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Change the F1 help key in Visual Studio

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If you want to use the F1 key for a different function than the F1 help service, or you just want to disable the help using F1, you can remove or modify the key mapping.

Important

If you want to disable F1 help due to performance issues, we recommend you modify the key mapping temporarily so you can test improvements to the F1 help service in updates to Visual Studio. In most scenarios, F1 is an easy way to open reference pages for language keywords and APIs from the code editor, or to open help pages associated with windows or UI elements in the IDE. If you disable it, you disable it for all uses from within Visual Studio.

To disable the F1 help:

  1. In Visual Studio, select Tools > Options, then under Environment, select Keyboard.

  2. In the Show commands containing text box, type Help.f1 to filter the view of commands.

    Disable F1 Help

  3. Select Remove to remove the key mapping.

  4. Select the Press shortcut key text box.

  5. On your keyboard, press a new key or key combination for the F1 help such as Alt + F1, select Assign, and then select OK.

For more information on setting keyboard shortcuts, see Identify and customize keyboard shortcuts.