โจ๏ธDev Shortcutsโฑ๏ธ 14 min read•Updated October 2026
VS Code Keyboard Shortcuts & Workflow Productivity Cheat Sheet
Comprehensive cross-platform keyboard shortcut cheat sheet and productivity guide for Visual Studio Code across Windows, macOS, and Linux: multi-cursor editing, command palette, navigation, refactoring, and integrated terminal mastery.
#vscode#keyboard-shortcuts#hotkeys#developer-productivity#code-editor#workflow
2. Multi-Cursor & Multi-Selection Superpowers
Multi-cursor editing is one of the biggest productivity multipliers in modern software development. Edit hundreds of lines simultaneously with zero manual typing.
| Windows / Linux | macOS (Cmd/Opt) | Action / Multi-Cursor Technique | Copy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alt + Click | Option + Click | Insert an extra cursor anywhere you click in the file. | |
| Ctrl + D | Cmd + D | Add cursor to the NEXT matching occurrence of the current selection. | |
| Ctrl + U | Cmd + U | Undo the last cursor addition without losing previous cursors. | |
| Ctrl + Shift + L | Cmd + Shift + L | Select ALL occurrences of the current word across the entire file. | |
| Ctrl + Alt + Up / Down | Cmd + Option + Up / Down | Add vertical cursors above or below the current line (column mode). | |
| Shift + Alt + I | Shift + Option + I | Insert cursors at the end of each selected line. | |
| Ctrl + Shift + Right / Left | Shift + Option + Right / Left | Expand cursor selection by full words or identifier tokens. |
3. Fast Line & Code Block Manipulation
Never copy and paste lines manually. Use these native shortcuts to move, duplicate, and format code instantly.
| Windows / Linux | macOS (Cmd/Opt) | Action / Manipulation | Copy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alt + Up / Down | Option + Up / Down | Move the current line or highlighted block up or down seamlessly. | |
| Shift + Alt + Down / Up | Shift + Option + Down / Up | Duplicate (copy) the current line or block directly below or above. | |
| Ctrl + Shift + K | Cmd + Shift + K | Delete the entire current line without putting it in your clipboard. | |
| Ctrl + Enter | Cmd + Enter | Insert a new blank line below the current line without breaking code. | |
| Ctrl + Shift + Enter | Cmd + Shift + Enter | Insert a new blank line above the current line. | |
| Ctrl + / | Cmd + / | Toggle single-line comment on or off for the current line or selection. | |
| Shift + Alt + A | Shift + Option + A | Toggle block comment (/* ... */) on current selection. | |
| Shift + Alt + F | Shift + Option + F | Format Document using Prettier or configured language formatter. |
5. Integrated Terminal & Focus Modes
Control your terminals and focus environments directly from the keyboard without switching windows.
| Windows / Linux | macOS (Cmd/Opt) | Action / Window Management | Copy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ctrl + ` (Backtick) | Ctrl + ` (Backtick) | Toggle visibility of the integrated terminal drawer. | |
| Ctrl + Shift + ` | Ctrl + Shift + ` | Create and open a brand-new integrated terminal instance. | |
| Ctrl + \ | Cmd + \ | Split active editor horizontally into dual side-by-side editing panes. | |
| Ctrl + 1 / 2 / 3 | Cmd + 1 / 2 / 3 | Focus editor group 1, 2, or 3 instantly. | |
| Ctrl + K, Z | Cmd + K, Z | Toggle Zen Mode: hide all chrome, menus, and sidebars for distraction-free coding. | |
| Esc, Esc | Esc, Esc | Exit Zen Mode back to standard workspace. |
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