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Zed Installation Guide

Install the open-source Zed editor with its install script, pin a specific version, migrate your VS Code settings and use the built-in agent panel and inline assistant.

Zed is a high-performance, open-source code editor with AI built in. It is written in Rust, starts instantly and ships an agent that understands the whole project.

System Requirements

  • macOS 12 (Monterey) or newer — Intel or Apple silicon
  • Linux — 64-bit x86_64 or aarch64, with a Vulkan 1.3 driver and the desktop portals above (Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Arch, RHEL and more are supported)
  • Windows 11 (22H2+) or Windows 10 (1903+), 64-bit
  • A GPU with DirectX 11 support on Windows

Installation Instructions

Linux (install script)

# Install the latest stable release
curl -f https://zed.dev/install.sh | sh
 
# Install a specific version
curl -f https://zed.dev/install.sh | ZED_VERSION=0.216.0 sh
 
# Install the preview build
curl -f https://zed.dev/install.sh | ZED_CHANNEL=preview sh
 
# Verify
zed --version

The script supports x86_64 and AArch64 and handles Ubuntu, Arch, Debian, RHEL, CentOS and Fedora. Uninstall with:

zed --uninstall

First Run

Zed opens a welcome page with quick actions. Open a project folder to get started:

zed ~/projects/my-app
ActionmacOSLinux / Windows
Command paletteCmd+Shift+PCtrl+Shift+P
Go to fileCmd+PCtrl+P
Go to symbolCmd+Shift+OCtrl+Shift+O
Find in projectCmd+Shift+FCtrl+Shift+F
Toggle terminal`Ctrl+```Ctrl+``
Agent panelCmd+Shift+ACtrl+Shift+A

Using the AI Features

Zed ships with an agent and an inline assistant. Configure a provider first:

  1. Open the settings editor with Cmd+, (macOS) or Ctrl+, (Linux / Windows)
  2. Search for agent and add your provider API key
  3. Open the Agent Panel with Cmd+Shift+A (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+A
Explain how the authentication flow works in this repository and which files I should
read first.

Migrating from VS Code

Zed has a dedicated import guide, and it can import your settings, extensions and keybindings:

  • Settings: Cmd+Shift+P → zed: import vscode settings
  • Keybindings: enable VS Code keymap in the keymap settings
  • Extensions: the VS Code extension compatibility layer is on by default

You can also read the full VS Code migration guide.

Vim and Helix Modes

# In settings.json
{
  "vim_mode": true,
  "helix_mode": false
}

Troubleshooting

Best Practices

  1. Import your VS Code settings — it takes two minutes and saves hours.
  2. Use the Agent Panel for repository-wide questions and inline assist for small edits.
  3. Add project instructions to the settings so the agent knows your conventions.
  4. Keep the project context file in Git — it is what makes the agent consistent across the team.
  5. Review diffs before accepting an agent change.
  6. Pin the version in CI images; Zed moves fast and the config format changes.
  7. Use the portable binary when you need the same build on several machines.

Next Steps

Cursor

Install the Cursor AI editor on Linux, macOS and Windows from the official apt and yum repositories, import your VS Code setup and start using Agent and Plan Mode.

Windsurf / Devin Desktop

Install Windsurf, now shipped as Devin Desktop, from the official Codeium apt and yum repositories, import your Cursor or VS Code settings and start an agent session.