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All the docs keep referring to ⌃Space to launch IntelliSense so as to get suggestions for config files, launch configs etc. As I understand from this chart that translates to the key combination control-space.

However on Mac OS X 10.11 ⌃Space only opens Spotlight. How do I trigger VS Code InteliSense from the keyboard on a Mac?

informatik01
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vy218
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    vscode v1.50 is adding `Cmd+I` (that's a capital "eye") to also trigger intellisense on the mac, and `Ctrl+I` on Windows and Linux - see https://github.com/microsoft/vscode-docs/blob/vnext/release-notes/v1_50.md#trigger-intellisense – Mark Oct 05 '20 at 16:38
  • FTR in later macOS revisions `^Space` is _"Select the previous input source"_, and my preferred best quickfix/compromise for this is a single untick of that particular shortcut (in _System Preferences->Keyboard->Shortcuts->Input Sources_). You retain the ability to cycle input source by the default `^⌥Space`. – conny Jul 11 '22 at 07:41
  • @Mark You should write that as an answer, it is super useful IMO – Sagiv b.g Sep 18 '22 at 11:19
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    @Sagivb.g Thanks, I just added it as an answer since it wasn't mentioned in the others. – Mark Sep 18 '22 at 16:58

4 Answers4

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I am using vs code on Mac and I am a CJK user. Ctrl+Space is a shortcut for switching IMEs on my Mac.

If you open the keyboard shortcut pane (just press Command + K, then followed by Command+S), then search for trigger suggest, you will find that there are actually two shortcuts for this function:

enter image description here

So in case Ctrl + Space is taken by other programs. You can use Option + Esc to trigger suggestions. If you are using a Windows keyboard, Option key is Alt. You can also change the keybindings for this command as suggested by @Atilla Baspinar.

jdhao
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  • And the command is called that because _IntelliSense_ is to "Suggest", what _Xerox_ is to "Copy". ™️-protected – conny Jul 11 '22 at 07:44
  • If you are using Mac OS and have multiple languages for your keyboard input macos might be highjacking `Ctrl+Space`. Check **System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts** for any active keyboard shortcuts with `Ctrl+Space` – martisj Sep 30 '22 at 11:45
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^Space means Ctrl + Space, not Cmd + Space (which definitely triggers Spotlight).

You can customize keyboard shortcuts according to the doc.

vincent
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    Thanks for the details - I restored my osx keyboard shotcuts (I guess at some stage some of them got changed) and now Spotlight does not open on ctl-space. I had to restart vscode and now ctl-space works as expected. – vy218 May 15 '19 at 09:37
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vscode v1.50 added Cmd+I (that's a capital "eye") to also trigger intellisense on the mac, and Ctrl+I on Windows and Linux - see v1.50 Release Notes:

Trigger IntelliSense

For years, Ctrl+Space has been the predominant keybinding to trigger IntelliSense. However, on macOS and Windows, the same keybinding is used to toggle between keyboard layouts. To minimize confusion, we added another keybinding to trigger IntelliSense: on Windows and Linux it's Ctrl+I, and on macOS it's Cmd+I.

Debug

Mark
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From the top menu in VSCode (on MacOS) select

Code > Preferences > Keyboard Shortcuts

A list of shortcuts is displayed on code area.

Search for "Trigger Suggest". The default value is ⌃Space.

Double click and change according to your like.

I made it Ctrl+.

Atilla Baspinar
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