Introduction
In the world of coding and programming, efficiency is key. One way to boost your productivity and streamline your workflow is by utilizing shortcut keys in your code editor.
Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a popular choice among developers, and it offers a wide range of shortcut keys to help you navigate, edit, format, debug, and test your code more efficiently.
In this article, we will explore the essential shortcut keys for Windows, iOS, and Linux platforms, along with tips on customizing them to suit your needs.
Getting Started
Before diving into the shortcut keys, it's essential to know how to access them in VS Code.
You can easily find the list of shortcut keys by navigating to the Keyboard Shortcuts option in the settings.
Familiarize yourself with the concept of keybindings and how they allow you to perform specific actions quickly.
Windows Platform
For Windows users, there is a plethora of shortcut keys available in VS Code.
Whether you want to navigate between files, search for symbols, or refactor your code, there are shortcut keys to make these tasks a breeze.
Additionally, you'll discover shortcuts for code formatting, indentation, and debugging, enabling you to work seamlessly on your projects.
General
| Action |
Shortcut |
| Show Action Palette |
Ctrl+Shift+P F1 |
| Quick Open, Go to File… |
Ctrl+P |
| New window/instance |
Ctrl+Shift+N |
| Close window/instance |
Ctrl+Shift+W |
| User Settings |
Ctrl+ |
| Keyboard Shortcuts |
Ctrl+K Ctrl+S |
Basic editing
| Action |
Shortcut |
| Cut line (empty selection) |
Ctrl+X |
| Copy line (empty selection) |
Ctrl+C |
| Move line up/down |
Alt+ ↑ / ↓ |
| Copy line up/down |
Shift+Alt + ↓ / ↑ |
| Delete line |
Ctrl+Shift+K |
| Insert line below |
Ctrl+Enter |
| Insert line above |
Ctrl+Shift+Enter |
| Jump to matching bracket |
Ctrl+Shift+\ |
| Indent/outdent line |
Ctrl+] / [ |
| Go to beginning/end of line |
Home / End |
| Go to beginning of file |
Ctrl+Home |
| Go to end of file |
Ctrl+End |
| Scroll line up/down |
Ctrl+↑ / ↓ |
| Scroll page up/down |
Alt+PgUp / PgDn |
| Fold (collapse) region |
Ctrl+Shift+[ |
| Unfold (uncollapse) region |
Ctrl+Shift+] |
| Fold (collapse) all subregions |
Ctrl+K Ctrl+[ |
| Unfold (uncollapse) all subregions |
Ctrl+K Ctrl+] |
| Fold (collapse) all region |
Ctrl+K Ctrl+0 |
| Unfold (uncollapse) all regions |
Ctrl+K Ctrl+J |
| Add line comment |
Ctrl+K Ctrl+C |
| Remove line comment |
Ctrl+K Ctrl+U |
| Toggle line comment |
Ctrl+/ |
| Toggle block comment |
Shift+Alt+A |
| Toggle word wrap |
Alt+Z |
Navigation
| Action |
Shortcut |
| Show all Symbols |
Ctrl+T |
| Go to Line... |
Ctrl+G |
| Go to File... |
Ctrl+P |
| Go to Symbol... |
Ctrl+Shift+O |
| Show Problems panel |
Ctrl+Shift+M |
| Go to next error or warning |
F8 |
| Go to previous error or warning |
Shift+F8 |
| Navigate editor group history |
Ctrl+Shift+Tab |
| Go back / forward |
Alt+← / → |
| Toggle Tab moves focus |
Ctrl+M |
Search and replace
| Action |
Position |
| Find |
Ctrl+F |
| Replace |
Ctrl+H |
| Find next/previous |
F3 / Shift+F3 |
| Select all occurrences of Find match |
Alt+Enter |
| Add selection to next Find match |
Ctrl+D |
| Move last selection to next Find match |
