Keyboard Shortcuts Reference

Q: How do you stop Claude Code mid-response?

Escape stops Claude — not Ctrl+C. Pressing Escape twice edits the previous message or jumps to the message list, and Ctrl+D exits the session.

Q: Why does pasting an image into Claude Code fail on macOS?

Image paste uses Ctrl+V on macOS, not Cmd+V — the detail that catches most people. Terminal line breaks default to Option+Enter, and Shift+Enter works natively in many modern terminals; run /terminal-setup for terminals that still need it.

Q: Which Cursor shortcuts matter most day to day?

Cmd/Ctrl+I opens the Agent chat panel, Cmd/Ctrl+K runs an inline edit, Tab accepts an autocomplete suggestion, Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+L adds to chat, and Cmd/Ctrl+/ cycles between models. Cmd/Ctrl+Enter accepts all changes and Escape cancels the current operation.

Q: How are Cursor keybindings customized?

Open Keyboard Shortcuts with Ctrl+R then Ctrl+S (or Cmd+R then Cmd+S), or run "Preferences: Open Keyboard Shortcuts" from the Command Palette. Search for the command, click the pencil icon, press the desired key combination, and save.

Q: What are the Codex shortcuts?

In the CLI, Enter submits, Escape cancels the current generation, Tab autocompletes, Ctrl+C interrupts, and Ctrl+L clears the screen. In the app, Cmd+N starts a new thread, Cmd+Option+B toggles the diff panel, and Cmd+Shift+] moves to the next thread.

Keyboard shortcuts differ sharply across the three tools: Cursor drives its editor with Cmd/Ctrl+I for the Agent chat panel and Cmd/Ctrl+K for inline edit, while Claude Code and Codex are terminal programs where Escape cancels, Tab completes, and the arrow keys navigate history.

Print this page, pin it next to your monitor, or bookmark it. These are the shortcuts that separate developers who are fast with AI tools from those who are constantly reaching for the mouse.

Essential Shortcuts at a Glance

Shortcut	Action
`Cmd/Ctrl+I`	Open/close Agent chat panel
`Cmd/Ctrl+K`	Inline edit (selection or cursor position)
`Cmd/Ctrl+E`	Toggle Agent layout
`Tab`	Accept autocomplete suggestion
`Cmd/Ctrl+.`	Toggle mode (Agent/Ask)
`Cmd/Ctrl+/`	Cycle between models
`Cmd/Ctrl+Enter`	Accept all changes
`Cmd/Ctrl+Backspace`	Reject all changes
`Escape`	Cancel current operation
`Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+P`	Command palette

Shortcut	Action
`Escape`	Stop Claude (not Ctrl+C)
`Escape` twice	Edit previous message / jump to message list
`Tab`	Command/path completion
`Up/Down`	Navigate prompt history
`Ctrl+V`	Paste images (not Cmd+V on macOS)
`#` at start	Quick CLAUDE.md update
`/` at start	Slash command menu
`@` in message	Reference a file
`\` + `Enter`	New line (all terminals)
`Ctrl+D`	Exit session

Shortcut	Action
`Enter`	Submit prompt
`Escape`	Cancel current generation
`Tab`	Autocomplete command/path
`Up/Down`	Navigate command history
`/` at start	Slash command menu
`Ctrl+C`	Interrupt / exit
`Ctrl+L`	Clear screen

Cursor Shortcuts

Action	Windows/Linux	macOS
Open/close AI chat	`Ctrl+I`	`Cmd+I`
Open/close AI chat (alt)	`Ctrl+L`	`Cmd+L`
Toggle Agent layout	`Ctrl+E`	`Cmd+E`
Toggle Agent/Ask mode	`Ctrl+.`	`Cmd+.`
Cycle models	`Ctrl+/`	`Cmd+/`
Cursor Settings	`Ctrl+Shift+J`	`Cmd+Shift+J`
VS Code Settings	`Ctrl+,`	`Cmd+,`
Command Palette	`Ctrl+Shift+P`	`Cmd+Shift+P`

