VS Code Shortcut Keys List - Searchable + PDF Cheat Sheet

Basic editing

`Ctrl`+`X`	Cut the line (when nothing is selected)
`Ctrl`+`C`	Copy the line (when nothing is selected)
`Alt`+`↑`	Move the line up
`Alt`+`↓`	Move the line down
`Shift`+`Alt`+`↑`	Copy the line up
`Shift`+`Alt`+`↓`	Copy the line down
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`K`	Delete the line
`Ctrl`+`Enter`	Insert a line below
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Enter`	Insert a line above
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`\`	Jump to the matching bracket
`Ctrl`+`]`	Indent the line
`Ctrl`+`[`	Outdent the line
`Home`	Go to the start of the line
`End`	Go to the end of the line
`Ctrl`+`Home`	Go to the start of the file
`Ctrl`+`End`	Go to the end of the file
`Ctrl`+`/`	Toggle line comment
`Shift`+`Alt`+`A`	Toggle block comment
`Alt`+`Z`	Toggle word wrap

Multi-cursor and selection

`Alt`+Click	Add a cursor
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`↑`	Add a cursor above
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`↓`	Add a cursor below
`Ctrl`+`U`	Undo the last cursor operation
`Shift`+`Alt`+`I`	Add a cursor at the end of each selected line
`Ctrl`+`L`	Select the current line
`Ctrl`+`D`	Select the next match of the current word
`Ctrl`+`K`then`Ctrl`+`D`	Skip this match and select the next one
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`L`	Select all matches of the current selection
`Ctrl`+`F2`	Select all matches of the current word
`Shift`+`Alt`+`→`	Expand the selection
`Shift`+`Alt`+`←`	Shrink the selection
`Shift`+`Alt`+`Drag`	Column (box) selection

Code intelligence

`Ctrl`+`Space`	Trigger suggestions
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Space`	Show parameter hints
`Shift`+`Alt`+`F`	Format the document
`Ctrl`+`K`then`Ctrl`+`F`	Format the selection
`F12`	Go to definition
`Alt`+`F12`	Peek definition
`Ctrl`+`K`then`F12`	Open the definition to the side
`Shift`+`F12`	Show references
`Shift`+`Alt`+`F12`	Find all references
`F2`	Rename symbol
`Ctrl`+`.`	Quick fix
`Ctrl`+`K`then`Ctrl`+`X`	Trim trailing whitespace
`Ctrl`+`K`then`M`	Change the file's language mode

Editors and panes

`Ctrl`+`\`	Split the editor
`Ctrl`+`1`	Focus the first editor group (Ctrl+2, Ctrl+3 for the others)
`Ctrl`+`W`	Close the editor
`Ctrl`+`K`then`W`	Close all editors in the group
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`T`	Reopen the last closed editor
`Ctrl`+`K`then`Ctrl`+`←`	Focus the editor group to the left
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`PgUp`	Move the editor tab left
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`PgDn`	Move the editor tab right
`Ctrl`+`K`then`Ctrl`+`0`	Fold all regions
`Ctrl`+`K`then`Ctrl`+`J`	Unfold all regions
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`[`	Fold the current region
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`]`	Unfold the current region

Display and panels

`F11`	Toggle full screen
`Ctrl`+`K`then`Z`	Zen mode (press Esc twice to leave)
`Ctrl`+`=`	Zoom in
`Ctrl`+`−`	Zoom out
`Ctrl`+`B`	Show or hide the sidebar
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`E`	Explorer
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`G`	Source Control
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`D`	Run and Debug
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`X`	Extensions
`Ctrl`+`J`	Show or hide the panel
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`U`	Output panel
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`V`	Markdown preview
`Ctrl`+`K`then`V`	Open the Markdown preview to the side

Terminal and debugging

`Ctrl`+`	Show or hide the integrated terminal
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`	Create a new terminal
`Ctrl`+`↑`	Scroll the terminal up
`Ctrl`+`↓`	Scroll the terminal down
`F9`	Toggle breakpoint
`F5`	Start or continue debugging
`Shift`+`F5`	Stop debugging
`F10`	Step over
`F11`	Step into (while debugging)
`Shift`+`F11`	Step out
`Ctrl`+`K`then`Ctrl`+`I`	Show the hover information

How to use this list

Type what you want to do — “cursor”, “terminal”, “format” — or filter by section. Keys joined by + are pressed together; keys separated by a comma are a chord: press the first combination, release, then press the next. Download the PDF cheat sheet to keep beside your keyboard.

