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VS Code Shortcuts

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The shortcuts below use Windows/Linux bindings. On macOS, swap Ctrl for ⌘ (Cmd) and Alt for ⌥ (Option) for most of them — a handful keep Control, noted where they do. When in doubt, the Command Palette finds any action and shows its current binding.

The Essentials

Shortcut Action
Ctrl+Shift+P Command Palette — run any command
Ctrl+P Quick Open — jump to any file by name
Ctrl+, open Settings
Ctrl+K Ctrl+S Keyboard Shortcuts editor
Ctrl+Shift+X Extensions view
Ctrl+Shift+P then > browse all commands

Forget a shortcut? Ctrl+Shift+P, type what you want ("format", "split", "rename"). The palette lists the command and its key binding, so you re-learn it in place.

Editing

Shortcut Action
Ctrl+/ toggle line comment
Shift+Alt+A toggle block comment
Alt+↑ / Alt+↓ move line up / down
Shift+Alt+↓ copy line down (duplicate)
Ctrl+Shift+K delete line
Ctrl+Enter insert line below
Ctrl+] / Ctrl+[ indent / outdent
Shift+Alt+F format the document
Ctrl+Space trigger suggestions

Multi-Cursor & Selection

Shortcut Action
Ctrl+D select next occurrence of the word (add cursor)
Ctrl+Shift+L select all occurrences at once
Alt+Click add a cursor wherever you click
Ctrl+Alt+↑ / ↓ add a cursor above / below
Shift+Alt+drag column (box) selection
Ctrl+L select the current line
Shift+Alt+→ / ← expand / shrink selection
Shortcut Action
Ctrl+G go to line number (Mac: ⌃G)
Ctrl+Shift+O go to symbol in the file
Ctrl+T go to symbol across the workspace
F12 go to definition
Alt+F12 peek definition (inline)
Ctrl+Tab switch between open editors
Alt+← / Alt+→ navigate back / forward

Search & Replace

Shortcut Action
Ctrl+F find in the current file
Ctrl+H replace in the current file
Ctrl+Shift+F find across all files
Ctrl+Shift+H replace across all files
F3 / Shift+F3 next / previous match
Alt+Enter select all find matches

Panels & Layout

Shortcut Action
Ctrl+B toggle the sidebar
Ctrl+`` | toggle the integrated terminal (Mac: ⌃)
Ctrl+J toggle the bottom panel
Ctrl+\ split the editor
Ctrl+K Z Zen mode (distraction-free)
Ctrl+Shift+E Explorer
Ctrl+Shift+G Source Control