VS Code Hidden Features

VS Code is packed with features, but many developers don’t take full advantage of them. In this post, I'll share some hidden tricks that can boost your productivity and streamline your workflow. 1. Multi-Cursor Magic Ever needed to edit multiple lines at once? Use multi-cursor mode: Press Alt + Click (Windows/Linux) or Option + Click (Mac) to place multiple cursors. Or, use Ctrl + D (Cmd + D on Mac) to select the next occurrence of a word. 2. Move Lines Up or Down Without Copy-Pasting Instead of cut-pasting lines, use: Alt + Up/Down Arrow (Windows/Linux) Option + Up/Down Arrow (Mac) 3. Open the Integrated Terminal Faster Skip the mouse and open the terminal with: Ctrl + ` This brings up the built-in terminal instantly. 4. Quick File Switching Jump between files without touching the mouse: Ctrl + P (Cmd + P on Mac) opens the file search. Just type part of the filename and hit Enter. 5. Peek and Edit Files Without Opening Them Need to check a function definition quickly? Hover over a function and press Alt + F12 (Windows/Linux) or Option + F12 (Mac). This opens an inline preview without switching tabs. 6. Auto-Fix Errors with One Command Instead of manually fixing code issues, let VS Code do it for you: Ctrl + . This suggests quick fixes based on linting errors. 7. Navigate Between Code Blocks Easily Jump between methods, functions, or classes using: Ctrl + Shift + O (Cmd + Shift + O on Mac) Type @ to list symbols and jump instantly. 8. Zen Mode for Distraction-Free Coding Want to focus? Enter Zen Mode with: Ctrl + K Z Press the same keys again to exit. 9. Drag and Drop for Easy Terminal Navigation Need to type a long file path in the terminal? Just drag and drop the file into the terminal, and its full path appears automatically. 10. Use Extensions Like a Pro Some must-have VS Code extensions to boost productivity: GitLens – Supercharge Git in VS Code. Bracket Pair Colorizer – Easily match brackets. TabNine – AI-powered autocompletion. Live Server – Instantly preview HTML changes. Final Thoughts VS Code is full of hidden gems that can save you time. Try these tricks and let me know which one is your favorite!

Mar 10, 2025 - 12:17

VS Code is packed with features, but many developers don’t take full advantage of them. In this post, I'll share some hidden tricks that can boost your productivity and streamline your workflow.

1. Multi-Cursor Magic

Ever needed to edit multiple lines at once? Use multi-cursor mode:

Press Alt + Click (Windows/Linux) or Option + Click (Mac) to place multiple cursors.
Or, use Ctrl + D (Cmd + D on Mac) to select the next occurrence of a word.

2. Move Lines Up or Down Without Copy-Pasting

Instead of cut-pasting lines, use:

Alt + Up/Down Arrow (Windows/Linux)
Option + Up/Down Arrow (Mac)

3. Open the Integrated Terminal Faster

Skip the mouse and open the terminal with:

Ctrl + `

This brings up the built-in terminal instantly.

4. Quick File Switching

Jump between files without touching the mouse:

Ctrl + P (Cmd + P on Mac) opens the file search.
Just type part of the filename and hit Enter.

5. Peek and Edit Files Without Opening Them

Need to check a function definition quickly?

Hover over a function and press Alt + F12 (Windows/Linux) or Option + F12 (Mac).
This opens an inline preview without switching tabs.

6. Auto-Fix Errors with One Command

Instead of manually fixing code issues, let VS Code do it for you:

Ctrl + .

This suggests quick fixes based on linting errors.

7. Navigate Between Code Blocks Easily

Jump between methods, functions, or classes using:

Ctrl + Shift + O (Cmd + Shift + O on Mac)
Type @ to list symbols and jump instantly.

8. Zen Mode for Distraction-Free Coding

Want to focus? Enter Zen Mode with:

Ctrl + K Z

Press the same keys again to exit.

9. Drag and Drop for Easy Terminal Navigation

Need to type a long file path in the terminal? Just drag and drop the file into the terminal, and its full path appears automatically.

10. Use Extensions Like a Pro

Some must-have VS Code extensions to boost productivity:

GitLens – Supercharge Git in VS Code.
Bracket Pair Colorizer – Easily match brackets.
TabNine – AI-powered autocompletion.
Live Server – Instantly preview HTML changes.

Final Thoughts

VS Code is full of hidden gems that can save you time. Try these tricks and let me know which one is your favorite!