By: Greg Robidoux | Comments (1) | Related: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | > SQL Server Management Studio Shortcuts
Problem
SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) has lots of shortcut keys that can be used to navigate and perform specific tasks. The problem is there are so many of them and a lot of them are hidden away in menus, so unless you go looking for them you might not know what SSMS keyboard shortcuts exists and how they can save some time when working with SSMS.
Solution
This article is a quick reference guide to over 120 SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) keyboard shortcuts.
To help with finding and grouping over 120 available SSMS keyboard shortcuts that are available, two lists have been put together: the first is sorted by the SSMS keyboard shortcut keys and the second is sorted by the function of the SSMS keyboard shortcut keys.
SSMS Keyboard Shortcuts Listed by Shortcut
Following is a list of SQL Server Management Studio keyboard shortcuts listed in shortcut order.
| Shortcut | Function |
|---|---|
| Alt+Break | Query - Cancel Executing Query |
| Alt+Down Arrow | Editing - Move Selected Lines Down |
| Alt+Right Arrow | Intellisense - Complete Word |
| Alt+Up Arrow | Editing - Move Selected Lines Up |
| Alt+D | Main Menu - Debug |
| Alt+E | Main Menu - Edit |
| Alt+F | Main Menu - File |
| Alt+H | Main Menu - Help |
| Alt+N | Navigation - New query window |
| Alt+P | Main Menu - Project |
| Alt+Q | Main Menu - Query |
| Alt+T | Main Menu - Tools |
| Alt+V | Main Menu - View |
| Alt+W | Main Menu - Window |
| Alt+X | Query - Execute |
| Alt+F1 | Query Shortcut - sp_help |
| Alt+F4 | Navigation - Exit |
| Alt+F5 | Debug - Start Debugging |
| Alt+F6 | Navigation - Move between windows |
| Atl+F7 | Navigation - Move between windows - popup |
| Alt+F8 | Open Server in Object Explorer |
| Alt+F9,B | Debug - Function Breakpoint |
| Ctrl+A | Editing - Select All |
| Ctrl+C | Editing - Copy |
| Ctrl+D | Query - Results to Grid |
| Ctrl+E | Query - Execute |
| Ctrl+F | Search - Quick Find |
| Ctrl+G | Navigation - Go To |
| Ctrl+H | Search - Quick Replace |
| Ctrl+I | Search - Incremental Search |
| Ctrl+J | Intellisense - List Members |
| Ctrl+L | Query - Display Estimated Execution Plan |
| Ctrl+M | Query - Include Actual Execution Plan (toggle) |
| Ctrl+N | Query - New Query with Current Connection |
| Ctrl+O | Open File |
| Ctrl+P | |
| Ctrl+Q | Search - Quick Launch |
| Ctrl+R | Query - Show / Hide Results Pane (toggle) |
| Ctrl+S | Query - Save query |
| Ctrl+T | Query - Results To Text |
| Ctrl+U | Navigation - Change database |
| Ctrl+V | Editing - Paste |
| Ctrl+W | Editing - Select word |
| Ctrl+X | Editing - Cut |
| Ctrl+Y | Editing - Redo |
| Ctrl+Z | Editing - Undo |
| Ctrl+- | Navigation - Navigate Query Windows Backward |
| Ctrl+\,Ctrl+E | Window - Error List |
| Ctrl+1 | Query Shortcut - sp_who |
| Ctrl+2 | Query Shortcut - sp_lock |
| Ctrl+Alt+A | Window - Activity Monitor |
| Ctrl+Alt+B | Debug - Breakpoints Window |
| Ctrl+Alt+G | Window - Registered Servers |
| Ctrl+Alt+I | Debug - Immediate Window |
| Ctrl+Alt+K | Window - Task List |
| Ctrl+Alt+L | Window - Solution Explorer |
