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IntelliJ IDEA vs VS Code Shortcuts

A side-by-side comparison of keyboard shortcuts between IntelliJ IDEA (51 shortcuts) and VS Code (72 shortcuts) on macOS. See how common actions map across both apps.

Only in IntelliJ IDEA

Search & Navigation (13)

⇧ ⇧⇧Search Everywhere
⇧ ⌘ AFind Action
⌘ OOpen Class
⇧ ⌘ OOpen File
⌥ ⌘ OOpen Symbol

Editing (14)

⌘ DDuplicate Line
⌘ DeleteDelete Line
⇧ ⌘ ↑Move Statement Up
⇧ ⌘ ↓Move Statement Down
⇧ ⌘ ↩Complete Statement

Find & Replace (4)

⌘ FFind
⌘ RReplace
⇧ ⌘ FFind in Path
⇧ ⌘ RReplace in Path

Run & Debug (7)

⌃ RRun
⌃ DDebug
⌘ F9Build Project
F8Step Over
F7Step Into

Refactoring & VCS (5)

⌃ TRefactor This
⇧ F6Rename
⌘ KCommit
⌥ ⌘ ZRevert Changes
⌃ VVCS Operations

Tool Windows (8)

⌘ 1Project Window
⌘ 4Run Window
⌘ 5Debug Window
⌘ 7Structure Window
⌘ 9VCS Window

Only in VS Code

General (27)

⇧ ⌘ PCommand Palette
⌘ PQuick Open File
⇧ ⌘ NNew Window
⌘ BToggle Sidebar
⌘ Jshortcuts.vscode.togglePanel

Basic editing (5)

⌘ XCut line (empty selection)
⌘ CCopy line (empty selection)
⇧ ⌘ \\Jump to matching bracket
⌥ ⇧ AToggle block comment
⌥ ZToggle Word Wrap

Rich language editing (7)

⌃ SpaceTrigger suggestion
⇧ ⌘ SpaceTrigger Parameter Hints
⌥ ⇧ FFormat Document
⌥ F12Peek Definition
⌘ .Quick Fix

Navigation (4)

⌘ TShow All Symbols
⇧ ⌘ MShow Problems panel
⌃ ⇧ TabNavigate editor group history
⌃ ⇧ MToggle Tab moves focus

Editor management (1)

⌘ \\Split editor

Search and replace (1)

⌥ ↩Select all occurrences of Find match

Display (7)

⌃ ⌘ FToggle full screen
⌥ ⌘ 0Toggle editor layout (horizontal/vertical)
⌃ ⇧ GShow Source Control
⇧ ⌘ HReplace in Files
⇧ ⌘ JToggle Search Details

File management (6)

⌘ NNew File
⌘ OOpen File...
⌘ SSave
⇧ ⌘ SSave As
⌥ ⌘ SSave All

Debug (4)

F9Toggle Breakpoint
F5Start/Continue
F10Step Over
⇧ F5Stop

Integrated terminal (1)

⌃ ⇧ `Create new terminal

Multi-cursor selection (9)

⌥ ⌘ ↑Insert Cursor Above
⌥ ⌘ ↓Insert Cursor Below
⌘ UUndo last cursor operation
⌥ ⇧ IInsert cursor at end of each line selected
⌘ ISelect current line

Switching Between IntelliJ IDEA and VS Code

Both IntelliJ IDEA and VS Code are popular tools in the Development category. When switching between them, the biggest challenge is re-learning keyboard shortcuts — actions you perform automatically in one app require conscious effort in the other.

The comparison above highlights where shortcuts overlap (making the transition easier) and where they differ (requiring new muscle memory). Focus on learning the differences first, since the shared shortcuts will transfer naturally.

For a complete shortcut reference, visit the full shortcut pages: