Before deciding on a sync strategy for a team, reviewing Windsurf plans that include sync clarifies which options are automated and which require a manual setup process.

Conclusion

Windsurf's settings layer is deliberately familiar for VS Code users. The JSON structure, scoping model, and extension system all behave the same way. The configuration that actually shapes the experience is the AI layer: model selection, autocomplete behavior, and the rules files that give Cascade consistent instructions per project.

Getting that layer right is a one-time investment that pays back across every session. Open your settings.json, confirm your user-level preferences are set, and create a .windsurfrules file in your primary project with at least three standing instructions for Cascade. Those two steps configure both sides of Windsurf and take less than fifteen minutes.

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Want Windsurf Configured Correctly for a Professional Development Team?

At LowCode Agency, we are a strategic product team, not a dev shop. We design, build, and scale AI-powered products with a focus on architecture, performance, and shipping on time.

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• Code quality and review: Every deliverable goes through structured review before shipping, catching issues before they reach production.
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Start a conversation with LowCode Agency to scope your project.