Customize keyboard shortcuts

The MSSQL extension supports two mechanisms for keyboard shortcuts:

Visual Studio Code keybindings (keybindings.json): Use these keybindings for Command Palette commands such as Execute Query, Connect, and Disconnect.
Result view shortcuts (mssql.shortcuts in settings.json): Use these shortcuts for actions in the query results pane such as navigating grids, copying data, and saving results.

Choose a configuration method

Use the MSSQL Database Management Keymap extension if you want familiar Azure Data Studio or SSMS-style shortcuts.
Use Shortcuts Configuration (Preview) for day-to-day shortcut changes.
Use Advanced: Manually customize Visual Studio Code keybindings for direct control of keybindings.json.
Use Advanced: Manually customize result view shortcuts for direct control of mssql.shortcuts in settings.json.

Install the MSSQL Database Management Keymap extension

If you're moving from SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) or Azure Data Studio, install the MSSQL Database Management Keymap companion extension to use familiar shortcuts.

The extension provides the following key bindings:

Function	Windows/Linux	macOS
Run query	`F5`	`F5`
Run current statement	`Ctrl`+`F5`	`Cmd`+`F5`
Open new SQL query editor	`Ctrl`+`N`	`Cmd`+`N`
Show query results pane	`Win`+`Shift`+`R`	`Cmd`+`Shift`+`R`
Show connection list	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`D`	`Cmd`+`Shift`+`D`
Show estimated plan	`Ctrl`+`L`	`Cmd`+`L`
Toggle actual plan	`Ctrl`+`M`	`Cmd`+`M`
Cancel running query	`Alt`+`Pause`/`Break`	`Option`+`Pause`/`Break`

Note

This keymap doesn't include user-customized key bindings from Azure Data Studio. Configure custom key bindings manually in MSSQL keyboard preference settings from the Command Palette. This extension overrides some default Visual Studio Code shortcuts for database management scenarios.

You can install this extension from the Azure Data Studio migration dialog, or directly from the Visual Studio Code Marketplace.

Use Shortcuts Configuration (Preview)

The MSSQL extension includes a Shortcuts Configuration (Preview) UI to view and configure keyboard shortcuts.

You can use this UI to work with both shortcut systems:

Visual Studio Code keybindings (keybindings.json)
Result view shortcuts (mssql.shortcuts in settings.json)

Open the Shortcuts Configuration page from the MSSQL extension toolbar.

Open the Extension Shortcuts tab to view two keyboard shortcut sections:

Query Editor: Shows the most commonly used Visual Studio Code keybindings for MSSQL commands, organized into groups such as Query Execution, Connection, and Others.
Result View: Shows Result view shortcuts for the query results pane, including groups such as Navigation and Results.

Advanced: Manually customize Visual Studio Code keybindings

For most shortcut changes, use Shortcuts Configuration (Preview).

Use this section for advanced, manual control of Visual Studio Code keybindings in keybindings.json.

To customize a shortcut:

Open the Keyboard Shortcuts editor:
- macOS: Cmd+K, then Cmd+S
- Windows and Linux: Ctrl+K, then Ctrl+S
Search for the command name, such as mssql.newQuery.
Select the pencil icon next to the command, and press the new key combination.
Press Enter to confirm.

You can also edit keybindings.json directly:

Open the Command Palette:
- macOS: Cmd+Shift+P
- Windows and Linux: Ctrl+Shift+P
Select Preferences: Open Keyboard Shortcuts (JSON).
Add your shortcut.

[
    {
        "key": "ctrl+shift+n",
        "command": "mssql.newQuery",
        "when": "editorTextFocus && editorLangId == 'sql'"
    }
]

Note

You might override an existing shortcut. Check for conflicts in the Keyboard Shortcuts editor before you save your changes.

MSSQL extension commands

The extension provides commands in the Command Palette.

The following table lists commonly used commands and default shortcuts:

Command	Description	Windows/Linux	macOS
`MS SQL: Connect`	Connect to SQL Server, Azure SQL, or SQL database in Microsoft Fabric	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`C`	`Cmd`+`Shift`+`C`
`MS SQL: Disconnect`	Disconnect the current editor session	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`D`	`Cmd`+`Shift`+`D`
`MS SQL: Execute Query`	Run a query for the current active SQL document	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`E`	`Cmd`+`Shift`+`E`
`MS SQL: Execute Selection or Current Statement`	Execute only the Transact-SQL statement under the cursor	None	None
`MS SQL: Cancel Query`	Cancel the running query	None	None
`MS SQL: New Query`	Open a new SQL query file	None	None
`MS SQL: Toggle SQLCMD Mode`	Enable or disable SQLCMD mode for the active SQL document	None	None
`MS SQL: Change Connection`	Change the connection for the active SQL document	None	None
`MS SQL: Change Database`	Change the database for the active SQL document	None	None
`MS SQL: Estimated Plan`	View the estimated query execution plan	None	None
`MS SQL: Toggle Actual Plan`	Toggle actual execution plan collection for SQL queries	None	None
`MS SQL: Copy All`	Copy all query result content	None	None
`MS SQL: Toggle Query Result Panel`	Show or hide the query result panel	None	None

Advanced: Manually customize result view shortcuts

For most shortcut changes, use Shortcuts Configuration (Preview).

