SharpDevelop Keyboard Shortcuts: Complete List for Windows
Quick answer: SharpDevelop’s most-used keyboard shortcuts are Ctrl + S (save), F5 (run), F8 (build solution), Ctrl + Space (show members of the current object), and Ctrl + / (toggle comments). The full, verified list of 100+ shortcuts is grouped into 13 categories below, and you can download the free PDF cheat sheet for offline reference.
What Is SharpDevelop?
SharpDevelop (stylized #develop) is a free, open-source IDE for .NET programming languages, developed by ICSharpCode. It supports C#, VB.NET, F#, IronPython, IronRuby, and Boo, and integrates features like Git, NuGet, code completion, and an integrated debugger. It was historically popular as a lightweight, extensible alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio.
How SharpDevelop Shortcuts Work (The Core Rule)
Two simple rules explain most of SharpDevelop’s shortcuts:
- Ctrl applies to a single file for example, Ctrl + N (new file), Ctrl + S (save file), Ctrl + F4 (close file).
- Ctrl + Shift applies to the whole solution or project for example, Ctrl + Shift + N (new solution), Ctrl + Shift + S (save all), Ctrl + Shift + F4 (close solution).
SharpDevelop also has two working contexts editor mode (text) and designer mode (controls/forms). A few keys behave differently depending on which mode you’re in. You can switch between them with Ctrl + Page Up or Ctrl + Page Down.
One thing to know first: Some keys (like Ctrl + / for comments and F2 for bookmarks vs. rename) are layout- or context-dependent. Those caveats are noted in the tables below.
Most-Used SharpDevelop Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Open file | Ctrl + O |
| Open project or solution | Ctrl + Shift + O |
| New file | Ctrl + N |
| New solution | Ctrl + Shift + N |
| Save current file | Ctrl + S |
| Save all changed files | Ctrl + Shift + S |
| Copy | Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert) |
| Paste | Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert) |
| Cut | Ctrl + X (or Shift + Delete) |
| Undo | Ctrl + Z (or Alt + Backspace) |
| Redo | Ctrl + Y |
| Select all | Ctrl + A |
| Delete current line | Ctrl + D |
| Find | Ctrl + F |
| Run application | F5 |
| Build solution | F8 |
Editor: Caret Movement & Text Selection
These work as Windows standard. Ctrl extends the action to whole words; Shift selects.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Toggle insert/overwrite mode | Insert |
| Delete selected text or object | Delete |
| Move caret one character left/right | Left / Right |
| Move caret one word left/right | Ctrl + Left / Ctrl + Right |
| Select one character left/right | Shift + Left / Shift + Right |
| Select one word left/right | Ctrl + Shift + Left / Ctrl + Shift + Right |
| Move caret one line up/down | Up / Down |
| Scroll one line up/down | Ctrl + Up / Ctrl + Down |
| Select one line up/down | Shift + Up / Shift + Down |
| Caret to start/end of line | Home / End |
| Select to start/end of line | Shift + Home / Shift + End |
| Caret to start/end of file | Ctrl + Home / Ctrl + End |
| Select to start/end of file | Ctrl + Shift + Home / Ctrl + Shift + End |
| Caret one page up/down | PageUp / PageDown |
| Select one page up/down | Shift + PageUp / Shift + PageDown |
Editor: Standard Editing Shortcuts
Work in both editor mode and designer mode.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Delete word (forward) | Ctrl + Delete |
| Delete word backwards | Ctrl + Backspace |
| Select all | Ctrl + A |
| Copy | Ctrl + C or Ctrl + Insert |
| Paste | Ctrl + V or Shift + Insert |
| Cut | Ctrl + X or Shift + Delete |
| Redo | Ctrl + Y |
| Undo | Ctrl + Z or Alt + Backspace |
Coding Shortcuts (Editor: Additional)
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Clear all selections (editor mode) | Esc |
| Show members of current object (IntelliSense) | Ctrl + Space |
| Go to Definition | Ctrl + Enter |
| Auto code generation dialog | Alt + Insert |
| Toggle mode (editor $\rightleftharpoons$ designer) | Ctrl + Page Up or Ctrl + Page Down |
| Toggle comments on selected code | Ctrl + / (US layout) or Ctrl + ? |
| Delete current line | Ctrl + D |
| Delete from caret to end of line | Ctrl + Shift + D |
| Insert new GUID | Ctrl + Shift + G |
| Indent according to code format | Ctrl + I |
| Open code template / snippet dialog | Ctrl + J |
| Fold all / toggle all folds | Ctrl + Shift + L |
| Fold current section | Ctrl + Shift + M |
| Show definitions only (fold) | Ctrl + Shift + P |
| Increase indent | Tab |
| Decrease indent (dedent) | Shift + Tab |
File Shortcuts
Remember the rule: Ctrl = single file, Ctrl + Shift = solution/project.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| New file | Ctrl + N |
| New solution | Ctrl + Shift + N |
| Open file | Ctrl + O |
| Open project or solution | Ctrl + Shift + O |
| Save current file | Ctrl + S |
| Save all changed files | Ctrl + Shift + S |
| Reload current file (discard changes) | Ctrl + Shift + U |
| Rename file or item (Explorer context) | F2 |
| Close current file | Ctrl + F4 |
| Close current solution | Ctrl + Shift + F4 |
| Print current file | Ctrl + P |
| Exit SharpDevelop | Alt + F4 |
Tool Windows & Views Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Show Boo interpreter | Ctrl + Shift + B |
| Show all Classes | Ctrl + Shift + C |
| Show Server (Database) Explorer | Ctrl + Alt + D |
| Show File Explorer | Ctrl + Alt + F |
| Show Code Coverage | Ctrl + Alt + G |
| Show compile Errors & warnings | Ctrl + Alt + K |
