VS Code useful keyboard shortcut

A comprehensive list of useful VS Code keyboard shortcuts (for Windows/Linux) to boost your productivity — without using Vim.

🔥 I use a lot

Ctrl + P → Quick open file by name
Ctrl + Shift + K → Delete current line
Shift + Alt + ↑ / ↓ → Copy line up/down
Alt + ↑ / ↓ → Move line up/down
Ctrl + Enter → Insert line below
Ctrl + Shift + Enter → Insert line above
Ctrl + ` → Toggle terminal

Ctrl + P → Quick open file by name
Ctrl + Shift + O → Go to symbol in file (function, class, variable)
Ctrl + T → Go to symbol in workspace
Ctrl + G → Go to line
Alt + ← / → → Navigate backward/forward in history
Ctrl + Tab → Switch between open files
Ctrl + B → Toggle sidebar visibility
Ctrl + ` → Toggle terminal

✍️ Editing

Ctrl + D → Select next occurrence of current word
Ctrl + Shift + L → Select all occurrences of current selection
Alt + Click → Add multiple cursors
Ctrl + Alt + ↑ / ↓ → Add cursor above/below
Shift + Alt + → / ← → Expand/shrink selection
Ctrl + Shift + K → Delete current line
Alt + ↑ / ↓ → Move line up/down
Shift + Alt + ↑ / ↓ → Copy line up/down
Ctrl + / → Toggle line comment
Shift + Alt + A → Toggle block comment
Ctrl + Enter → Insert line below
Ctrl + Shift + Enter → Insert line above

📁 File & Project Management

Ctrl + N → New file
Ctrl + S → Save
Ctrl + Shift + S → Save as
Ctrl + K S → Save all
Ctrl + W → Close current tab
Ctrl + K W → Close all tabs
Ctrl + Shift + T → Reopen closed editor
Ctrl + Shift + N → New window
Ctrl + K O → Open folder

🔍 Search & Replace

Ctrl + F → Find
Ctrl + H → Replace
F3 / Shift + F3 → Find next/previous
Alt + Enter → Select all matches
Ctrl + Shift + F → Search across files
Ctrl + Shift + H → Replace across files

🧩 Code Intelligence

F12 → Go to definition
Alt + F12 → Peek definition
Ctrl + . → Quick fix / refactor
Ctrl + / → Toggle comment
Ctrl + Space → Trigger IntelliSense
Shift + Alt + F → Format document
Ctrl + K F → Format selection
Ctrl + / → Toggle comment
F2 → Rename symbol

🧱 Terminal & Debug

Ctrl + ` → Toggle terminal
Ctrl + Shift + ` → New terminal
Ctrl + C / Ctrl + V → Copy/paste in terminal
Ctrl + Shift + C → Open new external terminal
F5 → Start debugging
Shift + F5 → Stop debugging
F9 → Toggle breakpoint
F10 → Step over
F11 → Step into

🎨 Interface & Layout

Ctrl + = / - → Zoom in/out
Ctrl + 0 → Reset zoom
Ctrl + 1 / 2 / 3 → Focus editor group 1 / 2 / 3
Ctrl + K + ← / → → Focus previous/next editor group
Ctrl + Shift + E → Focus Explorer
Ctrl + Shift + X → Focus Extensions
Ctrl + Shift + D → Focus Debug
Ctrl + Shift + G → Focus Source Control
Ctrl + Shift + M → Focus Problems

⚡ Bonus Tips

Ctrl + Shift + P / F1 → Open Command Palette (do anything!)
Ctrl + K Ctrl + S → Keyboard Shortcuts reference
Ctrl + Shift + . → Toggle word wrap
Ctrl + K Z → Zen mode (distraction-free)
Ctrl + K Ctrl + W → Close all editors