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wiscer
wiscer

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VSCode shortcuts / keybinding for Non Visual Users

In this article, I’ll be sharing a selection of VSCode shortcuts and keybindings that I frequently use and find
particularly useful as a screen reader (non-visual) developer.

While memorizing every keybinding available in VSCode can
be overwhelming, focusing on a core set of shortcuts can greatly enhance efficiency and ease of use. To make this guide practical, I’ve highlighted keybindings that are most likely to be beneficial for screen reader users. The list below will have marks on shortcuts which I think essential.

The default keybindings are sourced from the official VSCode documentation as of September 3, 2024. I hope this resource will help you streamline your workflow by focusing on the most useful and frequently used shortcuts.

NOTE: The essential shortcuts will ended by πŸ‘

General

Ctrl+Shift+P, F1 πŸ‘
Show Command Palette
Ctrl+P πŸ‘
Quick Open, Go to File…
Ctrl+Shift+N
New window/instance
Ctrl+Shift+W πŸ‘
Close window/instance
Ctrl+, πŸ‘
User Settings
Ctrl+K Ctrl+S
Keyboard Shortcuts

Basic editing

Ctrl+X πŸ‘
Cut line (empty selection)
Ctrl+C πŸ‘
Copy line (empty selection)
Alt+ ↑/↓
Move line up/down
Shift+Alt+ ↑/↓
Copy line up/down
Ctrl+Shift+K πŸ‘
Delete line
Ctrl+Enter πŸ‘
Insert line below
Ctrl+Shift+Enter πŸ‘
Insert line above
Ctrl+Shift+\ πŸ‘
Jump to matching bracket
Ctrl+ ]/[
Indent/outdent line. This is useful when I want to make sure there is no whitespaces at start.
Home/End πŸ‘
Go to beginning / end of line
Ctrl+Home πŸ‘
Go to beginning of file
Ctrl+End πŸ‘
Go to end of file
Ctrl+ ↑/↓
Scroll line up/down
Alt+ PgUp/PgDn
Scroll page up/down
Ctrl+Shift+[
Fold (collapse) region
Ctrl+Shift+]
Unfold (uncollapse) region
Ctrl+K
Ctrl+[ Fold (collapse) all subregions
Ctrl+K
Ctrl+] Unfold (uncollapse) all subregions
Ctrl+K Ctrl+0
Fold (collapse) all regions
Ctrl+K Ctrl+J
Unfold (uncollapse) all regions
Ctrl+K Ctrl+C
Add line comment
Ctrl+K Ctrl+U
Remove line comment
Ctrl+/ πŸ‘
Toggle line comment
Shift+Alt+A πŸ‘
Toggle block comment
Alt+Z πŸ‘
Toggle word wrap

Navigation

Ctrl+T
Show all Symbols
Ctrl+G πŸ‘
Go to Line...
Ctrl+P πŸ‘
Go to File...
Ctrl+Shift+O πŸ‘
Go to Symbol...
Ctrl+Shift+M πŸ‘
Show Problems panel
F8 πŸ‘
Go to next error or warning
Shift+F8 πŸ‘
Go to previous error or warning
Ctrl+Shift+Tab πŸ‘
Navigate editor group history
Alt+ ←/β†’
Go back / forward
Ctrl+M πŸ‘
Toggle Tab moves focus

Search and replace

Ctrl+F πŸ‘
Find
Ctrl+H πŸ‘
Replace
F3 / Shift+F3
Find next/previous
Alt+Enter
Select all occurences of Find match
Ctrl+D
Add selection to next Find match
Ctrl+K Ctrl+D
Move last selection to next Find match
Alt+ C/R/W
Toggle case-sensitive / regex / whole word