| Show Projects (Project Explorer) | Ctrl + Alt + L |
| Show Output window | Ctrl + Alt + O |
| Show Toolbox / designer controls | Ctrl + Alt + X |
| Show Property Grid | F4 |
| Create Quick XML documentation | Ctrl + Q |
| Show Report Explorer | Ctrl + Alt + Q |
| Open Report Generator (SharpReport) | Ctrl + Alt + R |
| Show Unit Testing list | Ctrl + Alt + T |
Building Projects & Solutions
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Build solution | F8 |
| Rebuild solution | Alt + F8 |
| Build current project | F9 |
| Rebuild current project | Alt + F9 |
Debugging Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Run application | F5 |
| Run without debugger | Ctrl + F5 |
| Break debugging | Ctrl + Alt + B |
| Continue debugging (to next breakpoint) | F6 |
| Toggle breakpoint | F7 |
| Step over | F10 |
| Step into | F11 |
| Step out | Shift + F11 |
| Show Callstack window | Ctrl + Alt + C |
| Show Threads window | Ctrl + Alt + H |
| Show Breakpoints window | Ctrl + Alt + P |
| Show Loaded Modules / Units window | Ctrl + Alt + U |
| Show Local Variables window | Ctrl + Alt + V |
Find & Replace Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Incremental search forward | Ctrl + E |
| Reverse incremental search | Ctrl + Shift + E |
| Find (open Find dialog) | Ctrl + F |
| Go to line number | Ctrl + G |
| Find and replace | Ctrl + R |
| Find next | F3 |
| Find next selected occurrence | Ctrl + F3 |
Bookmarks Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Go to matching bracket | Ctrl + B |
| Go to next bookmark | F2 |
| Toggle bookmark | Ctrl + F2 |
| Go to previous bookmark | Alt + F2 |
Window Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Go to next window | Ctrl + Tab |
| Go to previous window | Ctrl + Shift + Tab |
| Maximize source window / toggle plain layout | Shift + Esc |
| Toggle editor ⇄ designer mode | Ctrl + Page Up or Ctrl + Page Down |
Help Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Context help | F1 |
| Dynamic help | Ctrl + F1 |
| Help topics (SharpDevelop Wiki) | Alt + F1 |
| Help contents | Alt + Ctrl + F1 |
| Index of .NET documentation | Alt + Ctrl + F2 |
| Search documentation | Alt + Ctrl + F3 |
Download SharpDevelop Shortcuts PDF
Want an offline reference? Download the SharpDevelop Shortcuts PDF cheat sheet print it or keep it open on a second monitor while you code.
How to Customize SharpDevelop Shortcuts
SharpDevelop keyboard bindings live in the application’s .addin files (e.g. ICSharpCode.SharpDevelop.addin). To change or add a binding:
- Locate the relevant .addin file in your SharpDevelop installation directory.
- Find the EditAction or menu entry whose shortcut / keys attribute you want to change (for example, shortcut=”Control|Divide” for the comment command).
- Edit the key combination (e.g. change Control|Divide to a key that exists on your keyboard layout).
- Save the file and restart SharpDevelop.
Code templates and snippets are edited separately under Tools > Options > Coding > Code Templates.
Is SharpDevelop Still Worth Using in 2026?
Honest answer: SharpDevelop is effectively legacy software. The official repository was archived by ICSharpCode in 2020, and there hasn’t been a major new release in years. It still runs on Windows and remains a lightweight option for older .NET Framework projects, learning, or maintaining legacy codebases.
For new .NET development in 2026, most developers use Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code with the C# Dev Kit, or JetBrains Rider. If you’re working with an existing SharpDevelop project, the shortcuts above remain fully valid just know the IDE is no longer actively maintained.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the run shortcut in SharpDevelop?
Press F5 to run your application with the debugger, or Ctrl + F5 to run without the debugger.
How do I comment code in SharpDevelop?
Select the code and press Ctrl + / on a US keyboard layout. On other layouts the key may differ because the binding maps to Ctrl + Divide / Ctrl + OemQuestion.
How do I build a solution in SharpDevelop?
Press F8 to build the whole solution, or F9 to build only the current project. Use Alt + F8 and Alt + F9 to rebuild.
Can I customize SharpDevelop keyboard shortcuts?
Yes. Edit the key bindings in the .addin files in your installation directory, then restart SharpDevelop. Code templates are configured under Tools > Options > Coding.
Why does F2 do two different things?
In the project explorer, F2 renames a file or item. In the source editor, F2 jumps to the next bookmark. The action depends on which pane has focus.
Is SharpDevelop still maintained?
No. The project was archived in 2020 and is no longer actively developed, though it still runs on Windows for legacy .NET Framework work.
Does SharpDevelop work on Windows 11?
It generally runs on Windows 11 for legacy projects, but because it’s unmaintained, expect occasional compatibility quirks. For new projects, a modern IDE is recommended.
Summary
SharpDevelop’s shortcut system follows a clean logic: Ctrl for single-file actions, Ctrl + Shift for solution-wide actions, function keys (F5–F11) for run/debug, and F8/F9 for builds. The 100+ shortcuts above cover editing, navigation, coding, debugging, building, find/replace, bookmarks, and windows. Bookmark this page or grab the PDF, and remember that while SharpDevelop is now legacy software, every shortcut here remains valid for existing projects.
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