Productivity Reference

Keyboard Shortcuts

A keyboard shortcut is a combination of keys that performs a specific action. The shortcuts typically involve one or more modifier keys such as Ctrl, Alt, or Command combined with another key usually a letter, number, or punctuation symbol. By using keyboard shortcuts, you can bypass navigating through menus and dialog boxes in software applications. Tasks that would normally require multiple clicks with a mouse can be accomplished swiftly using shortcuts, and you will be less relying on mouse movements. Professionals who use keyboard shortcuts efficiently perform repetitive actions more quickly. Most software allows customization of keyboard shortcuts. Users can assign their preferred shortcuts for specific functions. Additionally, each application often has its own unique set of shortcuts. We have crafted shortcuts for most commonly used applications across multiple platforms.

Practical Notes

Shortcut Learning Strategy

Keyboard shortcuts are easiest to adopt when you focus on repeated actions instead of trying to memorize an entire application at once.

Start with frequent tasks

Learn the commands you use every hour: search, save, switch tabs, copy, paste, undo, and open command menus.

Mind the platform

The same action may use Ctrl on Windows or Linux and Command on macOS.

Practice in context

Shortcuts stick faster when you use them during real work instead of reading a list once.

Shortcut	Application	Action
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`T`	MS VSCode	Reopen closed editor
`Ctrl`+`H`	MS VSCode	Replace
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`H`	MS VSCode	Replace in files
`Ctrl`+`K`then`R`	MS VSCode	Reveal active file in Explorer
`Ctrl`+`S`	MS VSCode	Save
`Ctrl`+`K`then`S`	MS VSCode	Save All
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`S`	MS VSCode	Save As...
`Ctrl`+`↑`or`↓`	MS VSCode	Scroll line up/down
`Alt`+`PgUp`or`PgDn`	MS VSCode	Scroll page up/down
`Shift`+`PgUp`or`PgDn`	MS VSCode	Scroll page up/down
`Ctrl`+`Home`or`End`	MS VSCode	Scroll to top/bottom
`Ctrl`+`↑`or`↓`	MS VSCode	Scroll up/down
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`L`	MS VSCode	Select all occurrences of current selection
`Ctrl`+`F2`	MS VSCode	Select all occurrences of current word
`Alt`+`Enter`	MS VSCode	Select all occurrences of Find match
`Ctrl`+`L`	MS VSCode	Select current line
`Ctrl`+`K`then`O`	MS VSCode	Show active file in new window/instance
`Ctrl`+`T`	MS VSCode	Show all Symbols
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`P`	MS VSCode	Show Command Palette
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`D`	MS VSCode	Show Debug
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`E`	MS VSCode	Show Explorer / Toggle focus
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`X`	MS VSCode	Show Extensions
`Ctrl`+`K`then`Ctrl`+`I`	MS VSCode	Show hover
`Ctrl`+`	MS VSCode	Show integrated terminal
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`U`	MS VSCode	Show Output panel
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`M`	MS VSCode	Show Problems panel
`Shift`+`F12`	MS VSCode	Show References
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F`	MS VSCode	Show Search
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`G`	MS VSCode	Show Source Control
`Shift`+`Alt`+`←`	MS VSCode	Shrink selection
`Ctrl`+`\`	MS VSCode	Split editor
`F5`	MS VSCode	Start/Continue
`F11`or`Shift`+`F11`	MS VSCode	Step into/out
`F10`	MS VSCode	Step over
`Shift`+`F5`	MS VSCode	Stop
`Shift`+`Alt`+`A`	MS VSCode	Toggle block comment
`F9`	MS VSCode	Toggle breakpoint
`Alt`+`C`or`R`or`W`	MS VSCode	Toggle case-sensitive / regex / whole word
`Shift`+`Alt`+`0`	MS VSCode	Toggle editor layout (horizontal/vertical)
`F11`	MS VSCode	Toggle full screen
`Ctrl`+`/`	MS VSCode	Toggle line comment
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`J`	MS VSCode	Toggle Search details
`Ctrl`+`B`	MS VSCode	Toggle Sidebar visibility
`Alt`+`Z`	MS VSCode	Toggle word wrap
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Space`	MS VSCode	Trigger parameter hints
`Ctrl`+`Space`then`Ctrl`+`I`	MS VSCode	Trigger suggestion
`Ctrl`+`K`then`Ctrl`+`X`	MS VSCode	Trim trailing whitespace
`Ctrl`+`U`	MS VSCode	Undo last cursor operation
`Ctrl`+`K`then`Ctrl`+`J`	MS VSCode	Unfold (uncollapse) all regions
`Ctrl`+`K`then`Ctrl`+`]`	MS VSCode	Unfold (uncollapse) all subregions

Shortcut Learning Strategy

Start with frequent tasks

Mind the platform

Practice in context

Related References