20 Must-Know VS Code Shortcuts (Mac and Windows)

Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is among the most popular code editors.

It's packed with powerful features that can speed up your development workflow.

But are you taking full advantage of what it has to offer?

For both Mac and Windows, here's a list of 20 VS Code shortcuts that every developer should know (or at least have for reference).

Small improvements over time can add up to massive productivity gains. 🦾

Quick note for clarity: the + indicates "and" the command. So as an example, Command + Shift + P would be the same as me saying for you to press ⌘, Shift and P all at the same time.

Note for Mac users:

⌘ = Command (or Cmd)
⇧ = Shift
⌥ = Option (or Alt)
⌃ = Control (or Ctrl)

1. Open Command Palette

Your Gateway to Everything in VS Code

Mac: Command + Shift + P
Windows: Ctrl + Shift + P You can also just hit F12

2. Open File

Find and Open Files Like a Pro

Mac: Command + P
Windows: Ctrl + P

3. Close Editor

Quickly Close the Current File

Mac: Command + W
Windows: Ctrl + W

4. Find and Replace

Search and Modify Your Code Efficiently

Mac: Command + F (Find), Command + Option + F (Replace)
Windows: Ctrl + F (Find), Ctrl + H (Replace)

5. Toggle Sidebar Visibility

Clean Up Your Workspace

Mac: Command + B
Windows: Ctrl + B

6. Toggle Integrated Terminal

Command Line Access at Your Fingertips

Mac: Command + `
Windows: Ctrl + `

7. Toggle Line Comment

Comment Like a Ninja. Select the line you want to comment and then:

Mac: Command + /
Windows: Ctrl + /

8. Select All Occurrences of Find Match

Edit Multiple Instances at Once

Mac: Command + Shift + L
Windows: Ctrl + Shift + L

9. Create a New Terminal

Multiple Terminals for Maximum Productivity

Mac: Control + Shift + `
Windows: Ctrl + Shift + `

10. Jump to Matching Bracket - Never Lose Track of Your Brackets

Mac: Command + Shift + \
Windows: Ctrl + Shift + \

11. Jump to Matching Bracket

Never Lose Track of Your Brackets

Mac: Command + Shift + \
Windows: Ctrl + Shift + \

12. Split Editor

Divide Your Editor Into Multiple Panels

Mac: Command + \
Windows: Ctrl + \

13. Show Git Changes

View All Changes Made to the File Since the Last Git Commit

Mac: Command + K Command + G
Windows: Ctrl + K Ctrl + G

14. Duplicate Line

Copy the Current Line or Selection

Mac: Command + D
Windows: Ctrl + D

15. Delete Line

Remove the Current Line or Selection

Mac: Command + Shift + K
Windows: Ctrl + Shift + K

16. Navigate to Back/Forward to Edit Location

Handy for remembering where you were. Return to Where You Last Made Changes

Mac: Control + - / Control + Shift + -
Windows: Alt + ← / Alt + →

17. Format Document

Automatically Format Your Code

Mac: Shift + Option + F
Windows: Shift + Alt + F

18. Move Line Up/Down

Reorder Your Code Lines Quickly

Mac: Option + Up/Down Arrow
Windows: Alt + Up/Down Arrow

19. Switch Between Tabs

Move Between Open Editor Tabs

Mac: Control + Tab
Windows: Ctrl + Tab

20. Expand/Shrink Selection

Select Code Logically by Expansion

Mac: Control + Shift + Command + Right/Left Arrow
Windows: Ctrl + Shift + Alt + Right/Left Arrow

These shortcuts are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to enhancing your workflow in VS Code.

Spend some time with them, try to memorize the ones that align with your usual tasks, and see how they can transform your coding experience. 🚀

Happy coding! ✌️

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