⌥⇧
IDE Keyboard Shortcuts
Essential keyboard shortcuts for VS Code, JetBrains IDEs (IntelliJ, PyCharm, WebStorm), and Sublime Text. Side-by-side comparison for Mac and Windows.
Navigation & Search
| Action | VS Code | JetBrains | Sublime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Find in File | ⌘F / Ctrl+F | ⌘F / Ctrl+F | ⌘F / Ctrl+F |
| Find in Project | ⌘⇧F / Ctrl+Shift+F | ⌘⇧F / Ctrl+Shift+F | ⌘⇧F / Ctrl+Shift+F |
| Go to File | ⌘P / Ctrl+P | ⌘⇧O / Ctrl+Shift+N | ⌘P / Ctrl+P |
| Go to Symbol | ⌘⇧O / Ctrl+Shift+O | ⌘⌥O / Ctrl+Alt+Shift+N | ⌘R / Ctrl+R |
| Go to Definition | F12 | ⌘B / Ctrl+B | F12 (with LSP) |
| Go Back | ⌃- / Ctrl+Alt+Left | ⌘[ / Ctrl+Alt+Left | ⌃- / Alt+- |
Editing & Multi-Cursor
| Action | VS Code | JetBrains | Sublime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-Cursor | ⌘⌥↑↓ / Ctrl+Alt+↑↓ | ⌥⌥↑↓ / Ctrl+Ctrl+↑↓ | ⌘⌃G / Ctrl+Shift+L |
| Select Next Match | ⌘D / Ctrl+D | ⌃G / Alt+J | ⌘D / Ctrl+D |
| Select All Matches | ⌘⇧L / Ctrl+Shift+L | ⌘⌃G / Ctrl+Alt+Shift+J | ⌃⌘G / Alt+F3 |
| Move Line Up/Down | ⌥↑↓ / Alt+↑↓ | ⌥⇧↑↓ / Alt+Shift+↑↓ | ⌘⌃↑↓ / Ctrl+Shift+↑↓ |
| Duplicate Line | ⌥⇧↓ / Shift+Alt+↓ | ⌘D / Ctrl+D | ⌘⇧D / Ctrl+Shift+D |
| Delete Line | ⌘⇧K / Ctrl+Shift+K | ⌘⌫ / Ctrl+Y | ⌘⇧K / Ctrl+Shift+K |
Command Palette & Quick Actions
| Action | VS Code | JetBrains | Sublime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Command Palette | ⌘⇧P / Ctrl+Shift+P | ⌘⇧A / Ctrl+Shift+A | ⌘⇧P / Ctrl+Shift+P |
| Quick Fix | ⌘. / Ctrl+. | ⌥↵ / Alt+Enter | — |
| Rename Symbol | F2 | ⇧F6 | — |
| Format Document | ⌥⇧F / Shift+Alt+F | ⌘⌥L / Ctrl+Alt+L | — |
| Toggle Comment | ⌘/ / Ctrl+/ | ⌘/ / Ctrl+/ | ⌘/ / Ctrl+/ |
| Show Suggestions | ⌃Space / Ctrl+Space | ⌃Space / Ctrl+Space | ⌃Space / Ctrl+Space |
Tips for Switching IDEs
Coming from VS Code to JetBrains?
- Install the VS Code Keymap plugin for familiar shortcuts
- The "Search Everywhere" dialog (Double ⇧ / Double Shift) replaces Command Palette
- Learn Alt+Enter (Quick Fix) — it's the most powerful JetBrains shortcut
Coming from JetBrains to VS Code?
- Install the IntelliJ IDEA Keybindings extension
- Command Palette (⌘⇧P) is your primary entry point for commands
- Extensions add functionality — install language servers for refactoring
Sublime Text Users:
- Multi-cursor editing is Sublime's strength — both VS Code and JetBrains support it well
- Most core shortcuts (⌘P, ⌘D, ⌘/) work identically in VS Code
- For complex refactoring, JetBrains IDEs offer more built-in power
Pro Tips
- Master your Command Palette — it's faster than memorizing every shortcut
- Learn multi-cursor editing — it's a game-changer for refactoring
- Customize shortcuts for your most common actions (Settings → Keyboard Shortcuts)
- Use Go to Definition (F12) and Go Back constantly to navigate code
- In JetBrains, Double Shift (Search Everywhere) replaces multiple shortcuts
- Practice shortcuts intentionally — disable mouse for navigation for one day