Claude Code
The terminal CLI, plus the VS Code extension and the JetBrains plugin.
Verified against version 2.1.270 on 13 Sept 2026 from the official docs: interactive mode, keybindings, VS Code, JetBrains. Defaults shown. You can change them in ~/.claude/keybindings.json, except Ctrl+C and Ctrl+D, which can’t be rebound.
Essentials
22 shortcuts- Control C Ctrl C Ctrl CInterrupt what’s runningWith nothing running, the first press clears the prompt and a second one exits Claude Code.With nothing running, the first press clears the prompt and a second one exits Claude Code.With nothing running, the first press clears the prompt and a second one exits Claude Code.
- Escape Escape EscapeStop Claude mid-response, or close a dialogClaude keeps the work done so far. On a permission prompt it declines the action.Claude keeps the work done so far. On a permission prompt it declines the action.Claude keeps the work done so far. On a permission prompt it declines the action.
- Control D Ctrl D Ctrl DExit Claude CodePress twice within 800 ms. With text in the prompt it deletes the character after the cursor instead.Press twice within 800 ms. With text in the prompt it deletes the character after the cursor instead.Press twice within 800 ms. With text in the prompt it deletes the character after the cursor instead.
- Escape thenEscape Escape thenEscape Escape thenEscapeRewind to an earlier point, or clear the draftWith text in the prompt it clears it and keeps the draft in history; with an empty prompt it opens the rewind menu.With text in the prompt it clears it and keeps the draft in history; with an empty prompt it opens the rewind menu.With text in the prompt it clears it and keeps the draft in history; with an empty prompt it opens the rewind menu.
- \ Return \ Enter \ EnterNew line without sendingalsoOption Return On mac, needs Option as Meta in the terminal.Shift Return Native in iTerm2, WezTerm, Ghostty, Kitty, Warp, Apple Terminal and Windows Terminal.Control J alsoAlt Enter On mac, needs Option as Meta in the terminal.Shift Enter Native in iTerm2, WezTerm, Ghostty, Kitty, Warp, Apple Terminal and Windows Terminal.Ctrl J alsoAlt Enter On mac, needs Option as Meta in the terminal.Shift Enter Native in iTerm2, WezTerm, Ghostty, Kitty, Warp, Apple Terminal and Windows Terminal.Ctrl J
- Control R Ctrl R Ctrl RSearch your prompt historyPress it again to move to the next match.Press it again to move to the next match.Press it again to move to the next match.
- Control O Ctrl O Ctrl OShow or hide the full transcriptShows every tool call, with a timestamp and the model used per message.Shows every tool call, with a timestamp and the model used per message.Shows every tool call, with a timestamp and the model used per message.
- Shift Tab Shift Tab Shift TabSwitch to the next permission modeManual → accept edits → plan → (bypass) → auto, and back to manual.Manual → accept edits → plan → (bypass) → auto, and back to manual.alsoAlt M When the Node or Bun runtime doesn’t enable VT input mode.Manual → accept edits → plan → (bypass) → auto, and back to manual.
- Option P Alt P Alt PSwitch modelOn mac, needs Option as Meta in the terminal. Keeps whatever you had typed.On mac, needs Option as Meta in the terminal. Keeps whatever you had typed.On mac, needs Option as Meta in the terminal. Keeps whatever you had typed.
- Option T Alt T Alt TTurn extended thinking on or offWorks on mac without Option as Meta. Models that always think ignore it.Works on mac without Option as Meta. Models that always think ignore it.Works on mac without Option as Meta. Models that always think ignore it.
- Control V Alt V Ctrl VPaste an image from the clipboardNot ⌘V. Inserts an [Image #N] chip you can refer to in the prompt.alsoCommand V iTerm2 only.On WSL, Ctrl+V works too, unless your terminal intercepts it. Inserts an [Image #N] chip you can refer to in the prompt.Inserts an [Image #N] chip you can refer to in the prompt.
- Control G Ctrl G Ctrl GEdit the prompt in your text editoralsoControl X thenControl E The readline-style binding.alsoCtrl X thenCtrl E The readline-style binding.alsoCtrl X thenCtrl E The readline-style binding.
- Control B Ctrl B Ctrl BSend the running task to the backgroundUnder tmux, press it twice.alsoControl X thenControl B Doesn’t clash with the tmux prefix.Under tmux, press it twice.alsoCtrl X thenCtrl B Doesn’t clash with the tmux prefix.Under tmux, press it twice.alsoCtrl X thenCtrl B Doesn’t clash with the tmux prefix.
- Control S Ctrl S Ctrl SStash the prompt to finish it laterPress it again on an empty prompt to bring the text back, cursor and images included.Press it again on an empty prompt to bring the text back, cursor and images included.Press it again on an empty prompt to bring the text back, cursor and images included.
- Control T Ctrl T Ctrl TShow or hide Claude’s task listThis is Claude’s checklist, not the background-task view (/tasks).This is Claude’s checklist, not the background-task view (/tasks).This is Claude’s checklist, not the background-task view (/tasks).
- Control L Ctrl L Ctrl LRefresh the screen, or clear itKeeps your input and the conversation. Fixes a garbled display.Keeps your input and the conversation. Fixes a garbled display.Keeps your input and the conversation. Fixes a garbled display.
- / / /Run a command or a skillAt the start of the prompt it opens the menu; keep typing to filter it.At the start of the prompt it opens the menu; keep typing to filter it.At the start of the prompt it opens the menu; keep typing to filter it.
- ! ! !Run a shell command and keep its outputAt the start of the prompt. The output lands in the session for Claude to read.At the start of the prompt. The output lands in the session for Claude to read.At the start of the prompt. The output lands in the session for Claude to read.
- @ @ @Mention a file or folderOpens path autocomplete. Type a letter after it to also see your other live sessions.Opens path autocomplete. Type a letter after it to also see your other live sessions.Opens path autocomplete. Type a letter after it to also see your other live sessions.
- Command Escape Ctrl Escape Ctrl EscapeJump between the editor and ClaudeOn macOS Tahoe, first free ⌘Esc from the Game Overlay in System Settings › Keyboard Shortcuts › Game Controllers.On macOS Tahoe, first free ⌘Esc from the Game Overlay in System Settings › Keyboard Shortcuts › Game Controllers.On macOS Tahoe, first free ⌘Esc from the Game Overlay in System Settings › Keyboard Shortcuts › Game Controllers.
- Option K Alt K Alt Kwith the editor focusedMention the current file and selectionInserts something like @app.ts#5-10 in the prompt.Inserts something like @app.ts#5-10 in the prompt.Inserts something like @app.ts#5-10 in the prompt.
- Command Escape Ctrl Escape Ctrl EscapeOpen Claude Code from the IDE