Unlock the full potential of Visual Studio Code with our comprehensive guide on essential VS Code keyboard shortcuts. This article dives deep into the most useful key bindings, customization tips, and hidden gems that can significantly boost your productivity.
Whether coding in JavaScript, Python, or HTML, learn how to navigate, edit, and manage your workspace effortlessly. Perfect for developers looking to enhance their coding efficiency and optimize their development environment.
FAQ on VS Code Keyboard Shortcuts
What are the most useful keyboard shortcuts in Visual Studio Code?
Some of my go-to shortcuts in Visual Studio Code include Ctrl + Shift + P to open the Command Palette, Ctrl + P for quick file navigation, Ctrl + / to toggle line comments, and Ctrl + B to show or hide the sidebar. These shortcuts enhance productivity and streamline my workflow.
How can I customize keyboard shortcuts in VS Code?
To customize shortcuts, go to File > Preferences > Keyboard Shortcuts or use Ctrl + K, Ctrl + S. There, you can modify existing shortcuts or add new ones by editing the keybindings.json file. This allows me to tailor my VS Code experience to match my coding style and preferences.
Is there a cheat sheet for VS Code keyboard shortcuts?
Absolutely! The official documentation offers a comprehensive cheat sheet that’s invaluable. You can also find various community-generated cheat sheets that cover common key bindings, code navigation shortcuts, debugging commands, and more. Having a quick reference guide handy is super helpful.
How do I reset VS Code keyboard shortcuts to default?
Accidentally messed up your shortcuts? No worries. You can reset them by opening the Command Palette (Ctrl + Shift + P) and typing “Preferences: Open Keyboard Shortcuts (JSON)”. Delete the customizations there to revert to the default settings. It’s a quick way to start fresh.
What keyboard shortcuts are specific to certain programming languages in VS Code?
Sure, language-specific shortcuts can be a game changer. For instance, F12 jumps to definitions in JavaScript or TypeScript files, while Ctrl + Shift + I formats code in Python. This flexibility across different languages, like HTML and CSS, makes life much easier.
How do I create custom keyboard shortcuts for extensions in VS Code?
Creating custom shortcuts for extensions is straightforward. Use Ctrl + Shift + P to open the Command Palette, then search for “Preferences: Open Keyboard Shortcuts” or manually navigate to it. From there, search for the extension’s commands and assign your preferred shortcuts.
Can I export and import keyboard shortcuts in VS Code?
Definitely! Simply open keybindings.json via Ctrl + K, Ctrl + S, copy the content, and save it somewhere safe. To import, replace your current keybindings.json content with the saved file. This is super handy when switching between different machines or sharing preferences.
Are there shortcuts for managing Git within VS Code?
Yes, there are several. Ctrl + Shift + G opens the Source Control panel. Navigating Git commands like commit (Ctrl + Enter), stage (Ctrl + Shift + A), and initialize repository (Ctrl + Shift + I) becomes seamless. These shortcuts bring Git integration right into your development workspace.
What are some lesser-known but useful shortcuts in VS Code?
One hidden gem is Alt + Shift + Drag for selecting rectangular areas of code. Another is Ctrl + Shift + L to select all occurrences of the current selection. Don’t forget Ctrl + \ to split the editor window. These lesser-known shortcuts can be real time-savers.
How do I find and change key bindings in VS Code?
To find or change key bindings, use Ctrl + Shift + P and type “Preferences: Open Keyboard Shortcuts”. You can search for specific commands and modify their key bindings directly. Alternatively, open keybindings.json for more advanced customization. This process is intuitive and lets you optimize your coding environment.
And here’s the table with all the Visual Studio Code keyboard shortcuts
In case the searchable table doesn’t load.
