VS Code Linux Keyboard Shortcuts
Explore essential VS Code keyboard shortcuts for Linux users. Speed up coding with advanced and time-saving commands. Improve productivity and workflow efficiency.
Total Shortcuts:
116
Categories:
11
Application:
Visual Studio Code
Platform:
Linux
All Keyboard Shortcuts
116 Shortcuts| Category | Shortcut | Description | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
| General |
Ctrl
+ Shift
+ P
or F1
|
Show Command Palette | |
| General |
Ctrl
+ P
|
Quick Open, Go to File | |
| General |
Ctrl
+ Shift
+ N
|
New window/instance | |
| General |
Ctrl
+ W
|
Close window/instance | |
| General |
Ctrl
+ ,
|
User Settings | |
| General |
Ctrl
+ K Ctrl
+ S
|
Keyboard Shortcuts | |
| Basic Editing |
Ctrl
+ X
|
Cut line (empty selection) | |
| Basic Editing |
Ctrl
+ C
|
Copy line (empty selection) | |
| Basic Editing |
Alt
+ ↓
or Alt
+ ↑
|
Move line down/up | |
| Basic Editing |
Ctrl
+ Shift
+ K
|
Delete line | |
| Basic Editing |
Ctrl
+ Enter
or Ctrl
+ Shift
+ Enter
|
Insert line below/above | |
| Basic Editing |
Ctrl
+ Shift
+ \
|
Jump to matching bracket | |
| Basic Editing |
Ctrl
+ ]
or Ctrl
+ [
|
Indent/Outdent line | |
| Basic Editing |
Home
or End
|
Go to beginning/end of line | |
| Basic Editing |
Ctrl
+ Home
or Ctrl
+ End
|
Go to beginning/end of file | |
| Basic Editing |
Ctrl
+ ↑
or Ctrl
+ ↓
|
Scroll line up/down | |
| Basic Editing |
Alt
+ PgUp
or Alt
+ PgDn
|
Scroll page up/down | |
| Basic Editing |
Ctrl
+ Shift
+ [
or Ctrl
+ Shift
+ ]
|
Fold/unfold region | |
| Basic Editing |
Ctrl
+ K Ctrl
+ [
or Ctrl
+ K Ctrl
+ ]
|
Fold/unfold all subregions | |
| Basic Editing |
Ctrl
+ K Ctrl
+ 0
or Ctrl
+ K Ctrl
+ J
|
Fold/Unfold all regions | |
| Basic Editing |
Ctrl
+ K Ctrl
+ C
|
Add line comment | |
| Basic Editing |
Ctrl
+ K Ctrl
+ U
|
Remove line comment | |
| Basic Editing |
Ctrl
+ /
|
Toggle line comment | |
| Basic Editing |
Ctrl
+ Shift
+ A
|
Toggle block comment | |
| Basic Editing |
Alt
+ Z
|
Toggle word wrap | |
| Rich Languages Editing |
Ctrl
+ Space
or Ctrl
+ I
|
Trigger suggestion | |
| Rich Languages Editing |
Ctrl
+ Shift
+ Space
|
Trigger parameter hints | |
| Rich Languages Editing |
Ctrl
+ Shift
+ I
|
Format document | |
| Rich Languages Editing |
Ctrl
+ K Ctrl
+ F
|
Format selection | |
| Rich Languages Editing |
F12
|
Go to Definition | |
| Rich Languages Editing |
Ctrl
+ Shift
+ F10
|
Peek Definition | |
| Rich Languages Editing |
Ctrl
+ K F12
|
Open Definition to the side | |
| Rich Languages Editing |
Ctrl
+ .