Ctrl+K Ctrl+D |
| Toggle case-sensitive / regex / whole word |
Alt+C / R / W |
Multi-cursor and selection
| Action |
Position |
| Insert cursor |
Alt+Click |
| Insert cursor above / below |
Ctrl+Alt+↑ / ↓ |
| Undo last cursor operation |
Ctrl+U |
| Insert cursor at end of each line selected |
Shift+Alt+I |
| Select current line |
Ctrl+L |
| Select all occurrences of current selection |
Ctrl+Shift+L |
| Select all occurrences of current word |
Ctrl+F2 |
| Expand selection |
Shift+Alt+→ |
| Shrink selection |
Shift+Alt+← |
| Column (box) selection |
Shift+Alt + (drag mouse) |
| Column (box) selection |
Ctrl+Shift+Alt + (arrow key) |
| Column (box) selection page up/down |
Ctrl+Shift+Alt + PgUp/PgDn |
Rich languages editing
| Action |
Shortcut |
| Trigger suggestion |
Ctrl+Space Ctrl+I |
| Trigger parameter hints |
Ctrl+Shift+Space |
| Format document |
Shift+Alt+F |
| Format selection |
Ctrl+K Ctrl+F |
| Go to Definition |
F12 |
| Peek Definition |
Alt+F12 |
| Open Definition to the side |
Ctrl+K F12 |
| Quick Fix |
Ctrl+. |
| Show References |
Shift+F12 |
| Rename Symbol |
F2 |
| Trim trailing whitespace |
Ctrl+K Ctrl+X |
| Change file language |
Ctrl+K M |
| Editor management |
|
| Close editor |
Ctrl+F4 Ctrl+W |
| Close folder |
Ctrl+K F |
| Split editor |
Ctrl+\ |
| Focus into 1st, 2nd or 3rd editor group |
Ctrl+1 / 2 / 3 |
| Focus into previous/next
editor group |
Ctrl+K Ctrl+←/→ |
| Move editor left/right |
Ctrl+Shift+PgUp / PgDn |
| Move active editor group |
Ctrl+K ← / → |
File management
| Action |
Position |
| New File |
Ctrl+N |
| Open File... |
Ctrl+O |
| Save |
Ctrl+S |
| Save As... |
Ctrl+Shift+S |
| Save All |
Ctrl+K S |
| Close |
Ctrl+F4 |
| Close All |
Ctrl+K Ctrl+W |
| Reopen closed editor |
Ctrl+Shift+T |
| Keep preview mode editor open |
Ctrl+K Enter |
| Open next |
Ctrl+Tab |
| Open previous |
Ctrl+Shift+Tab |
| Copy path of active file |
Ctrl+K P |
| Reveal active file in Explorer |
Ctrl+K R |
| Show active file in new window/instance |
Ctrl+K O |
Display
| Action |
Position |
| Toggle full screen |
F11 |
| Toggle editor layout (horizontal/vertical) |
Shift+Alt+0 |
| Zoom in/out |
Ctrl+= / - |
| Toggle Sidebar visibility |
Ctrl+B |
| Show Explorer / Toggle focus |
Ctrl+Shift+E |
| Show Search |
Ctrl+Shift+F |
| Show Source Control |
Ctrl+Shift+G |
| Show Debug |
Ctrl+Shift+D |
| Show Extensions |
Ctrl+Shift+X |
| Replace in files |
Ctrl+Shift+H |
| Show Search details |
Ctrl+Shift+J |
| Show Output panel |
Ctrl+Shift+U |
| Open Markdown preview |
Ctrl+Shift+V |
| Open Markdown preview to the side |
Ctrl+K V |
| Zen Mode (Esc Esc to exit) |
Ctrl+K Z |
Debug
| Action |
Position |
| Toggle breakpoint |
F9 |
| Start/Continue |
F5 |
| Stop |
Shift+F5 |
| Step into/out |
F11 / Shift+F11 |
| Step over |
F10 |
| Show hover |
Ctrl+K Ctrl+I |
Integrated terminal
| Action |
Position |
| Show integrated terminal |
Ctrl+` |
| Create new terminal |
Ctrl+Shift+` |
| Copy selection |
Ctrl+C |
| Paste into active terminal |
Ctrl+V |
| Scroll up/down |
Ctrl+↑ / ↓ |
| Scroll page up/down |
Shift+PgUp / PgDn |
| Scroll to top/bottom |
Ctrl+Home / End |
iOS Platform
If you're using VS Code on iOS, don't worry—there are plenty of shortcut keys for you too.