Multi-cursor and selection

Alt+Click
Insert cursor
Ctrl+Alt+ ↑/↓
Insert cursor above / below
Ctrl+U
Undo last cursor operation
Shift+Alt+I πŸ‘
Insert cursor at end of each line selected
Ctrl+L πŸ‘
Select current line
Ctrl+Shift+L
Select all occurrences of current selection
Ctrl+F2 πŸ‘
Select all occurrences of current word
Shift+Alt+β†’
Expand selection
Shift+Alt+←
Shrink selection
Shift+Alt + (drag mouse)
Column (box) selection
Ctrl+Shift+Alt+ (arrow key)
Column (box) selection
Ctrl+Shift+Alt+ PgUp/PgDn
Column (box) selection page up/down

Rich languages editing

Ctrl+Space, Ctrl+I πŸ‘
Trigger suggestion
Ctrl+Shift+Space πŸ‘
Trigger parameter hints
Shift+Alt+F πŸ‘
Format document
Ctrl+K Ctrl+F πŸ‘
Format selection
F12 πŸ‘
Go to Definition
Alt+F12 πŸ‘
Peek Definition
Ctrl+K F12 πŸ‘
Open Definition to the side
Ctrl+. πŸ‘
Quick Fix
Shift+F12 πŸ‘
Show References
F2 πŸ‘
Rename Symbol
Ctrl+K Ctrl+X πŸ‘
Trim trailing whitespace
Ctrl+K M
Change file language

Editor management

Ctrl+F4, Ctrl+W πŸ‘
Close editor
Ctrl+K F
Close folder
Ctrl+\
Split editor
Ctrl+ 1/2/3
Focus into 1st, 2nd or 3rd editor group. This is most useful for me when I repeatedly jump between specific locations in file/files.
Ctrl+K Ctrl+ ←/β†’
Focus into previous/next editor group
Ctrl+Shift+ PgUp/PgDn
Move editor left/right
Ctrl+K ←/β†’
Move active editor group

File management

Ctrl+N
New File
Ctrl+O
Open File...
Ctrl+S πŸ‘
Save
Ctrl+Shift+S
Save As...
Ctrl+K S
Save All
Ctrl+F4 πŸ‘
Close
Ctrl+K Ctrl+W
Close All
Ctrl+Shift+T πŸ‘
Reopen closed editor
Ctrl+K πŸ‘
Enter Keep preview mode editor open
Ctrl+Tab πŸ‘
Open next
Ctrl+Shift+Tab πŸ‘
Open previous
Ctrl+K P πŸ‘
Copy path of active file
Ctrl+K R πŸ‘
Reveal active file in Explorer
Ctrl+K O
Show active file in new window/instance

Display

F11
Toggle full screen
Shift+Alt+0
Toggle editor layout (horizontal/vertical)
Ctrl+ =/-
Zoom in/out
Ctrl+B
Toggle Sidebar visibility
Ctrl+Shift+E πŸ‘
Show Explorer / Toggle focus
Ctrl+Shift+F πŸ‘
Show Search
Ctrl+Shift+G πŸ‘
Show Source Control
Ctrl+Shift+D πŸ‘
Show Debug
Ctrl+Shift+X πŸ‘
Show Extensions
Ctrl+Shift+H πŸ‘
Replace in files
Ctrl+Shift+J
Toggle Search details
Ctrl+Shift+U
Show Output panel
Ctrl+Shift+V πŸ‘
Open Markdown preview
Ctrl+K V
Open Markdown preview to the side
Ctrl+K Z
Zen Mode (Esc Esc to exit)

Debug

F9 πŸ‘
Toggle breakpoint
F5 πŸ‘
Start/Continue
Shift+F5 πŸ‘
Stop
F11 / Shift+F11
Step into/out
F10
Step over
Ctrl+K Ctrl+I
Show hover

Integrated terminal

Ctrl+` πŸ‘
Show integrated terminal
Ctrl+Shift+` πŸ‘
Create new terminal
Ctrl+C πŸ‘
Copy selection
Ctrl+V πŸ‘
Paste into active terminal
Ctrl+ ↑/↓ πŸ‘
Scroll up/down
Shift+ PgUp/PgDn πŸ‘
Scroll page up/down
Ctrl+ Home/End
Scroll to top/bottom

Other operating systems’ keyboard shortcuts and additional unassigned shortcuts available at aka.ms/vscodekeybindings






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