Chat Interface

Action	Windows/Linux	macOS
Send message	`Enter`	`Enter`
Force send (override queue)	`Ctrl+Enter`	`Cmd+Enter`
Cancel AI response	`Ctrl+Shift+Backspace`	`Cmd+Shift+Backspace`
Add selection to chat	`Ctrl+Shift+L`	`Cmd+Shift+L`
Paste as context	`Ctrl+V`	`Cmd+V`
Paste to input (text only)	`Ctrl+Shift+V`	`Cmd+Shift+V`
Accept all changes	`Ctrl+Enter`	`Cmd+Enter`
Reject all changes	`Ctrl+Backspace`	`Cmd+Backspace`
Next message	`Tab`	`Tab`
Previous message	`Shift+Tab`	`Shift+Tab`
Toggle model	`Ctrl+Alt+/`	`Cmd+Alt+/`
New chat	`Ctrl+N` or `Ctrl+R`	`Cmd+N` or `Cmd+R`
New chat tab	`Ctrl+T`	`Cmd+T`
Previous chat	`Ctrl+[`	`Cmd+[`
Next chat	`Ctrl+]`	`Cmd+]`
Close chat	`Ctrl+W`	`Cmd+W`
Exit input field	`Escape`	`Escape`

Inline Edit (Cmd/Ctrl+K)

Action	Windows/Linux	macOS
Open inline edit	`Ctrl+K`	`Cmd+K`
Toggle focus (code/prompt)	`Ctrl+Shift+K`	`Cmd+Shift+K`
Submit edit	`Enter`	`Enter`
Cancel edit	`Ctrl+Shift+Backspace`	`Cmd+Shift+Backspace`
Quick question about selection	`Alt+Enter`	`Alt+Enter`

Code Context

Action	Windows/Linux	macOS
Reference symbols	`@`	`@`
Reference files	`#`	`#`
Slash commands	`/`	`/`
Add selection to chat	`Ctrl+Shift+L`	`Cmd+Shift+L`
Add selection to inline edit	`Ctrl+Shift+K`	`Cmd+Shift+K`
Toggle reading strategy	`Ctrl+M`	`Cmd+M`
Accept next word (partial)	`Ctrl+Right`	`Cmd+Right`
Search codebase	`Ctrl+Enter`	`Cmd+Enter`

Tab Autocomplete

Action	Windows/Linux	macOS
Accept full suggestion	`Tab`	`Tab`
Accept next word	`Ctrl+Right`	`Cmd+Right`
Reject suggestion	`Escape`	`Escape`

Terminal

Action	Windows/Linux	macOS
AI command generation	`Ctrl+K`	`Cmd+K`
Execute generated command	`Ctrl+Enter`	`Cmd+Enter`
Accept command	`Escape`	`Escape`

Claude Code Shortcuts

General Controls

Shortcut	Description
`Escape`	Stop Claude’s current operation
`Escape` twice	Show message list / edit previous message
`Ctrl+C`	Cancel current input
`Ctrl+D`	Exit Claude Code session
`Ctrl+L`	Clear terminal screen (keeps conversation)
`Up/Down`	Navigate command history
`Tab`	Command and path completion

Multiline Input

Method	Shortcut	Notes
Backslash escape	`\` + `Enter`	Works in all terminals
macOS default	`Option+Enter`	Default on macOS
Shift+Enter	`Shift+Enter`	Native in many modern terminals and VS Code; run `/terminal-setup` for those that need it (e.g. iTerm2)
Paste mode	Direct paste	For code blocks and logs

Quick Prefixes

Prefix	Action
`#` at line start	Update CLAUDE.md (prompts for file selection)
`/` at line start	Open slash command menu
`@` in message	Include file contents

Vim Mode (Optional)

Open /config, then set Editor mode to Vim. The former /vim command has been removed.

Mode switching:

Command	Action
`Escape`	Enter NORMAL mode
`i` / `I`	Insert before cursor / at line start
`a` / `A`	Insert after cursor / at line end
`o` / `O`	Open line below / above

Navigation (NORMAL mode):

Command	Action
`h/j/k/l`	Left / Down / Up / Right
`w` / `e` / `b`	Next word / End of word / Previous word
`0` / `$` / `^`	Line start / Line end / First non-blank
`gg` / `G`	Input start / Input end

Editing (NORMAL mode):

Command	Action
`x`	Delete character
`dd` / `D`	Delete line / Delete to end
`dw` / `de` / `db`	Delete word forward / to end / backward
`cc` / `C`	Change line / Change to end
`.`	Repeat last change

Codex Shortcuts

CLI Controls

Shortcut	Description
`Enter`	Submit prompt
`Escape`	Cancel current generation
`Ctrl+C`	Interrupt / exit
`Ctrl+L`	Clear terminal screen
`Up/Down`	Navigate command history
`Tab`	Autocomplete commands and paths

ChatGPT Desktop (Codex)

These are the documented Codex task shortcuts in the ChatGPT desktop app (macOS modifiers shown).

