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$devvkit resources --cheatsheet vs-code-shortcuts

VS Code Shortcuts

[editors]

Every essential VS Code shortcut: navigation, editing, multi-cursor, search, terminal, Git, and debugging, with keys and real use cases.77 commands · 6 sections

VS Code is the most popular code editor. This cheatsheet covers the shortcuts that multiply your speed: command palette and navigation, editing and multi-cursor, search and replace, the integrated terminal and Git, and the debugger.

Windows/Linux keys are shown first; on macOS replace Ctrl with Cmd and Alt with Option.

General & Navigation19

$Ctrl+P
Use case: Quick open: jump to any file by name. The most-used shortcut.Example: Ctrl+P then type file name
$Ctrl+Shift+P
Use case: Command palette: run ANY command by name.Example: Ctrl+Shift+P then "format document"
$Ctrl+Tab
Use case: Cycle through open files (tabs).Example: Ctrl+Tab
$Ctrl+B
Use case: Toggle the sidebar.Example: Ctrl+B
$Ctrl+`
Use case: Toggle the integrated terminal.Example: Ctrl+`
$Ctrl+Shift+E
Use case: Focus the Explorer sidebar.Example: Ctrl+Shift+E
$Ctrl+Shift+F
Use case: Search across ALL files.Example: Ctrl+Shift+F
$Ctrl+G
Use case: Go to line number.Example: Ctrl+G then 42
$F12
Use case: Go to definition: jump to where a symbol is defined.Example: F12 on a function name
$Alt+F12
Use case: Peek definition: inline preview without leaving the file.Example: Alt+F12
$Shift+F12
Use case: Find all references: everywhere a symbol is used.Example: Shift+F12
$Ctrl+Click
Use case: Go to definition from a click.Example: Ctrl+Click on the symbol
$F2
Use case: Rename symbol: renames every usage across files.Example: F2 on a function then type
$Ctrl+Shift+O
Use case: Go to symbol in the current file: outline navigation.Example: Ctrl+Shift+O
$Ctrl+O
Use case: Open a file from disk.Example: Ctrl+O
$Ctrl+\
Use case: Split the editor: two files side by side.Example: Ctrl+\
$Ctrl+1 / Ctrl+2
Use case: Focus editor group 1 / 2.Example: Ctrl+2
$Ctrl+K Ctrl+O
Use case: Open a folder.Example: Ctrl+K then Ctrl+O
$Ctrl+K Z
Use case: Zen mode: full-screen focus, no UI.Example: Ctrl+K then Z, Esc Esc to exit

Editing & Multi-cursor19

$Alt+Click
Use case: Add a cursor at the click: edit multiple places at once.Example: Alt+Click on each line
$Ctrl+D
Use case: Select the next occurrence of the current selection: multi-cursor storm.Example: Ctrl+D repeatedly
$Ctrl+Shift+L
Use case: Select ALL occurrences at once.Example: Ctrl+Shift+L then type
$Alt+Up / Alt+Down
Use case: Move the current line up / down.Example: Alt+Down
$Shift+Alt+Up / Down
Use case: Duplicate the line above / below.Example: Shift+Alt+Down
$Ctrl+Shift+K
Use case: Delete the whole line: no selection needed.Example: Ctrl+Shift+K
$Ctrl+Enter
Use case: Insert a new line below without moving the cursor.Example: Ctrl+Enter
$Ctrl+Shift+Enter
Use case: Insert a new line ABOVE.Example: Ctrl+Shift+Enter
$Ctrl+Alt+Up / Down
Use case: Add cursors above / below: column editing.Example: Ctrl+Alt+Down repeatedly
$Ctrl+Shift+\
Use case: Jump to the matching bracket.Example: Ctrl+Shift+\
$Shift+Alt+I
Use case: Add a cursor at the end of every selected line: suffix edit.Example: select lines then Shift+Alt+I
$Shift+Alt+Right
Use case: Expand selection: select more and more (smart).Example: Shift+Alt+Right repeatedly
$Ctrl+K Ctrl+X
Use case: Trim trailing whitespace: clean up the file.Example: Ctrl+K then Ctrl+X
$Ctrl+]
Use case: Indent the line (increase).Example: Ctrl+]
$Ctrl+[
Use case: Outdent the line (decrease).Example: Ctrl+[
$Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+Y
Use case: Undo / redo.Example: Ctrl+Z
$Ctrl+X / Ctrl+C / Ctrl+V
Use case: Cut / copy / paste: with smart line handling when nothing is selected.Example: Ctrl+C on a line copies the line
$Ctrl+/
Use case: Toggle line comment.Example: Ctrl+/
$Shift+Alt+A
Use case: Toggle block comment.Example: Shift+Alt+A

