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GitHub Copilot keyboard shortcuts in VS Code

This covers GitHub Copilot inside VS Code, where Microsoft's documentation gives each Copilot key for Windows and for Mac. Copilot's keys sit on top of VS Code's own, so the VS Code page still applies. Several of them only work in a particular place, such as the chat input or the terminal, and the notes say where.

40 shortcutsWindows and MacChecked 26 September 2026

Checked against Visual Studio Code — AI features cheat sheet, Default keyboard shortcuts, Use chat, Inline chat, Inline suggestions, Agents window, Manage agent sessions, Agents quickstart and Voice. Version: Visual Studio Code, current release, with GitHub Copilot, default keymap.

The same actions in the other AI coding tools, side by side: AI coding tools compared.

40 shortcuts

The top 12 are the Copilot shortcuts this page marks as the ones to learn first, in the order they appear here. The drill asks the marked ones first too, shuffled. Or tick your own and print those.

The 12 to learn first: the shortcuts the Copilot page marks as the ones to learn first, in the order they appear on it.

Your own sheet: the Copilot shortcuts you ticked.

Start here

Practise these
Open the Chat view #WinControl plusAlt plusIMacControl plusCommand plusI
Open chat in agent mode # On Linux it is Ctrl+Shift+Alt+I.WinControl plusShift plusIMacShift plusCommand plusI
Edit code in place with inline chat # Select the code first to scope the prompt to it. On a file that belongs to a chat editing session, the same keys ask in the Chat view instead, unless inlineChat.askInChat is set to false.WinControl plusIMacCommand plusI
Accept the suggestion # The dimmed ghost text that appears as you type.WinTabMacTab
Dismiss the suggestion #WinEscapeMacEscape
Accept only the next word of it # Microsoft says this takes the next word or the next line.WinControl plusRight arrowMacCommand plusRight arrow
Go to the next edit suggestion, then accept it # Next edit suggestions predict where your next change will be. Tab takes you there and Tab again accepts it. They are off until github.copilot.nextEditSuggestions.enabled is turned on.WinTabMacTab

In the chat

Practise these
Send the prompt #WinEnterMacReturn
Start a new chat # In the Chat view. In an editor the same keys make a new file.WinControl plusNMacCommand plusN
Switch agent # Opens the agent picker in the chat input, where modes such as Plan are chosen.WinControl plusFull stopMacCommand plusFull stop
Switch model # Opens the language model picker.WinControl plusAlt plusFull stopMacOption plusCommand plusFull stop
Find text in the conversation # Enter and Shift+Enter step through the matches. Not in Quick Chat or inline chat.WinControl plusFMacCommand plusF
Go to the previous prompt #WinControl plusAlt plusUp arrowMacOption plusCommand plusUp arrow
Go to the next prompt #WinControl plusAlt plusDown arrowMacOption plusCommand plusDown arrow
Go to the previous code block #WinControl plusAlt plusPage UpMacOption plusCommand plusPage Up
Go to the next code block #WinControl plusAlt plusPage DownMacOption plusCommand plusPage Down
Open Quick Chat # A small chat panel at the top of the editor, for quick questions. It takes the same # and @ mentions as the Chat view.WinControl plusAlt plusShift plusLMacOption plusShift plusCommand plusL
See the slash commands # Typed in the chat input. What is listed depends on the session.WinSlashMacSlash
Add context, or name a tool # Typed in the chat input, followed by a file, symbol or tool.Win#Mac#
Choose a chat participant # Such as @github, @terminal or @vscode, where the chat surface supports participants.Win@Mac@
Run a terminal command from the chat # The first character of the message, followed by the command. Only in Agent Host sessions. It runs at once, without going to the agent or asking for approval.Win!Mac!

In the terminal

Practise these
Show or hide the terminal #WinControl plusBacktickMacControl plusBacktick
Ask for a command with terminal inline chat # With the terminal focused.WinControl plusIMacCommand plusI
Run the command it suggests #WinControl plusEnterMacCommand plusReturn
Insert the command without running it # So you can change it first.WinAlt plusEnterMacOption plusReturn

The Agents window

A separate window for running and watching several agent sessions at once. Microsoft marks it as a preview, so these may change.

Practise these
Start a new agent session #WinControl plusNMacCommand plusN
Start a new quick chat #WinControl plusKthenControl plusNMacCommand plusKthenCommand plusN
Focus a session by its place in the grid # Up to Ctrl+9, or Cmd+9 on a Mac, counting from the left.WinControl plus1MacCommand plus1
Close every open session # With a session focused. It goes back to the new-session view.WinControl plusKthenControl plusWMacCommand plusKthenCommand plusW
Add a chat to the session #WinControl plusTMacCommand plusT
Delete the chat # While the chat has focus. Deleting is permanent; closing its tab only hides it.WinDeleteMacCommand plusDelete
Move focus to the previous group of chats #WinControl plusKthenControl plusLeft arrowMacCommand plusKthenCommand plusLeft arrow
Move focus to the next group of chats #WinControl plusKthenControl plusRight arrowMacCommand plusKthenCommand plusRight arrow
Show or hide the sidebar #WinControl plusBMacCommand plusB
Open the Changes panel # Where the agent's edits are listed for review.WinControl plusShift plusGMacControl plusShift plusG

Voice

Microsoft marks Voice Mode and dictation as experimental, and Voice Mode needs it switched on in settings.

Practise these
Start Voice Mode # With the chat input focused and agents.voice.enabled on. With hands-free listening on, the same keys interrupt the agent while it is speaking.WinControl plusShift plusSpace barMacShift plusCommand plusSpace bar
Mute or unmute the microphone # Without ending the voice session.WinControl plusShift plusMMacShift plusCommand plusM
Dictate a prompt # Press again to stop and keep the text. Dictation fills in the input but does not send it.WinControl plusIMacCommand plusI
Cancel dictation and remove its text #WinEscapeMacEscape
Dictate into the editor #WinControl plusAlt plusVMacOption plusCommand plusV

Next

VS Code

VS Code has more shortcuts than anyone can hold in their head, so this page is ordered by how often you would actually reach for one.

82 shortcuts · Windows and Mac

Copilot CLI

GitHub Copilot CLI is the copilot command, GitHub's coding agent for the terminal, and eight of its keys are two-step Ctrl+X chords.

95 shortcuts · Windows and Mac

Cursor

Cursor is built on VS Code, so the whole VS Code keymap comes with it and everything on that page still applies.

44 shortcuts · Windows and Mac

Claude Code

This covers Claude Code, the terminal tool, which is where the shortcuts are.

52 shortcuts · Windows and Mac

GitHub Copilot keyboard shortcuts in VS Code — comboshelf.com. Checked 26 September 2026 against Visual Studio Code — AI features cheat sheet.