VS Code Shortcuts

Essential Visual Studio Code keyboard shortcuts for Windows/Linux and macOS, the command palette, editing, multi-cursor selection, navigation, and search and refactor.

The Visual Studio Code shortcuts worth committing to memory, with Windows/Linux and macOS keys side by side. If you only learn one, make it the Command Palette (Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+P), it can run every command and shows the shortcut next to each.

Command & files

ActionWindows / LinuxMac
Command Palette Ctrl+Shift+P Cmd+Shift+P
Quick Open file Ctrl+P Cmd+P
New / close file Ctrl+N / Ctrl+W Cmd+N / Cmd+W
Save / Save all Ctrl+S / Ctrl+K S Cmd+S / Cmd+Option+S
Reopen closed editor Ctrl+Shift+T Cmd+Shift+T
Toggle sidebar Ctrl+B Cmd+B
Toggle terminal Ctrl+` Ctrl+`

Editing

ActionWindows / LinuxMac
Copy / cut line (no selection) Ctrl+C / Ctrl+X Cmd+C / Cmd+X
Move line up / down Alt+Up / Alt+Down Option+Up / Option+Down
Copy line up / down Shift+Alt+Up / Down Shift+Option+Up / Down
Delete line Ctrl+Shift+K Cmd+Shift+K
Insert line below / above Ctrl+Enter / Ctrl+Shift+Enter Cmd+Enter / Cmd+Shift+Enter
Toggle line comment Ctrl+/ Cmd+/
Indent / outdent Ctrl+] / Ctrl+[ Cmd+] / Cmd+[

Multi-cursor & selection

ActionWindows / LinuxMac
Add cursor Alt+Click Option+Click
Add cursor above / below Ctrl+Alt+Up / Down Cmd+Option+Up / Down
Select next match Ctrl+D Cmd+D
Select all matches Ctrl+Shift+L Cmd+Shift+L
Expand / shrink selection Shift+Alt+Right / Left Ctrl+Shift+Cmd+Right / Left
Select current line Ctrl+L Cmd+L

Navigation

ActionWindows / LinuxMac
Go to line Ctrl+G Ctrl+G
Go to symbol Ctrl+Shift+O Cmd+Shift+O
Go to definition F12 F12
Peek definition Alt+F12 Option+F12
Go back / forward Alt+Left / Alt+Right Ctrl+Minus / Ctrl+Shift+Minus
Switch editor tab Ctrl+Tab Ctrl+Tab

Search & refactor

ActionWindows / LinuxMac
Find / Replace Ctrl+F / Ctrl+H Cmd+F / Cmd+Option+F
Search across files Ctrl+Shift+F Cmd+Shift+F
Rename symbol F2 F2
Format document Shift+Alt+F Shift+Option+F
Quick fix Ctrl+. Cmd+.
Trigger suggestions Ctrl+Space Ctrl+Space

Some shortcuts are chords, press the first combo, release, then press the next (for example Ctrl+K then S). The Windows / Linux column shows the Windows defaults; a few differ on Linux: add cursor above / below is Shift+Alt+Up / Down, peek definition is Ctrl+Shift+F10, format document is Ctrl+Shift+I, copy line up / down is Ctrl+Shift+Alt+Up / Down, go back / forward is Ctrl+Alt+Minus / Ctrl+Shift+Minus, and Save all has no default key (Ctrl+K S is Windows only). Open Preferences: Open Keyboard Shortcuts from the Command Palette to search and rebind any of these to your liking.

What this does

A VS Code shortcuts reference lists essential keyboard shortcuts for Windows/Linux and macOS — the command palette, editing, multi-cursor, navigation, and search.

How to use it

  1. Browse by task.
  2. Find the keys for your OS.
  3. Press the keys together; for a chord, release, then press the next key.
  4. Try it in the editor.

Example

Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+P opens the Command Palette.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the single most useful shortcut?

The Command Palette (Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+P). It can run any command and shows the keyboard shortcut next to each one, so you learn the rest as you go.

How do I edit multiple lines at once?

Add cursors with Alt/Option+Click, or select the next occurrence of the current word with Ctrl/Cmd+D and type to change them all together.

Can I change these shortcuts?

Yes. Open "Preferences: Open Keyboard Shortcuts" from the Command Palette (or press Ctrl+K Ctrl+S / Cmd+K Cmd+S) to search, view, and rebind any shortcut.