| Ctrl+Alt+O | Window - Output |
| Ctrl+Alt+P | Tools - Trace Query in SQL Server Profiler |
| Ctrl+Alt+R | Window - Web Browser |
| Ctrl+Alt+T | Window - Template Explorer |
| Ctrl+Alt+X | Window - Toolbox |
| Ctrl+Alt+Space | Intellisense - Toggle Completion Mode |
| Ctrl+Alt+F1 | Tools - Add and Remove Help Content |
| Ctrl+Alt+F2 | Tools - Resource Center |
| Ctrl+B,Ctrl+I | Intellisense - Enabled |
| Ctrl+Delete | Editing - Delete through the end of the line |
| Ctrl+End | Editing - End of query window text |
| Ctrl+F4 | Navigation - Disconnect and close query window |
| Ctrl+F5 | Query - Parse |
| Ctrl+Home | Editing - Top of query window text |
| Ctrl+K,Ctrl+\ | Editing - Delete Horizontal White Space |
| Ctrl+K,Ctrl+B | Tools - Codes Snippets Manager |
| Ctrl+K,Ctrl+C | Editing - Comment Selection |
| Ctrl+K,Ctrl+F | Bookmarks - New Folder |
| Ctrl+K,Ctrl+H | Bookmarks - Add Task List Shortcut |
| Ctrl+K,Ctrl+I | Intellisense - Quick Info |
| Ctrl+K,Ctrl+K | Bookmarks - Toggle Bookmark |
| Ctrl+K,Ctrl+L | Bookmarks - Clear |
| Ctrl+K,Ctrl+N | Bookmarks - Next Bookmark |
| Ctrl+K,Ctrl+P | Bookmarks - Previous |
| Ctrl+K,Ctrl+S | Intellisense - Surround Width |
| Ctrl+K,Ctrl+U | Editing - Uncomment Selection |
| Ctrl+K,Ctrl+W | Window - Bookmark Explorer |
| Ctrl+K,Ctrl+X | Tools - Insert Snippet |
| Ctrl+Shift+A | Project - Add New Item |
| Ctrl+Shift+F | Query - Results to File |
| Ctrl+Shift+H | Search - Replace in Files |
| Ctrl+Shift+L | Editing - Make Lowercase |
| Ctrl+Shift+M | Query - Specify Values for Template Parameters |
| Ctrl+Shift+N | Project - New |
| Ctrl+Shift+O | Open Project Solution |
| Ctrl+Shift+Q | Tools - Design Query in Editor |
| Ctrl+Shift+R | Intellisense - Refresh Local Cache |
| Ctrl+Shift+S | Query - Save All |
| Ctrl+Shift+U | Editing - Make Uppercase |
| Ctrl+Shift+V | Editing - Cycle Clipboard Ring |
| Ctrl+Shift+Del | Editing - Clear the active Editor pane |
| Ctrl+Shift+End | Editing - Select all text from cursor to end |
| Ctrl+Shift and arrow keys | Editing - Select section of text |
| Ctrl+Shift+F9 | Debug - Delete All Breakpoints |
| Ctrl+Shift+Home | Editing - Select all text from cursor to top |
| Ctrl+Shift+Space | Intellisense - Parameter Info |
| Ctrl+Shift+K,Ctrl+Shift+N | Bookmarks - Next Bookmark in Folder |
| Ctrl+Shift+K,Ctrl+Shift+P | Bookmarks - Previous Bookmark in Folder |
| Del | Editing - Delete text |
| F1 | Help |
| F3 | Search - Repeat Last Search |
| F4 | Window - Properties Window |
| F5 | Query - Execute |
| F6 | Navigation - Move between windows Next Pane |
| F7 | Window - Object Explorer Details |
| F8 | Window - Object Explorer |
| F9 | Debug - Toggle Breakpoint |
| F10 | Debug - Step Over |
| F11 | Debug - Step Into |
| Shift+Alt+A | Project - Add Existing Item |
| Shift+Alt+Enter | Navigation - Full Screen |
| Shift+Alt+S | Query - Include Client Statistics |
| Shift+F1 | Help |
| Shift+F3 | Search - Repeat Last Search |
| Shift+F6 | Navigation - Move between windows Previous Pane |
| Shift+Tab | Editing - Indent decrease |
| Tab | Editing - Indent increase |
SSMS Keyboard Shortcuts Listed by Function
Following is a list of SQL Server Management Studio keyboard shortcuts listed in function order.
