> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://anaconda.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connecting to a cloud workstation

This page helps you connect to your personal cloud workstation. If you do not have a workstation yet, see [Setting up a cloud workstation](https://anaconda.com/docs/platform/guides/develop/setting-up-a-cloud-workstation.md), or ask your platform administrator for help.

## Connecting with VS Code

Workstations integrate with Visual Studio Code through an extension. If you do not have VS Code installed, [download it](https://code.visualstudio.com/).

On the  **Workstations** page, select your workstation, open the **Actions** menu, and select *VS Code Desktop*:

![The Workstations page with the Actions menu open, highlighting the VS Code Desktop option](https://mintcdn.com/anaconda-29683c67/VD0yQ0tXYWIdTsBU/images/platform/plat_workstation_actions_vscode.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=VD0yQ0tXYWIdTsBU\&q=85\&s=2dd66591ab3dbda17e8e9bc04b63a234)

The **Connect to your cloud workstation** view opens and walks you through these steps:

1. In VS Code, open the Extensions view, search for the Outerbounds extension, and install it. You can also find it in the [VS Code Marketplace](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=Outerbounds.vscode-outerbounds).

   ![The VS Code Extensions view showing the Outerbounds extension in the search results](https://mintcdn.com/anaconda-29683c67/jM8QK8HrkedUOutX/images/platform/plat_workstation_vscode_extension.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=jM8QK8HrkedUOutX\&q=85\&s=455e158d33a1abfbed964685e0ea9473)

2. Copy your personal authentication token from the platform, and paste it into the extension's authentication prompt.

   ![The Outerbounds extension authentication prompt in VS Code](https://mintcdn.com/anaconda-29683c67/VD0yQ0tXYWIdTsBU/images/platform/plat_workstation_vscode_authenticate.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=VD0yQ0tXYWIdTsBU\&q=85\&s=ebbd6edbd5b0b278286379d04d9b2016)

3. Open the extension from the activity bar. Your available workstations appear in the list; refresh the list if they do not show up right away.

4. Choose a workstation and click **Connect**.

   ![The Outerbounds extension workstation list with the Connect button for a workstation](https://mintcdn.com/anaconda-29683c67/VD0yQ0tXYWIdTsBU/images/platform/plat_workstation_vscode_connect.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=VD0yQ0tXYWIdTsBU\&q=85\&s=ab2e329740f077bf3e9e179020ab063b)

5. A new window opens and connects to your workstation. The first connection can take a minute while the workstation starts.

After the first connection, open the extension in VS Code and click **Connect** to reconnect.

> [!NOTE]
>
> The workstation window is connected to your cloud instance, independent of your laptop. Check the lower-left corner of the VS Code window, which displays a message like `workstation in ws-834abbc`, to confirm the connection.

## Using a workstation in the browser

On the  **Workstations** page, select your running workstation, open the **Actions** menu, and select *Web UI*. The web UI is the same VS Code interface, running in your browser, connected to the same workstation backend, so you can work without installing anything.

![A cloud workstation open in the browser-based web UI](https://mintcdn.com/anaconda-29683c67/VD0yQ0tXYWIdTsBU/images/platform/plat_workstation_web_ui.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=VD0yQ0tXYWIdTsBU\&q=85\&s=6885d5e7e75fc8a7b47aecd43b125cfa)