VS Code Mac Keyboard Shortcuts
Discover useful VS Code keyboard shortcuts for macOS. Write code faster with essential and advanced commands. Boost daily development productivity on Mac.
Total Shortcuts:
115
Categories:
11
Application:
Visual Studio Code
Platform:
macOS
All Keyboard Shortcuts
115 Shortcuts| Category | Shortcut | Description | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
| General |
⇧⌘P
or F1
|
Show Command Palette | |
| General |
⌘P
|
Quick Open, Go to File... | |
| General |
⇧⌘N
|
New window/instance | |
| General |
⌘W
|
Close window/instance | |
| General |
⌘,
|
User Settings | |
| General |
⌘K ⌘S
|
Keyboard Shortcuts | |
| Basic editing |
⌘X
|
Cut line (empty selection) | |
| Basic editing |
⌘C
|
Copy line (empty selection) | |
| Basic editing |
⌥↓
or ⌥↑
|
Move line down/up | |
| Basic editing |
⇧⌘K
|
Delete line | |
| Basic editing |
↩
or ↩
|
Insert line below/above | |
| Basic editing |
⇧⌘\
|
Jump to matching bracket | |
| Basic editing |
⌘]
or ⌘[
|
Indent/Outdent line | |
| Basic editing |
⌘←
or ⌘→
|
Go to beginning/end of line | |
| Basic editing |
⌘↑
or ⌘↓
|
Go to beginning/end of file | |
| Basic editing |
⌃↑
or ⌃↓
|
Scroll line up/down | |
| Basic editing |
⌘PgUp
or ⌘PgDn
|
Scroll page up/down | |
| Basic editing |
⇧⌘[
or ⇧⌘]
|
Fold/unfold region | |
| Basic editing |
⌘K ⌘[
or ⌘K ⌘]
|
Fold/unfold all subregions | |
| Basic editing |
⌘K ⌘0
or ⌘K ⌘J
|
Fold/Unfold all regions | |
| Basic editing |
⌘K ⌘C
|
Add line comment | |
| Basic editing |
⌘K ⌘U
|
Remove line comment | |
| Basic editing |
⌘/
|
Toggle line comment | |
| Basic editing |
⇧⌥A
|
Toggle block comment | |
| Basic editing |
⌥Z
|
Toggle word wrap | |
| Rich languages editing |
⌃Space
or ⌘I
|
Trigger suggestion | |
| Rich languages editing |
⇧⌘Space
|
Trigger parameter hints | |
| Rich languages editing |
⇧⌥F
|
Format document | |
| Rich languages editing |
⌘K ⌘F
|
Format selection | |
| Rich languages editing |
F12
|
Go to Definition | |
| Rich languages editing |
⌥F12
|
Peek Definition | |
| Rich languages editing |
⌘K F12
|
Open Definition to the side | |
| Rich languages editing |
⌘.
|
Quick Fix | |
| Rich languages editing |
⇧F12
|
Show References | |
| Rich languages editing |
F2
|
Rename Symbol | |
| Rich languages editing |
⌘K ⌘X
|
Trim trailing whitespace | |
| Rich languages editing |
⌘K M
|
Change file language | |
| Multi-cursor and selection |
⌥Click
|
Insert cursor* | |
| Multi-cursor and selection |
⌥⌘↑
or ⌥⌘↓
|
Insert cursor above/below | |
| Multi-cursor and selection |
⌘U
|
Undo last cursor operation | |
| Multi-cursor and selection |
⇧⌥I
|
Insert cursor at end of each line selected | |
| Multi-cursor and selection |
⌘L
|
Select current line | |
| Multi-cursor and selection |
⇧⌘L
|
Select all occurrences of current selection | |
| Multi-cursor and selection |
⌘F2
|
Select all occurrences of current word | |
| Multi-cursor and selection |
⌃⇧⌘→
|
Expand selection | |
| Multi-cursor and selection |
⌃⇧⌘←
|
Shrink selection | |
| Multi-cursor and selection |
⇧⌥
+ drag mouse
|
Column (box) selection | |
| Display |
⌃⌘F
|
Toggle full screen | |
| Display |
⌥⌘0
|
Toggle editor layout (horizontal/vertical) | |
| Display |
⌘=
or ⌘-
|
Zoom in/out | |
| Display |
⌘B
|
Toggle Sidebar visibility | |
| Display |
⇧⌘E
|
Show Explorer / Toggle focus | |
| Display |
⇧⌘F
|
Show Search | |
| Display |
⌃⇧G
|
Show Source Control | |
| Display |
⇧⌘D
|
Show Debug | |
| Display |
⇧⌘X
|
Show Extensions | |
| Display |
⇧⌘H
|
Replace in files | |
| Display |
⇧⌘J
|
Toggle Search details | |
| Display |
⇧⌘C
|
Open new command prompt/terminal | |
| Display |
⌘K ⌘H
|
Show Output panel | |
| Display |
⇧⌘V
|
Open Markdown preview | |
| Display |
⌘K V
|
Open Markdown preview to the side | |
| Display |
⌘K Z
|
Zen Mode (Esc Esc to exit) | |
| Search and replace |
⌘F
|
Find | |
| Search and replace |
⌥⌘F
|
Replace | |
| Search and replace |
⌘G
or ⇧⌘G
|
Find next/previous | |
| Search and replace |
↩
|
Select all occurrences of Find match | |
| Search and replace |
⌘D
|
Add selection to next Find match | |
| Search and replace |
⌘K ⌘D
|
Move last selection to next Find match | |
| Navigation |
⌘T
|
Show all Symbols | |
| Navigation |
⌃G
|
Go to Line... | |
| Navigation |
⇧⌘O
|
Go to Symbol... | |
