
Despite many shortcuts I'm using frequently in VS Code, the following ones can come in very handy but I'm often forgetting they even exist. I made some GIFs for visualization to better remember them. Maybe there are some shortcuts you didn't remember either but are useful for you.
Every command in VS Code can also be executed via command prompt withCTRL
+SHIFT
+P
and a search query. But knowing the direct shortcut might be faster.
I use VS Code on Windows in the GIFs, but I also provide a table showing the shortcuts for both Windows and Mac for each command.
1.CTRL
+,
= Open user settings
Windows | Mac |
---|---|
CTRL +, | ⌘ +, |
Once in a while I need to adjust my user preferences, this is how you open them directly.
2.CTRL
+K
CTRL
+S
= Show shortcuts
Windows | Mac |
---|---|
CTRL +K CTRL +S | ⌘ +K ⌘ +S |
This is the complete list of shortcuts in VS Code. There is also aWindows Cheat-Sheet [PDF] andMacOS Cheat-Sheet [PDF] available to download.
3.CTRL
+R
= Switch workspace
Windows | Mac |
---|---|
CTRL +R | ⌘ +R |
This opens a list of your recent workspaces and is a super fast way to switch to another folder or project. Note that this will kill you current terminal session, if you had a terminal open in your VS Code workspace.
4.ALT
+Z
= Toggle word wrap
Windows | Mac |
---|---|
ALT +Z | ⌥ +Z |
A handy little helper when you quickly want to see complete lines without scrolling horizontally.
5.CTRL
+G
= Go to line
Windows | Mac |
---|---|
CTRL +G | ^ +G |
This is the shortcut for typingCTRL
+P
:
.
6.CTRL
+P
= Go to file
Windows | Mac |
---|---|
CTRL +P | ⌘ +P |
The fastest way to switch files (especially when they are not already open) without using the mouse.
7.F8
= Go to next error or warning
Windows | Mac |
---|---|
F8 | F8 |
This is debugging with a single key. You can also go to previous errors or warnings usingSHIFT
+F8
.
8.CTRL
+TAB
= Switch tabs
Windows | Mac |
---|---|
CTRL +TAB | ^ +TAB |
The fastest way to switch already open files without using the mouse.
9.SHIFT
+ALT
+I
= Insert cursor at end of each line selected
Windows | Mac |
---|---|
SHIFT +ALT +I | ⇧ +⌥ +I |
This is useful for a quick creation of multiple cursors in the selected area.
10.CTRL
+L
= Select current line
Windows | Mac |
---|---|
CTRL +L | ⌘ +L |
Use this i.e. to search for identical lines in combination with the next shortcut.
11.CTRL
+SHIFT
+L
= Select all occurrences of current selection
Windows | Mac |
---|---|
CTRL +SHIFT +L | ⇧ +⌘ +L |
This shortcut really saves time because you don't have toCTRL
+D
through a whole file.
12.CTRL
+F2
= Select all occurrences of current word
Windows | Mac |
---|---|
CTRL +F2 | ⌘ +F2 |
With this you don't even have to select something anymore. Just place the cursor on the word you want to select all occurrences of.
13.CTRL
+SHIFT
+SPACE
= Trigger parameter hints
Windows | Mac |
---|---|
CTRL +SHIFT +SPACE | ⇧ +⌘ +SPACE |
In case you don't remember parameter order and don't want to interrupt your flow by looking into the docs.
14.SHIFT
+ALT
+F
= Format document
Windows | Mac |
---|---|
SHIFT +ALT +F | ⇧ +⌥ +F |
Because nobody wants to format a whole file manually.
15.CTRL
+K
CTRL
+F
= Format selection
Windows | Mac |
---|---|
CTRL +K CTRL +F | ⌘ +K ⌘ +F |
In case you want to format only some parts of a file.
16.F12
= Go to Definition
Windows | Mac |
---|---|
F12 | F12 |
The quick way to jump to the definition of a variable or function.
17.ALT
+F12
= Peek Definition
Windows | Mac |
---|---|
ALT +F12 | ⌥ +F12 |
This just shows the corresponding definition of a variable or function without moving the cursor.
18.F2
= Rename Symbol
Windows | Mac |
---|---|
F2 | F2 |
An indispensible shortcut for refactoring code.
19.CTRL
+K
CTRL
+X
= Trim trailing whitespace
Windows | Mac |
---|---|
CTRL +K CTRL +X | ⌘ +K ⌘ +X |
This is especially useful for multi-line selections.
20.CTRL
+K
R
= Reveal active file in Explorer
Windows | Mac |
---|---|
CTRL +K R | ⌘ +K R |
In case you want to perform some actions out of your systems file manager instead of VS Code.
21.CTRL
+SHIFT
+H
= Replace in files
Windows | Mac |
---|---|
CTRL +SHIFT +H | ⇧ +⌘ +H |
If only one file at a time isn't enough for you.
22.CTRL
+K
V
= Open Markdown preview to the side
Windows | Mac |
---|---|
CTRL +K V | ⌘ +K V |
This way you don't have to switch to the mouse to open a preview.
23.CTRL
+K
Z
= Enter Zen Mode
Windows | Mac |
---|---|
CTRL +K Z | ⌘ +K Z |
Instantly coding distraction free. To exit Zen mode, hitESC
ESC
.
So that's it for now. I maintain a repository on GitHub, where I collect commands I tend to forget - check it out if you want:
devmount / CheatSheets
A curated list of everything I look up more than twice
Happy Coding!
Edited: 7th January 2020 (add MacOS shortcuts)
Published: 7th January 2020
Cover Image:https://codepen.io/devmount/full/ExaQjdm
Top comments(74)

- Email
- LocationRussia
- EducationSelf-taught
- WorkSenior front-end developer at EPAM
- Joined
Cool article! 👍
If will be nice to add a MacOS shortcut as well.

