How to quickly change shell folder to match the currently open file

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EDIT: A new command will be added in v1.39 to make this more straightforward, see release notes. The example keybinding given is:

{
    "key": "cmd+shift+h",
    "command": "workbench.action.terminal.newWithCwd",
    "args": {
        "cwd": "${fileDirname}"
    }
}

which does indeed work in the Insider’s Build. This will create a new terminal though, not modify an existing terminal.

[Original Answer]: This will change the current terminal.

You can set up a keybinding to do this pretty easily:

{
  "key": "alt+t",
  "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",
  "args": {"text": "cd '${fileDirname}'\u000D"}
},

The \u000D is a return so the command triggers immediately.

Also note that I put the '${fileDirname}' in quotes in case your directory name has spaces in it.

The keybinding will work whether focus is in the terminal or the file.

Suggested edit to be tested :

Note that on windows, you must use the following instead:

"args": {"text": "cd /d \"${fileDirname}\"\u000D"}

This is because on Windows, the /d parameter must be used with cd to switch drives.

Also see shortcut to change directory in Powershell and cmd for additional info in case you are changing drive letters and escaping double quotes in Powershell.

{
    "key": "ctrl+alt+d",
    "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",
    "args": {"text": "cd \"${fileDirname}\"\u000D"}
}

with discussion of the /d flag. Thanks to @skataben for the additional info.

Alternatively, there is an extension to do this: terminal-here, but the keybinding actually works faster. The sendSequence and variable substitution functionality was not available when that extension was created.

Finally, if you right-click on a folder in the explorer, there is an Open in Terminal option there (and corresponding command). Which means you could use that command in a keybinding like so:

{
  "key": "alt+t",
  "command": "openInTerminal"
}

But my first sendSequence keybinding remains the fastest way to do this.

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