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.
- Interrupt / cancel current operationCtrlC
- Open Claude Code panelCtrlShiftP→Claude
- List all slash commands/
- Non-interactive print modeclaude-p"prompt"
- Exit Claude CodeCtrlD
- Insert newline without submittingShiftEnter
CLI Session
10 shortcuts
Interrupt / cancel current operation
CtrlC
WinCtrlCMacCtrlCLinuxCtrlC
Exit Claude Code
CtrlD
WinCtrlDMacCtrlDLinuxCtrlD
Insert newline without submitting
ShiftEnter
WinShiftEnterMacShiftEnterLinuxShiftEnter
Search command history
CtrlR
WinCtrlRMacCtrlRLinuxCtrlR
Move back one word
AltB
WinAltBMacAltBLinuxAltB
Move forward one word
AltF
WinAltFMacAltFLinuxAltF
Delete to beginning of line
CtrlU
WinCtrlUMacCtrlULinuxCtrlU
Delete word backward
CtrlW
WinCtrlWMacCtrlWLinuxCtrlW
Kill background subagents
CtrlXCtrlK
WinCtrlXCtrlKMacCtrlXCtrlKLinuxCtrlXCtrlK
Show keyboard shortcut help
?
Win?Mac?Linux?
VS Code Extension
5 shortcuts
Open Claude Code panel
CtrlShiftP→Claude
WinCtrlShiftP→ClaudeMac⌘⇧P→ClaudeLinuxCtrlShiftP→Claude
Focus Claude input box
CtrlEsc
WinCtrlEscMac⌘EscLinuxCtrlEsc
Open new Claude tab
CtrlShiftEsc
WinCtrlShiftEscMac⌘⇧EscLinuxCtrlShiftEsc
Start new conversation
CtrlN
WinCtrlNMac⌘NLinuxCtrlN
Insert @mention reference
AltK
WinAltKMac⌥KLinuxAltK
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.