Search & Replace10

$Ctrl+F
Use case: Find in the current file.Example: Ctrl+F then type
$Ctrl+H
Use case: Replace in the current file.Example: Ctrl+H
$Ctrl+Shift+H
Use case: Replace across ALL files.Example: Ctrl+Shift+H
$Alt+Enter (in find widget)
Use case: Select ALL matches of a search: jump to multi-cursor.Example: search then Alt+Enter
$F3 / Shift+F3
Use case: Next / previous match.Example: F3
$Ctrl+Shift+J
Use case: Toggle regex mode in the search widget.Example: Ctrl+Shift+J
$Alt+C
Use case: Toggle case sensitivity in search.Example: Alt+C
$Alt+W
Use case: Toggle whole-word match in search.Example: Alt+W
$Ctrl+Shift+Q
Use case: Toggle search in open editors only.Example: Ctrl+Shift+Q
$Ctrl+P then @
Use case: Quick open then symbol: search symbols project-wide.Example: Ctrl+P then @ then type

Integrated Terminal & Git9

$Ctrl+`
Use case: Toggle the integrated terminal.Example: Ctrl+`
$Ctrl+Shift+`
Use case: Open a NEW terminal.Example: Ctrl+Shift+`
$Ctrl+Shift+5
Use case: Split the terminal panel.Example: Ctrl+Shift+5
$Ctrl+C (in terminal)
Use case: Cancel the running command (or copy if selection exists).Example: Ctrl+C
$Ctrl+Shift+C / Ctrl+Shift+V
Use case: Copy / paste in the terminal.Example: Ctrl+Shift+V
$Ctrl+Shift+G
Use case: Open the Source Control (Git) panel.Example: Ctrl+Shift+G
$Ctrl+Enter (in commit box)
Use case: Commit the staged changes with the message in the box.Example: type message then Ctrl+Enter
$Ctrl+Shift+Space
Use case: Parameter hints: see a function's signature inline.Example: Ctrl+Shift+Space
$Ctrl+K Ctrl+S
Use case: Open the keyboard shortcuts editor: find and change ANY shortcut.Example: Ctrl+K then Ctrl+S

Debugging10

$F5
Use case: Start debugging (or continue).Example: F5
$F9
Use case: Toggle a breakpoint on the current line.Example: F9
$F10
Use case: Step over: run the current line, stay on the same function.Example: F10
$F11
Use case: Step INTO: follow the function call.Example: F11
$Shift+F11
Use case: Step OUT: finish the current function.Example: Shift+F11
$Shift+F5
Use case: Stop debugging.Example: Shift+F5
$Ctrl+F5
Use case: Run without debugging.Example: Ctrl+F5
$Ctrl+Shift+F5
Use case: Restart debugging session.Example: Ctrl+Shift+F5
$Ctrl+K Ctrl+I
Use case: Hover inline: show the type of the symbol under the cursor.Example: Ctrl+K then Ctrl+I
$Ctrl+Shift+D
Use case: Open the Run and Debug view.Example: Ctrl+Shift+D

Editor UI10

$Ctrl+Shift+X
Use case: Open the Extensions view: install and manage extensions.Example: Ctrl+Shift+X
$Ctrl+Shift+M
Use case: Open the Problems panel: all errors and warnings.Example: Ctrl+Shift+M
$Ctrl+J
Use case: Toggle the bottom panel.Example: Ctrl+J
$Ctrl+W
Use case: Close the current editor tab.Example: Ctrl+W
$Ctrl+Shift+W
Use case: Close ALL editor tabs.Example: Ctrl+Shift+W
$Ctrl+K Ctrl+R
Use case: Reveal the current file in the OS file explorer.Example: Ctrl+K then Ctrl+R
$Ctrl+K Ctrl+P
Use case: Copy the current file's path.Example: Ctrl+K then Ctrl+P
$Ctrl+K M
Use case: Change the language mode of the current file.Example: Ctrl+K then M
$Ctrl+K T
Use case: Open the theme picker.Example: Ctrl+K then T
$Ctrl+Shift+U
Use case: Open the Output panel: extension and tool logs.Example: Ctrl+Shift+U

Frequently asked questions

What are the most useful VS Code shortcuts?

Ctrl+Shift+P opens the command palette, Ctrl+P jumps to any file, Ctrl+Shift+F searches across files, and Ctrl+` toggles the terminal. Ctrl+D selects the next occurrence for multi-cursor editing.

How do multi-cursors work?

Alt+Click places an extra cursor, Ctrl+Alt+Up/Down adds cursors vertically, and Ctrl+D selects the next matching word. Type once to edit all cursors simultaneously. Escape exits multi-cursor mode.

How do I debug in VS Code?

F5 starts debugging, F9 toggles a breakpoint, F10 steps over, and F11 steps into. Set a launch.json configuration for your runtime, or use the built-in debugger for Node.js and browsers.

How do I search and replace with regex?

Open Find with Ctrl+F or Replace with Ctrl+H, then toggle the .* icon to enable regular expressions. Use capture groups like (\w+) and $1 in the replace field to reference them.