Essential Keyboard Shortcuts for Visual Studio Code
Posted by KRIS WOUK
Microsoft Visual Studio Code debuted only a few years ago, but it has quickly become one of the most popular text editors available. Its combination of a simple user interface with powerful IDE-like features makes it especially popular with programmers, but it’s just as useful for writers and anyone who manipulates text files.
Visual Studio Code supports nearly every programming language that exists. If support isn’t built-in, you can add it through the app’s extension browser. VS Code even has native features to support collaborative programming. Plus, it has plenty of keyboard shortcuts to help you navigate the app interface effortlessly.
And what’s more, you can discover the most useful VS Code keyboard shortcuts with this cheat sheet!
Because of the sheer number of users on Windows, that OS is the main focus of this cheat sheet. Don’t worry if you’re a Mac user though, as all of these keyboard shortcuts work on macOS as well. Simply use the Command key instead of the Ctrl key and the Option key instead of Alt. If any shortcuts vary more than that, we’ll mention both.
FREE DOWNLOAD: This cheat sheet is available as a downloadable PDF from our distribution partner, TradePub. You will have to complete a short form to access it for the first time only. Download The Visual Studio Code Keyboard Shortcuts Cheat Sheet.
The Visual Studio Code Keyboard Shortcuts Cheat Sheet
On a Mac keyboard, replace Ctrl with Cmd and Alt with Option in the shortcuts.
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Basic Functionality | |
| Ctrl + Shift + P | Open Command Palette |
| Ctrl + , | Open app settings |
| Ctrl + K, Ctrl + S | Display keyboard shortcuts |
| Ctrl + Shift + X | Switch to Extensions pane |
| Ctrl + N | New file |
| Ctrl + Shift + N | New window |
| ¹Ctrl + F4 | Close file |
| Ctrl + Shift + W | Close window |
| ¹F11 | Toggle Full Screen mode |
| Ctrl + B | Toggle sidebar visibility |
| File Management | |
| Ctrl + O | Open file |
| Ctrl + S | Save file |
| Ctrl + Shift + S | Save as… |
| Ctrl + K, S | Save all files |
| Ctrl + K, Ctrl + W | Close all |
| Ctrl + Shift + T | Reopen last closed |
| Editing Commands | |
| Ctrl + C | Copy selection or current line |
| Ctrl + X | Cut selection or current line |
| Ctrl + V | Paste |
| Ctrl + Shift + K | Delete line |
| Home | Go to beginning of line |
| End | Go to end of line |
| Ctrl + Home | Go to beginning of file |
| Ctrl + End | Go to end of file |
| Alt + Up / Down | Move line up or down |
| Ctrl + ] | Indent line |
| Ctrl + [ | Outdent line |
| Ctrl + / | Comment out line |
| Shift + Alt + A | Comment out region |
| Folding | |
| Ctrl + Shift + [ | Fold region |
| Ctrl + Shift + ] | Unfold region |
| Ctrl + K, Ctrl + [ | Fold all subregions |
| Ctrl + K, Ctrl + ] | Unfold all subregions |
| Ctrl + K, Ctrl + 0 | Fold all regions |
| Ctrl + K, Ctrl + J | Unfold all regions |
| Editor Navigation | |
| Ctrl + P | Go to file |
| Ctrl + G | Go to line |
| Ctrl + T | Show all symbols |
| Ctrl + Shift + O | Go to symbol |
| F8 | Go to next error or warning |
| Shift + F8 | Go to previous error or warning |
| Ctrl + Shift + M | Show Problems panel |
| ¹Alt + Left | Go back |
| ¹Alt + Right | Go forward |
| Find and Replace | |
| Ctrl + F | Open Find dialog |
| Ctrl + H | Open Replace dialog |
| Ctrl + Shift + H | Replace in files |
| ¹F3 | Find next |
| ¹Shift + F3 | Find previous |
| Alt + Enter | Select all matches for search term |
| Ctrl + D | Add current selection to Find match |
| Ctrl + K, Ctrl + D | Move previous selection to next Find match |
| Selection and Multiple Cursors | |
| Ctrl + L | Select current line |
| Ctrl + Shift + L | Select all instances of current selection |
| Ctrl + F2 | Select all matches of current word |
| ¹Shift + Alt + Right Arrow | Expand selection |
| ¹Shift + Alt + Left Arrow | Shrink selection |
| Alt + Click | Insert cursor |
| Ctrl + Alt + Up Arrow / Down Arrow | Insert cursor above or below current line |
| Ctrl + U | Undo last cursor |
| Shift + Alt + I | Insert cursor at the end of each selected line |
| Split Editor Management | |
| Ctrl + \ | Split editor |
| Ctrl + 1 / 2 / 3 | Focus on editor pane 1, 2, or 3 |
| Ctrl + K, Ctrl + Right Arrow / Left Arrow | Focus on next / previous editor pane |
| ¹Ctrl + Shift + PgUp | Move editor left |
| ¹Ctrl + Shift + PgDown | Move editor right |
| Integrated Terminal | |
| ¹Ctrl + ` | Show integrated terminal |
| ¹Ctrl + Shift + ` | Create new terminal instance |
| Ctrl + Up Arrow / Down Arrow | Scroll up / down |
| Ctrl + Home / End | Scroll to top / bottom |
| macOS-Specific Shortcuts | |
| Cmd + W | Close file |
| Cmd + Ctrl + F | Toggle full screen |
| Cmd + - | Go back |
| Cmd + Shift + - | Go forward |
| Cmd + G | Find next |
| Cmd + Shift + G | Find previous |
| Cmd + Control + Shift + Right Arrow | Expand selection |
| Cmd + Control + Shift + Left Arrow | Shrink selection |
| Cmd + K, Cmd + Shift + Left | Move editor left |
| Cmd + K, Cmd + Shift + Right | Move editor right |
| Control + ` | Show integrated terminal |
| Control + Shift + ` | Create new terminal instance |
| ¹The corresponding macOS shortcut is listed under the macOS-Specific Shortcuts section at the end of the cheat sheet. | |
Looking for More Ways to Make the Most of VS Code?
The keyboard shortcuts here will have you well on your way to becoming a Visual Studio Code power user. That said, there are many more ways that you can make the software even better-suited to your workflow.
For example, you can add countless features to the editor with extensions. If you’re looking for a starting point, take a look at our list of extensions to help make programming in VS Code even easier.
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