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Yuriy Markov
Yuriy Markov

Posted on • Updated on • Originally published at scipios.netlify.com

Productivity boost with the keyboard in Visual Studio Code

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The keyboard keeps you more productive if you have to handle a lot of text every day.

It doesn't matter much what the text represents: code, post, note, etc.

In this article, I want to share hotkeys that I'm using daily while working in the Visual Studio Code.

Worth to note, that the list of shortcuts is available by this combination Ctrl + K Ctrl + S.

Spread cursor selection over several lines

Shortcut Windows Shortcut Mac Effect
Ctrl + Alt + Up Option + Command + Up Add cursor above
Ctrl + Alt + Down Option + Command + Down Add cursor below

Alt Text

Select entries starting from the word under the cursor

Shortcut Windows Shortcut Mac Effect
Ctrl + D Command + D Add Selection To Next Find Match

Alt Text

Change all occurrences of the word under the cursor

Shortcut Windows Shortcut Mac Effect
Ctrl + F2 Command + F2 Change All Occurrences

Alt Text

Tell editor to treat document in the selected format

Shortcut Windows Shortcut Mac Effect
Ctrl + K M Command + K M Change Language Mode

Alt Text

Copy active line up or down without altering the clipboard

Shortcut Windows Shortcut Mac Effect
Shift + Alt + Down Shift + Option + Down Copy Line Down
Shift + Alt + Up Shift + Option + Up Copy Line Up

Alt Text

Delete line without altering the clipboard

Shortcut Windows Shortcut Mac Effect
Ctrl + Shift + K Command + Shift + K Delete Line

Alt Text

Move focus to the open editors' view

Shortcut Windows Shortcut Mac Effect
Ctrl + K E Command + K E Focus On Open Editors View

Alt Text

Compare file with the clipboard

Shortcut Windows Shortcut Mac Effect
Ctrl + K C Command + K C Compare Active File With Clipboard

Alt Text

Fast navigation within the file

Shortcut Windows Shortcut Mac Effect
Ctrl + Shift + . Command + Shift + . Focus Breadcrumbs

Alt Text

Fold/unfold section

Shortcut Windows Shortcut Mac Effect
Ctrl + Shift + [ Option + Command + [ Fold
Ctrl + Shift + ] Option + Command + ] Unfold
Ctrl + K Ctrl + 0 Command + K Command + 0 Fold All
Ctrl + K Ctrl + J Command + K Command + J Unfold All

Alt Text

Format document/section

Shortcut Windows Shortcut Mac Effect
Shift + Alt + F Shift + Option + F Format Document
Ctrl + K Ctrl + F Command + K Command + F Format Section

Alt Text

Go to matching bracket

Shortcut Windows Shortcut Mac Effect
Ctrl + Shift + \ Command + Shift + \ Go To Bracket

Alt Text

Move line up/down

Shortcut Windows Shortcut Mac Effect
Alt + Up Option + Up Move line up
Alt + Down Option + Down Move line down

Alt Text

Rename symbol globally

Shortcut Windows Shortcut Mac Effect
F2 F2 Rename symbol

Alt Text

Toggle terminal

Shortcut Windows Shortcut Mac Effect
Ctrl + ` Control + ` Toggle Integrated Terminal

Alt Text

Split terminal and switching between terminals (updated)

Shortcut Windows Shortcut Mac Effect
Ctrl + Shift + 5 Command + \ Split Terminal
Alt + Up Option + Command + Up Focus Previous Pane
Alt + Left Option + Command + Left Focus Previous Pane
Alt + Down Option + Command + Down Focus Next Pane
Alt + Right Option + Command + Right Focus Next Pane

Thanks to fernandomaia and einav7 I've got shortcuts for the Mac!

Alt Text

Create a new terminal

Shortcut Windows Shortcut Mac Effect
Ctrl + Shift + ` Control + Shift + ` Create New Integrated Terminal

Alt Text

Split/move editor

Shortcut Windows Shortcut Mac Effect
Ctrl + \ Command + \ Split Editor
Shift + Alt + 0 Option + Command + 0 Toggle Vertical/Horizontal Editor Layout
Ctrl + Alt + Left Command + K Shift + Command + Left Move Editor Into Previous Group
Ctrl + Alt + Right Command + K Shift + Command + Right Move Editor Into Next Group

Alt Text

Conclusion

I hope that these shortcuts will help to boost your productivity as they are helping me.