| Function | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Bookmarks - Add Task List Shortcut | Ctrl+K,Ctrl+H |
| Bookmarks - Clear | Ctrl+K,Ctrl+L |
| Bookmarks - New Folder | Ctrl+K,Ctrl+F |
| Bookmarks - Next Bookmark | Ctrl+K,Ctrl+N |
| Bookmarks - Next Bookmark in Folder | Ctrl+Shift+K,Ctrl+Shift+N |
| Bookmarks - Previous | Ctrl+K,Ctrl+P |
| Bookmarks - Previous Bookmark in Folder | Ctrl+Shift+K,Ctrl+Shift+P |
| Bookmarks - Toggle Bookmark | Ctrl+K,Ctrl+K |
| Debug - Breakpoints Window | Ctrl+Alt+B |
| Debug - Delete All Breakpoints | Ctrl+Shift+F9 |
| Debug - Function Breakpoint | Alt+F9,B |
| Debug - Immediate Window | Ctrl+Alt+I |
| Debug - Start Debugging | Alt+F5 |
| Debug - Step Into | F11 |
| Debug - Step Over | F10 |
| Debug - Toggle Breakpoint | F9 |
| Editing - Clear the active Editor pane | Ctrl+Shift+Del |
| Editing - Comment Selection | Ctrl+K,Ctrl+C |
| Editing - Copy | Ctrl+C |
| Editing - Cut | Ctrl+X |
| Editing - Cycle Clipboard Ring | Ctrl+Shift+V |
| Editing - Delete Horizontal White Space | Ctrl+K,Ctrl+\ |
| Editing - Delete text | Del |
| Editing - Delete through the end of the line | Ctrl+Delete |
| Editing - End of query window text | Ctrl+End |
| Editing - Indent decrease | Shift+Tab |
| Editing - Indent increase | Tab |
| Editing - Make Lowercase | Ctrl+Shift+L |
| Editing - Make Uppercase | Ctrl+Shift+U |
| Editing - Move Selected Lines Down | Alt+Down Arrow |
| Editing - Move Selected Lines Up | Alt+Up Arrow |
| Editing - Paste | Ctrl+V |
| Editing - Redo | Ctrl+Y |
| Editing - Select All | Ctrl+A |
| Editing - Select all text from cursor to end | Ctrl+Shift+End |
| Editing - Select all text from cursor to top | Ctrl+Shift+Home |
| Editing - Select section of text | Ctrl+Shift and arrow keys |
| Editing - Select word | Ctrl+W |
| Editing - Top of query window text | Ctrl+Home |
| Editing - Uncomment Selection | Ctrl+K,Ctrl+U |
| Editing - Undo | Ctrl+Z |
| Help | F1 |
| Help | Shift+F1 |
| Intellisense - Complete Word | Alt+Right Arrow |
| Intellisense - Enabled | Ctrl+B,Ctrl+I |
| Intellisense - List Members | Ctrl+J |
| Intellisense - Parameter Info | Ctrl+Shift+Space |
| Intellisense - Quick Info | Ctrl+K,Ctrl+I |
| Intellisense - Refresh Local Cache | Ctrl+Shift+R |
| Intellisense - Surround Width | Ctrl+K,Ctrl+S |
| Intellisense - Toggle Completion Mode | Ctrl+Alt+Space |
| Main Menu - Debug | Alt+D |
| Main Menu - Edit | Alt+E |
| Main Menu - File | Alt+F |
| Main Menu - Help | Alt+H |
| Main Menu - Project | Alt+P |
| Main Menu - Query | Alt+Q |
| Main Menu - Tools | Alt+T |
| Main Menu - View | Alt+V |
| Main Menu - Window | Alt+W |
| Navigation - Change database | Ctrl+U |
| Navigation - Disconnect and close query window | Ctrl+F4 |
| Navigation - Exit | Alt+F4 |
| Navigation - Full Screen | Shift+Alt+Enter |
| Navigation - Go To | Ctrl+G |
| Navigation - Move between windows | Alt+F6 |
| Navigation - Move between windows - popup | Atl+F7 |
| Navigation - Move between windows Next Pane | F6 |
| Navigation - Move between windows Previous Pane | Shift+F6 |
| Navigation - Navigate Query Windows Backward | Ctrl+- |
