diff --git a/.vscode/extensions.json b/.vscode/extensions.json
index 095512a0b..1f22a4e78 100644
--- a/.vscode/extensions.json
+++ b/.vscode/extensions.json
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 		"DavidAnson.vscode-markdownlint",
 		"dbaeumer.vscode-eslint",
 		"esbenp.prettier-vscode",
-		"streetsidesoftware.code-spell-checker"
+		"streetsidesoftware.code-spell-checker",
+		"vitest.explorer"
 	]
 }
diff --git a/src/steps/writing/creation/dotVSCode.test.ts b/src/steps/writing/creation/dotVSCode.test.ts
index 004b0f923..767fa2fac 100644
--- a/src/steps/writing/creation/dotVSCode.test.ts
+++ b/src/steps/writing/creation/dotVSCode.test.ts
@@ -103,7 +103,8 @@ describe("createDotVSCode", () => {
 						"DavidAnson.vscode-markdownlint",
 						"dbaeumer.vscode-eslint",
 						"esbenp.prettier-vscode",
-						"streetsidesoftware.code-spell-checker"
+						"streetsidesoftware.code-spell-checker",
+						"vitest.explorer"
 					]
 				}
 				",
@@ -177,7 +178,8 @@ describe("createDotVSCode", () => {
 						"DavidAnson.vscode-markdownlint",
 						"dbaeumer.vscode-eslint",
 						"esbenp.prettier-vscode",
-						"streetsidesoftware.code-spell-checker"
+						"streetsidesoftware.code-spell-checker",
+						"vitest.explorer"
 					]
 				}
 				",
diff --git a/src/steps/writing/creation/dotVSCode.ts b/src/steps/writing/creation/dotVSCode.ts
index 265243491..39a74fee1 100644
--- a/src/steps/writing/creation/dotVSCode.ts
+++ b/src/steps/writing/creation/dotVSCode.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ export async function createDotVSCode(options: Options) {
 				"dbaeumer.vscode-eslint",
 				"esbenp.prettier-vscode",
 				!options.excludeLintSpelling && "streetsidesoftware.code-spell-checker",
+				!options.excludeTests && "vitest.explorer",
 			].filter(Boolean),
 		}),
 		...(options.excludeTests && !options.bin