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VS Code on Windows uses Ctrl as its primary modifier. The shortcut set is the most-referenced version of VS Code shortcuts, VS Code's own documentation and most tutorials default to showing Windows/Ctrl shortcuts. If you've seen VS Code shortcuts written without a platform qualifier, they're almost certainly the Windows version.
Command Palette. Ctrl+Shift+P opens the command palette. F1 is an alternative that also works and is the same across all platforms.
Word-by-word cursor movement. On Windows, Ctrl+Left and Ctrl+Right move the cursor one word at a time. This is standard Windows text navigation behavior. On Mac, the same operation uses Option+Left and Option+Right, one of the clearest differences between the two platforms in VS Code.
Multi-cursor on Windows. Adding a cursor at an arbitrary click position uses Alt+Click. Adding cursors above or below uses the Ctrl+Alt combination. The multi-cursor shortcuts use Alt where Mac uses Option.
F-key shortcuts. On Windows, F-keys work without a Fn modifier by default. F5 starts debugging. F9 toggles a breakpoint. These are convenient single-key actions available on Windows that require Fn+F-key on Mac unless keyboard settings are changed.
Quick open. Ctrl+P opens the file finder by name, one of the highest-frequency shortcuts for any editor workflow that involves navigating between files.
Integrated terminal. Ctrl+ opens and closes the integrated terminal. This is the same shortcut across all platforms, Ctrl+ on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Menu bar. VS Code on Windows has a standard menu bar. Pressing Alt activates menu navigation, allowing keyboard access to all VS Code menu items and their submenus. This is Windows-standard behavior.
The VS Code Windows shortcut list is available as a printable PDF. The debugger shortcuts (F5, F9, step controls) are grouped in the table, printing them alongside an active debugging session helps during the initial period of building those habits.
On Windows, Ctrl+Left/Right moves the cursor word by word. On Mac, Option+Left/Right does the same. This is one of the most-noticed differences when switching between platforms, both use the operating system's native word navigation pattern.
Yes. Several important VS Code actions are bound to F-keys by default on Windows: F5 starts a debug session, F9 toggles a breakpoint at the current line, and F1 opens the command palette. These single-key shortcuts are faster than Ctrl combinations for frequently repeated debug actions.
Need more than shortcuts?
Visit the Visual Studio Code app page for an overview and helpful links.
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