Short Answer 
To start tracking untracked files in Visual Studio Code, first ensure the Git extension is installed and access the Source Control panel to view untracked files. You can stage files by clicking the plus icon next to each file or use the command line with commands like `git add [filename]` or `git add .` to track them.
Step 1: Access the Source Control Panel
Begin by ensuring that the Git extension is installed in Visual Studio Code. After confirmation, click on the Git icon located in the sidebar to open the Source Control panel. This panel provides an overview of your repository and will list any untracked files under the Changes section.
Step 2: Stage Untracked Files
In the Source Control panel, identify the untracked files that you want to include in your project. To stage these files, click on the plus icon that appears next to each untracked file. Staging will prepare these files, making them ready for the next commit.
Step 3: Use the Command Line for Tracking
If you prefer using the command line, open the integrated terminal by navigating to View > Terminal in VSCode. You can track untracked files by executing the command git add [filename] to add specific files or use git add . to add all untracked files in the current directory. This will effectively include them in your staging area.