- LocationBerlin, Germany
- EducationM.Sc. Computer Engineering
- Pronounshe/him/his
- WorkFreelancing Software Engineer
- Joined
Thank you! As I wrote at the top of the article:
I use VS Code on Windows here, if you are on a Mac, most of the Shortcuts should work using
⌘
forCTRL
,⌥
forALT
and⇧
forSHIFT
.

- Email
- LocationRussia
- EducationSelf-taught
- WorkSenior front-end developer at EPAM
- Joined
That's not always correct. You can check out my post about shortcuts in Visual Studio Code
dev.to/peacefullatom/productivity-...

- LocationBerlin, Germany
- EducationM.Sc. Computer Engineering
- Pronounshe/him/his
- WorkFreelancing Software Engineer
- Joined
Nice article layout and many thanks for the feedback! I will see how I can include MacOS shortcuts as well!

- Email
- LocationRussia
- EducationSelf-taught
- WorkSenior front-end developer at EPAM
- Joined
You're welcome!
Tip: you can ask the community to help you 😊

- Email
- LocationRussia
- EducationSelf-taught
- WorkSenior front-end developer at EPAM
- Joined
Whoa! Well done! 👍👊

- Email
- LocationRussia
- EducationSelf-taught
- WorkSenior front-end developer at EPAM
- Joined
You're welcome! 👍

- LocationAustin, Texas
- WorkSr. UX Engineer at Remote
- Joined
Can I just say, it's nice to see people in comments helping each other out? I guess you just see criticism so often, it's nice to see folks working together to make something great. Makes for an awesome community. Thanks guys!

- Email
- LocationRussia
- EducationSelf-taught
- WorkSenior front-end developer at EPAM
- Joined
Welcome to the club! Glad you've joined! 👍

I stopped plugging in a mouse, touchpad etc several months ago on my dev machine (I do have a mousekeys AutoHotkey script). It definitely encouraged me to find those keyboard shortcuts. Not so good for web browsing tho. VSCode is probably going to wear out my F1 key! 😄⌨

- LocationBerlin, Germany
- EducationM.Sc. Computer Engineering
- Pronounshe/him/his
- WorkFreelancing Software Engineer
- Joined
Wow, not using a mouse at all is impressive! 😲👏🏻 Maybe I'll try that too sometimes!

I do also have a portable with touch screen and pen to do any graphics and cad stuff on. But just a keyboard front and centre on the dev desktop 😇
my mousekeys script is on the following gist if you ever want to try it out:gist.github.com/grahamdyson/3029ef...

- Email
- LocationIndia
- EducationComputer Science Engineering
- WorkFreelancer
- Joined
Wow. I always wondered how to select a line using a keyboard. It's so simple and easy shortcut for which I had to point to the line and then select it using the cursor. This will save a lot of time. Also, that open in explorer shortcut is also a great one. Thanks for this!

- LocationBerlin, Germany
- EducationM.Sc. Computer Engineering
- Pronounshe/him/his
- WorkFreelancing Software Engineer
- Joined
I'm really glad it's useful for you! It was the same here before I knew that line selecting shortcut 😅

- LocationIndia
- EducationMSC SE
- WorkSoftware Engineer
- Joined
Thanks , this will be great help. Curious to know which shortcuts do you use frequently in your work ?

- LocationBerlin, Germany
- EducationM.Sc. Computer Engineering
- Pronounshe/him/his
- WorkFreelancing Software Engineer
- Joined

- LocationIndia
- EducationMSC SE
- WorkSoftware Engineer
- Joined
What aboutCtrl +
` - Shows integrated terminal ? By the way thanks for the image. Appreciate 😄.

- LocationBerlin, Germany
- EducationM.Sc. Computer Engineering
- Pronounshe/him/his
- WorkFreelancing Software Engineer
- Joined
Also a good one, but I don't need it since I have the integrated terminal always open in each of my workspaces 😇

Ctrl +
` alsoselects the terminal, which is great for rapid fire git commits! Etc.

- LocationBerlin, Germany
- EducationM.Sc. Computer Engineering
- Pronounshe/him/his
- WorkFreelancing Software Engineer
- Joined
I'm usingScreenToGif. It's a really useful open source tool to quickly create screencasts. The shortcuts can to be inserted in editing mode.

This is a collection of good and useful shortcuts for everybody. Though they are not lesser known. Using 95% of them all the time since switching to vscode

- LocationBerlin, Germany
- EducationM.Sc. Computer Engineering
- Pronounshe/him/his
- WorkFreelancing Software Engineer
- Joined
Thank you for your feedback! So you're a real VS Code pro user! Which command didn't you already know (the 5%)?

3)CTRL+R (such a good one, I somehow didn't know or think about it before)
19)CTRL+K CTRL+X

- LocationBerlin, Germany
- EducationM.Sc. Computer Engineering
- Pronounshe/him/his
- WorkFreelancing Software Engineer
- Joined
Well so I'm glad, that there were at least 2 shortcuts that were helpful for you too 😅

- LocationBerlin, Germany
- EducationM.Sc. Computer Engineering
- Pronounshe/him/his
- WorkFreelancing Software Engineer
- Joined
😂 Well, do this a couple more times and you won't forget anymore 😅
For further actions, you may consider blocking this person and/orreporting abuse