How to Open the Command Palette in VS Code

Visual Studio Code is a free and open-source coding program for Windows, but you can also get it on Mac and Linux. One of its features is the command palette, which allows you to access all other functions. It’s a great way to start coding.

If you’re using VS Code, how to open the command palette is one of the first things to know. You’ll learn about how to open in on three platforms. We’ll also answer some VS Code FAQs.

How to Open Command Palette in VS Code?

The Command Palette contains all the shortcuts on your current context in VS Code. You can open it by pressing a specific button combination. Linux and Windows use the same key combination while VS Code on Mac uses a different one.

Let’s take a look at how you’ll open the Command Palette in VS Code. We’ll start with the Linux version:

Linux

VS Code on Linux is the same as the Windows version in terms of operation. The keyboard shortcuts are identical too. You’ll be right at home even if you’re switching from one to the other.

Here’s how to bring up the Command Palette on Linux:

1. Launch VS Code on your Linux PC.
   
2. Press ‘’Ctrl + Shift + P.’’
   
3. The Command Palette should appear on your screen.
   
4. Type a symbol and see what commands you can do with it.
   

Alternatively, you can also press ‘’F1’’ on Linux to open the Command Palette.

Since Linux is a popular system, many programmers like to use it due to its lower hardware requirements. They also find it superior to Windows due to how customizable it is.

Windows 10

For VS Code on Windows 10, you just have to follow the same steps. A look at the keyboard shortcuts charts for Linux and Windows shows no difference at all if any.

This is how you open the Command Palette on Windows 10:

1. Launch VS Code on your Windows 10 PC.
   
2. Press ‘’Ctrl + Shift + P.’’
   
3. The Command Palette should appear on your screen.
   
4. Type a symbol and see what commands you can do with it.

From here, you can get to know all the important commands all developers using VS Code should know. The Command Palette is a great place to explore VS Code’s capabilities all at once. You just explore and see what it can do.

Mac

If you use a Mac and have VS Code, you can still bring up the Command Palette. Since a Mac keyboard is different, the commands aren’t the same. However, there’s only one difference, which is the replacement of ‘’Ctrl’’ with ‘’Cmd.’’

These are the steps for opening the Command Palette on Mac OS X:

1. Launch VS Code on your Mac.
2. Press ‘’Cmd + Shift + P.’’
   
3. The Command Palette should appear on your screen.
   
4. Type a symbol and see what commands you can do with it.

As above, ‘’F1’’ also works to open the Command Palette.

VS Code on Mac is similar enough for programmers and developers to pick up. The main difference is that the shortcuts will need some getting used to. Most of them are different and require the use of the ‘’CMD’’ key.

For the most part, the letter keys are shared across both Linux/Windows and Mac OS X. You only need to get used to slightly different combinations when you switch. Thankfully, the Command Palette is here to help.

VS Code Shortcuts

Let’s now take a look at some necessary VS Code shortcuts worth learning. These will help make coding easier for you in the long run.

Linux

• Ctrl + P

This will let you navigate to any file or symbol just by typing its name.

• Ctrl + Tab

This shortcut will let you go to the last set of files that you opened.

• Ctrl + Shift + O

Go to a specific symbol on any file.

• Ctrl + G

Instantly go to a particular line in a file.

• Ctrl + Shift + F

Search within all files at once.

• Ctrl + Shift + T

Reopen a closed editor. You can use this more than once to open more closed tabs.

• Ctrl + Alt + R

This shortcut allows you to reload your editor without closing and reopening it.

• Ctrl + Shift + D

Duplicate lines instantly. This is better than copy and pasting since you only need to click on a line and press the shortcut.

Mac

• Cmd + P

This will let you navigate to any file or symbol just by typing its name.

• Cmd + Tab

This shortcut will let you go to the last set of files that you opened.

• Cmd + O

Go to a specific symbol on any file.

• Cmd + G

Instantly go to a particular line in a file.

• Cmd + F

Search within all files at once.

• Shift + Cmd + T

Reopen a closed editor. You can use this more than once to open more closed tabs.

• Cmd + R

This shortcut allows you to reload your editor without closing and reopening it.

• Cmd + D

Duplicate lines instantly. This is better than copy and pasting since you only need to click on a line and press the shortcut.

Windows 10

• Ctrl + P

This will let you navigate to any file or symbol just by typing its name.

• Ctrl + Tab

This shortcut will let you go to the last set of files that you opened.

• Ctrl + Shift + O

Go to a specific symbol on any file.

• Ctrl + G

Instantly go to a particular line in a file.

• Ctrl + Shift + F

Search within all files at once.

• Ctrl + Shift + T

Reopen a closed editor. You can use this more than once to open more closed tabs.

• Ctrl + Alt + R

This shortcut allows you to reload your editor without closing and reopening it.

• Ctrl + Shift + D

Duplicate lines instantly. This is better than copy and pasting since you only need to click on a line and press the shortcut.

There are many shortcuts out there that will help you, but these are the few most important ones. We recommend that you download the chart for your operating system and keep it at hand to have access to all shortcuts instantly.

How to Run Code in VS Code?

To run code in VS Code, you need to download the Code Runner extension. It’s free and will let you run your code instantly with the press of a few buttons.

Linux

This is what you need to do on Linux:

1. Launch VS Code.
   
2. Press ‘’Ctrl + Shift + X’’ to view popular extensions.
3. Locate Code Runner and install it.
   
4. Once that’s done, you can start coding.
5. After you’re done coding, run your code by pressing ‘’Ctrl + Alt + N’’.

There are four other ways to run your code. They are:

• Pressing ‘’F1’’ and selecting or typing “Run Code.”
• Right-click the Text Editor and click “Run Code.”
• Click “Run Code” in the Editor Title Menu.
• Click “Run Code” in the context menu of File Explorer.

Mac

For Mac, you’ll do this instead:

1. Launch VS Code.
2. Press ‘’Shift + Cmd + X’’ to view popular extensions.
3. Locate Code Runner and install it.
   
4. Once that’s done, you can start coding.
5. After you’re done coding, run your code by pressing ‘’Ctrl + Opt + N’’.

The same four alternatives should work for Mac.

Windows

You’ll follow the same steps on Windows as you would on Linux:

1. Launch VS Code.
   
2. Press ‘’Ctrl + Shift + X’’ to view popular extensions.
3. Locate Code Runner and install it.
   
4. Once that’s done, you can start coding.
5. After you’re done coding, run your code by pressing ‘’Ctrl + Alt + N.’’

Additional FAQs

How to Open Terminal in VS Code?

You can open a terminal in VS Code by pressing ‘’Ctrl + (backtick)’’ on Windows and Linux or ‘’Ctrl + Shift + ‘’ on Mac. If you don’t want to type, you can use the View > Terminal command. The Command Palette also allows you to open a terminal.

How to Change Theme in VS Code?

Go to File > Preferences > Color Theme on Linux and Windows or Code > Preferences > Color Theme on Mac. On the former, the shortcut is ‘’Ctrl + K Ctrl + T.’’ The shortcut on Mac is ‘’Cmd + K Cmd + T.’’

All at Your Fingertips

When using VS Code, how to open Command Palette will be one of your first lessons. With it, you can learn how to use VS Code for your developing needs. It’s also a convenient place to learn shortcuts.

Do you enjoy using VS Code? What are your favorite VS Code extensions? Let us know in the comments section below.