Stop touching your mouse. The best developers don’t just write better code; they write it faster. In 2026, Visual Studio Code is a complex command center. If you click through menus to find files or run commands, you are slowing yourself down.
We analyzed how expert engineers work to build this Ultimate VS Code Cheat Sheet. We removed the clutter to focus on the top 40 keyboard shortcuts and hidden “God Mode” settings that actually save you time.
Take it with you. You can read the full guide below, or download the offline version to keep on your desktop or e-reader. We have optimized it for:
- PDF (Best for desktop & print)
- EPUB, MOBI, & AZW3 (Best for Kindle & tablets)
- DOCX (Best for editing)
Bookmark this page. This is your new manual for coding speed. Did we miss your favorite shortcut? Contact us and let us know.
1. The Navigation Essentials
Stop hunting through file trees. These shortcuts allow you to teleport across your codebase instantly.
| Action | Windows / Linux | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Command Palette (The Hub) | Ctrl + Shift + P | Cmd + Shift + P |
| Quick Open (Find File) | Ctrl + P | Cmd + P |
| Go to Line | Ctrl + G | Ctrl + G |
| Go to Symbol (Function) | Ctrl + Shift + O | Cmd + Shift + O |
| Toggle Sidebar | Ctrl + B | Cmd + B |
| Close Editor Tab | Ctrl + W | Cmd + W |
| Reopen Closed Tab | Ctrl + Shift + T | Cmd + Shift + T |
2. Speed Editing (The Flow State)
This is where 90% of your time is spent. Mastering multi-cursors and line moving will double your coding speed.
| Action | Windows / Linux | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-Cursor (Click) | Alt + Click | Opt + Click |
| Move Line Up/Down | Alt + ↑ / ↓ | Opt + ↑ / ↓ |
| Copy Line Up/Down | Shift + Alt + ↑ | Shift + Opt + ↑ |
| Add Cursor Above/Below | Ctrl + Alt + ↑ | Cmd + Opt + ↑ |
| Select All Occurrences | Ctrl + Shift + L | Cmd + Shift + L |
| Delete Line | Ctrl + Shift + K | Cmd + Shift + K |
| Cut Line (Empty Selection) | Ctrl + X | Cmd + X |
3. Refactoring & Formatting
Clean code starts with clean shortcuts. Use these to rename, format, and comment without breaking your flow.
| Action | Windows / Linux | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Rename Symbol (Refactor) | F2 | F2 |
| Toggle Line Comment | Ctrl + / | Cmd + / |
| Toggle Block Comment | Shift + Alt + A | Shift + Opt + A |
| Format Document | Shift + Alt + F | Shift + Opt + F |
| Fold Code Block | Ctrl + Shift + [ | Cmd + Opt + [ |
| Unfold Code Block | Ctrl + Shift + ] | Cmd + Opt + ] |
4. Terminal & Window Layout
Pro users split their screens. These shortcuts help you manage multiple files and your terminal without dragging windows around.
| Action | Windows / Linux | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Split Editor (Side-by-Side) | Ctrl + \ | Cmd + \ |
| Toggle Terminal | Ctrl + ` | Ctrl + ` |
| Create New Terminal | Ctrl + Shift + ` | Ctrl + Shift + ` |
| Toggle Zen Mode (Focus) | Ctrl + K then Z | Cmd + K then Z |
| Zoom In | Ctrl + = | Cmd + = |
| Zoom Out | Ctrl + - | Cmd + - |
5. “God Mode” Configuration
Shortcuts are great, but the real power lies in settings.json. Professional developers configure their editors to be distraction-free. We call this “God Mode.”
To use this, open your Command Palette and type “Open User Settings (JSON)”, then paste these lines in.
/* --- VISUAL MINIMALISM --- */ "workbench.activityBar.location": "hidden", // Hides the big left sidebar icons "workbench.statusBar.visible": false, // Hides the bottom status bar "breadcrumbs.enabled": false, // Removes top breadcrumbs "editor.minimap.enabled": false, // Disables the small map on the right /* --- AUTOMATION & HYGIENE --- */ "editor.formatOnSave": true, // Never manually format again "files.trimTrailingWhitespace": true, // Cleans up your code automatically "editor.bracketPairColorization.enabled": true, /* --- 2026 AI FEATURES --- */ "github.copilot.editor.enableAutoCompletions": true, "chat.viewSessions.orientation": "sideBySide" // Keeps AI chat next to your code
6. Debugging & AI Agents
In 2026, you shouldn’t be using console.log. Use the real debugger, and leverage the new AI Agents to fix bugs for you.
| Action | Shortcut (Universal) |
|---|---|
| Toggle Breakpoint (Stop here) | F9 |
| Start / Continue Debugging | F5 |
| Step Over (Next line) | F10 |
| Step Into (Enter function) | F11 |
| New AI Chat Session | Ctrl + Alt + I |
📥 Download the Ultimate VS Code Cheat Sheet
Keep this reference card on your desktop, tablet, or Kindle. Select your preferred format below:
(Right-click and select “Save Link As” to download)
Mastering these 40 shortcuts will save you minutes every hour. Over a year, that is weeks of saved time.
Want to make your editor look as good as it works? Stay tuned for our next guide on the Best VS Code Themes. We also have an updated Windows Server 2025 Cheat Sheet.
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