| # Gemini CLI keyboard shortcuts |
|
|
| Gemini CLI ships with a set of default keyboard shortcuts for editing input, |
| navigating history, and controlling the UI. Use this reference to learn the |
| available combinations. |
|
|
| <!-- KEYBINDINGS-AUTOGEN:START --> |
|
|
| #### Basic Controls |
|
|
| | Command | Action | Keys | |
| | --------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------- | |
| | `basic.confirm` | Confirm the current selection or choice. | `Enter` | |
| | `basic.cancel` | Dismiss dialogs or cancel the current focus. | `Esc`<br />`Ctrl+[` | |
| | `basic.quit` | Cancel the current request or quit the CLI when input is empty. | `Ctrl+C` | |
| | `basic.exit` | Exit the CLI when the input buffer is empty. | `Ctrl+D` | |
|
|
| #### Cursor Movement |
|
|
| | Command | Action | Keys | |
| | ------------------ | ------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ | |
| | `cursor.home` | Move the cursor to the start of the line. | `Ctrl+A`<br />`Home` | |
| | `cursor.end` | Move the cursor to the end of the line. | `Ctrl+E`<br />`End` | |
| | `cursor.up` | Move the cursor up one line. | `Up` | |
| | `cursor.down` | Move the cursor down one line. | `Down` | |
| | `cursor.left` | Move the cursor one character to the left. | `Left` | |
| | `cursor.right` | Move the cursor one character to the right. | `Right`<br />`Ctrl+F` | |
| | `cursor.wordLeft` | Move the cursor one word to the left. | `Ctrl+Left`<br />`Alt+Left`<br />`Alt+B` | |
| | `cursor.wordRight` | Move the cursor one word to the right. | `Ctrl+Right`<br />`Alt+Right`<br />`Alt+F` | |
|
|
| #### Editing |
|
|
| | Command | Action | Keys | |
| | ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------- | |
| | `edit.deleteRightAll` | Delete from the cursor to the end of the line. | `Ctrl+K` | |
| | `edit.deleteLeftAll` | Delete from the cursor to the start of the line. | `Ctrl+U` | |
| | `edit.clear` | Clear all text in the input field. | `Ctrl+C` | |
| | `edit.deleteWordLeft` | Delete the previous word. | `Ctrl+Backspace`<br />`Alt+Backspace`<br />`Ctrl+W` | |
| | `edit.deleteWordRight` | Delete the next word. | `Ctrl+Delete`<br />`Alt+Delete`<br />`Alt+D` | |
| | `edit.deleteLeft` | Delete the character to the left. | `Backspace`<br />`Ctrl+H` | |
| | `edit.deleteRight` | Delete the character to the right. | `Delete`<br />`Ctrl+D` | |
| | `edit.undo` | Undo the most recent text edit. | `Ctrl+Z`<br />`Alt+Z`<br />`Cmd/Win+Z` | |
| | `edit.redo` | Redo the most recent undone text edit. | `Ctrl+Shift+Z`<br />`Shift+Cmd/Win+Z`<br />`Alt+Shift+Z` | |
|
|
| #### Scrolling |
|
|
| | Command | Action | Keys | |
| | ----------------- | ------------------------ | ----------------------------- | |
| | `scroll.up` | Scroll content up. | `Shift+Up` | |
| | `scroll.down` | Scroll content down. | `Shift+Down` | |
| | `scroll.home` | Scroll to the top. | `Ctrl+Home`<br />`Shift+Home` | |
| | `scroll.end` | Scroll to the bottom. | `Ctrl+End`<br />`Shift+End` | |
| | `scroll.pageUp` | Scroll up by one page. | `Page Up` | |
| | `scroll.pageDown` | Scroll down by one page. | `Page Down` | |
|
|
| #### History & Search |
|
|
| | Command | Action | Keys | |
| | ----------------------- | -------------------------------------------- | -------- | |
| | `history.previous` | Show the previous entry in history. | `Ctrl+P` | |
| | `history.next` | Show the next entry in history. | `Ctrl+N` | |
| | `history.search.start` | Start reverse search through history. | `Ctrl+R` | |
| | `history.search.submit` | Submit the selected reverse-search match. | `Enter` | |
| | `history.search.accept` | Accept a suggestion while reverse searching. | `Tab` | |
|
|
| #### Navigation |
|
|
| | Command | Action | Keys | |
| | --------------------- | -------------------------------------------------- | --------------- | |
| | `nav.up` | Move selection up in lists. | `Up` | |
| | `nav.down` | Move selection down in lists. | `Down` | |
| | `nav.dialog.up` | Move up within dialog options. | `Up`<br />`K` | |
| | `nav.dialog.down` | Move down within dialog options. | `Down`<br />`J` | |
| | `nav.dialog.next` | Move to the next item or question in a dialog. | `Tab` | |
| | `nav.dialog.previous` | Move to the previous item or question in a dialog. | `Shift+Tab` | |
|
|
| #### Suggestions & Completions |
|
|
| | Command | Action | Keys | |
| | ----------------------- | --------------------------------------- | -------------------- | |
| | `suggest.accept` | Accept the inline suggestion. | `Tab`<br />`Enter` | |
| | `suggest.focusPrevious` | Move to the previous completion option. | `Up`<br />`Ctrl+P` | |
| | `suggest.focusNext` | Move to the next completion option. | `Down`<br />`Ctrl+N` | |
