Cursor CLI reference - Keyboard shortcuts
Cursor CLI keyboard shortcuts
Cursor CLI documents 54 keyboard shortcuts, including Shift+Tab, Shift+Enter and Ctrl+D. These work inside the Cursor CLI terminal UI. Each row gives the docs' description, accepted values and an example where one is documented.
Last verified 6 official pagesFull Cursor CLI reference
| Shortcut | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
Shift+Tab | Rotates between modes (Agent, Plan, Ask). Docs: Shift+Tab | -no example |
Shift+Enter | Inserts a newline instead of submitting. Works natively in iTerm2, Ghostty, Kitty, Warp, and Zed; intercepted by tmux and screen. Docs: Shift+Enter | -no example |
Ctrl+D | Exits the CLI, following standard shell behavior and requiring a double-press. Docs: Ctrl+D | -no example |
Ctrl+J | Inserts a newline (ASCII line feed). Works in all terminals including tmux, screen, and SSH; the most reliable option. Docs: Ctrl+J | -no example |
\+Enter | Type a backslash, then press Enter to insert a newline. Works in all terminals. Docs: \+Enter | -no example |
Option+Enter / Alt+Enter | Newline alternative after /setup-terminal (Apple Terminal, Alacritty, VS Code); sends \x1b\r. In the / menu it also invokes a skill as a sticky Custom Mode. Docs: Option+Enter / Alt+Enter | map alt+enter send_text all \x1b\r |
ArrowUp | Cycles through previous messages; prompt history is per conversation. Docs: ArrowUp | -no example |
Ctrl+R | Reviews changes (the /changes review UI). Docs: Ctrl+R | -no example |
i (review) | In review, adds follow-up instructions. Docs: i (review) | -no example |
ArrowUp / ArrowDown (review) | Scrolls in the review view. Docs: ArrowUp / ArrowDown (review) | -no example |
ArrowLeft / ArrowRight (review) | Switches files in the review view. In the resume picker, Left/Right switch between All chats and This workspace. Docs: ArrowLeft / ArrowRight (review) | -no example |
o / O (review) | Opens diffs in your editor from the review UI. Docs: o / O (review) | -no example |
@ | Selects files and folders to include in context. Docs: @ | -no example |
& | Prepend to any message to push the conversation to a Cloud Agent. Docs: & | & refactor the auth module and add comprehensive tests |
y / n | Approves (y) or rejects (n) execution of a terminal command. Docs: y / n | -no example |
Tab (/model) | In the /model picker, press Tab to edit. Docs: Tab (/model) | -no example |
Tab (Shell Mode approval) | When prompted for permissions in Shell Mode, adds the command to the allowlist. Docs: Tab (Shell Mode approval) | -no example |
Ctrl+C | Cancels a hanging Shell Mode command and clears/exits Shell Mode; also pauses a /goal and cancels sudo prompts or cloud transfers. Docs: Ctrl+C | -no example |
Ctrl+O | Expands truncated output. Docs: Ctrl+O | -no example |
Esc / Backspace / Delete (empty input) | Exits Shell Mode when the input is empty. Docs: Esc / Backspace / Delete (empty input) | -no example |
Ctrl+L | Clears the screen and scrollback like a shell while keeping the session running. Docs: Ctrl+L | -no example |
Ctrl+V | Pastes a clipboard image. Docs: Ctrl+V | -no example |
Ctrl+G | Opens your prompt in $EDITOR and drops the result back into the prompt bar. Docs: Ctrl+G | -no example |
? | Opens the shortcut cheat sheet to discover input shortcuts. Docs: ? | -no example |
Ctrl+B (double press) | Sends a running shell to the background. Docs: Ctrl+B (double press) | -no example |
Ctrl+Y | Opens the /resume picker. Docs: Ctrl+Y | -no example |
q (login) | During agent login or first-run onboarding, reveals a QR code for the login URL to scan from a phone. Docs: q (login) | -no example |
Enter (while agent works) | Sends the queued message into the active run at a safe boundary to steer it; pressing Enter again interrupts the turn and sends the queued message immediately. Docs: Enter (while agent works) | -no example |
Enter (/ menu skill) | Picking a skill from the / menu and pressing Enter attaches it to one message. Docs: Enter (/ menu skill) | -no example |
Esc (Vim mode) | Returns to normal mode from insert mode when Vim mode is enabled. Docs: Esc (Vim mode) | -no example |
h, l | Vim mode: move left / right. Docs: h, l | -no example |
j, k | Vim mode: move down / up. Docs: j, k | -no example |
w, b | Vim mode: next / previous word. Docs: w, b | -no example |
e | Vim mode: end of word. Docs: e | -no example |
W, B, E | Vim mode: same as w, b, e but for WORD (non-whitespace sequence). Docs: W, B, E | -no example |
0, $ | Vim mode: start / end of line. Docs: 0, $ | -no example |
x | Vim mode: delete character under cursor. Docs: x | -no example |
X | Vim mode: delete character before cursor. Docs: X | -no example |
d + motion | Vim mode: delete range (e.g., dw deletes word). Docs: d + motion | dw |
dd | Vim mode: delete entire line. Docs: dd | -no example |
D | Vim mode: delete to end of line. Docs: D | -no example |
s | Vim mode: substitute character (delete + insert mode). Docs: s | -no example |
S, cc | Vim mode: change entire line. Docs: S, cc | -no example |
C | Vim mode: change to end of line. Docs: C | -no example |
i | Vim mode: insert at cursor. Docs: i | -no example |
a | Vim mode: insert after cursor. Docs: a | -no example |
I | Vim mode: insert at start of line. Docs: I | -no example |
A | Vim mode: insert at end of line. Docs: A | -no example |
o | Vim mode: open new line below. Docs: o | -no example |
O | Vim mode: open new line above. Docs: O | -no example |
<count> prefix | Vim mode: prefix commands with a number to repeat them; for example 3w moves forward 3 words and 2dd deletes 2 lines. Docs: <count> prefix | 3w |
f / F / t / T / ; / , | Vim find motions with operator composition (for example df, and ct.). Docs: f / F / t / T / ; / , | df, |
r | Vim mode: replace character. Docs: r | -no example |
Alt+Delete | Deletes a word in the input. Docs: Alt+Delete | -no example |
The rest of the Cursor CLI reference
FAQ
How many keyboard shortcuts does Cursor CLI have?
The official Cursor CLI docs list 54 keyboard shortcuts, including Shift+Tab, Shift+Enter and Ctrl+D. All of them are in the table above, in the docs' order.
What does Shift+Tab do in Cursor CLI?
Rotates between modes (Agent, Plan, Ask).
Where are Cursor CLI keyboard shortcuts documented?
On 6 official docs pages at cursor.com, last read on October 17, 2026. Every row in the table links the exact section it came from.
More on Cursor CLI
- Cursor CLI in the tools directoryWhat it is, who makes it and how it fits next to other coding agents.
- Cursor CLI errors and fixes18 error messages, quoted verbatim, with the documented fix for each.
- Cursor usage limitsPlan and tier limits for this tool, copied from the official docs.
Use other models in Cursor CLI
Setup guides from the model-in-tool directory, each with the env vars and base URL from official docs.
Sources
Last verified . Names and examples are copied verbatim from the 6 official pages below, and every row above links the exact section it came from.
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