Cheat sheet guide
Claude Code shortcuts worth learning first
This page collects 39 searchable Claude Code keyboard shortcuts across 4 categories. Start with the shortcuts for CLI Session, VS Code Extension, Slash Commands, CLI Flags, then print the cheat sheet once the important ones are worth keeping nearby.
- Switch OS tabs for Windows, macOS, or Linux shortcuts.
- Use / to jump to search instantly.
- Use Compare mode when moving between machines.
- Print or save the page as a compact PDF cheat sheet.
CLI Session
10 shortcuts
Interrupt / cancel current operation
Ctrl+C
WinCtrl+CMacCtrl+CLinuxCtrl+C
Exit Claude Code
Ctrl+D
WinCtrl+DMacCtrl+DLinuxCtrl+D
Insert newline without submitting
Shift+Enter
WinShift+EnterMacShift+EnterLinuxShift+Enter
Search command history
Ctrl+R
WinCtrl+RMacCtrl+RLinuxCtrl+R
Move back one word
Alt+B
WinAlt+BMacAlt+BLinuxAlt+B
Move forward one word
Alt+F
WinAlt+FMacAlt+FLinuxAlt+F
Delete to beginning of line
Ctrl+U
WinCtrl+UMacCtrl+ULinuxCtrl+U
Delete word backward
Ctrl+W
WinCtrl+WMacCtrl+WLinuxCtrl+W
Kill background subagents
Ctrl+XCtrl+K
WinCtrl+XCtrl+KMacCtrl+XCtrl+KLinuxCtrl+XCtrl+K
Show keyboard shortcut help
?
Win?Mac?Linux?
VS Code Extension
5 shortcuts
Open Claude Code panel
Ctrl+Shift+P→Claude
WinCtrl+Shift+P→ClaudeMac⌘⇧P→ClaudeLinuxCtrl+Shift+P→Claude
Focus Claude input box
Ctrl+Esc
WinCtrl+EscMac⌘EscLinuxCtrl+Esc
Open new Claude tab
Ctrl+Shift+Esc
WinCtrl+Shift+EscMac⌘⇧EscLinuxCtrl+Shift+Esc
Start new conversation
Ctrl+N
WinCtrl+NMac⌘NLinuxCtrl+N
Insert @mention reference
Alt+K
WinAlt+KMac⌥KLinuxAlt+K
Slash Commands
16 shortcuts
List all slash commands
/
Win/Mac/Linux/
Initialize project memory (CLAUDE.md)
/init
Win/initMac/initLinux/init
Clear conversation, free context
/clear
Win/clearMac/clearLinux/clear
Compact conversation to summary
/compact
Win/compactMac/compactLinux/compact
Show context window usage
/context
Win/contextMac/contextLinux/context
Switch model
/model
Win/modelMac/modelLinux/model
Open settings (JSON)
/config
Win/configMac/configLinux/config
Open keybindings config
/keybindings
Win/keybindingsMac/keybindingsLinux/keybindings
View / edit memory file
/memory
Win/memoryMac/memoryLinux/memory
Manage tool permissions
/permissions
Win/permissionsMac/permissionsLinux/permissions
Manage MCP servers
/mcp
Win/mcpMac/mcpLinux/mcp
List background tasks
/tasks
Win/tasksMac/tasksLinux/tasks
Show active agents
/agents
Win/agentsMac/agentsLinux/agents
Schedule loop iteration
/schedule
Win/scheduleMac/scheduleLinux/schedule
Exit and detach to background
/background
Win/backgroundMac/backgroundLinux/background
Authenticate account
/login
Win/loginMac/loginLinux/login
CLI Flags
8 shortcuts
Non-interactive print mode
claude-p"prompt"
Winclaude-p"prompt"Macclaude-p"prompt"Linuxclaude-p"prompt"
Continue most recent conversation
claude--continue
Winclaude--continueMacclaude--continueLinuxclaude--continue
Resume conversation by ID
claude--resumeID
Winclaude--resumeIDMacclaude--resumeIDLinuxclaude--resumeID
Select model at launch
claude--modelMODEL
Winclaude--modelMODELMacclaude--modelMODELLinuxclaude--modelMODEL
Set system prompt from file
claude--system-promptFILE
Winclaude--system-promptFILEMacclaude--system-promptFILELinuxclaude--system-promptFILE
Add MCP server
claudemcpaddNAMECMD
WinclaudemcpaddNAMECMDMacclaudemcpaddNAMECMDLinuxclaudemcpaddNAMECMD
List MCP servers
claudemcplist
WinclaudemcplistMacclaudemcplistLinuxclaudemcplist
Show version
claude--version
Winclaude--versionMacclaude--versionLinuxclaude--version
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way to find Claude Code shortcuts on this page?
Use the search box or press /, then type an action such as interrupt / cancel current operation.
Can I print this Claude Code shortcut cheat sheet?
Yes. Use the Print / PDF button or your browser print command to save a compact cheat sheet.
Does this page include Windows and Mac shortcuts for Claude Code?
Yes. Use the OS tabs to switch between Windows and macOS shortcuts. For example, Interrupt / cancel current operation is Ctrl+C on Windows and Ctrl+C on macOS where available.
Advertisement