Keyboard shortcuts are an essential aspect of any software development environment. It allows developers to work faster and more efficiently by reducing the time spent switching between keyboard and mouse. Instead, devs can execute commands quickly and easily using a combination of keys.

VSCode is a popular code editor that offers a wide range of keyboard shortcuts. In this article, we will explore some of the most useful keyboard shortcuts in VSCode.

By the end of this article, you will have a solid understanding of some of the most important keyboard shortcuts in VSCode, and you will be well on your way to becoming a keyboard shortcut ninja!! 😎

Here are some of the keyboard shortcuts you will learn in this article. For a detailed list with visual representation, check out Canopas' Blog.

NOTE: All the shortcuts described inside the brackets are for macOS.

Basic navigation shortcuts

• Ctrl + P: Quickly open files by typing their name
• Ctrl + Tab (Ctrl + Shift + Tab): Switch between open files
• Ctrl + 1–9 (Cmd + 1–9): Jump to a specific tab
• Ctrl + B: Show/hide the sidebar
• Ctrl + Shift + E (Cmd + Shift + E): Show/hide the file explorer
• Ctrl + Shift + F (Cmd + Shift + F): Search in files
• Ctrl + F (Cmd + F): Find in the file

Please note that if these shortcuts don't work for you,

• Try checking if it’s listed at **File -> Preferences -> Keyboard Shortcuts.**
• If it’s listed there but has a different shortcut, it might be possible you’ve customized it before! just start using the same or modify it as you need.

If it’s not listed there, install an extension Duplicate selection from the Extensions tab.

Voila! you should find it working 🎉.

For more shortcuts, check out Canopas Blog.