Duplicate a line in VS Code (Copy Line Down)

Most of us spend a lot of time in Visual Studio Code. Shortcuts are a big part of what makes it fast: less menu hunting, more flow.

One of the most useful actions is Copy Line Down — duplicate the current line (or selection) without touching the clipboard.

Set up Copy Line Down

1. Open Settings → Keyboard Shortcuts (or File → Preferences → Keyboard Shortcuts on Windows/Linux).
2. Search for Copy Line Down.
3. Click the pencil icon to edit the binding, press the key combination you want, then press Enter.

The default on Windows is usually Shift+Alt+Down Arrow. On macOS it is often Shift+Option+Down Arrow.

More VS Code shortcuts worth memorizing

1. Command Palette (Show All Commands)

• Windows / Linux: Ctrl+Shift+P
• macOS: Cmd+Shift+P

Open the palette and type a few letters of any command — no nested menus. You can also see and change keybindings from here.

2. Quick Open (go to file)

• Windows / Linux: Ctrl+P
• macOS: Cmd+P

Jump to a file by name. Use Up / Down to move in the list; Right Arrow opens the file in the background so you can keep picking files without losing your place.

3. Toggle sidebar

• Windows / Linux: Ctrl+B
• macOS: Cmd+B

Hide or show the sidebar when you want the editor full width.

4. Close the active editor tab

• Windows / Linux: Ctrl+W
• macOS: Cmd+W

Closes the current tab — handy when many files are open.

5. Integrated terminal

• Toggle terminal: Windows / Linux: Ctrl + backtick · macOS: Cmd + backtick
• New terminal: Windows / Linux: Ctrl + Shift + backtick · macOS: Cmd + Shift + backtick

Use the first to show or hide the panel; use the second when you need an additional terminal instance.

6. Start debugging

• All platforms: F5

Starts debugging with the current launch configuration — great once your launch.json is set up.

Happy coding — keep learning and keep your shortcuts under your fingers.