From basic navigation to advanced code editing and debugging, these shortcuts will help you become more efficient in your coding endeavors.
By leveraging these shortcuts, you can save time and streamline your iOS development workflow.
General
| Action |
Shortcut |
| ↑&cmd;P, F1 |
Show Command Palette |
| &cmd;P |
Quick Open, Go to File… |
| ↑&cmd;N |
New window/instance |
| &cmd;W |
Close window/instance |
| &cmd;, |
User Settings |
| &cmd;K &cmd;S |
Keyboard Shortcuts |
Basic editing
| Action |
Shortcut |
| &cmd;X |
Cut line (empty selection) |
| &cmd;C |
Copy line (empty selection) |
| &option;↓ / &option;↑ |
Move line down/up |
| ↑&option;↓ / ↑&option;↑ |
Copy line down/up |
| ↑&cmd;K |
Delete line |
| &cmd;Enter / ↑&cmd;Enter |
Insert line below/above |
| ↑&cmd;\ |
Jump to matching bracket |
| &cmd;] / &cmd;[ |
Indent/outdent line |
| Home / End |
Go to beginning/end of line |
| &cmd;↑ / &cmd;↓ |
Go to beginning/end of file |
| &option;&PgUp; / &option;&PgDn; |
Scroll line up/down |
| &cmd;PgUp; /&cmd;PgDn; |
Scroll page up/down |
| &option;&cmd;[ / &option;&cmd;] |
Fold/unfold region |
| &cmd;K &cmd;[ / &cmd;K &cmd;] |
Fold/unfold all subregions |
| &cmd;K &cmd;0 / &cmd;K &cmd;J |
Fold/unfold all regions |
| &cmd;K &cmd;C |
Add line comment |
| &cmd;K &cmd;U |
Remove line comment |
| &cmd;/ |
Toggle line comment |
| ↑&option;A |
Toggle block comment |
| &option;Z |
Toggle word wrap |
Multi-cursor and selection
| Action |
Shortcut |
| &option; + click |
Insert cursor |
| &option;&cmd;↑ |
Insert cursor above |
| &option;&cmd;↓ |
Insert cursor below |
| &cmd;U |
Undo last cursor operation |
| ↑&cmd;I |
Insert cursor at end of each line selected |
| &cmd;L |
Select current line |
| ↑&cmd;L |
Select all occurrences of current selection |
| &cmd;F2 |
Select all occurrences of current word |
| &control;&shift;&cmd;→ / ← |
Expand / shrink selection |
| ↑&option; + drag mouse |
Column (box) selection |
| ↑&option;&cmd;↑ / ↓ |
Column (box) selection up/down |
| ↑&option;&cmd;← / → |
Column (box) selection left/right |
| ↑&option;&cmd;PgUp; |
Column (box) selection page up |
| ↑&option;&cmd;PgDn; |
Column (box) selection page down |
Search and replace
| Action |
Shortcut |
| &cmd;F |
Find |
| &option;&cmd;F |
Replace |
| &cmd;G / ↑&cmd;G |
Find next/previous |
| &option;Enter |
Select all occurrences of Find match |
| &cmd;D |
Add selection to next Find match |
| &cmd;K &cmd;D |
Move last selection to next Find match |
Rich languages editing
| Action |
Shortcut |
| &control;Space, &cmd;I |
Trigger suggestion |
| ↑&cmd;Space |
Trigger parameter hints |
| ↑&option;&cmd;F |
Format document |
| &cmd;K &cmd;F |
Format selection |
| F12 |
Go to Definition |
| &option;F12 |
Peek Definition |
| &cmd;K F12 |
Open Definition to the side |
| &cmd;. |
Quick Fix |
| &shift;F12 |
Show References |
| F2 |
Rename Symbol |
| &cmd;K &cmd;X |
Trim trailing whitespace |
| &cmd;K M |
Change file language |
Navigation
| Action |
Shortcut |
| &cmd;T |
Show all Symbols |
| &control;G |
Go to Line… |
| &cmd;P |
Go to File… |
| ↑&cmd;O |
Go to Symbol… |
| ↑&cmd;M |
Show Problems panel |
| F8 / &shift;F8 |
Go to next/previous error or warning |
| &control;&shift; |
Navigate editor group history |
| &control;- / &control;&shift;- |
