Interactive Mode

Official reference for keyboard shortcuts, input modes, built-in commands, and interactive features in Claude Code sessions. Source: https://code.claude.com/docs/en/interactive-mode.md Added: 2026-01-29

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Keyboard Shortcuts

General Controls

Shortcut	Description
Ctrl+C	Cancel current input or generation
Ctrl+D	Exit session
Ctrl+G	Open in default text editor
Ctrl+L	Clear terminal screen (keeps history)
Ctrl+O	Toggle verbose output
Ctrl+R	Reverse search command history
Ctrl+V / Cmd+V	Paste image from clipboard
Ctrl+B	Background running tasks (tmux: press twice)
Left/Right	Cycle dialog tabs
Up/Down	Navigate command history
Esc + Esc	Rewind code/conversation
Shift+Tab / Alt+M	Toggle permission modes
Option+P / Alt+P	Switch model
Option+T / Alt+T	Toggle extended thinking

Text Editing

Shortcut	Description
Ctrl+K	Delete to end of line
Ctrl+U	Delete entire line
Ctrl+Y	Paste deleted text
Alt+Y	Cycle paste history
Alt+B	Back one word
Alt+F	Forward one word

Multiline Input

Method	Shortcut
Quick escape	\ + Enter
macOS default	Option+Enter
Shift+Enter	Works in iTerm2, WezTerm, Ghostty, Kitty
Control sequence	Ctrl+J
Paste mode	Paste directly

Quick Commands

Prefix	Description
/	Command or skill
!	Bash mode (run directly)
@	File path mention

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Built-in Commands

Command	Purpose
/clear	Clear conversation history
/compact [instructions]	Compact with optional focus
/config	Settings interface
/context	Visualize context usage
/cost	Token usage statistics
/doctor	Installation health check
/exit	Exit REPL
/export [filename]	Export conversation
/help	Usage help
/init	Initialize CLAUDE.md
/mcp	Manage MCP servers
/memory	Edit CLAUDE.md files
/model	Select model
/permissions	View/update permissions
/plan	Enter plan mode
/rename <name>	Rename session
/resume [session]	Resume conversation
/rewind	Rewind conversation/code
/stats	Daily usage, streaks, model preferences
/status	Version, model, account, connectivity
/statusline	Status line UI setup
/copy	Copy last response to clipboard
/tasks	List background tasks
/teleport	Resume remote session
/theme	Change color theme
/todos	List TODO items
/usage	Plan usage limits and rate limits

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Vim Editor Mode

Enable with /vim or permanently via /config.

Mode Switching

• Esc → NORMAL mode
• i/I/a/A/o/O → INSERT mode

Navigation (NORMAL)

h/j/k/l, w/e/b, 0/$, ^, gg/G, f/F/t/T, ;/,

Editing (NORMAL)

x, dd/D, dw/de/db, cc/C, cw/ce/cb, yy/Y, yw/ye/yb, p/P, >>/<<, J, .

Text Objects

iw/aw, iW/aW, i"/a", i'/a', i(/a(, i[/a[, i{/a{

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Background Bash Commands

Commands can run asynchronously while you continue working.

• Prompt Claude to "run in the background"
• Press Ctrl+B to background a running command
• Output buffered, retrieved via TaskOutput tool
• Cleaned up when Claude Code exits

Bash Mode (! prefix)

! npm test
! git status

Adds command + output to conversation context without Claude interpreting it.

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Task List

Claude creates task lists for complex, multi-step work.

• Ctrl+T to toggle view (up to 10 tasks)
• Tasks persist across context compactions
• CLAUDE_CODE_TASK_LIST_ID=my-project claude for shared task list
• CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_TASKS=false to revert to TODO list

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PR Review Status

Clickable PR link in footer with colored underline:

• Green: approved
• Yellow: pending review
• Red: changes requested
• Gray: draft

Updates every 60 seconds. Requires gh CLI.