Comment Out Shortcut (⌘/ / Ctrl+/)
Toggle a line comment instantly: press Ctrl+/ on Windows or ⌘/ on Mac in VS Code. Here it is with block comments and other editors.
| Action | Mac | Windows | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toggle line comment (VS Code) | ⌘/ | Ctrl+/ | |
| Toggle block comment (VS Code) | ⇧⌥A | Shift+Alt+A | |
| Toggle comment (Sublime Text) | ⌘/ | Ctrl+/ | |
| Toggle comment (JetBrains) | ⌘/ | Ctrl+/ | |
| Block comment (JetBrains) | ⌘⌥/ | Ctrl+Shift+/ |
Comment out a line or selection
In VS Code, press Ctrl+/ (Windows/Linux) or ⌘/ (Mac) to comment out the current line, or the whole selection if several lines are highlighted. Press it again to uncomment — it is a toggle. The editor automatically uses the right comment syntax for the language (//, #, <!-- -->, and so on).
Block comments
For a wrapping block comment use Shift+Alt+A (Win) / ⇧⌥A (Mac) in VS Code. Most editors share Ctrl+/ / ⌘/ for line comments, so the habit carries between Sublime, JetBrains and VS Code.
Troubleshooting: Ctrl+/ does nothing
On some non-US keyboard layouts the / key sits behind Shift, so Ctrl+/ never registers. Try Ctrl+Shift+7 (a common alternative on German/Nordic layouts) or rebind Toggle Line Comment to a key you can reach. If the comment appears but code still runs, make sure the file language mode (bottom-right in VS Code) matches the actual language.
FAQ
How do I comment out code in VS Code?
Ctrl+/ on Windows/Linux or ⌘/ on Mac toggles a line comment on the current line or selection. Press again to uncomment.
How do I add a block comment?
In VS Code use Shift+Alt+A (Windows) or ⇧⌥A (Mac); JetBrains uses Ctrl+Shift+/ or ⌘⌥/.
Why does Ctrl+/ not comment anything?
On some keyboard layouts the / key requires Shift, so Ctrl+/ isn't detected. Try Ctrl+Shift+7 or rebind 'Toggle Line Comment' in the keyboard shortcuts.
Does the comment shortcut know my language?
Yes — the editor picks the correct comment syntax from the file's language mode, so the same shortcut works in JavaScript, Python, HTML and more.