5 Claude Code keyboard shortcuts you didn't know

Five keys that are easy to miss and quick to learn. These are for the Claude Code terminal app.

1. Ctrl+G: write in your own editor

Opens your prompt in your default text editor. Perfect for long instructions. (Ctrl+X then Ctrl+E does the same.)

2. Ctrl+S: stash your draft

Typing something long, but need to ask a quick question first? Press it to stash the draft, ask your question, then press it again to get the draft back.

3. Ctrl+R: search your past prompts

Stop retyping. It searches your prompt history as you type.

4. Alt+P: switch model mid-draft

Changes the model without clearing the prompt you were writing. On a Mac it is Option+P, and your terminal must treat Option as the Meta key for it to work.

5. Ctrl+B: send it to the background

Sends a running command or agent to the background so you can keep working. (Inside tmux, press it twice.)

Bonus: type while Claude works

You can keep typing while Claude is busy. Your message waits in a queue and runs next.

If a key does nothing

Terminals and keyboard layouts differ, and shortcuts can change between versions. Type /help to see the current list.

More quick tips

• Talk to Claude Code instead of typing
• Stop clicking Yes a hundred times in Claude Code
• All terminal tips and tricks