Action	Shortcut
Command menu	`Cmd+Shift+P` or `Cmd+K`
New thread	`Cmd+N` or `Cmd+Shift+O`
Find in thread	`Cmd+F`
Previous thread	`Cmd+Shift+[`
Next thread	`Cmd+Shift+]`
Toggle diff panel	`Cmd+Option+B`
Toggle terminal	`Cmd+J`
Clear the terminal	`Ctrl+L`

Slash Commands

Command	Description
`/`	Show available commands
`/model`	Switch model
`/new`	Start new conversation
`/compact`	Summarize conversation

Platform-Specific Notes

macOS

macOS Users

Use Cmd instead of Ctrl for Cursor shortcuts
Claude Code image paste: Use Ctrl+V (not Cmd+V) — this catches many people
Terminal line breaks: Option+Enter by default in Claude Code
Shift+Enter works natively in many modern terminals and the VS Code integrated terminal; run /terminal-setup for terminals that still need it (such as iTerm2)

Windows and Linux

Windows/Linux Users

Ctrl is the primary modifier everywhere
Some terminal emulators may capture shortcuts before they reach Claude Code
Windows Terminal and WSL both work with Claude Code natively
Check for conflicts with system-level shortcuts (especially in Linux desktop environments)

Customization

Cursor Keybinding Customization

Open Keyboard Shortcuts: Ctrl+R then Ctrl+S (or Cmd+R then Cmd+S), or run “Preferences: Open Keyboard Shortcuts” from the Command Palette (Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+P)
Search for the command you want to modify
Click the pencil icon to edit
Press your desired key combination
Save

Example custom binding:

{
    "key": "cmd+m",
    "command": "cursor.generateGitCommitMessage"
}

Claude Code Custom Commands

Create shortcuts for frequently used prompts:

Create the .claude/commands/ directory in your project
Add markdown files — each file becomes a /command-name
Use $ARGUMENTS for dynamic input

Example .claude/commands/review.md:

---
allowed-tools: [Read, Bash]
description: Review code for bugs and security issues
---
Review the following code for bugs, security vulnerabilities, and performance issues.
Focus on real problems, not style preferences. $ARGUMENTS

Usage: /review @src/auth.ts

Top 10 Shortcuts Per Tool

Cursor

Cmd/Ctrl+I — Agent chat
Cmd/Ctrl+K — Inline edit
Tab — Accept suggestion
Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+L — Add to chat
Cmd/Ctrl+E — Toggle Agent layout
@ — Reference symbols
Cmd/Ctrl+/ — Switch models
Cmd/Ctrl+Enter — Accept all
Escape — Cancel
Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+P — Command palette

Claude Code

Escape — Stop Claude
Escape twice — Edit message
Up arrow — Previous command
Tab — Complete command
# — Update CLAUDE.md
/ — Slash commands
@ — Reference files
Ctrl+V — Paste images
\ + Enter — New line
Ctrl+D — Exit session

Codex

Enter — Submit prompt
Escape — Cancel generation
Up/Down — Command history
Tab — Autocomplete
/ — Slash commands
Ctrl+C — Interrupt
Ctrl+L — Clear screen
Cmd+N (App) — New thread
Cmd+Option+B (App) — Toggle diff panel
Cmd+Shift+] (App) — Next thread

Frequently asked questions

How do you stop Claude Code mid-response?

Escape stops Claude — not Ctrl+C. Pressing Escape twice edits the previous message or jumps to the message list, and Ctrl+D exits the session.

Why does pasting an image into Claude Code fail on macOS?

Image paste uses Ctrl+V on macOS, not Cmd+V — the detail that catches most people. Terminal line breaks default to Option+Enter, and Shift+Enter works natively in many modern terminals; run /terminal-setup for terminals that still need it.

Which Cursor shortcuts matter most day to day?

Cmd/Ctrl+I opens the Agent chat panel, Cmd/Ctrl+K runs an inline edit, Tab accepts an autocomplete suggestion, Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+L adds to chat, and Cmd/Ctrl+/ cycles between models. Cmd/Ctrl+Enter accepts all changes and Escape cancels the current operation.

How are Cursor keybindings customized?

Open Keyboard Shortcuts with Ctrl+R then Ctrl+S (or Cmd+R then Cmd+S), or run "Preferences: Open Keyboard Shortcuts" from the Command Palette. Search for the command, click the pencil icon, press the desired key combination, and save.

What are the Codex shortcuts?

In the CLI, Enter submits, Escape cancels the current generation, Tab autocompletes, Ctrl+C interrupts, and Ctrl+L clears the screen. In the app, Cmd+N starts a new thread, Cmd+Option+B toggles the diff panel, and Cmd+Shift+] moves to the next thread.