VS Code Keyboard Shortcuts

What is the VS Code run shortcut? It depends on how your project is configured and whether you run with the native debugger, a task runner, or a language extension: • Built-in Debugger (F5): Compiles and launches active debug configuration, stopping at breakpoints. • Run Without Debugging (Ctrl + F5): Runs your code immediately at full speed without halting at breakpoints. • Code Runner Extension (Ctrl + Alt + N): Runs the active file or selected text directly and prints output to the Output panel. (Stop run: Ctrl + Alt + M). Note: Requires the "Code Runner" extension by Jun Han. • Language REPL / Terminal (Shift + Enter): In Python, R, and Julia extensions, sends the current line or selected code to the interactive REPL terminal. • Run Selected Lines: Highlight the target lines, then press Ctrl + Alt + N (Code Runner) or Shift + Enter (interactive terminal). • Why does Ctrl + Enter do nothing? In vanilla VS Code, Ctrl + Enter (or Cmd + Enter on Mac) inserts a blank line below the current cursor, or commits staged Git changes if focus is in the Source Control box. It does not run scripts unless you configure a custom keybinding or work inside a notebook.

You can view, search, and remap every command in VS Code via the visual preferences editor or the JSON config file:

How to untab / unindent in VS Code: • To unindent (reverse tab) a line or highlighted block, press Shift + Tab (or Cmd/Ctrl + [). • To indent a line or block forward, press Tab (or Cmd/Ctrl + ]). • To edit across multiple lines at once, use multi-cursor click or vertical column selection.

How to use column selection and bracket matching in VS Code: • Column (box / vertical) selection via mouse: Hold Shift + Option (Mac) or Shift + Alt (Windows/Linux) while dragging your mouse over text. • Jump to matching bracket: Press Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + \ to bounce between opening and closing braces (), [], or {}. • Select code between brackets: Use Smart Select (Shift + Option/Alt + Right Arrow) to expand selection outwards from inside parentheses to enclosing brackets.

How to collapse methods and functions in VS Code: • Collapse / Fold All Methods: Press Cmd/Ctrl + K, Cmd/Ctrl + 0 to collapse every function and class across the entire file. • Unfold All Methods: Press Cmd/Ctrl + K, Cmd/Ctrl + J to expand all folded regions. • Fold by Level: Press Cmd/Ctrl + K, Cmd/Ctrl + 2 to collapse methods inside classes while keeping class headers visible.

If you are switching to VS Code from IntelliJ IDEA, WebStorm, PyCharm, or Sublime Text, you do not need to relearn everything from scratch: • Keymap Extensions: Search the Extensions marketplace (Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + X) for "IntelliJ IDEA Keybindings" or "Sublime Text Keymap and Settings Importer" to keep your original keystrokes. • Search Everywhere: IntelliJ uses Shift + Shift; in native VS Code, use Cmd/Ctrl + P for file search, or Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + P for all commands. • Quick Fix / Intention Actions: IntelliJ uses Alt + Enter; native VS Code uses Cmd + . (Mac) or Ctrl + . (Windows/Linux). • File Structure / Symbols: IntelliJ uses Cmd/Ctrl + F12; native VS Code uses Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + O. • Rename Symbol: Both IntelliJ and VS Code use Shift + F6 / F2.

Build muscle memory around a fast, mouse-free cycle: open file, multi-cursor edit, untab, fix, rename, format, run, and commit:

Cmd/Ctrl + P          # 1. Quick open target file
Option/Alt + Click    # 2. Multi-cursor editing
Shift + Tab           # 3. Untab / unindent lines
Cmd/Ctrl + .          # 4. Quick fix / import auto-fix
F2                    # 5. Semantic rename symbol
Shift + Alt/Opt + F   # 6. Format entire document
Ctrl + F5             # 7. Run code without debugging (or F5 to debug)
Cmd/Ctrl + Enter      # 8. Commit in Git panel

To customize or remap shortcuts, open your User keybindings.json file: • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Code/User/keybindings.json • Windows: %APPDATA%\Code\User\keybindings.json • Linux: ~/.config/Code/User/keybindings.json Official Microsoft documentation: • Default Keyboard Shortcuts Reference: https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/reference/default-keybindings • Key Bindings and Customization Guide: https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/configure/keybindings