The shortcuts that save the most time

Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P) — every command in VS Code, searchable by name. If you forget a shortcut, find the command here and the shortcut is shown next to it.
Quick Open (Ctrl+P) — jump to any file by typing part of its name. Add : and a number to go to a line, or @ to go to a symbol.
Multiple cursors — Ctrl+D adds the next match of a word to the selection, so you can rename it everywhere in seconds. Alt+Click places cursors anywhere.
Move and copy lines — Alt+Up/Down moves the line; add Shift to copy it instead.
Rename symbol (F2) — renames a variable or function across every file, safer than find-and-replace.

Customising shortcuts

Open the Keyboard Shortcuts editor with Ctrl+K, Ctrl+S to search, change or remove any binding. Moving from another editor? Install a keymap extension (for example the Sublime Text keymap) to keep the shortcuts you already know — see the Sublime Text shortcut list. For system-wide keys, see Windows keyboard shortcuts.

Frequently asked questions

How do I select all occurrences of a word in VS Code?

Put the cursor on the word and press Ctrl+F2, or select it and press Ctrl+Shift+L. To add matches one at a time, press Ctrl+D repeatedly.

What is the shortcut to format code in VS Code?

Shift+Alt+F formats the whole document; Ctrl+K then Ctrl+F formats only the selection. You need a formatter for the language, such as Prettier for JavaScript.

How do I open the terminal in VS Code?

Press Ctrl+` (the backtick key, left of 1) to show or hide the integrated terminal. Ctrl+Shift+` opens a new terminal.

What does Ctrl+K, Ctrl+S mean?

It's a chord: press Ctrl+K, release, then press Ctrl+S. This one opens the Keyboard Shortcuts editor, where you can search and change any shortcut.

Are the shortcuts the same on a Mac?

Mostly — use Cmd in place of Ctrl. A few differ, for example the terminal is Ctrl+` on Mac too, and moving lines uses Option+Up/Down.

Last updated: 24 September 2026Suggest an improvement · Report a problem

`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`P`	Open the Command Palette
`F1`	Open the Command Palette
`Ctrl`+`P`	Quick Open — go to a file by name
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`N`	New window
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`W`	Close the window
`Ctrl`+`,`	Open Settings
`Ctrl`+`K`then`Ctrl`+`S`	Open Keyboard Shortcuts
`Ctrl`+`K`then`Ctrl`+`T`	Choose a colour theme

`Ctrl`+`F`	Find
`Ctrl`+`H`	Replace
`F3`	Find next
`Shift`+`F3`	Find previous
`Alt`+`Enter`	Select all matches of the find term
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F`	Search across files
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`H`	Replace across files

`Ctrl`+`T`	Go to a symbol in the workspace
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`O`	Go to a symbol in the file
`Ctrl`+`G`	Go to line
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`M`	Show the Problems panel
`F8`	Go to the next error or warning
`Shift`+`F8`	Go to the previous error or warning
`Ctrl`+`Tab`	Switch between open editors
`Alt`+`←`	Go back
`Alt`+`→`	Go forward
`Ctrl`+`M`	Toggle Tab moving focus

`Ctrl`+`N`	New file
`Ctrl`+`O`	Open a file
`Ctrl`+`S`	Save
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`S`	Save As
`Ctrl`+`K`then`S`	Save all
`Ctrl`+`K`then`P`	Copy the path of the active file
`Ctrl`+`K`then`R`	Reveal the active file in File Explorer
`Ctrl`+`K`then`O`	Open the active file in a new window

VS Code Shortcut Keys

General

Basic editing

Multi-cursor and selection

Search and replace

Code intelligence

Navigation

Editors and panes

Files

Display and panels

Terminal and debugging

How to use this list

The shortcuts that save the most time

Customising shortcuts

Frequently asked questions

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