Go back/forward |
| &control;&shift;M |
Toggle Tab moves focus |
Editor management
| Action |
Shortcut |
| &cmd;F4 |
Close |
| &cmd;K F |
Close folder |
| &cmd;W |
Close editor |
| &cmd;K &cmd;W |
Close all editors |
| ↑&cmd;&x |
Split editor |
| &cmd;\\ |
Toggle editor group layout |
| ↑&cmd;1 / ↑&cmd;2 / ↑&cmd;3 |
Focus into 1st, 2nd, 3rd editor group |
| &cmd;K &cmd;P |
Focus into previous part of the editor |
| &cmd;K &cmd;N |
Focus into next part of the editor |
| &cmd;↑ / &cmd;↓ |
Move editor left/right |
| &cmd;↑↓ |
Move editor up/down |
File management
| Action |
Shortcut |
| &cmd;N |
New File |
| &cmd;O |
Open File… |
| &cmd;S |
Save |
| &shift;+&cmd;S |
Save As… |
| &cmd;K S |
Save All |
| &cmd;W |
Close |
Display
| Action |
Shortcut |
| &cmd;+ |
Zoom in |
| &cmd;- |
Zoom out |
| &cmd;Numpad0 |
Reset zoom |
Linux Platform
Linux users also have access to a rich set of shortcut keys in VS Code.
Whether you're editing code, navigating through files, or utilizing the debugging tools, the Linux-specific shortcut keys will enhance your productivity.
Take advantage of these shortcuts to improve your coding speed and accuracy on the Linux platform.
General
| Action |
Shortcut |
| Ctrl+Shift+P, F1 |
Show Command Palette |
| Ctrl+P |
Quick Open, Go to File... |
| Ctrl+Shift+N |
New window/instance |
| Ctrl+W |
Close window/instance |
| Ctrl+, |
User Settings |
| Ctrl+K Ctrl+S |
Keyboard Shortcuts |
Basic editing
| Action |
Shortcut |
| Ctrl+X |
Cut line (empty selection) |
| Ctrl+C |
Copy line (empty selection) |
| Alt+ ↓ / ↑ |
Move line down/up |
| Ctrl+Shift+K |
Delete line |
| Ctrl+Enter / Ctrl+Shift+Enter |
Insert line below/above |
| Ctrl+Shift+\ |
Jump to matching bracket |
| Ctrl+] / Ctrl+[ |
Indent/Outdent line |
| Home / End |
Go to beginning/end of line |
| Ctrl+ Home / End |
Go to beginning/end of file |
| Ctrl+ ↑ / ↓ |
Scroll line up/down |
| Alt+ PgUp / PgDn |
Scroll page up/down |
| Ctrl+Shift+ [ / ] |
Fold/unfold region |
| Ctrl+K Ctrl+ [ / ] |
Fold/unfold all subregions |
| Ctrl+K Ctrl+0 / Ctrl+K Ctrl+J |
Fold/Unfold all regions |
| Ctrl+K Ctrl+C |
Add line comment |
| Ctrl+K Ctrl+U |
Remove line comment |
| Ctrl+/ |
Toggle line comment |
| Ctrl+Shift+A |
Toggle block comment |
| Alt+Z |
Toggle word wrap |
Rich languages editing
| Action |
Shortcut |
| Ctrl+Space, Ctrl+I |
Trigger suggestion |
| Ctrl+Shift+Space |
Trigger parameter hints |
| Ctrl+Shift+I |
Format document |
| Ctrl+K Ctrl+F |
Format selection |
| F12 |
Go to Definition |
| Ctrl+Shift+F10 |
Peek Definition |
| Ctrl+K F12 |
Open Definition to the side |
| Ctrl+. |
Quick Fix |
| Shift+F12 |
Show References |
| F2 |
Rename Symbol |
| Ctrl+K Ctrl+X |
Trim trailing whitespace |
| Ctrl+K M |
Change file language |
Multi-cursor and selection
| Action |
Shortcut |
| Alt+Click |
Insert cursor* |
| Shift+Alt+ ↑ / ↓ |
Insert cursor above/below |
| Ctrl+U |
Undo last cursor operation |
| Shift+Alt+I |
Insert cursor at end of each line selected |
| Ctrl+L |
Select current line |
| Ctrl+Shift+L |
Select all occurrences of current selection |
| Ctrl+F2 |
Select all occurrences of current word |
| Shift+Alt + → |
Expand selection |
| Shift+Alt + ← |
Shrink selection |
| Shift+Alt + drag mouse |
Column (box) selection |
