VS Code Adds Image Support, Multi-Chat Agents, and System-Wide Shortcuts

Microsoft has released Visual Studio Code 1.128 to the stable channel. The update focuses on richer Copilot chat workflows, image and PDF support in Chat, and new OS-level keyboard shortcuts.

The release follows the previous VS Code update, which introduced multi-chat Copilot sessions. Version 1.128 expands that idea with more flexible agent sessions for developers who want to test different approaches at the same time.

VS Code 1.128 improves multi-chat agent sessions

VS Code now supports several related chats in one Claude session. This allows developers to compare ideas, explore different solutions, and keep parallel workstreams active without losing context.

Microsoft is also making the Agents window more useful outside a normal project setup. Users can now ask questions in the Agents window without opening a workspace first.

Image and PDF support reaches Chat

Image support in Chat is now generally available in VS Code 1.128. Users can attach images and PDFs by pasting, dragging, or dropping them directly into Chat.

This gives Copilot more context when users need help with visual content. For example, developers can ask Copilot to describe user interface designs, review screenshots, or understand visual bugs.

PDF support also expands the usefulness of Copilot Vision. Users can attach a PDF and ask Copilot to extract or explain information from the file.

VS Code adds system-wide keyboard shortcuts

VS Code 1.128 also introduces operating system-level keyboard shortcuts. These shortcuts can work even when VS Code is not the active window.

To use them, users need to add the systemWide property to a keybinding definition inside the keybindings configuration file.

This should help users trigger specific VS Code actions from anywhere on the system, instead of switching back to the editor first.

Integrated browser tabs get more control

Microsoft has also added more control over integrated browser tabs. VS Code now lets users configure where new integrated browser tabs open.

Users can adjust this behavior through the browser tab placement setting in the workbench configuration.

This small change should make the built-in browsing experience more predictable for users who rely on browser previews during development.

VS Code 1.128 is rolling out through the editor’s built-in updater. Users should see the usual update notification inside Visual Studio Code.

Anyone who does not already have VS Code installed can download the latest stable version from Microsoft’s official VS Code website.

In other Microsoft and artificial intelligence-related news, Anthropic has extended its Claude Fable 5 promotion for a few more days.