| Navigation |
⇧⌘M
|
Show Problems panel | |
| Navigation |
F8
|
Go to next error or warning | |
| Navigation |
⇧F8
|
Go to previous error or warning | |
| Navigation |
⌃⇧Tab
|
Navigate editor group history | |
| Navigation |
⌃⌥-
|
Go back | |
| Navigation |
⌃⇧-
|
Go forward | |
| Navigation |
⌃⇧M
|
Toggle Tab moves focus | |
| Editor management |
⌘W
|
Close editor | |
| Editor management |
⌘K F
|
Close folder | |
| Editor management |
⌘\
|
Split editor | |
| Editor management |
⌘1
or ⌘2
or ⌘3
|
Focus into 1st, 2nd, 3rd editor group | |
| Editor management |
⌘K ⌘←
|
Focus into previous editor group | |
| Editor management |
⌘K ⌘→
|
Focus into next editor group | |
| Editor management |
⌘K ⇧⌘←
|
Move editor left | |
| Editor management |
⌘K ⇧⌘→
|
Move editor right | |
| Editor management |
⌘K ←
|
Move active editor group left/up | |
| Editor management |
⌘K →
|
Move active editor group right/down | |
| File management |
⌘N
|
New File | |
| File management |
⌘O
|
Open File... | |
| File management |
⌘S
|
Save | |
| File management |
⇧⌘S
|
Save As... | |
| File management |
⌘W
|
Close | |
| File management |
⌘K ⌘W
|
Close All | |
| File management |
⇧⌘T
|
Reopen closed editor | |
| File management |
↩
|
Keep preview mode editor open | |
| File management |
⌃Tab
|
Open next | |
| File management |
⌃⇧Tab
|
Open previous | |
| File management |
⌘K P
|
Copy path of active file | |
| File management |
⌘K R
|
Reveal active file in Finder | |
| File management |
⌘K O
|
Show active file in new window/instance | |
| Debug |
F9
|
Toggle breakpoint | |
| Debug |
F5
|
Start / Continue | |
| Debug |
F11
or ⇧F11
|
Step into/out | |
| Debug |
F10
|
Step over | |
| Debug |
⇧F5
|
Stop | |
| Debug |
⌘K ⌘I
|
Show hover | |
| Integrated terminal |
⌃`
|
Show integrated terminal | |
| Integrated terminal |
⌃⇧`
|
Create new terminal | |
| Integrated terminal |
⌘C
|
Copy selection | |
| Integrated terminal |
⌘V
|
Paste into active terminal | |
| Integrated terminal |
⌘↑
or ⌘↓
|
Scroll up/down | |
| Integrated terminal |
⇧PgUp
or ⇧PgDn
|
Scroll page up/down | |
| Integrated terminal |
⌘Home
or ⌘End
|
Scroll to top/bottom |
Why Keyboard Shortcuts Matter on macOS
On macOS, keyboard shortcuts follow a consistent pattern that makes them easier to learn. The ⌘ key serves as the primary modifier (similar to Ctrl on Windows), while ⌥ (Option) and ⇧ (Shift) provide additional functionality. Mastering these shortcuts can dramatically improve your coding efficiency.
macOS Consistency
⌘ shortcuts work across most macOS apps, making VS Code feel native.
Touch Bar Support
MacBook Touch Bar shows contextual shortcuts for even faster access.
Trackpad Integration
Combine keyboard shortcuts with macOS trackpad gestures for fluid navigation.
Mission Control
Use ⌃↑ and ⌃↓ to switch between VS Code and other apps seamlessly.
Frequently Asked Questions
To reset all keyboard shortcuts to default on macOS:
- Open Command Palette (⌘+⇧+P)
- Search for "Preferences: Open Keyboard Shortcuts (JSON)"
- Delete or rename your
keybindings.jsonfile at:~/Library/Application Support/Code/User/keybindings.json - Restart VS Code to regenerate default shortcuts
On macOS:
- ⌘ (Command): Primary modifier for most application shortcuts (like ⌘+S for Save)
- ⌃ (Control): Used for system-level shortcuts and terminal commands
- ⌥ (Option/Alt): Used for alternative functions and special characters
- ⇧ (Shift): Used for capital letters and accessing upper symbols
Customizing shortcuts on macOS:
- Open Keyboard Shortcuts (⌘+K then ⌘+S)
- Search for the command you want to customize
- Click the pencil icon or double-click the keybinding
- Press your desired key combination
- Press ↩ to save
keybindings.json file directly for advanced customizations.
In the integrated terminal:
- Use ⌃+⇧+` to toggle terminal focus
- ⌘+C works for copy (not ⌃+C like in regular terminal)
- ⌘+V works for paste
- Some macOS system shortcuts like ⌘+. (cancel) also work
Yes, you have several options:
- Keyboard Mapping: VS Code automatically maps Ctrl → ⌘ for common shortcuts
- Customization: You can remap any shortcut in settings
- Extensions: Use extensions like "Windows Keybindings for macOS"
- System Level: Use macOS System Preferences → Keyboard → Shortcuts to remap keys