Duplicate Line in Visual Studio Code

I am trying to find the shortcut for duplicating a line in Visual Studio Code (I am using 1.3.1) I tried the obvious CTRL + D but that doesn't seem to work.

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Click File > Preferences > Keyboard Shortcuts:

Search for copyLinesDownAction or copyLinesUpAction in your keyboard shortcuts

Usually it is SHIFT+ALT + ↓


Update for Ubuntu:

It seems that Ubuntu is hiding that shortcut from being seen by VSCode (i.e. it uses it probably by its own). There is an issue about that on GitHub.

In order to work in Ubuntu you will have to define your own shortcut, e.g. to copy the line using ctrl+shift+alt+j and CTRL +SHIFT + ALT + k you could use a keybindings.json like this:

[
    { "key": "ctrl+shift+alt+j", "command": "editor.action.copyLinesDownAction",
                                    "when": "editorTextFocus && !editorReadonly" },
    { "key": "ctrl+shift+alt+k", "command": "editor.action.copyLinesUpAction",
                                    "when": "editorTextFocus && !editorReadonly" }
]
8

The duplicate can be achieved by CTRL+C and CTRL+V with cursor in the line without nothing selected.

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You can use the following depending on your OS:

Windows:

Shift+ Alt + ↓ or Shift+ Alt + ↑

Mac:

Shift + Option + ↓ or Shift +Option + ↑

Linux:

Ctrl+Shift+Alt+↓ or Ctrl+Shift+Alt+↑

Note: For some linux distros use Numpad arrows

1

Ubuntu :

  • Duplicate Line Up : Ctrl + Alt + Shift + 8
  • Duplicate Line Down : Ctrl + Alt + Shift + 2
3

Mac:

Duplicate Line Down :shift + option + ↓

Duplicate Line Up:shift + option + ↑

0

You can use the following depending on your OS:

Windows:

Shift + Alt + ↓ OR Shift+ Alt + ↑

Mac:

Shift + Option + ↓ OR Shift +Option + ↑

Search for copyLinesDownAction or copyLinesUpAction in your keyboard shortcuts

Usually, it is SHIFT+ALT+↓

Use the following: Shift + Alt+(↓ or ↑)

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There is a new command in v1.40: editor.action.duplicateSelection unbound to any keybinding.

Duplicate selection

We have added a new action named Duplicate Selection. When executed, the current selection will be duplicated and the result will be selected. When there is no selection, the current line will be duplicated, all without writing to the system clipboard.

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Some may find it helpful in certain situations.

It's possible to create keybindings that are only active when Vim for VSCode is on and in a certain mode (i.e., "Normal", "Insert", or "Visual").

To do so, use Ctrl + Shift + P to open up VSCode's Command Palette, then search for "Preferences: Open Keyboard Shortcuts (JSON)"--selecting this option will open up keybindings.json. Here, custom bindings can be added.

For example, here are the classic VSCode commands to move/duplicate lines tweaked for ease of use in Vim..

    [
      {
        "key": "alt+j",
        "command": "editor.action.moveLinesDownAction",
        "when": "editorTextFocus && vim.active && vim.mode == 'Normal'"
      },
      {
        "key": "alt+shift+j",
        "command": "editor.action.copyLinesDownAction",
        "when": "editorTextFocus && vim.active && vim.mode == 'Normal'"
      },
      {
        "key": "alt+k",
        "command": "editor.action.moveLinesUpAction",
        "when": "editorTextFocus && vim.active && vim.mode == 'Normal'"
      },
      {
        "key": "alt+shift+k",
        "command": "editor.action.copyLinesUpAction",
        "when": "editorTextFocus && vim.active && vim.mode == 'Normal'"
      },
    ]

Now we can use these Vim-friendly commands in VSCode!

  • Alt + J to move a line down
  • Alt + K to move a line up
  • Shift + Alt + J to duplicate a line down
  • Shift + Alt + K to duplicate a line up

Another 2 very usefull shortcuts are to move lines selected up and down, like sublime text does...

{
  "key" : "ctrl+shift+down", "command" : "editor.action.moveLinesDownAction",
  "when" : "editorTextFocus && !editorReadonly"
},

and

{
  "key" : "ctrl+shift+up", "command" : "editor.action.moveLinesUpAction",
  "when" : "editorTextFocus && !editorReadonly"
}
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VC Code Version: 1.22.2 Go to: Code -> Preferences -> Keyboard Shortcuts (cmd + K; cms + S); Change (edit): "Add Selection To Next Find Match": "cmd + what you want" // for me this is "cmd + D" and I pur cmd + F; Go to "Copy Line Down": "cmd + D" //edit this and set cmd + D for example And for me that's all - I use mac;

Update that may help Ubuntu users if they still want to use the ↑ and ↓ instead of another set of keys.

I just installed a fresh version of VSCode on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS and I had duplicate commands for Add Cursor Above and Add Cursor Below

Original Keybindings

I just removed the bindings that used Ctrl and added my own with the following

Copy Line Up

Ctrl + Shift + ↑

Copy Line Down

Ctrl + Shift + ↓

New Keybindings

To copy the current line without selection, ⌘ Command + C will do the trick. For those of you who have vim enabled on VSCode, you will need to ensure that the following is set:

"vim.overrideCopy": false

Windows:

Duplicate Line Down : Ctrl + Shift + D

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Sarah Jenkins

Sarah Jenkins

Senior Technology Editor & AI Specialist

Sarah Jenkins is a veteran tech journalist with over 12 years of experience covering artificial intelligence, mobile innovations, and digital ethics. Her insights have appeared in leading technology publications worldwide.

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