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How to Select Whole Line in Cursor: Essential Keyboard Shortcuts

Efficient text editing is crucial for productivity, and knowing how to quickly select entire lines is a fundamental skill. This guide covers various methods to select lines in Cursor IDE.

Quick Reference​

Essential Shortcuts​

ActionWindows/LinuxmacOS
Select current lineCtrl+LCmd+L
Select from cursor to line startShift+HomeShift+Cmd+Left
Select from cursor to line endShift+EndShift+Cmd+Right
Select multiple linesShift+↑/↓Shift+↑/↓

Detailed Line Selection Methods​

Method 1: Single Line Selection​

  1. Using Keyboard Shortcut

    • Press Ctrl+L (Windows/Linux)
    • Press Cmd+L (macOS)
    • Repeat to select additional lines

  2. Using Mouse

    • Click line number
    • Drag mouse for multiple lines
    • Double-click line number for single line

Method 2: Partial Line Selection​

  1. Start of Line to Cursor

    • Press Shift+Home (Windows/Linux)
    • Press Shift+Cmd+Left (macOS)

  2. Cursor to End of Line

    • Press Shift+End (Windows/Linux)
    • Press Shift+Cmd+Right (macOS)

Advanced Selection Techniques​

Multi-Line Operations​

  1. Selecting Multiple Lines

    1. Place cursor at start point
    2. Hold Shift
    3. Press ↑/↓ to extend selection

  2. Block Selection

    • Hold Alt (Windows/Linux) or Option (macOS)
    • Click and drag to select block
    • Use for column-based selection

Smart Selection​

  1. Expand Selection

    • Press Alt+Shift+→ (Windows/Linux)
    • Press Option+Shift+→ (macOS)
    • Expands based on syntax

  2. Shrink Selection

    • Press Alt+Shift+← (Windows/Linux)
    • Press Option+Shift+← (macOS)
    • Reduces selection scope

Customizing Shortcuts​

Modifying Default Shortcuts​

  1. Open Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P or Cmd+Shift+P)
  2. Type "Preferences: Open Keyboard Shortcuts"
  3. Search for "line selection"
  4. Double-click to modify shortcut

Creating Custom Shortcuts​

{
  "key": "ctrl+alt+l",
  "command": "expandLineSelection",
  "when": "editorTextFocus"
}

Common Use Cases​

Code Manipulation​

  1. Line Moving

    • Select line(s)
    • Alt+↑/↓ (Windows/Linux)
    • Option+↑/↓ (macOS)

  2. Line Copying

    • Select line(s)
    • Ctrl+C (Windows/Linux)
    • Cmd+C (macOS)

Text Operations​

  1. Line Deletion

    • Select line
    • Press Delete or Backspace
    • Or use Ctrl+Shift+K

  2. Line Duplication

    • Select line
    • Ctrl+Shift+D (Windows/Linux)
    • Cmd+Shift+D (macOS)

Best Practices​

Efficiency Tips​

  1. Keyboard-First Approach

    • Learn shortcuts
    • Minimize mouse usage
    • Practice regularly

  2. Context Awareness

    • Use appropriate method for task
    • Combine with other commands
    • Consider code structure

Common Mistakes to Avoid​

  1. Inefficient Selection

    • Don't manually select with mouse
    • Avoid multiple keystrokes
    • Use shortcuts instead

  2. Wrong Shortcut Choice

    • Don't use complex combinations
    • Avoid unnecessary movements
    • Pick most direct method

Troubleshooting​

Common Issues​

  1. Shortcuts Not Working

    • Check keyboard settings
    • Verify shortcut conflicts
    • Reset to defaults if needed

  2. Selection Behavior

    • Confirm editor focus
    • Check selection mode
    • Verify cursor position

Additional Features​

Integration with Other Tools​

  1. Multi-Cursor Support

    • Alt+Click for multiple cursors
    • Use with line selection
    • Combine for bulk edits

  2. Selection History

    • Navigate through selections
    • Undo/redo selections
    • Restore previous states

Conclusion​

Mastering line selection in Cursor enhances coding efficiency. Practice these techniques to improve your development workflow.

Last updated: February 2025 - This guide covers Cursor version 0.43 and later.