Git Commits view not showing in VSCode Source Control panel

Question

For newer version:

Outdated:

UPDATES:

1. The initial issue was due to me not having the Gitlens extension active in that workspace
2. As of Nov 2024, Gitlens have updated the extension grouping the sections. See the response by Matty for guidance on how to fix this

Problem:

When I open the Source Control panel in VScode, normally I am able to see any diffs and at the bottom of the panel I can open/close various tabs such as Commits, Branches, Remotes etc. These tabs have all disappeared for a specific repo.

Here is how it should look:

• The tabs are available at the bottom of the panel
• I am able to select/unselect which tabs to show from the three dot menu
  

However, they are not showing on this specific repo. Here's how it looks on the repo in question:

1. I can't see the tabs at the bottom of the panel
2. I am unable to show/hide them from the three dot menu

Notes:

• I have checked VScode settings and both the user and workspace settings are exactly the same
• A git repo exists in this directory (the tabs used to show fine)
• I do not want to do this from the command line

Answer 1

after an update here is the new way to find these settings

1. in settings I typed @ext:eamodio.gitlens source
2. then I un-checked the Group the <VIEW_TYPE> view

image of settings page

OR simply...

quickest way to fix

Answer 2

For me the issue was I hadn't setup the extension properly, go to the extension's page -> Settings -> Get Started -> Open Quick Setup -> Views -> Source Control Layout

Step By Step Image

Answer 3

When the GitLens extension is disabled, it shows only "Changes". You can go to, Extentions > Settings wheel of GitLens > Enable.

It will enable (COMMITS, FILE HISTORY, BRANCHES, REMOTE, STASHES) in Source Control.

Answer 4

It was down to not having Gitlens enabled in the workspace 😬

Answer 5

for me, it happened because the extension 'Git lens' wasn't installed in WSL but installed in windows so that it couldn't see the .git folder.

installing GitLens in WSL resolved the problem

Answer 6

Not sure, but 1) check your remote repositories to ensure they look normal. 2) Have any extensions changed recently (GitLens, Git History, etc.), or 3) Maybe the .git directory got moved/hosed somehow???

Answer 7

For WSL users, you have to install the extensions INSIDE WSL, just go to the extensions tab and click "Install in WSL" for your extensions

Answer 8

I had the same issue, with the Source Control view that displayed the changed files but without the Repositories, Commits, Branches, etc. tabs.

The problem is that I shared the git folder under Samba directly, while I had to share the parent one to be able to show those tabs.

For example, if you git directory is /home/myuser/myfolder and you share myfolder with Samba and open it with VS Code on another PC, the Commits tab won't show. You'll have to share myuser instead and then in VS Code open the myuser/myfolder directory.

Answer 9

I had found the branch name was "too long" as it was auto generated by a template from a Gitlab issue. Have a look in the VS Code git using the command Git: Show Git Output and check it for too long. In case it's this issue: use shorter branch name(s).