Use this section for advanced, manual configuration of result view shortcuts in mssql.shortcuts (settings.json). These shortcuts apply only to the query results pane.

When you customize these shortcuts, use ctrlcmd to represent both key chords:

Ctrl on Windows and Linux
Cmd on macOS

For example, ctrlcmd+c maps to Ctrl+C on Windows and Linux, and to Cmd+C on macOS.

Default configuration

{
    "mssql.shortcuts": {
        "event.queryResults.switchToResultsTab": "ctrl+alt+r",
        "event.queryResults.switchToMessagesTab": "ctrl+alt+y",
        "event.queryResults.switchToQueryPlanTab": "ctrl+alt+e",
        "event.queryResults.prevGrid": "ctrlcmd+up",
        "event.queryResults.nextGrid": "ctrlcmd+down",
        "event.queryResults.switchToTextView": "",
        "event.queryResults.maximizeGrid": "",
        "event.queryResults.saveAsJSON": "",
        "event.queryResults.saveAsCSV": "",
        "event.queryResults.saveAsExcel": "",
        "event.queryResults.saveAsInsert": "",
        "event.resultGrid.copySelection": "ctrlcmd+c",
        "event.resultGrid.copyWithHeaders": "",
        "event.resultGrid.copyAllHeaders": "",
        "event.resultGrid.selectAll": "ctrlcmd+a",
        "event.resultGrid.copyAsCSV": "",
        "event.resultGrid.copyAsJSON": "",
        "event.resultGrid.copyAsInsert": "",
        "event.resultGrid.copyAsInClause": "",
        "event.resultGrid.changeColumnWidth": "alt+shift+s",
        "event.resultGrid.expandSelectionLeft": "shift+left",
        "event.resultGrid.expandSelectionRight": "shift+right",
        "event.resultGrid.expandSelectionUp": "shift+up",
        "event.resultGrid.expandSelectionDown": "shift+down",
        "event.resultGrid.openColumnMenu": "f3",
        "event.resultGrid.openFilterMenu": "",
        "event.resultGrid.moveToRowStart": "ctrlcmd+left",
        "event.resultGrid.moveToRowEnd": "ctrlcmd+right",
        "event.resultGrid.selectColumn": "ctrl+space",
        "event.resultGrid.selectRow": "shift+space",
        "event.resultGrid.toggleSort": "alt+shift+o"
    }
}

Query results shortcut reference

Shortcut event	Default binding	Description
`event.queryResults.switchToResultsTab`	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`R`	Switch to the Results tab
`event.queryResults.switchToMessagesTab`	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Y`	Switch to the Messages tab
`event.queryResults.switchToQueryPlanTab`	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`E`	Switch to the Query Plan tab
`event.queryResults.prevGrid`	`Ctrl`/`Cmd`+`Up`	Go to the previous result grid
`event.queryResults.nextGrid`	`Ctrl`/`Cmd`+`Down`	Go to the next result grid
`event.queryResults.switchToTextView`	None	Switch results to text view
`event.queryResults.maximizeGrid`	None	Maximize or minimize the current grid
`event.queryResults.saveAsJSON`	None	Save results as JSON
`event.queryResults.saveAsCSV`	None	Save results as CSV
`event.queryResults.saveAsExcel`	None	Save results as Excel
`event.queryResults.saveAsInsert`	None	Save results as `INSERT` statements

Result grid shortcut reference

Shortcut event	Default binding	Description
`event.resultGrid.copySelection`	`Ctrl`/`Cmd`+`C`	Copy the current selection
`event.resultGrid.copyWithHeaders`	None	Copy the selection with column headers
`event.resultGrid.copyAllHeaders`	None	Copy all column headers
`event.resultGrid.selectAll`	`Ctrl`/`Cmd`+`A`	Select all data in the active grid
`event.resultGrid.copyAsCSV`	None	Copy the selection as CSV
`event.resultGrid.copyAsJSON`	None	Copy the selection as JSON
`event.resultGrid.copyAsInsert`	None	Copy the selection as `INSERT` statements
`event.resultGrid.copyAsInClause`	None	Copy the selection as an IN clause
`event.resultGrid.changeColumnWidth`	`Alt`+`Shift`+`S`	Adjust column width
`event.resultGrid.expandSelectionLeft`	`Shift`+`Left`	Expand selection to the left
`event.resultGrid.expandSelectionRight`	`Shift`+`Right`	Expand selection to the right
`event.resultGrid.expandSelectionUp`	`Shift`+`Up`	Expand selection upward
`event.resultGrid.expandSelectionDown`	`Shift`+`Down`	Expand selection downward
`event.resultGrid.openColumnMenu`	`F3`	Open the column context menu
`event.resultGrid.openFilterMenu`	None	Open the filter menu
`event.resultGrid.moveToRowStart`	`Ctrl`/`Cmd`+`Left`	Move to the start of the row
`event.resultGrid.moveToRowEnd`	`Ctrl`/`Cmd`+`Right`	Move to the end of the row
`event.resultGrid.selectColumn`	`Ctrl`+`Space`	Select the entire column
`event.resultGrid.selectRow`	`Shift`+`Space`	Select the entire row
`event.resultGrid.toggleSort`	`Alt`+`Shift`+`O`	Toggle sort on the current column

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Last updated on 2026-07-15