|
Quick Fix | |
| Rich Languages Editing |
Shift
+ F12
|
Show References | |
| Rich Languages Editing |
F2
|
Rename Symbol | |
| Rich Languages Editing |
Ctrl
+ K Ctrl
+ X
|
Trim trailing whitespace | |
| Rich Languages Editing |
Ctrl
+ K M
|
Change file language | |
| Multi-cursor and Selection |
Alt
+ Click
|
Insert cursor | |
| Multi-cursor and Selection |
Shift
+ Alt
+ ↑
or Shift
+ Alt
+ ↓
|
Insert cursor above/below | |
| Multi-cursor and Selection |
Ctrl
+ U
|
Undo last cursor operation | |
| Multi-cursor and Selection |
Shift
+ Alt
+ I
|
Insert cursor at end of each line selected | |
| Multi-cursor and Selection |
Ctrl
+ L
|
Select current line | |
| Multi-cursor and Selection |
Ctrl
+ Shift
+ L
|
Select all occurrences of current selection | |
| Multi-cursor and Selection |
Ctrl
+ F2
|
Select all occurrences of current word | |
| Multi-cursor and Selection |
Shift
+ Alt
+ →
|
Expand selection | |
| Multi-cursor and Selection |
Shift
+ Alt
+ ←
|
Shrink selection | |
| Multi-cursor and Selection |
Shift
+ Alt
+ drag mouse
|
Column (box) selection | |
| Display |
F11
|
Toggle full screen | |
| Display |
Shift
+ Alt
+ 0
|
Toggle editor layout (horizontal/vertical) | |
| Display |
Ctrl
+ =
or Ctrl
+ -
|
Zoom in/out | |
| Display |
Ctrl
+ B
|
Toggle Sidebar visibility | |
| Display |
Ctrl
+ Shift
+ E
|
Show Explorer / Toggle focus | |
| Display |
Ctrl
+ Shift
+ F
|
Show Search | |
| Display |
Ctrl
+ Shift
+ G
|
Show Source Control | |
| Display |
Ctrl
+ Shift
+ D
|
Show Debug | |
| Display |
Ctrl
+ Shift
+ X
|
Show Extensions | |
| Display |
Ctrl
+ Shift
+ H
|
Replace in files | |
| Display |
Ctrl
+ Shift
+ J
|
Toggle Search details | |
| Display |
Ctrl
+ Shift
+ C
|
Open new command prompt/terminal | |
| Display |
Ctrl
+ K Ctrl
+ H
|
Show Output panel | |
| Display |
Ctrl
+ Shift
+ V
|
Open Markdown preview | |
| Display |
Ctrl
+ K V
|
Open Markdown preview to the side | |
| Display |
Ctrl
+ K Z
|
Zen Mode (Esc Esc to exit) | |
| Search and Replace |
Ctrl
+ F
|
Find | |
| Search and Replace |
Ctrl
+ H
|
Replace | |
| Search and Replace |
F3
or Shift
+ F3
|
Find next/previous | |
| Search and Replace |
Alt
+ Enter
|
Select all occurrences of Find match | |
| Search and Replace |
Ctrl
+ D
|
Add selection to next Find match | |
| Search and Replace |
Ctrl
+ K Ctrl
+ D
|
Move last selection to next Find match | |
| Navigation |
Ctrl
+ T
|
Show all Symbols | |
| Navigation |
Ctrl
+ G
|
Go to Line | |
| Navigation |
Ctrl
+ P
|
Go to File | |
| Navigation |
Ctrl
+ Shift
+ O
|
Go to Symbol | |
| Navigation |
Ctrl
+ Shift
+ M
|
Show Problems panel | |
| Navigation |
F8
|
Go to next error or warning | |
| Navigation |
Shift
+ F8
|
Go to previous error or warning | |
| Navigation |
Ctrl
+ Shift
+ Tab
|
Navigate editor group history | |
| Navigation |
Ctrl
+ Alt
+ -
|
Go back | |
| Navigation |
Ctrl
+ Shift
+ -
|
Go forward | |
| Navigation |
Ctrl
+ M
|
Toggle Tab moves focus | |
| Editor Management |
Ctrl
+ W
|
Close editor | |
| Editor Management |
Ctrl
+ K F
|
Close folder | |
| Editor Management |
Ctrl
+ \
|
Split editor | |
| Editor Management |
Ctrl
+ 1
or Ctrl
+ 2
or Ctrl
+ 3
|
Focus into 1st, 2nd, 3rd editor group | |
| Editor Management |
Ctrl
+ K Ctrl
+ ←
|
Focus into previous editor group | |
| Editor Management |
Ctrl
+ K Ctrl
+ →
|
Focus into next editor group | |
| Editor Management |
Ctrl
+ Shift
+ PgUp
|
Move editor left | |
| Editor Management |
Ctrl
+ Shift
+ PgDn
|
Move editor right | |
| Editor Management |
Ctrl
+ K ←
|
Move active editor group left/up | |
| Editor Management |
Ctrl
+ K →
|
Move active editor group right/down | |
| File Management |
Ctrl
+ N
|
New File | |
| File Management |
Ctrl
+ O
|
Open File | |
| File Management |
Ctrl
+ S
|
Save | |
| File Management |
Ctrl
+ Shift
+ S
|
Save As | |
| File Management |
Ctrl
+ W
|
Close | |
| File Management |
Ctrl
+ K Ctrl
+ W
|
Close All | |
| File Management |
Ctrl
+ Shift
+ T
|
Reopen closed editor | |
| File Management |
Ctrl
+ K Enter
|
Keep preview mode editor open | |
| File Management |
Ctrl
+ Tab
|
Open next | |
| File Management |
Ctrl
