Visual Studio Code shortcut to display autocomplete list before typing

Question

I am trying to display all possible words after putting the cursor in certain place in the code.

The autocomplete (suggestions) list appears when I start writing/typing:

However, I would like to see all suggested words even before typing.

I tried command + space, however it was a system shortcut for Search in macOS:

Any thoughts?

It's *Ctrl* + space: https://code.visualstudio.com/shortcuts/keyboard-shortcuts-macos.pdf (Also described on the [keybindings page](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/getstarted/keybindings#_rich-languages-editing)) — UnholySheep, Jul 14 '18 at 17:01
Related: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/56143239/how-to-trigger-vscode-intellisense-using-keyboard-on-osx/59774240#59774240 — jdhao, Jan 16 '20 at 16:43
It's called `trigger suggest`, default to `ctrl + space`, could change in `File -> Preference -> Keyboard shortcuts` — Eric, Aug 23 '20 at 20:05
docs: https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/editor/intellisense#_intellisense-features — starball, Aug 07 '23 at 00:20

score 288 · Accepted Answer · edited Feb 05 '23 at 05:51

288

In case you are a CJK user using Mac, Ctrl+Space will not work, since it is used to switch IMEs.

There is another keyboard shortcut for triggering suggestions:

Option+Esc (Mac)
Alt+Esc (Windows)

Also see this post.

VS code version: 1.41.1

edited Feb 05 '23 at 05:51

informatik01

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answered Jan 16 '20 at 16:46

jdhao

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Confirmed ! Awesome. I upgraded VS Code to 1.141.1, and `Option + esc` works like a charm. – Abdennour TOUMI Jan 18 '20 at 00:59
Do I have to press control + space every time? In my previous system it used to show without pressing. Any idea why it's not working anymore? – Rohan Shenoy Oct 24 '20 at 03:56
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Pardon my ignorance, but what is CJK and IMEs ? – andrew Oct 03 '21 at 23:35
@andrew [CJK](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CJK_characters) means China, Japan and Korea, which have similar character systems. [IME](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Input_method) stands for input method which is necessary to input CJK characters, contrary to the English language. – jdhao Oct 04 '21 at 06:30
Thank you @jdhao for `⌥` + `esc` ! – Milovan Tomašević Oct 08 '21 at 20:27
Thank you, I have no words. Upvoted you, of course. It works on Mac Studio, Ventura, M1 Max – George Smith Jun 02 '23 at 14:36
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Oops! This did not work for me because `Option-Esc` is tied to "Read selected text out loud" on my macOS. `Fn-Control-Space` and `Command-I` worked. – ADTC Jul 28 '23 at 09:00

score 112 · Answer 2 · edited May 08 '22 at 04:24

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I solved this problem using fn+control+space.
Hope it helps you.

edited May 08 '22 at 04:24

informatik01

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answered Aug 07 '19 at 00:53

Alexandre Leite

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The question is about MacOS, also , fn does not exist with touchbar (Macbook 2018) – Abdennour TOUMI Jan 18 '20 at 00:53
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Thank you Sir! That is a correct answer for OSX users! – Karol Król Oct 31 '20 at 20:36
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It works on Macbook pro 2019 on BigSur. Thanks a lot! – Triet Nguyen Jan 17 '21 at 07:06
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Worked for Macbook pro 2019 on Monterey too. Thanks! – Madusha Jun 08 '22 at 03:41
Works for MBP (M2 Pro) 2023 – Ansh Saini Mar 24 '23 at 09:30
Works for everyone using Mac – tom10271 May 09 '23 at 09:07
Thank you, it works on Mac Studio, Ventura, M1 Max – George Smith Jun 02 '23 at 14:37

score 64 · Answer 3 · answered May 10 '21 at 15:51

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"change input source" keyboard shortcut should be disabled

To disable it->

Go to system preferences -> keyboard -> input sources
add a new input source (choose ABC)
Go to shortcuts tab (inside of keyboard settings)
Click on input sources on the left
disable the "select previous input source" shortcut

restart your vs code and now ctrl+space will show quick suggestions.

answered May 10 '21 at 15:51

laxminarayan1998

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wow. thank you so much!! – Tan Dat Nov 04 '21 at 07:02
Worked for a German QWERTZ keyboard layout! Thank you very much!! – K.Kröger Apr 04 '22 at 19:19
great, this works for me – Huy Nguyen Jun 17 '23 at 06:03
YES SIR, worked very very smooth, THANK YOU – MrOrhan Jun 24 '23 at 13:59

score 44 · Answer 4 · edited Jul 27 '23 at 13:34

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You can use the following alternative keyboard shortcuts:

⌘+i (mentioned in the official VS Code documentation for "Trigger suggestion")
⌥+esc
fn+control+space

edited Jul 27 '23 at 13:34

Raine Revere

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answered Feb 09 '22 at 14:36

Mohamed Mahrous

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Best answer: `⌘` +`I` – Tonatio Mar 03 '22 at 15:04
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I like `⌘` + `I` – Anecha Sun Dec 27 '22 at 16:00

jabacchetta · Answer 5 · 2018-07-14T19:11:22.967

The shortcut for the "Trigger Suggest" command is ⌃Space (ctrl+space) — as mentioned in the comments.

Most default shortcuts can be found in the documentation, which will automatically show the correct keybindings for the system you're on. In other words, if you visit the page on a Mac, you'll see Mac keybindings.

Additionally, you can:

go to Code > Preferences > Keyboard Shortcuts (on a Mac) and search for keybindings based on the command you want to execute
open up "show all commands" (⇧⌘P on a Mac) and search for the command there, allowing you to either view the keybinding for that command, or simply navigate to it directly from the search

Of course you'd have to have some idea of what the command's name might be. And in this case, a search for "suggest" would suffice.

To add to this response, if the hotkey is set, even if disabled, it will not work. To fix it you have to enable it, remap and disable it back again. — zurfyx, Nov 28 '20 at 14:04

score 15 · Answer 6 · answered Jun 17 '20 at 16:32

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If you use too many keyboard layouts, maybe the MacOS shortcut might be active. You can disabled ^(Ctrl)+Space shortcuts for MacOS.

System Preferences>Keyboard>Shorcuts>Input Sources> Disable Select the previous input source.

You can use next shortcut for change input sources.Ctrl+Alt+Space

answered Jun 17 '20 at 16:32

Ahmet Özçelik

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Great! I was getting language change on CTRL + Space in VS Code, but after disabling the change language shortcut from System Preferences AND restarting the VS Code it started to work as expected. – Ventzy Kunev Jul 03 '20 at 22:16

score 2 · Answer 7 · answered Feb 22 '23 at 07:25

when I was set up 2 keyboards with different layouts, and it turn out it overrides the ^+Space behavior, so this is how fix it:

Go to system preferences -> Keyboard -> Keyboard shortcuts
Click on input sources
and disable the "select previous input source" shortcut

Visual Studio Code shortcut to display autocomplete list before typing

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