How to Open DevTools in Any Browser

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To open DevTools in any browser, you need to know the keyboard shortcuts. For instance, in Google Chrome, you can press F12 or Ctrl + Shift + I to open DevTools.

In Mozilla Firefox, the keyboard shortcut is F12 or Ctrl + Shift + I as well.

To open DevTools in Microsoft Edge, you can press F12 or Ctrl + Shift + I.

Accessing DevTools

Accessing DevTools is a straightforward process. You can open DevTools by right-clicking an HTML file in Visual Studio Code.

To open DevTools and the embedded browser, follow these steps: Open a folder that contains web app source files in Visual Studio Code. Right-click an .html file in Explorer, select Open with Edge, and then select Open Browser with DevTools.

This approach is recommended unless the webpage requires running on a web server. The Edge DevTools: Browser tab will open with an embedded web browser and DevTools features. The browser is sometimes called a screencast or a headless browser for DevTools.

The following components will open in Visual Studio Code: the Debug toolbar, the Edge DevTools: Browser tab, and an instance is not listed in Activity Bar > Microsoft Edge Tools > Targets.

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Navigating DevTools

Credit: youtube.com, how to open Devtools (developer tool) in Chrome Quickly

To open DevTools, you can use keyboard shortcuts. On Windows or Linux, press Ctrl + Shift + J for the Console, or Ctrl + Shift + I for your last panel. On Mac, use Cmd + Option + J for the Console, or Fn + F12 and Cmd + Option + I for your last panel.

If you prefer a more visual approach, you can open the Chrome Menu in the upper-right-hand corner of the browser window and select More Tools > Developer Tools. Alternatively, you can use Option + ⌘ + J on macOS, or Shift + CTRL + J on Windows/Linux.

Here are the keyboard shortcuts for opening DevTools in Chrome:

Cmd + Option + I

To help you remember the shortcuts, just recall that C stands for CSS, J for JavaScript, and I designates your choice.

Inspect DOM/CSS

Inspecting the DOM or CSS can be a game-changer for web developers. The Elements panel is where the magic happens.

Credit: youtube.com, How Do You Inspect And Modify The DOM In Chrome DevTools? - Learn To Troubleshoot

To open the Elements panel, simply use the C shortcut or press Ctrl + Shift + C on Windows or Linux, or Cmd + Option + C on Mac. You can also open it by going to the DevTools menu.

The Elements panel shows you the DOM tree, allowing you to inspect and select elements. In the Styles tab, you can see the CSS rules applied to the selected element.

If you prefer keyboard shortcuts, here are the ones you need to know:

Just remember: C stands for CSS, J for JavaScript, and I designates your choice.

Panels with Shortcuts: Elements, Console, or Last Panel

You can open the Elements panel with a shortcut, and it's a game-changer. Press Ctrl + Shift + C on Windows or Linux, or Cmd + Option + C on Mac.

The Elements panel is where you can inspect the DOM or CSS, and see the CSS rules applied to the selected element. You can also see helpful tooltips when you hover over elements on a page.

Credit: youtube.com, DevTips Daily: Chrome Dev Tools Shortcuts

To open the Console panel, press Ctrl + Shift + J on Windows or Linux, or Cmd + Option + J on Mac. This will open the Console panel and let you examine your code performance.

You can also use the shortcut F12 on Windows/Linux, or Option + ⌘ + J on Mac, to open the last panel you used. This is a great way to quickly switch between panels.

Here's a quick reference guide to help you memorize the shortcuts:

Remember, C stands for CSS, J for JavaScript, and I designates your choice. This will help you quickly recall the shortcuts when you need them.

Auto Tab

Auto Tab is a game-changer for any developer. You can run Chrome from the command line and pass the --auto-open-devtools-for-tabs flag to make it happen.

This flag works only for the first Chrome instance you open. If it doesn't work for you, for example, on Windows, make sure to end any residing Chrome processes from the Task Manager.

A different take: Auto Open Devtools for Tabs

Credit: youtube.com, Navigate Chrome's dev tools like a boss (Command Menu)

To get started, quit any running Chrome instance. Then, run your favorite terminal or command line application.

Here are the specific commands to run, depending on your operating system:

DevTools will automatically open for every new tab until you close Chrome.

Application Panel

The Application panel is a powerful tool in DevTools that lets you debug Progressive web apps, inspect and manage storage, databases, and caches, and even inspect and delete Cookies.

You can use it to debug Progressive web apps.

Inspecting and managing storage, databases, and caches is also possible with the Application panel.

To get the real message if you see an error, set the Access-Control-Allow-Origin header to * or your domain.

Managing multiple domains becomes tricky and may not be worth it if you're using a CDN due to caching issues.

Browser-Specific DevTools

To open the dev panel in Google Chrome, click the three-dots icon in the upper-right-hand corner of the browser window.

You can also use Chrome dev tools hotkey: F12 (on Windows/Linux), and Option + ⌘ + J (on macOS).

The Chrome dev panel will appear either at the bottom or on the right of the Chrome page.

