Complete Visual Studio keyboard shortcuts reference — 69 shortcuts across 7 categories. Quick reference cheat sheet for Windows.
Visual Studio — the Windows IDE, not VS Code — has used the same core keymap for two decades, including the two-key chords that start with Ctrl + K and Ctrl + R. The table is the default "General" profile; C++ and Visual Basic profiles differ slightly, and Tools › Options › Keyboard shows which one is active.
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + T | Go To All |
| Ctrl + Q | Quick Launch |
| Ctrl + F | Find |
| Ctrl + H | Replace |
| Ctrl + Shift + F | Find in Files |
| Ctrl + Shift + H | Replace in Files |
| F3 | Find Next |
| Ctrl + F3 | Find Next Selected |
| Ctrl + G | Go To Line |
| Ctrl + - | Navigate Backward |
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| F12 | Go To Definition |
| Ctrl + F12 | Go To Declaration |
| Alt + F12 | Peek Definition |
| Shift + F12 | Find All References |
| Shift + Alt + F12 | Quick Find Symbol |
| F8 | Next Location |
| Shift + F8 | Previous Location |
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + K, Ctrl + C | Comment Selection |
| Ctrl + K, Ctrl + U | Uncomment Selection |
| Ctrl + / | Toggle Line Comment |
| Ctrl + K, Ctrl + D | Format Document |
| Ctrl + K, Ctrl + F | Format Selection |
| Ctrl + D | Duplicate |
| Ctrl + L | Line Cut |
| Ctrl + Enter | Line Open Above |
| Ctrl + Space | Complete Word |
| Ctrl + Shift + Space | Parameter Info |
| Ctrl + K, Ctrl + X | Insert Snippet |
| Ctrl + M, Ctrl + O | Collapse to Definitions |
| Ctrl + M, Ctrl + M | Toggle Outlining |
| Ctrl + K, Ctrl + K | Toggle Bookmark |
| Ctrl + R, Ctrl + G | Remove and Sort Usings |
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + Shift + B | Build Solution |
| Ctrl + F7 | Compile |
| Ctrl + Break | Cancel Build |
| Alt + F11 | Run Code Analysis |
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| F5 | Start Debugging |
| Ctrl + F5 | Start Without Debugging |
| Shift + F5 | Stop Debugging |
| Ctrl + Shift + F5 | Restart |
| F9 | Toggle Breakpoint |
| Ctrl + Shift + F9 | Delete All Breakpoints |
| F10 | Step Over |
| F11 | Step Into |
| Shift + F11 | Step Out |
| Ctrl + F10 | Run to Cursor |
| Ctrl + Shift + F10 | Set Next Statement |
| Shift + F9 | Quick Watch |
| Ctrl + Alt + B | Breakpoints Window |
| Ctrl + Alt + I | Immediate Window |
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + R, Ctrl + R | Rename |
| Ctrl + R, Ctrl + M | Extract Method |
| Ctrl + R, Ctrl + I | Extract Interface |
| Ctrl + R, Ctrl + E | Encapsulate Field |
| Ctrl + . | Quick Actions |
| Ctrl + R, Ctrl + O | Reorder Parameters |
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + Alt + L | Solution Explorer |
| F4 | Properties Window |
| Ctrl + Alt + O | Output Window |
| Ctrl + \, E | Error List |
| Ctrl + Alt + X | Toolbox |
| Ctrl + E, T | Test Explorer |
| Ctrl + W | Close Document |
| Ctrl + Tab | Switch Documents |
| Ctrl + N | New File |
| Ctrl + Shift + N | New Project |
| Ctrl + S | Save |
| Ctrl + Shift + S | Save All |
| Shift + Alt + Enter | Full Screen |
Many editor commands are chords: press Ctrl + K, Ctrl + C — Ctrl + K, then Ctrl + C — to comment a selection, and Ctrl + K, Ctrl + U to uncomment; Ctrl + K, Ctrl + D formats the document. Refactoring chords start with Ctrl + R: Ctrl + R, Ctrl + R renames, Ctrl + R, Ctrl + M extracts a method, Ctrl + R, Ctrl + G removes and sorts usings. If a chord seems to do nothing, the second key was pressed without Ctrl. Ctrl + . opens Quick Actions on the current line, which offers most refactorings and fixes without any chord.
Ctrl + T is Go To All: type a file, type, member or symbol name with optional prefixes (f for files, t for types). Ctrl + Q searches menus, options and windows by name. F12 goes to a definition, Alt + F12 peeks at it inline, Shift + F12 finds all references and Ctrl + - navigates back. F8 and Shift + F8 step through the Error List or Find Results.
Ctrl + Shift + B builds the solution and Ctrl + F7 compiles just the current file. F5 starts debugging, Ctrl + F5 runs without the debugger, Shift + F5 stops and Ctrl + Shift + F5 restarts. F9 toggles a breakpoint; F10 steps over, F11 into and Shift + F11 out. Ctrl + F10 runs to the cursor, Ctrl + Shift + F10 moves the instruction pointer to the current line, and Shift + F9 opens Quick Watch on the selection. Ctrl + Alt + I opens the Immediate window for evaluating expressions while paused.
They are different products with different keymaps. VS Code has its own page here; Visual Studio uses chords such as Ctrl + K, Ctrl + C.
Hold Ctrl, press K, then press C while still holding Ctrl (or release and re-press Ctrl). The status bar shows "(Ctrl+K) was pressed" while waiting.
Ctrl + T (Go To All), then type part of the name.
Ctrl + F5. F5 attaches the debugger.
Open your assistant with this page preloaded as the source — great for follow-up questions like "which of these work in other apps?"