Use VS Code’s Keyboard Shortcuts editor to assign a key to a command, and Configure Snippets to create reusable code templates. You can keep either setup personal or add snippets to a project’s .vscode folder to share them with collaborators. The steps below cover the visual editors, JSON configuration, snippet triggers, and syncing.
Add or change a keyboard shortcut
The Keyboard Shortcuts editor is the easiest way to find a command, see its current binding, and record a new key combination. Open it from File > Preferences > Keyboard Shortcuts, or run Preferences: Open Keyboard Shortcuts from the Command Palette. The documented shortcut for the editor is ⌘K ⌘S on macOS and Ctrl+K Ctrl+S on Windows and Linux. Labels and key combinations can vary by platform, layout, and VS Code version; check what your installation displays. VS Code: Keyboard shortcuts VS Code: Personalize VS Code
- Search for the command you want to run.
- Use its edit control and press the desired key combination to record it.
- Check the displayed binding for conflicts. Use the editor’s remove or reset controls if you need to undo a change.
Keyboard layouts affect how VS Code interprets and displays keys. Rather than assuming a familiar-looking combination is available or will map identically on another layout, record it in the editor and review the result.
Use keybindings.json for explicit rules
To edit the rules directly, open the Keyboard Shortcuts editor and choose Open Keyboard Shortcuts (JSON). A rule typically specifies a key and command ID; an optional when clause limits the context in which it applies. For example, editorTextFocus makes a binding apply while editor text has focus. Check existing rules and contexts in your installation before choosing a key.
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VS Code also supports removal rules, which prefix a command with -, and the runCommands command for running commands in sequence. For a single shortcut, the visual editor is usually simpler; use JSON when you need to inspect or maintain explicit rules and conditions. Keyboard shortcuts documentation
Create a code snippet
In VS Code, open File > Preferences > Configure Snippets. Choose a language for a language-specific snippet file, an existing snippet file, or the option to create a global snippets file. Snippet files use JSON syntax with C-style comments. A definition usually has a readable name, a prefix that triggers it, a body to insert, and optionally a description. VS Code: Snippets
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For example, this definition inserts a for-of loop. The numbered tab stops let you move between placeholders; $0 marks the final cursor position:
{
"For Loop": {
"prefix": ["for", "for-const"],
"body": ["for (const ${2:element} of ${1:array}) {", "t$0", "}"],
"description": "A for loop."
}
}The body can be an array of lines, and snippet syntax supports tab stops and variables. VS Code adjusts indentation to the insertion context. The documented syntax has exceptions, including interpolated shell code and u, which are unsupported. See the snippets documentation for the supported syntax and details. Snippet syntax and configuration
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Choose where the snippet should be available
- Language-specific: Choose a language file when the snippet belongs to one language; it is available when editing that language.
- Global user snippet: A
.code-snippetsfile makes a snippet available across languages unless you set itsscopeproperty to one or more language identifiers. - Project snippet: Create a project snippet through Configure Snippets to store it under the project’s
.vscodefolder. This is the suitable choice for repository-specific templates you want to share with collaborators.
The snippets configuration also documents include and exclude file patterns for controlling where snippets appear. Extensions can contribute snippets too; to browse them, use the Extensions view filter @category:"snippets". Extensions are optional—the built-in snippet workflow does not require one. Snippet scope and extensions
Use a snippet or give it a direct shortcut
Trigger it from IntelliSense, the picker, or Tab
Snippets can appear in IntelliSense suggestions or the Insert Snippet picker in the Command Palette. To trigger one by prefix and Tab, set "editor.tabCompletion": "on" in your settings, type its prefix, and press Tab. The picker can include snippets from language support and installed extensions as well as your own files.
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Bind a snippet to a key
For a frequently used snippet, add a rule in keybindings.json that invokes editor.action.insertSnippet. This example inserts a console log at the editor text cursor:
{
"key": "ctrl+alt+l",
"command": "editor.action.insertSnippet",
"when": "editorTextFocus",
"args": {
"snippet": "console.log($1)$0"
}
}The example key may already be assigned, and key notation can differ with platform and layout. Check the Keyboard Shortcuts editor for conflicts and adapt the binding to your setup. For an existing named snippet, the documented approach uses langId and name in args rather than embedding the snippet text. Snippet keybindings Keyboard shortcut conflicts and layouts
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Share and sync shortcuts and snippets
Choose the sharing method based on whether the setup belongs to you or to a project:
Quick Recap
- Across your own installations: Settings Sync includes custom keybindings and user snippets. Keyboard shortcuts sync separately by operating system by default. To use the same shortcuts across operating systems, clear
settingsSync.keybindingsPerPlatform. - With project collaborators: Put repository-specific snippets in the project’s
.vscodefolder so they can travel with the project. This is separate from account-based Settings Sync for your personal setup.
VS Code: Settings Sync VS Code: Project snippets
Which approach should you choose?
| Need | Use |
|---|---|
| Find a command and record a key quickly | Keyboard Shortcuts editor |
| Maintain explicit bindings, contexts, or snippet arguments | keybindings.json |
| Use a template only in one language | Language-specific snippet file |
| Reuse a template across languages or set its language scope | Global .code-snippets file |
| Share repository-specific templates with collaborators | Project snippet under .vscode |
| Choose among many snippets or discover them by prefix | Insert Snippet picker, IntelliSense, or Tab completion |
| Launch one high-frequency snippet directly | Keybinding to editor.action.insertSnippet |
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