Display
| Action |
Shortcut |
| F11 |
Toggle full screen |
| Shift+Alt+0 |
Toggle editor layout (horizontal/vertical) |
| Ctrl+ = / - |
Zoom in/out |
| Ctrl+B |
Toggle Sidebar visibility |
| Ctrl+Shift+E |
Show Explorer / Toggle focus |
| Ctrl+Shift+F |
Show Search |
| Ctrl+Shift+G |
Show Source Control |
| Ctrl+Shift+D |
Show Debug |
| Ctrl+Shift+X |
Show Extensions |
| Ctrl+Shift+H |
Replace in files |
| Ctrl+Shift+J |
Toggle Search details |
| Ctrl+Shift+C |
Open new command prompt/terminal |
| Ctrl+K Ctrl+H |
Show Output panel |
| Ctrl+Shift+V |
Open Markdown preview |
| Ctrl+K V |
Open Markdown preview to the side |
| Ctrl+K Z |
Zen Mode (Esc Esc to exit) |
Search and replace
| Action |
Shortcut |
| Ctrl+F |
Find |
| Ctrl+H |
Replace |
| F3 / Shift+F3 |
Find next/previous |
| Alt+Enter |
Select all occurrences of Find match |
| Ctrl+D |
Add selection to next Find match |
| Ctrl+K Ctrl+D |
Move last selection to next Find match |
Navigation
| Action |
Shortcut |
| Ctrl+T |
Show all Symbols |
| Ctrl+G |
Go to Line... |
| Ctrl+P |
Go to File... |
| Ctrl+Shift+O |
Show the Outline |
| Ctrl+Shift+M |
Show Problems panel |
| Ctrl+Shift+T |
Toggle Tab moves focus |
Editor management
| Action |
Shortcut |
| Ctrl+F4, Ctrl+W |
Close editor |
| Ctrl+\ |
Split editor |
| Ctrl+1 / 2 / 3 |
Focus into 1st, 2nd, 3rd editor group |
| Ctrl+K Ctrl+ ← / → |
Focus into previous/next editor group |
| Ctrl+Shift+PgUp / PgDn |
Move editor left/right |
| Ctrl+K ← / → |
Move active editor group |
File management
| Action |
Shortcut |
| Ctrl+N |
New File |
| Ctrl+O |
Open File... |
| Ctrl+S |
Save |
| Ctrl+Shift+S |
Save As... |
| Ctrl+K S |
Save All |
Debug
| Action |
Shortcut |
| F9 |
Toggle breakpoint |
| F5 |
Start/Continue |
| F11 / Shift+F11 |
Step into/Step out |
| F10 |
Step over |
| Shift+F5 |
Stop |
| F1 |
Show hover |
Customizing Shortcut Keys
One of the great features of VS Code is the ability to customize shortcut keys according to your preferences.
You can modify existing keybindings or create your own custom combinations to suit your workflow and coding style.
This flexibility allows you to tailor VS Code to your specific needs and make your coding experience even more personalized.
Boosting Productivity with Shortcut Keys
Using shortcut keys is not just about memorizing combinations; it's about optimizing your workflow and increasing your productivity.
In this section, we will provide tips and tricks on effectively using shortcut keys, such as grouping related actions, creating macros, and taking advantage of context-aware keybindings.
We'll also explore how you can create your own custom keybindings to further enhance your coding efficiency.
Conclusion
Visual Studio Code shortcut keys are powerful tools that can significantly improve your coding experience.
By utilizing these shortcuts on Windows, iOS, or Linux platforms, you can navigate, edit, and debug your code more efficiently.
Customizing the shortcuts to fit your specific needs and adopting best practices for shortcut key usage will boost your productivity and make coding a more enjoyable experience.
Source:
Other operating systems’ keyboard shortcuts and additional unassigned shortcuts available ataka.ms/vscodekeybindings