| Navigation - New query window | Alt+N |
| Open File | Ctrl+O |
| Open Project Solution | Ctrl+Shift+O |
| Open Server in Object Explorer | Alt+F8 |
| Ctrl+P | |
| Project - Add Existing Item | Shift+Alt+A |
| Project - Add New Item | Ctrl+Shift+A |
| Project - New | Ctrl+Shift+N |
| Query - Cancel Executing Query | Alt+Break |
| Query - Display Estimated Execution Plan | Ctrl+L |
| Query - Execute | Alt+X |
| Query - Execute | F5 |
| Query - Execute | Ctrl+E |
| Query - Include Actual Execution Plan (toggle) | Ctrl+M |
| Query - Include Client Statistics | Shift+Alt+S |
| Query - New Query with Current Connection | Ctrl+N |
| Query - Parse | Ctrl+F5 |
| Query - Results to File | Ctrl+Shift+F |
| Query - Results to Grid | Ctrl+D |
| Query - Results To Text | Ctrl+T |
| Query - Save All | Ctrl+Shift+S |
| Query - Save query | Ctrl+S |
| Query - Show / Hide Results Pane (toggle) | Ctrl+R |
| Query - Specify Values for Template Parameters | Ctrl+Shift+M |
| Query Shortcut - sp_help | Alt+F1 |
| Query Shortcut - sp_lock | Ctrl+2 |
| Query Shortcut - sp_who | Ctrl+1 |
| Search - Incremental Search | Ctrl+I |
| Search - Quick Find | Ctrl+F |
| Search - Quick Launch | Ctrl+Q |
| Search - Quick Replace | Ctrl+H |
| Search - Repeat Last Search | F3 |
| Search - Repeat Last Search | Shift+F3 |
| Search - Replace in Files | Ctrl+Shift+H |
| Tools - Add and Remove Help Content | Ctrl+Alt+F1 |
| Tools - Codes Snippets Manager | Ctrl+K,Ctrl+B |
| Tools - Design Query in Editor | Ctrl+Shift+Q |
| Tools - Insert Snippet | Ctrl+K,Ctrl+X |
| Tools - Resource Center | Ctrl+Alt+F2 |
| Tools - Trace Query in SQL Server Profiler | Ctrl+Alt+P |
| Window - Activity Monitor | Ctrl+Alt+A |
| Window - Bookmark Explorer | Ctrl+K,Ctrl+W |
| Window - Error List | Ctrl+\,Ctrl+E |
| Window - Object Explorer | F8 |
| Window - Object Explorer Details | F7 |
| Window - Output | Ctrl+Alt+O |
| Window - Properties Window | F4 |
| Window - Registered Servers | Ctrl+Alt+G |
| Window - Solution Explorer | Ctrl+Alt+L |
| Window - Task List | Ctrl+Alt+K |
| Window - Template Explorer | Ctrl+Alt+T |
| Window - Toolbox | Ctrl+Alt+X |
| Window - Web Browser | Ctrl+Alt+R |
Note: The list was put together using SSMS version 17.9.1.
Next Steps
Take a look at these other SQL Server Management Studio Tips:
- SQL Server Management Studio keyboard shortcuts (Part 1 of 2)
- SSMS keyboard shortcuts (Part 2 of 2)
- SQL Server Management Studio Tips
About the author
Greg Robidoux is the President and founder of Edgewood Solutions, a technology services company delivering services and solutions for Microsoft SQL Server. He is also one of the co-founders of MSSQLTips.com. Greg has been working with SQL Server since 1999, has authored numerous database-related articles, and delivered several presentations related to SQL Server. Before SQL Server, he worked on many data platforms such as DB2, Oracle, Sybase, and Informix.This author pledges the content of this article is based on professional experience and not AI generated.
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