SSH Screenshot Paste

The original native Cmd+V screenshot extension for VS Code Remote-SSH.

Cmd+V screenshots from your Mac clipboard into remote SSH terminals. Everywhere else, paste works exactly as it always does — the extension only activates when you need it.

Why this extension?

This extension just uses Cmd+V. It only activates when you're in a remote SSH terminal with an image on your clipboard — everywhere else, Cmd+V works exactly as it always does. Paste in your editor, paste in a local terminal, paste text into a remote terminal — all normal. The only time the extension steps in is the one moment you actually need it. Nothing to remember, nothing to configure. Unlike other extensions that require a separate keyboard shortcut like Ctrl+Alt+V or Alt+I, there's nothing new to learn.

How it works

While connected to a remote host via Remote-SSH, with a workspace folder open:

1. You take a screenshot on your Mac (Cmd+Ctrl+Shift+4)
2. You Cmd+V in a remote terminal in VS Code
3. The extension saves the PNG to .vscode-screenshots/ in the workspace on the remote host
4. The file path is typed into the terminal (without pressing Enter)
5. If the clipboard has text instead of an image, normal paste happens — no interference

The extension only activates when all three conditions are met: remote SSH session + terminal focused + image on clipboard. Otherwise it's invisible.

Perfect for Claude Code running on remote VMs — paste a screenshot and the path is ready for your prompt.

Prerequisites

Install pngpaste on your Mac:

brew install pngpaste

Requirements

• macOS — uses pngpaste for clipboard image reading
• VS Code Remote-SSH — the extension runs locally on your Mac and writes files to the remote via workspace.fs
• An open workspace folder on the remote host

Features

• Transparent Cmd+V — no new shortcuts to learn, just paste as normal
• Remote-first — files are saved on the remote host, not locally
• Optional git exclusion — automatically add .vscode-screenshots/ to .gitignore (opt-in via settings)
• Auto cleanup — screenshots older than 30 days are deleted (configurable)
• Non-intrusive — only activates in remote SSH terminals with an image on the clipboard. Local terminals, text paste, and non-remote sessions are completely unaffected
• Zero config — works out of the box, settings are optional

Settings

Troubleshooting

If pasting doesn't work, check the output log: View → Output → select SSH Screenshot Paste from the dropdown.

Common issues:

• "pngpaste is not installed" — run brew install pngpaste on your Mac
• "No workspace folder open" — open a folder on the remote host (File → Open Folder)
• Normal paste happens instead of screenshot — make sure you copied to clipboard with Cmd+Ctrl+Shift+4 (not just Cmd+Shift+4, which saves to a file)

Contributing

Issues and pull requests are welcome at github.com/jamesprnich/ssh-screenshot-paste.

License

MIT