How to: Use the Keyboard Exclusively
Visual Studio provides many default shortcut key combinations to make it easy to navigate and code within the integrated development environment (IDE). For a full listing of shortcut keys used in Visual Studio, see Pre-defined Keyboard Shortcuts. For information on keyboard shortcuts available for other Microsoft products, see https://www.microsoft.com/enable/products/keyboard.aspx.
Note
The dialog boxes and menu commands you see might differ from those described in Help depending on your active settings or edition. To change your settings, choose Import and Export Settings on the Tools menu. For more information, see Working with Settings.
Toolbox Controls
You can add a control on the Toolbox to a form or designer using the keyboard.
To add controls from the Toolbox to a designer from the keyboard
Press CTRL+ALT+X to display the Toolbox window.
Use CTRL + UP ARROW or CTRL + DOWN ARROW to move to the correct Toolbox tab.
Use UP ARROW or DOWN ARROW to move to the correct control.
After the control is selected, press ENTER.
The control is added to the form or designer.
Dialog Box Options
You can move among the options in a dialog and change option settings using the keyboard.
To set dialog box options from the keyboard
Use TAB or SHIFT + TAB to move up and down through the controls in the dialog box.
To change option settings:
For radio buttons, use UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW to change the selection.
For check boxes, use SPACEBAR to select or unselect.
For drop-down lists, use ALT + DOWN ARROW to display items and then use UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW to change the selected item.
For buttons, press ENTER to invoke.
For grids, use the Arrow keys to navigate. For drop-down lists in grids, use SHIFT + ALT + DOWN ARROW to display items and then use UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW to change the selected item.
Window and File Navigation
The IDE provides several ways for you to move among open tool and document windows using the keyboard. You can also move and dock tool windows in different locations using the keyboard.
To navigate among windows and files in the IDE from the keyboard
To move among files in an editor or designer, use CTRL + TAB.
To move among docked tool windows, use ALT+F7.
To move and dock tool windows from the keyboard
Navigate to the tool window you intend to move and give it focus.
On the Window menu, click Dockable.
Press ALT + Space and then choose Move.
The docking guide diamond appears.
Use the ARROW keys to move the window to a new location.
The mouse pointer moves with the window as you use the ARROW keys.
When you have reached the new location, use the ARROW keys to move the mouse pointer over the correct portion of the guide diamond.
An outline of the tool window appears in the new docking location.
Press ENTER.
The tool window snaps into place at the new docking location.
See Also
Tasks
How to: Work with Keyboard Shortcuts