| Keys | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + X | Cut line (empty selection) |
| Ctrl + C | Copy line (empty selection) |
| Ctrl + V | Paste |
| Ctrl + Shift + K | Delete Line |
| Ctrl + Enter | Insert Line Below |
| Ctrl + Shift + Enter | Insert Line Above |
| Alt + Down | Move Line Down |
| Alt + Up | Move Line Up |
| Shift + Alt + Down | Copy Line Down |
| Shift + Alt + Up | Copy Line Up |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo |
| Ctrl + Y | Redo |
| Ctrl + D | Add Selection To Next Find Match |
| Ctrl + K Ctrl + D | Move Last Selection To Next Find Match |
| Ctrl + U | Undo last cursor operation |
| Shift + Alt + I | Insert cursor at end of each line selected |
| Ctrl + Shift + L | Select all occurrences of current selection |
| Ctrl + F2 | Select all occurrences of current word |
| Ctrl + L | Select current line |
| Ctrl + Alt + Down | Insert Cursor Below |
| Ctrl + Alt + Up | Insert Cursor Above |
| Ctrl + Shift + \ | Jump to matching bracket |
| Ctrl + ] | Indent Line |
| Ctrl + [ | Outdent Line |
| Home | Go to Beginning of Line |
| End | Go to End of Line |
| Ctrl + End | Go to End of File |
| Ctrl + Home | Go to Beginning of File |
| Ctrl + Down | Scroll Line Down |
| Ctrl + Up | Scroll Line Up |
| Alt + PageDown | Scroll Page Down |
| Alt + PageUp | Scroll Page Up |
| Ctrl + Shift + [ | Fold (collapse) region |
| Ctrl + Shift + ] | Unfold (uncollapse) region |
| Ctrl + K Ctrl + L | Toggle Fold region |
| Ctrl + K Ctrl + [ | Fold (collapse) all subregions |
| Ctrl + K Ctrl + ] | Unfold (uncollapse) all subregions |
| Ctrl + K Ctrl + 0 | Fold (collapse) all regions |
| Ctrl + K Ctrl + J | Unfold (uncollapse) all regions |
| Ctrl + K Ctrl + C | Add Line Comment |
| Ctrl + K Ctrl + U | Remove Line Comment |
| Ctrl + / | Toggle Line Comment |
| Shift + Alt + A | Toggle Block Comment |
| Ctrl + F | Find |
| Ctrl + H | Replace |
| Enter | Find Next |
| Shift + Enter | Find Previous |
| Alt + Enter | Select All Occurrences of Find Match |
| Alt + C | Toggle Find Case Sensitive |
| Alt + R | Toggle Find Regex |
| Alt + W | Toggle Find Whole Word |
| Ctrl + M | Toggle Use of Tab Key for Setting Focus |
| Alt + Z | Toggle Word Wrap |
| Ctrl + Space | Trigger Suggest |
| Ctrl + Shift + Space | Trigger Parameter Hints |
| Shift + Alt + F | Format Document |
| Ctrl + K Ctrl + F | Format Selection |
| F12 | Go to Definition |
| Ctrl + K Ctrl + I | Show Hover |
| Alt + F12 | Peek Definition |
| Ctrl + K F12 | Open Definition to the Side |
| Ctrl + . | Quick Fix |
| Shift + F12 | Go to References |
| F2 | Rename Symbol |
| Ctrl + Shift + . | Replace with Next Value |
| Ctrl + Shift + , | Replace with Previous Value |
| Shift + Alt + Right | Expand AST Selection |
| Shift + Alt + Left | Shrink AST Selection |
| Ctrl + K Ctrl + X | Trim Trailing Whitespace |
| Ctrl + K M | Change Language Mode |
| Ctrl + T | Show All Symbols |
| Ctrl + G | Go to Line… |
| Ctrl + P | Go to File…, Quick Open |
| Ctrl + Shift + O | Go to Symbol… |
| Ctrl + Shift + M | Show Problems |
| F8 | Go to Next Error or Warning |
| Shift + F8 | Go to Previous Error or Warning |
| Ctrl + Shift + P | Show All Commands |
| F1 | Show All Commands |
| Ctrl + Tab | Navigate Editor Group History |
| Alt + Left | Go Back |
| Alt + Right | Go Forward |
| Ctrl + K Left | Move Active Editor Group Left |
| Ctrl + K Right | Move Active Editor Group Right |
| Ctrl + Shift + N | New Window |
| Alt + F4 | Close Window |
| Ctrl + F4 | Close Editor |
| Ctrl + K F | Close Folder |
| Ctrl + \ | Split Editor |
| Ctrl + 1 | Focus into First Editor Group |
| Ctrl + 2 | Focus into Second Editor Group |
| Ctrl + 3 | Focus into Third Editor Group |
| Ctrl + Shift + PageUp | Move Editor Left |
| Ctrl + Shift + PageDown | Move Editor Right |
| Ctrl + Alt + Right | Move Editor into Next Group |
| Ctrl + Alt + Left | Move Editor into Previous Group |
| Ctrl + N | New File |
| Ctrl + O | Open File… |
| Ctrl + S | Save |
| Ctrl + K S | Save All |
| Ctrl + Shift + S | Save As… |
| Ctrl + K W | Close Group |
| Ctrl + K Ctrl + W | Close All |
| Ctrl + Shift + T | Reopen Closed Editor |
| Ctrl + K Enter | Keep Open |
| Ctrl + K P | Copy Path of Active File |
| Ctrl + K R | Reveal Active File in Windows |
| F11 | Toggle Full Screen |
| Ctrl + K Z | Toggle Zen Mode |
| Escape Escape | Leave Zen Mode |
| Ctrl += | Zoom in |
| Ctrl + – | Zoom out |
| Ctrl + Numpad0 | Reset Zoom |
| 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 Run |
| Ctrl + Shift + X | Show Extensions |
| Ctrl + Shift + U | Show Output |
| Ctrl + Q | Quick Open View |
| Ctrl + Shift + C | Open New Command Prompt |
| Ctrl + Shift + V | Toggle Markdown Preview |
| Ctrl + K V | Open Preview to the Side |
| Ctrl + ` | Toggle Integrated Terminal |
| Ctrl + , | Open Settings |
| Ctrl + K Ctrl + S | Open Keyboard Shortcuts |
| Ctrl + K Ctrl + T | Select Color Theme |
| F9 | Toggle Breakpoint |
| F5 | Start |
| Ctrl + F5 | Start (without debugging) |
| F6 | Pause |
| Ctrl + Shift + B | Run Build Task |
With over a decade in the tech field, Bogdan blends technical expertise with insights on business innovation in technology.
A regular contributor to TMS Outsource's blog, where you'll find sharp analyses on software development, tech business strategies, and global tech dynamics.
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