How do I use the multi-cursor editing feature in VS Code?
Jul 07, 2025 am 12:02 AM
VS Code's multi-cursor editing function can improve coding efficiency in three ways. First, hold down the Alt (Windows/Linux) or Option (Mac) keys and click on different positions to add multiple cursors, and then enter the content to edit synchronously; second, after selecting the text, use Ctrl Shift L (or Cmd Shift L) to select all matches and give independent cursors respectively, which is suitable for batch renaming or adding pre-suffixes; finally, click drag or Shift Alt arrow keys to place the cursor vertically in adjacent rows, suitable for editing columnar data or configuration scripts. After mastering it proficiency, you can greatly improve efficiency, but you need to pay attention to avoid misoperation.
If you've ever wanted to edit multiple lines at once in VS Code, the multi-cursor feature is a powerful tool that can save you a lot of time. It's especially useful when renaming variables, updating repetitive code blocks, or making bulk changes across different parts of your file.
Adding Multiple Cursors with the Keyboard
The most common way to use multi-cursor editing is by holding down the Alt key (on Windows/Linux) or Option key (on Mac) and clicking at different locations in your code. Each click adds a new cursor.
- Press and hold Alt
- Click where you want additional cursors
- Start typing — all cursors will edit simulateneously
This method works great when you want to make edits in completely different sections of your code. Just remember, once you start typing, every cursor will input the same characters, so be careful not to accidentally overwrite important parts.
Selecting All Matching Occurrences
Another powerful shortcut is using Ctrl Shift L (or Cmd Shift L on Mac), which selects all occurences of the currently selected text and give each one its own cursor.
For example:
- If you have a variable named
userrepeated several times in a block of code - Highlight one instance of it
- Hit Ctrl Shift L
- Now any edit you make affects all instances at once
This is particularly handy for mass renaming or adding prefixes/suffixes across multiple lines quickly.
Using Multi-Cursors on Adjacent Lines
If you're working with vertical blocks of similar code — like list items or function calls — you can place multiple cursors vertically by pressing Alt Click and Drag with your mouse.
Alternatively, you can use Shift Alt Click and Drag to create a block selection. This is helpful when you want to insert or delete content in a column-like structure.
It's also worth trying this trick with keyboard shortcuts:
- Place your cursor at the starting point
- Hold Shift Alt
- Use the arrow keys to extend the selection vertically
This lets you edit columns of text directly, which is super useful in data-heavy files or configuration scripts.
Multi-cursor editing in VS Code might feel a bit tricky at first, but once you get used to the keyboard shortcuts and mouse gears, it becomes second nature. The key is to experiment with different combinations depending on what kind of edits you need to perform.
Just keep in mind that while multi-cursor editing is fast, it can also lead to unintended changes if you're not paying attention — especially when modifying many lines at once. But overall, it's a solid product booster once you're comfortable with it.
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