diff --git a/src/vs/base/parts/quickopen/browser/quickOpenWidget.ts b/src/vs/base/parts/quickopen/browser/quickOpenWidget.ts
index ce8df971049..c6e9ac7423a 100644
--- a/src/vs/base/parts/quickopen/browser/quickOpenWidget.ts
+++ b/src/vs/base/parts/quickopen/browser/quickOpenWidget.ts
@@ -757,10 +757,13 @@ export class QuickOpenWidget implements IModelProvider {
 		}
 	}
 
-	public setValue(value: string, select: boolean): void {
+	public setValue(value: string, selection?: [number, number]): void {
 		if (this.inputBox) {
 			this.inputBox.value = value;
-			if (select) {
+			if (Array.isArray(selection)) {
+				const [start, end] = selection;
+				this.inputBox.select({ start, end });
+			} else {
 				this.inputBox.select();
 			}
 		}
@@ -920,4 +923,4 @@ export class QuickOpenWidget implements IModelProvider {
 		this.inputBox.dispose();
 		this.tree.dispose();
 	}
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/src/vs/platform/quickOpen/common/quickOpen.ts b/src/vs/platform/quickOpen/common/quickOpen.ts
index 2a589bf3aec..6cc6781e190 100644
--- a/src/vs/platform/quickOpen/common/quickOpen.ts
+++ b/src/vs/platform/quickOpen/common/quickOpen.ts
@@ -67,9 +67,9 @@ export interface IInputOptions {
 	value?: string;
 
 	/**
-	 * whether to automatically select the first value set
+	 * the selection of value, default to the whole word
 	 */
-	noValuePreselect?: boolean;
+	valueSelection?: [number, number];
 
 	/**
 	 * the text to display underneath the input box
diff --git a/src/vs/vscode.d.ts b/src/vs/vscode.d.ts
index a6d64e492d5..96422c406f0 100644
--- a/src/vs/vscode.d.ts
+++ b/src/vs/vscode.d.ts
@@ -1466,9 +1466,12 @@ declare module 'vscode' {
 		value?: string;
 
 		/**
-		 * Whether to preselect the given `value` when the box is first shown.
+		 * Selection of the prefilled [`value`](#InputBoxOptions.value). Defined as tuple of two number where the
+		 * first is the inclusive start index and the second the exclusive end index. When `undefined` the whole
+		 * word will be selected, when empty (start equals end) only the cursor will be set,
+		 * otherwise the defined range will be selected.
 		 */
-		noValuePreselect?: boolean;
+		valueSelection?: [number, number];
 
 		/**
 		 * The text to display underneath the input box.
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/api/node/mainThreadQuickOpen.ts b/src/vs/workbench/api/node/mainThreadQuickOpen.ts
index 1662317bfe5..31896782a4a 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/api/node/mainThreadQuickOpen.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/api/node/mainThreadQuickOpen.ts
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ export class MainThreadQuickOpen extends MainThreadQuickOpenShape {
 		if (options) {
 			inputOptions.password = options.password;
 			inputOptions.placeHolder = options.placeHolder;
-			inputOptions.noValuePreselect = options.noValuePreselect;
+			inputOptions.valueSelection = options.valueSelection;
 			inputOptions.prompt = options.prompt;
 			inputOptions.value = options.value;
 			inputOptions.ignoreFocusLost = options.ignoreFocusOut;
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/quickopen/quickOpenController.ts b/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/quickopen/quickOpenController.ts
index b41afc02974..00e6d4eb0cd 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/quickopen/quickOpenController.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/quickopen/quickOpenController.ts
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ interface IWorkbenchQuickOpenConfiguration {
 
 interface IInternalPickOptions {
 	value?: string;
-	valueSelect?: boolean;
+	valueSelection?: [number, number];
 	placeHolder?: string;
 	inputDecoration?: Severity;
 	password?: boolean;
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ export class QuickOpenController extends Component implements IQuickOpenService
 				password: options.password,
 				placeHolder: options.placeHolder,
 				value: lastValue === void 0 ? options.value : lastValue,
-				valueSelect: options.noValuePreselect ? false : lastValue === void 0,
+				valueSelection: options.valueSelection,
 				inputDecoration: currentDecoration,
 				onDidType: (value) => {
 					lastValue = value;
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@ export class QuickOpenController extends Component implements IQuickOpenService
 
 		// Respect input value
 		if (options.value) {
-			this.pickOpenWidget.setValue(options.value, options.valueSelect);
+			this.pickOpenWidget.setValue(options.value, options.valueSelection);
 		}
 
 		// Respect password