Choose VS Code’s Command Palette or Quick Open
Shift-Command-P searches commands; Command-P searches files. Use the palette for an action and Quick Open for a destination.
- Scope
- Visual Studio Code · Current vendor documentation checked 3 November 2026; no running-app compatibility test is claimed.
- Keyboard and customization
- Documented Mac defaults; punctuation and function keys depend on keyboard layout and hardware.. User bindings, app versions, focused controls and installed extensions can change a command. Inspect the active app menu or its shortcut editor when a listed combination differs.
- Review basis
- Documentation reviewed 2026-11-03 by Codex — primary-documentation and editorial review; no hands-on runtime test. These bindings were not tested in a running app for this guide.
Name the thing you are looking for
If you want to run an editor action, start with the Command Palette and type words from that action’s name. If you already know which file you need, start with Quick Open and type part of its path or filename. Choosing the right surface removes an unnecessary search through the wrong kind of result.
Read the selected result before accepting
A similar command name or filename can produce a plausible but wrong first match. Inspect the selected row and any path information before pressing Return. This matters in repositories containing repeated filenames and when extensions contribute commands with names similar to built-in editor actions.
Use the palette as a discovery route
When you cannot remember an action’s binding, finding the command by name is still useful. After locating it, inspect the Keyboard Shortcuts editor if you want to learn or change its keys. You do not have to invent a global shortcut or install another extension just to find an existing command.
Documented commands for this workflow
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
| Action | Keys | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Search editor commands | Shift-Command-P | The Command Palette lists commands rather than repository files. ↗ |
| Find a file by name | Command-P | Quick Open is the file-oriented route. ↗ |
| Inspect shortcut assignments | Command-K, then Command-S | This is a two-stage chord, not one simultaneous combination. ↗ |
Sources and corrections
- Default keyboard shortcuts — Visual Studio Code — checked 2026-11-03
- Customize keyboard shortcuts — Visual Studio Code — checked 2026-11-03
Found a mismatch? Email pashaseenainc@gmail.com with your app version, macOS version, keyboard layout and the command. Please leave personal document names out.
Keep going
Right there when you need it.
Keep a compact shortcut reference in your Mac’s menu bar.
Explore the native Mac app