Why remove or hide the Incoming Outgoing Changes Graph?
When working in Visual Studio Code, I noticed a small yet persistent distraction: the Incoming/Outgoing changes graph. This feature was introduced here but I found it more distracting than useful in my workflow. So, I decided to remove it, and in this post, I’ll walk you through how you can do the same if you’re in a similar situation.
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How to Disable the Incoming/Outgoing Changes Graph
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to remove this graph in VSCode:
Open the settings editor. You can do this in several ways:
Windows:
- Navigate to
File > Preferences > Settings
- Use the Command Palette by pressing
Ctrl + Shift + P
, then type “Preferences: Open Settings” - Use the keyboard shortcut
Ctrl + ,
(comma)
Mac:
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Code > Settings > Settings
- Use the Command Palette by pressing
Cmd + Shift + P
, then type “Preferences: Open Settings” - Use the keyboard shortcut
Cmd + ,
(comma)
User Settings
- Search for the setting. Type “showhistorygraph” in the search bar at the top.
- Uncheck the option. You’ll see the “SCM: Show History Graph” setting. Simply uncheck it to disable the graph.

User Settings (JSON)
Alternatively, you can manually update your user settings:
{
...,
"scm.showHistoryGraph": false
...,
}
Conclusion
Visual Studio Code is an excellent editor largely because of how customizable it is. While the Incoming/Outgoing changes graph might be useful for some, it didn’t fit my workflow. If you’re like me and prefer a more focused coding environment, following the steps above can help you declutter your workspace. Sometimes, less really is more when it comes to productivity.
I hope this guide helps you tailor VSCode to better suit your needs!