If you spend your day in Visual Studio Code, mastering a few shortcuts pays back every single minute. Here are a handful I reach for constantly:

Essential Shortcuts

Command Palette — access any command fast:

  • macOS: ⇧⌘P
  • Windows/Linux: Ctrl+Shift+P

Quick Open — jump to files by name:

  • macOS: ⌘P
  • Windows/Linux: Ctrl+P

Multi-cursor magic — place cursors with Alt+Click, add one per selected line:

  • macOS: ⇧⌥I
  • Windows/Linux: Shift+Alt+I

Select next match:

  • macOS: ⌘D
  • Windows/Linux: Ctrl+D

Toggle Sidebar — declutter your view:

  • macOS: ⌘B
  • Windows/Linux: Ctrl+B

Zen Mode — eliminate distractions:

  • macOS: ⌘K Z
  • Windows/Linux: Ctrl+K Z

Customize Your Workflow

Want to tailor shortcuts to your workflow? Open Keyboard Shortcuts (File/Code → Preferences → Keyboard Shortcuts) and make them your own.

Printable Cheat Sheets

Grab the official printable cheat sheets (US-English keyboard):

Explore the full Keybindings & Customization Guide

What shortcut saves you the most time?

Originally posted on LinkedIn