Development

VS Code keyboard shortcuts

Command palette, multi-cursor editing, code navigation: the shortcuts that save the most time day to day.

Free Updated on September 11, 2026

Navigation

Shortcut Action
Ctrl + P Quick open a file
Ctrl + Shift + P Command palette
Ctrl + Tab Switch between open files
Ctrl + ` Toggle the integrated terminal
Ctrl + B Toggle the side bar

Editing

Shortcut Action
Ctrl + D Select the next occurrence of the word
Ctrl + Shift + L Select all occurrences
Alt + Click Add a cursor
Alt + / Move the line up / down
Shift + Alt + / Duplicate the line
Ctrl + / Toggle line comment
F2 Rename symbol
F12 Go to definition

Search

Shortcut Action
Ctrl + F Find in the file
Ctrl + Shift + F Find across the whole project
Ctrl + H Replace in the file

On Mac, swap Ctrl for Cmd for most of these. Ctrl + Shift + P then "Preferences: Open Keyboard Shortcuts" opens the editor to customise anything.

Terminal and debugging

Shortcut Action
Ctrl + Shift + ` New terminal
F5 Start debugging
F9 Toggle a breakpoint
F10 / F11 Step over / into
Ctrl + Shift + M Problems panel (errors, warnings)

Zen mode and layout

Shortcut Action
Ctrl + K Z Zen mode (full screen, distraction-free)
Ctrl + Shift + E File explorer
Ctrl + Shift + X Extensions
Ctrl + \ Split the editor

settings.json (via the command palette → "Preferences: Open User Settings (JSON)") lets you sync your configuration across machines through a GitHub or Microsoft account (Settings Sync).

#Shortcuts
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