[DOCS] VS Code docs should clarify `/usage` opens the Account & Usage dialog

Open 💬 3 comments Opened Apr 25, 2026 by coygeek

Documentation Type

Incorrect/outdated documentation

Documentation Location

https://code.claude.com/docs/en/vs-code

Section/Topic

Use the prompt box command menu description for /usage, plus the general /usage command and cost tracking descriptions when read from the VS Code context.

Current Documentation

The VS Code page currently says:

Command menu: click / or type / to open the command menu. Options include attaching files, switching models, toggling extended thinking, viewing plan usage (/usage), and starting a Remote Control session (/remote-control). The Customize section provides access to MCP servers, hooks, memory, permissions, and plugins. Items with a terminal icon open in the integrated terminal.

The commands reference says:

/usage | Show session cost, plan usage limits, and activity stats. See the cost tracking guide for subscription-specific details. /cost and /stats are aliases

The cost tracking page describes the command as producing session token/cost details:

The /usage command provides detailed token usage statistics for your current session. The dollar figure is an estimate computed locally from token counts and may differ from your actual bill. For authoritative billing, see the Usage page in the Claude Console.

It then shows a plain-text session cost block:

Total cost: $0.55 Total duration (API): 6m 19.7s Total duration (wall): 6h 33m 10.2s Total code changes: 0 lines added, 0 lines removed

What's Wrong or Missing?

Changelog v2.1.120 includes this VS Code-specific behavior change:

[VSCode] /usage now opens the native Account & Usage dialog instead of returning plain-text session cost

The current docs do not explain the VS Code-specific behavior. The VS Code page only says /usage is for "viewing plan usage," and the linked command/cost docs still describe /usage in terms of session cost and plain-text token statistics.

That leaves VS Code users with an outdated expectation: typing /usage in the extension no longer returns a plain-text session cost result. It opens the native Account & Usage dialog instead.

Suggested Improvement

Update the VS Code page's command menu bullet to describe the current behavior explicitly, for example:

In VS Code, /usage opens the native Account & Usage dialog, where you can view plan usage, activity stats, and session/account usage details.

Also update the general /usage command and cost tracking docs to distinguish the CLI/plain-text behavior from the VS Code native dialog behavior. A short note near the /usage cost-tracking section would prevent users from expecting the same text output in both interfaces.

Impact

Medium - Makes feature difficult to understand

Additional Context

Affected Pages:

| Page | Line(s) | Context |
|------|---------|---------|
| https://code.claude.com/docs/en/vs-code | 91-99 | VS Code prompt box command menu says /usage is for viewing plan usage, but does not mention the native Account & Usage dialog |
| https://code.claude.com/docs/en/commands | 100 | /usage is described generically as showing session cost, plan usage limits, and activity stats, with no VS Code-specific dialog behavior |
| https://code.claude.com/docs/en/costs | 17-30 | Cost tracking docs describe /usage as returning detailed token statistics and show a plain-text session cost block |

Total scope: 3 pages affected

Source: Changelog v2.1.120

Exact changelog entry: [VSCode] \/usage\ now opens the native Account & Usage dialog instead of returning plain-text session cost

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