Complete Visual Studio Code keyboard shortcuts for editing, navigation, debugging, and terminal operations. The most comprehensive VS Code shortcut reference for developers.
VS Code is a popular development tool used by professionals worldwide. Learning keyboard shortcuts can dramatically speed up your workflow — studies show shortcut users save an average of 8 days per year compared to mouse-only users.
This page covers all 51 VS Code shortcuts across 8 categories: Essential Editing, Multi-cursor, Search & Replace, Navigation & Files, Code Navigation, Views & Panels, Debugging, Basic Operations. Each shortcut includes a description to help you understand when and how to use it effectively.
Start with the essentials: Learn Ctrl + X (Cut Line) and Ctrl + C (Copy Line) first — these are the most commonly used.
Practice daily: Pick 2–3 new shortcuts each day and consciously use them instead of the mouse. Within a week, they become muscle memory.
Print this cheat sheet: Keep a reference nearby until shortcuts become automatic. Focus on the Essential Editing category first.
Developer tip: Multi-cursor editing and code navigation shortcuts save the most time. Learn them before anything else.
Search all VS Code shortcuts interactively
Interactive Shortcut Finder| Shortcut | Action | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ctrl + X | Cut Line | Cut entire line if no selection. |
| Ctrl + C | Copy Line | Copy entire line if no selection. |
| Ctrl + / | Toggle Comment | Comment or uncomment selected lines. |
| Ctrl + D | Select Next Match | Select next occurrence of current word. |
| Ctrl + Shift + L | Select All Matches | Select all occurrences at once. |
| Ctrl + Shift + K | Delete Line | Delete current line without selection. |
| Ctrl + Enter | Insert Line Below | Insert new line below current line. |
| Alt + Up/Down | Move Line | Move current line or selection up/down. |
| Shift + Alt + Up/Down | Copy Line | Duplicate line or selection up/down. |
| Shortcut | Action | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Alt + Click | Add Cursor | Add cursor at clicked position. |
| Ctrl + Alt + Up/Down | Add Cursor Above/Below | Add cursor above or below current line. |
| Shift + Alt + I | Cursors at Line Ends | Add cursors at end of each selected line. |
| Ctrl + L | Select Line | Select entire current line. |
| Shortcut | Action | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ctrl + F | Find | Search in current file. |
| Ctrl + H | Replace | Find and replace in current file. |
| Ctrl + Shift + F | Find in Files | Search across all files. |
| Ctrl + Shift + H | Replace in Files | Replace across all files. |
| F3 | Find Next | Go to next search result. |
| Shift + F3 | Find Previous | Go to previous search result. |
| Shortcut | Action | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ctrl + P | Quick Open | Quickly open file by name. |
| Ctrl + Shift + P | Command Palette | Access all commands. |
| Ctrl + Tab | Next File | Switch between open files. |
| Ctrl + W | Close Editor | Close current editor tab. |
| Ctrl + \\ | Split Editor | Split editor horizontally. |
| Ctrl + 1/2/3 | Focus Editor Group | Focus on editor group 1, 2, or 3. |
| Shortcut | Action | Description |
|---|---|---|
| F12 | Go to Definition | Jump to symbol definition. |
| Alt + F12 | Peek Definition | View definition in popup. |
| Shift + F12 | Show References | Display all references to symbol. |
| Ctrl + Shift + O | Go to Symbol | Navigate to symbol in current file. |
| Ctrl + G | Go to Line | Jump to specific line number. |
| F8 | Next Error | Go to next error or warning. |
| Shortcut | Action | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ctrl + B | Toggle Sidebar | Show or hide sidebar. |
| Ctrl + Shift + E | Explorer | Open file explorer. |
| Ctrl + Shift + F | Search | Open search panel. |
| Ctrl + Shift + G | Git | Open Git source control. |
| Ctrl + Shift + D | Debug | Open debug panel. |
| Ctrl + Shift + X | Extensions | Open extensions panel. |
| Ctrl + ` | Toggle Terminal | Open or close integrated terminal. |
| Ctrl + J | Toggle Panel | Show or hide bottom panel. |
| Shortcut | Action | Description |
|---|---|---|
| F5 | Start/Continue | Start debugging or continue execution. |
| Shift + F5 | Stop | Stop debugging session. |
| F9 | Toggle Breakpoint | Add or remove breakpoint on current line. |
| F10 | Step Over | Step over to next line. |
| F11 | Step Into | Step into function. |
| Shortcut | Action | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ctrl + N | New File | Create new file. |
| Ctrl + O | Open File | Show file open dialog. |
| Ctrl + S | Save | Save current file. |
| Ctrl + Shift + S | Save As | Save current file with new name. |
| Ctrl + , | Settings | Open user settings. |
Press Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+P (Mac) to open the command palette.
Press Ctrl+P (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+P (Mac) to search and open files by name.
Press Ctrl+D to select the next occurrence of the current word, or Alt+Click to place cursors at multiple positions.
Press Ctrl+` (backtick) to toggle the integrated terminal panel.
Press Alt+Up/Down arrow to move the current line up or down.
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