c++ - Visual Studio Code: Take Input From User

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Currently, I'm trying to write C/C++ program in Visual Studio code. For this I've installed two extensions: C/C++ & C++ Intellisense

As per the documentation, the debugging facility is not available for windows. I've been able to build and run the code with the following tasks:

"version": "0.1.0", "command": "cmd", "isShellCommand": true, "args": [ "tasks": [ "taskName": "Makefile", "suppressTaskName": true, // Make this the default build command. "isBuildCommand": true, // Show the output window only if unrecognized errors occur. "showOutput": "always", // No args "args": [ "C:/Programs/cygwin/bin/make.exe", "all" // Use the standard less compilation problem matcher. "problemMatcher": { "owner": "cpp", "fileLocation": [ "relative", "${workspaceRoot}" "pattern": { "regexp": "^(.*):(\\d+):(\\d+):\\s+(warning|error):\\s+(.*)$", "file": 1, "line": 2, "column": 3, "severity": 4, "message": 5 "taskName": "Run", "suppressTaskName": true, "isTestCommand": true, "args": [ "helloworld"

and one simple Makefile :

all: clean helloworld
helloworld: helloworld.cpp
    C:/Programs/cygwin/bin/g++ helloworld.cpp -o helloworld
clean:
    C:/Programs/cygwin/bin/rm -rf helloworld
But, the problem arises, when the programs needs some user input while running. Suppose for this very familiar helloworld program.
# include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main ()
  int name;
  cin >> name;
  cout << "Hello, " << name << "!!!" << endl;
  return 0;
Can you please help me to get the user input at run time. There is a work-around to pass the input as command line arguments. But, that is not possible for programs with complex flows.
                @vmg no I couldn't find the answer anywhere. Recently I have not checked. But at that, I came into a conclusion, that this has to be supported from the plugin level, that's what running the code.
– Arnab Das
                May 9, 2017 at 2:42
                Actually I was able to find the answer: github.com/thecoderok/cpp-vscode/blob/master/.vscode/… . Use "terminal": "integrated"
– vmg
                May 9, 2017 at 16:56
                Looks to be an open issue at the moment: github.com/microsoft/vscode-cpptools/issues/5497
– Alexandru
                Sep 24, 2020 at 21:32
Go to Code -> Preferences -> Settings and add custom settings:
   "code-runner.runInTerminal": true
Finally run your c++ code and you will be able to enter values in console
                this worked for me, thanks... I also was running it from the actual terminal by navigating to the file path, but this is much easier @kaxi1993
– pythlang
                Jun 22, 2018 at 16:09
                This didn't work for me. I tried to add the suggested line in settings.json. The terminal output goes to the Debug console still.
– paolov
                Jun 3, 2020 at 4:00
                @paolov just check that you have added this setting at the root level. Means on a level where code-runner.executorMapByFileExtension exists.
– kunj choksi
                Apr 14, 2021 at 3:24
                For whomsoever who cannot find it in latest versions. Go to help> all commands > type preferences> select preferences: language-specific settings > select c++ > paste the above code after 3rd line, it will work.
– pavan kumar v
                Mar 16, 2022 at 11:07
                for the record, the question being asked here does not state that they are using that extension, while it states it is using others.
– starball
                May 8 at 23:39
Go to settings (ctrl+,) -> Search settings -> : Code-runner : Run in terminal - Check this
and you will be able to  run the code directly in the terminal which takes input.
Make sure you have code runner installed on your VS code.
From top select: File > Preferences > Settings
Search for code runner in settings and check the box:
By default it remains unchecked. You have to enable it to run your preferred languages in terminal.
As an added convenience, you can also supply inputs from a comment into the integrated terminal.
Example:
# include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main ()
  int name;
  cin >> name;
  cout << "Hello, " << name << "!!!" << endl;
  return 0;
/*input
Extension Link --

Comment Input: https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=virresh.cinp
Note: This extension depends on code-runner, another extension that can run scripts for almost all languages (and you can specify custom build options as well)
Disclaimer: I'm the author of this extension
if you encounter the same problem as me that the integratedTerminal cannot read input from the user as below hanging(env. windows 10)
my solution was to replace cygwin's gdb and g ++ with mingw64's.
then the input/output are normal