Open the same directory twice

Question

You can do this with the following ways:

1- Manually open a new window (ctrlshiftn) and go to:

File > Add folder to Workspace. Then just select the folder.

2- Open the command panel (ctrlshiftp) enter dupl and hit enter that will duplicate the current workspace in a new window
*dupl is just a filter for the complete command that is: Workspaces: Duplicate Workspace in New Window thanks to dipnlink comment

Source: https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/editor/multi-root-workspaces
*Done in windows (10), vscode (1.35.1)

In the latest version, it is actually much simpler. In a window of the project you want to duplicate, open the command panel (Command + Shift + P in Mac or Ctrl + Shift + P in Ubuntu), then type dupl (and select Workspaces: Duplicate As Workspace in New Window), this will duplicate your workspace in a new window. Now you can have 2 windows of the same project at the same time.

Click Add workspace folder... and open the same folder. Works for me, other solution doesn't work, just jump focus to another window.

As far as I know, the accepted answer is not correct as C14L indicates.

It can be done by opening a different folder that includes the folder you're working in. So say we have /project and /project/src and /project/build, you're probably interested in having src open in two instances of VSCode, which you can achieve by opening /project and /project/src.

In addition to accepted answer, here's the trick if you want to open same project in two different windows but showing two different git branches:

Copy the project folder and open that folder!

If you want two windows in two different git branches then this simple trick works. I don't know of any other solutions.