All examples are given for the Windows-compatible keyboard, but they will also work on Mac. Simply replace Alt with Option and Ctrl with Control.

If you know some other helpful shortcuts, please, feel free to share them in the comments!

Want to know how I've drawn the cover image? Check this article.

Oldest comments (33)

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catonlin profile image
catonlin

These are incredibly helpful and the animations make it easy to see how to use them. Thanks!

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Yuriy Markov

You're welcome!
There are a lot of other helpful shortcuts but article is not a book! 😁

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xuroth profile image
Stephan Franz

I am incredibly thankful for this article! Especially that you took the time to show a gif (with the key captions) showcasing the various commands. Thank you so much!

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Yuriy Markov

You're welcome!

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darshaneldorado profile image
Darshan kumar

It’s very useful and handy guide for keyboard shortcuts. Thank you 👍

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Yuriy Markov

You're welcome!

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Gustavo

very cool, thank you Yuriy!

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Yuriy Markov

You're welcome! 😊

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Venu Sumanth

Thank You so much for this article Yuriy. It would help me out a lot in dealing with my day to day work.

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Yuriy Markov

You're welcome!

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MurrayVarey

Awesome post. Thanks Yuriy!

My favourite shortcuts are Ctrl + Backspace and Ctrl + Delete. These both delete an entire word, and have basically changed how I type. The best thing is, they work just about anywhere!

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Yuriy Markov

You're welcome!

Deleting the whole word is much faster! 👍

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MurrayVarey

And really satisfying!

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Daniel Brétema

On MacOS:

Option + Delete = remove from the end of the word to beginning.

Option + Fn + Delete = remove from the beginning to the end of the word.

😬

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Yuriy Markov

These shortcuts are indeed useful! Thanks for sharing! 👍

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ari.length

I didn't know this backspace trick awesome ! Thank you and thank to Yuriy :)

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songthamtung

Thanks Yuriy!

I wrote a similar blog for copy and pasting shortcuts in vs code :)

medium.com/swlh/5-advanced-copy-an...

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Yuriy Markov

Cool! 👍

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Fat-Tony

Nice

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Yuriy Markov

Thank you! 🙌

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deschant profile image
Deschant Kounou

Amazing post! thanks Yuriy! How about adding MacOS shortcuts too, what do you think?

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Yuriy Markov

You're welcome! 👍
I can add MacOS shortcuts too. The only problem is that I don't have any Apple products at hand.
But, I will look at how to get them.
Or, somebody can send them to me.
Neither way, I will update this post.
Thank you for the idea! 🙌

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Yuriy Markov

I've found a list of default shortcuts for Visual Studio Code:
go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=83...
I'll update the post soon!

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qrzysio profile image
Qrzysio

I love CTRL+D shortcut in Sublime. I haven't tried the VSC yet but after this article I will give it a try. Thanks a lot!

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Yuriy Markov

You're welcome! I'm always experimenting with the new stuff because it's funny! 👍

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einav7

Love it ! thank you Yuriy!
To split terminal on the mac is the same as split the editor - command + \
move between panes - option + command + arrows
toggle pane - command + J
hope this helps :)

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Yuriy Markov

You're my saviour! I'll update my post with this info very soon! Thank you! 👍👍

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Fernando Maia

Thanks Yuriy, I've learned some new stuff from your post.

I can't find the shortcuts on Mac for this case. Help me, please! Any help appreciated! Thank you!

If you want to update the post:

Focus Previous Pane

Command + Option + Up/Left Arrow

Focus Next Pane

Command + Option + Down/Right Arrow
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Yuriy Markov

Thank you very much! I will update this post soon!

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russ profile image
Russ

Great article, thank you for sharing! I'll definitely be trying to add some of them to my daily flow.

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Yuriy Markov

You're welcome! 👍

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Mubashir Hassan

Thanks For This Great Piece!
Truly Valuable for Productivity 🔥

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Yuriy Markov

You're welcome! 👍