Multi-line comments in Xcode

Question

Is there a way to comment various lines at the same time in Xcode IDE? Selecting which lines to comment, then clicking somewhere et voilá.. the /* ... */ characters wrapping the code.

Thank you.

Still today, with Xcode 7, the short answer is **NO**. We all know the 'CMD + /' shortcut (comment/uncomment). I'm still waiting for a non-plugin shortcut for selecting a block and wrapping it with /* ... */ — bauerMusic, Dec 16 '15 at 10:00
Best method to use block comment in Xcode http://stackoverflow.com/a/38368766/1556386 — Baig, Jul 14 '16 at 08:15

score 145 · Accepted Answer · edited Nov 24 '15 at 09:50

145

Command + Shift + 7

or

Command + /

This inserts // in front of every selected line.

edited Nov 24 '15 at 09:50

answered Oct 03 '09 at 10:24

Georg Schölly

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Is there a way to remove multiple lines comments instead ? – aneuryzm Apr 12 '12 at 13:25
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@Patrick: I haven't got Xcode anymore, so I can't test it. But I'm pretty sure pressing the same combination again uncomments the lines. – Georg Schölly Apr 12 '12 at 14:12
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It works for me, at least for objective-c files. The menu item can be found at Editor->Structure->Comment Selection. – Georg Schölly May 22 '13 at 18:51
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It can also be done by: right-mouse click -> structure -> Comment selection. – Usman Nisar Sep 05 '13 at 12:08
Great point @mani - this allows for multi line comment and uncomment – stimpy Jan 12 '14 at 20:42
why this answer is awarded multiple times if question is to put multiple line shortcut like /* */ . I want to know is there any shortcut key to comment multiple line like /* */ this. – Bhavesh Lathigara Sep 24 '14 at 14:49

score 9 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 05 '14 at 21:29

9

Xcode Version 6.1

Shortcuts:

To Comment: Select the code to be comment, ⌘ + /

To uncomment: Select the code an press ⌘ + /

Also see taskbar Editor>Structure "(un)Comment Selection" as user 2137640 pointed out.

answered Nov 05 '14 at 21:29

Carl

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Jacob Ahlberg · Answer 3 · 2022-09-21T14:03:19.537

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I've been using the Command + Shift + 7 for years, but now in Xcode 13.1 it just started to open the help menu instead of commenting the selected block.

Apparently the new command for commenting a selection of code is:

Command + Shift + ?

Edit:

Another solution is to deselect "Show Help menu" in settings > keyboard > App Shortcuts

edited Sep 21 '22 at 14:03

answered Oct 27 '21 at 14:31

Jacob Ahlberg

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This is the answer! Thanks dude, you made me happy today. – gomozor Nov 01 '22 at 07:26

score 5 · Answer 4 · edited May 21 '12 at 00:26

5

The answer is actually very simple if you want to comment a continuous sequence of lines. Select the consecutive lines, then simply press ⌘ /.

I have no idea how to comment multiple non-consecutive lines. Maybe somebody else can help with this, if it is even possible (I doubt it.)

edited May 21 '12 at 00:26

Simon

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answered May 20 '12 at 23:14

KZcoding

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dmeister · Answer 5 · 2009-10-03T10:59:28.713

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There is such a function in the menu. Try: Edit->Insert Text Macro->C->Comment Section. It will create a (multi-line) comment around the currently selected text.

However, using the menu is probably often slower than manually inserting the comments. But, you can also bind a key to the menu item via the preferences key binding settings.

edited Oct 03 '09 at 10:59

answered Oct 03 '09 at 10:15

dmeister

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Edit->Insert Text Macro->C->Comment Section – Thomas Zoechling Oct 03 '09 at 10:20
Thank you dmeister. It's slower, yes. And also leaves uncomment feature out. Thank you for you readiness. – BigJoke Oct 03 '09 at 10:35

score 4 · Answer 6 · answered Sep 05 '14 at 07:52

4

For single line Comment use ⌘+/
For multiline Comment you need to install CComent plugin

to install plugin manager use alcatraz

answered Sep 05 '14 at 07:52

Rinkesh

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@EladG not the same. `cmd + /` will use multiple single-line comments (`// one line text...`), but the CComment plugin will use a single multi-line comment (`/* multi-line text... */`), just like in C. – Alejandro Iván Jan 19 '16 at 15:20

score 3 · Answer 7 · answered Sep 16 '22 at 08:28

3

new Xcode 14: Keys: Command + '

answered Sep 16 '22 at 08:28

oskarko

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Why, Apple, why are you changing such stuff...? :) – ZAY Sep 16 '22 at 08:55

score 2 · Answer 8 · answered Dec 23 '22 at 01:10

2

In Turkish keyboard cmd + *

You can use uncomment and multiline comment.

answered Dec 23 '22 at 01:10

Serhat ZENGİN

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score 1 · Answer 9 · answered Jul 16 '16 at 21:20

1

in Xcode 7.x

Shortcuts:

To Comment: Select the code to be comment, ⌘ + /

To uncomment: Select the code an press ⌘ + /

answered Jul 16 '16 at 21:20

kvra13

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score 0 · Answer 10 · answered Jun 08 '14 at 17:13

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Got it! You have to un-indent the lines so the comments are the first character on the line, not a tab or whitespace - then pressing CMD+/ works. Just tried it in XCode 5.1.1, works like a charm.

answered Jun 08 '14 at 17:13

guest

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score 0 · Answer 11 · answered Jun 20 '15 at 20:32

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This worked !

Higlight the desired lines then press Command + /

The same rule goes for uncommenting.

answered Jun 20 '15 at 20:32

Edwin O.

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score 0 · Answer 12 · answered Oct 07 '16 at 15:51

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For xcode 8 ->
sudo /usr/libexec/xpccachectl
restart your computer

answered Oct 07 '16 at 15:51

Adeel

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score 0 · Answer 13 · answered May 22 '23 at 08:20

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For XCode 14 and a german keyboard layout it's command - ß

answered May 22 '23 at 08:20

LesDeRille

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score 0 · Answer 14 · answered Jul 07 '23 at 13:53

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For me, with italian keyboard layout but english language on XCode 14.3, the multi-line (selection) comment shortcut is

⌘ '

answered Jul 07 '23 at 13:53

Andrea Bellitto

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Multi-line comments in Xcode

14 Answers14

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