+ Shift
+ Tab
|
Open previous | |
| File Management |
Ctrl
+ K P
|
Copy path of active file | |
| File Management |
Ctrl
+ K R
|
Reveal active file in Explorer | |
| File Management |
Ctrl
+ K O
|
Show active file in new window/instance | |
| Debug |
F9
|
Toggle breakpoint | |
| Debug |
F5
|
Start / Continue | |
| Debug |
F11
or Shift
+ F11
|
Step into/out | |
| Debug |
F10
|
Step over | |
| Debug |
Shift
+ F5
|
Stop | |
| Debug |
Ctrl
+ K Ctrl
+ I
|
Show hover | |
| Integrated Terminal |
Ctrl
+ `
|
Show integrated terminal | |
| Integrated Terminal |
Ctrl
+ Shift
+ `
|
Create new terminal | |
| Integrated Terminal |
Ctrl
+ Shift
+ C
|
Copy selection | |
| Integrated Terminal |
Ctrl
+ Shift
+ V
|
Paste into active terminal | |
| Integrated Terminal |
Ctrl
+ Shift
+ ↑
or Ctrl
+ Shift
+ ↓
|
Scroll up/down | |
| Integrated Terminal |
Shift
+ PgUp
or Shift
+ PgDn
|
Scroll page up/down | |
| Integrated Terminal |
Shift
+ Home
or Shift
+ End
|
Scroll to top/bottom |
Why Keyboard Shortcuts Matter
Keyboard shortcuts are essential for developer productivity. They allow you to perform actions quickly without moving your hands away from the keyboard, maintaining your coding flow and focus. Studies show that developers using keyboard shortcuts can be up to 30% more productive than those relying heavily on mouse interactions.
Increased Productivity
Perform actions 3-5x faster than using mouse navigation.
Reduced Context Switching
Stay focused on coding without breaking flow to reach for mouse.
Ergonomic Benefits
Reduce repetitive strain by keeping hands on home row position.
Professional Skill
Essential skill for professional developers and power users.
Frequently Asked Questions (Linux Specific)
Super key (Windows key) shortcuts might be intercepted by your Linux desktop environment:
- GNOME: Check Settings → Keyboard → Shortcuts for conflicts
- KDE: Check System Settings → Shortcuts for conflicts
- XFCE: Check Settings → Window Manager → Keyboard
- Solution: Rebind conflicting system shortcuts or use different VS Code shortcuts
Note: Some desktop environments reserve Super+Space for keyboard layout switching.
Ctrl+Alt+ shortcuts might conflict with system-level shortcuts:
- Common conflicts: Ctrl+Alt+Arrow keys (workspace switching), Ctrl+Alt+Function keys (terminal switching)
- Solution 1: Disable system shortcuts in desktop environment settings
- Solution 2: Use different VS Code shortcuts (e.g., Ctrl+Shift+ instead)
- Solution 3: Use XKB configuration to remap system shortcuts
- Check: Run
xmodmap -pke | grep "Control+Alt"to see current mappings
VS Code stores settings in different locations based on installation:
- User Settings:
~/.config/Code/User/settings.json - Keyboard Shortcuts:
~/.config/Code/User/keybindings.json - Global Storage:
~/.config/Code(for extensions and cache) - Snap Installation:
~/snap/code/current/.config/Code/User/ - Flatpak Installation:
~/.var/app/com.visualstudio.code/config/Code/User/
Use code --user-data-dir to specify a different location.
VS Code shortcuts work with different keyboard layouts, but there are considerations:
- US Layout: All shortcuts work as documented
- Non-US Layouts: Some key positions may differ (e.g., brackets, special characters)
- Solution 1: Use the same physical keys regardless of layout
- Solution 2: Customize shortcuts in
keybindings.jsonfor your layout - Tip: Use
Ctrl+Shift+P→ "Developer: Inspect Key Mappings" to see current key codes
For programming, many developers use US International layout regardless of their language.
VS Code works with Wayland, but there might be differences:
- Electron: VS Code uses Electron which has good Wayland support
- Clipboard: Wayland's clipboard might behave differently with some shortcuts
- Shortcut Conflicts: Wayland compositors (GNOME Shell, KWin, Sway) might intercept different shortcuts
- Solution: Run with
--enable-features=UseOzonePlatform --ozone-platform=waylandflags - Check: Use
echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPEto see if you're on Wayland or X11
Most keyboard shortcuts work the same on Wayland as on X11.