To find or edit the keybindings.json file for VS Code, you can operate through the operating system specific path or command panel. The Windows path is C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\Code\User\keybindings.json; macOS is /Users\/Library/Application Support/Code/User/keybindings.json; Linux is /home\/.config/Code/User/keybindings.json. If you are not sure about the path, press Ctrl Shift P (Mac is Cmd Shift P) to open the command panel, enter "Preferences: Open Keyboard Shortcuts File" to select to open the file directly. If the file does not exist, it will be created automatically using this method. When editing, you need to make sure that the JSON is formatted correctly. Each entry contains "key" and "command" fields. You can choose "when" conditions. Note that syntax errors such as missing commas or quotes will cause problems. Before editing, you can use the Ctrl K Ctrl S search command to avoid conflicts and can fix the problem by deleting or commenting on the wrong lines. Additionally, some extensions may add default shortcuts, and overlaps are required to ensure that custom bindings are valid. After mastering these steps, managing custom shortcuts will become simple and efficient.

If you're trying to find or edit the keybindings.json file in VS Code, it's usually tucked away in a specific location depending on your operating system. This file lets you customize or override default keyboard shortcuts, and knowing where it lives is the first step to tweaking your workflow.

Where to Find keybindings.json on Different OS

The exact path varies slightly depending on whether you're on Windows, macOS, or Linux.

• Windows :
  C:\Users\<your-username>\AppData\Roaming\Code\User\keybindings.json</your-username>

  

• macOS :
  /Users/<your-username>/Library/Application Support/Code/User/keybindings.json</your-username>

• Linux :
  /home/<your-username>/.config/Code/User/keybindings.json</your-username>

  

If you're not sure what your username is or don't want to type the full path manually, there's an easier way—just use the command palette inside VS Code to open the file directly (more on that below).

How to Open keybindings.json from Within VS Code

Instead of navigating through file paths manually, you can open the file straight from VS Code:

1. Press Ctrl Shift P (or Cmd Shift P on Mac) to bring up the Command Palette.
2. Type “Preferences: Open Keyboard Shortcuts File” and select it.
3. This will open both keybindings.json and the default shortcuts side by side, making it easy to compare or add custom mappings.

This method avoids any guesswork and ensures you're always editing the correct file, even if the location changes with an update.

What to Do If the File Doesn't Exist Yet

If this is your first time modifying shortcuts, the keybindings.json file might not exist yet—and that's OK. You can create it yourself:

• Just follow the steps above to open it via the Command Palette, and VS Code will generate a new one automatically.
• Once created, you can start adding custom keybindings in JSON format, like:

   [
    {
      "key": "ctrl alt r",
      "command": "workbench.action.files.revert"
    }
  ]

Make sure each entry has the correct "key" , "command" , and optionally "when" context conditions. Also, be careful with syntax—miplaced commas or missing quotes can break the file.

A Few Tips for Editing Keybindings

Editing the file gives you fine-grained control, but here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Always double-check your JSON formatting to avoid errors.
• You can disable a default shortcut by setting its key to null .
• Use the “Search” bar in the Keyboard Shortcuts UI ( Ctrl K Ctrl S ) to look up commands before editing them manually.
• If something goes wrong, just delete or comment out the problematic line—you can always reset to defaults.

It's also worth noting that some extensions may add their own default shortcuts, so conflicts can happen. If a custom binding doesn't work as expected, check for overlaps using the same shortcut search feature.

Basically that's it. Once you know where to look and how to edit, managing custom keybindings becomes a straightforward part of tailoring VS Code to your needs.

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