Chrome Main Menu Last Panel

Close-up view of a Facebook webpage interface in a browser window.
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You can easily access the last panel you used from Chrome's main menu by clicking the more_vert button to the right of the address bar and selecting More Tools > Developer Tools.

To open the last panel with a shortcut, you can refer to the next section.

Clicking the more_vert button to the right of the address bar will bring up a dropdown menu where you can find the option to open the last DevTools panel.

Alternatively, you can use a shortcut to access the last panel, but you'll need to check the next section for more information.

The more_vert button is a convenient way to quickly access the last panel you used, saving you time and effort.

If you're using a Windows or Linux system, you can press F12 to open the last panel, but you'll need to refer to the next section for more details.

For another approach, see: Chrome Devtools Shortcuts

In Different Browsers

To open the developer console in different browsers, you'll need to know the specific steps for each one.

Credit: youtube.com, How Do You Debug Browser Specific Issues With The Console? - Learn To Troubleshoot

In Chrome, you can open the console by using a few clicks or shortcuts, but we'll cover other browsers first.

To access the developer console in Safari, you need to enable the Developer Menu by going into Safari's preferences and selecting the Advanced Tab.

You can also use the shortcut Option + ⌘ + C to open the console.

Microsoft Edge has a slightly different process, where you can open the developer console by clicking on the Edge Menu and selecting More Tools > Developer Tools.

Alternatively, you can press CTRL + Shift + i to open it.

Mozilla Firefox is another browser that requires a specific process, where you can open the developer console by clicking on the Firefox Menu and selecting More Tools > Browser Console.

You can also use the shortcut Shift + ⌘ + J (on macOS) or Shift + CTRL + J (on Windows/Linux).

For more insights, see: Safari Devtools

Opera Developer Tools

Opera Developer Tools are a must-have for any web developer.

Credit: youtube.com, How to Open Developer Tools in Opera Browser 2025?

You can access the Opera console by pressing Ctrl+Shift+C to open Developer Tools Console or Ctrl+Shift+I to first open developer tools and further select Console.

To get the most out of Opera Developer Tools, you'll want to familiarize yourself with their functionality.

The Opera console is where you can examine, edit, and debug HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Discover more: Open Browser Console

Internet Explorer Console

To access the Internet Explorer console, click on F12 Developer Tools in the dropdown menu or press the F12 key.

You'll then be able to start examining the IE console.

The IE development console can be opened in the same way as the Edge console.

By doing this, you’ll successfully access the Internet Explorer console.

Google Chrome

To open the developer console in Google Chrome, click the three-dots icon in the upper-right-hand corner of the browser window and select More tools where you'll find Developer Tools in a drop-down list.

You can also use a hotkey: F12 on Windows/Linux, or Option + ⌘ + J on macOS.

The console will either open at the bottom or on the right of the Chrome page. Select the Console option to start examining your code performance.

Alternatively, you can use Shift + CTRL + J on Windows/Linux to open the console.

Browser-Specific DevTools (Continued)

Credit: youtube.com, Different ways to open Chrome DevTools #DevToolsTips

To open the developer console in Microsoft Edge, you can either open the Edge Menu and select More Tools > Developer Tools, or press CTRL + Shift + i.

Pressing CTRL + Shift + i is a convenient shortcut that can save you time in the long run.

The console will either open up within your existing Edge window or in a new window, so be prepared to select the Console tab if necessary.

Mozilla Firefox offers a similar option with the shortcut Shift + ⌘ + J on macOS or Shift + CTRL + J on Windows/Linux, which can be used to open the Browser Console.

These shortcuts can be a huge time-saver, especially when working on multiple projects simultaneously.

Microsoft Edge Console

To open the Microsoft Edge console, you can click on F12 Developer Tools in the dropdown menu or press F12.

You can also right-click on any element of the web page and select Inspect Element.

Credit: youtube.com, How To Open The Developer Tools In The Microsoft Edge Web Browser | PC | *2023*

To open the developer console in Microsoft Edge, press CTRL + Shift + i.

The console will either open up within your existing Edge window or in a new window, and you may have to select the Console tab.

To access the developer tools in Microsoft Edge, open the Edge Menu in the upper-right-hand corner of the browser window and select More Tools > Developer Tools.

Mozilla Firefox

Mozilla Firefox is a popular browser that offers a range of developer tools to help you debug and optimize your web applications. To access the developer console in Firefox, click on the Firefox Menu in the upper-right-hand corner of the browser and select More Tools > Browser Console.

The developer console in Firefox is a powerful tool that allows you to inspect and modify the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript of a webpage. You can also use a shortcut to open the browser console: Shift + ⌘ + J on macOS or Shift + CTRL + J on Windows/Linux.

Tiffany Kozey

Junior Writer

Tiffany Kozey is a versatile writer with a passion for exploring the intersection of technology and everyday life. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for simplifying complex concepts, she has established herself as a go-to expert on topics like Microsoft Cloud Syncing. Her articles have been widely read and appreciated for their clarity, insight, and practical advice.

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