VS Code Keyboard Shortcuts for Coding Productivity

If you get these 15 keyboard shortcuts under your fingers, you’ll dramatically speed up your coding productivity. You can find a more extensive list for either Windows or MacOS here:

Note: If these are new to you, start with one or two and then return for more once you master a few. Before long, you’ll forget how to use a mouse 😏.

⌘ + B (toggle sidebar)
⌘ + ⇧ + E (open file explorer in the sidebar)
⌘ + ⇧ + F (open search panel in the sidebar)
⌘ + ⇧ + X (open extensions panel in the sidebar)

Tabs/Files

⌘ + P (open file)
⌃ + ⌘ + → OR ⌃ + ⌘ + ← (split/collapse tab to the right OR left)
⌥ + ⌘ + ← OR ⌥ + ⌘ + → (rotate through tabs in a panel)
⌘ + w (close current tab)

Multi selects

⌘ + d (select next instance in file)
⌘ + ⇧ + l (select all instances in file)
⌥ + ⌘ + ↑ OR ⌥ + ⌘ + ↓ (add cursor up/down)
⌥ and Click (add/remove cursor)

Symbols/Function Definitions

⌘ (hover to peek definition; click to go to definition)
F2 (rename selected symbol)

Command Palette shortcut

⌘ + ⇧ + P (open command palette)