The Zed code editor, once exclusive to the macOS operating system, has come a long way, adding support for Linux last year and now being officially released on Windows. It was possible to install and use Zed on Windows before, but it required building from source while the editor was under development toward a stable release.
For those unfamiliar, Zed is a performance-oriented code editor built with the Rust programming language. It aims to make every interaction feel fast by taking advantage of multiple CPU cores and GPU acceleration. Zed offers a wide range of features including precise code highlighting, intelligent autocompletion, agentic editing support, native Git integration, extensions, built-in debugging and collaborative editing capabilities.
Zed Industries, the company behind Zed, claims that Zed on Windows is more native than Microsoft's own editor. In a nod to Visual Studio Code, it was stated that Zed isn't an Electron app and instead integrates directly with the underlying platform, using DirectX 11 for rendering and DirectWrite for text rendering to match the Windows look and feel.
The Windows version also comes with integration with WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux), enabling users to open folders and edit projects from any installed WSL distribution. Most features in Zed are designed to work with remote editing (WSL or SSH) in mind, including loading and saving files, Git integration, terminals, tasks, language servers, and debuggers.
Regarding extensions, Zed Industries has stated that they are all compatible with the new Windows version with no special configuration steps or limitations. Additionally, all of Zed's AI features are fully supported on Windows, including edit predictions and ACP (Agent Client Protocol) powered agents, which are also supported through WSL and SSH remoting.
As with the macOS and Linux editions, the Windows version will receive weekly updates, supported by a dedicated Windows development team.
Zed is available for free under the Personal plan, which allows use of the editor without built-in AI capabilities or with external AI keys and agents. The Pro plan includes Zed-hosted models that provide unlimited edit predictions and monthly AI usage credits. An Enterprise plan is also available for larger teams with custom requirements.
For more information and to download the Windows version, visit the official Zed website.
