Split VS Code editors and move focus between groups
Command-Backslash splits the editor. Command-1, Command-2 and Command-3 focus the corresponding editor groups.
- 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.
Split only when two views help the task
A split is useful for comparing a definition with its use, reading documentation beside code or inspecting two parts of a file. It is not automatically better than one editor. Decide which two things need to remain visible before adding another group, then check the layout and active editor.
Track focus before typing
A visible editor is not necessarily the editor that will receive your next keystroke. Group-focus commands make that choice explicit. Before typing a replacement or running a selection-based action, look for the active tab and insertion point so an edit does not land in the comparison view by mistake.
Keep an easy route back to one view
During practice, split a harmless file and focus the first and second groups without changing contents. Then use the editor’s layout controls to return to the arrangement you prefer. The aim is a manageable comparison workspace, not a growing grid of groups whose order you no longer recognise.
Documented commands for this workflow
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
| Action | Keys | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Split the current editor | Command-Backslash | Creates another editor group according to the current layout. ↗ |
| Focus the first group | Command-1 | Targets a group, not the first file tab inside every group. ↗ |
| Focus the second or third group | Command-2 / Command-3 | Useful after confirming which groups exist. ↗ |
Sources and corrections
- macOS shortcut reference — Visual Studio Code — checked 2026-11-03
- User interface — 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.
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