| | `suggest.expand` | Expand an inline suggestion. | `Right` | |
| | `suggest.collapse` | Collapse an inline suggestion. | `Left` | |
|
|
| #### Text Input |
|
|
| | Command | Action | Keys | |
| | ------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |
| | `input.submit` | Submit the current prompt. | `Enter` | |
| | `input.queueMessage` | Queue the current prompt to be processed after the current task finishes. | `Tab` | |
| | `input.newline` | Insert a newline without submitting. | `Ctrl+Enter`<br />`Cmd/Win+Enter`<br />`Alt+Enter`<br />`Shift+Enter`<br />`Ctrl+J` | |
| | `input.openExternalEditor` | Open the current prompt or the plan in an external editor. | `Ctrl+G`<br />`Ctrl+Shift+G` | |
| | `input.deprecatedOpenExternalEditor` | Deprecated command to open external editor. | `Ctrl+X` | |
| | `input.paste` | Paste from the clipboard. | `Ctrl+V`<br />`Cmd/Win+V`<br />`Alt+V` | |
|
|
| #### App Controls |
|
|
| | Command | Action | Keys | |
| | ----------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------ | |
| | `app.showErrorDetails` | Toggle the debug console for detailed error information. | `F12` | |
| | `app.showFullTodos` | Toggle the full TODO list. | `Ctrl+T` | |
| | `app.showIdeContextDetail` | Show IDE context details. | `F4` | |
| | `app.toggleMarkdown` | Toggle Markdown rendering. | `Alt+M` | |
| | `app.toggleCopyMode` | Toggle copy mode when in alternate buffer mode. | `F9` | |
| | `app.toggleMouseMode` | Toggle mouse mode (scrolling and clicking). | `Ctrl+S` | |
| | `app.toggleYolo` | Toggle YOLO (auto-approval) mode for tool calls. | `Ctrl+Y` | |
| | `app.cycleApprovalMode` | Cycle through approval modes: default (prompt), auto_edit (auto-approve edits), and plan (read-only). Plan mode is skipped when the agent is busy. | `Shift+Tab` | |
| | `app.showMoreLines` | Expand and collapse blocks of content when not in alternate buffer mode. | `Ctrl+O` | |
| | `app.expandPaste` | Expand or collapse a paste placeholder when cursor is over placeholder. | `Ctrl+O` | |
| | `app.focusShellInput` | Move focus from Gemini to the active shell. | `Tab` | |
| | `app.unfocusShellInput` | Move focus from the shell back to Gemini. | `Shift+Tab` | |
| | `app.clearScreen` | Clear the terminal screen and redraw the UI. | `Ctrl+L` | |
| | `app.restart` | Restart the application. | `R`<br />`Shift+R` | |
| | `app.suspend` | Suspend the CLI and move it to the background. | `Ctrl+Z` | |
| | `app.showShellUnfocusWarning` | Show warning when trying to move focus away from shell input. | `Tab` | |
| | `app.voiceModePTT` | Hold to speak in Voice Mode. | `Space` | |
| |
| #### Background Shell Controls |
| |
| | Command | Action | Keys | |
| | --------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------- | |
| | `background.escape` | Dismiss background shell list. | `Esc` | |
| | `background.select` | Confirm selection in background shell list. | `Enter` | |
| | `background.toggle` | Toggle current background shell visibility. | `Ctrl+B` | |
| | `background.toggleList` | Toggle background shell list. | `Ctrl+L` | |
| | `background.kill` | Kill the active background shell. | `Ctrl+K` | |
| | `background.unfocus` | Move focus from background shell to Gemini. | `Shift+Tab` | |
| | `background.unfocusList` | Move focus from background shell list to Gemini. | `Tab` | |
| | `background.unfocusWarning` | Show warning when trying to move focus away from background shell. | `Tab` | |
| | `app.dumpFrame` | Dump the current frame as a snapshot. | `F8` | |
| | `app.startRecording` | Start recording the session. | `F6` | |
| | `app.stopRecording` | Stop recording the session. | `F7` | |
| |
| #### Extension Controls |
| |
| | Command | Action | Keys | |
| | ------------------ | ------------------------------------------- | ---- | |
| | `extension.update` | Update the current extension if available. | `I` | |
| | `extension.link` | Link the current extension to a local path. | `L` | |
| |
| <!-- KEYBINDINGS-AUTOGEN:END --> |
| |
| ## Customizing Keybindings |
| |
| You can add alternative keybindings or remove default keybindings by creating a |
| `keybindings.json` file in your home gemini directory (typically |
| `~/.gemini/keybindings.json`). |
| |
| ### Configuration Format |
| |
| The configuration uses a JSON array of objects, similar to VS Code's keybinding |
| schema. Each object must specify a `command` from the reference tables above and |
| a `key` combination. |
| |
| ```json |
| [ |
| { |
| "command": "edit.clear", |
| "key": "cmd+l" |
| }, |
| { |
| // prefix "-" to unbind a key |
| "command": "-app.toggleYolo", |
| "key": "ctrl+y" |
| }, |
| { |
| "command": "input.submit", |
| "key": "ctrl+y" |
| }, |
| { |
| // multiple modifiers |
| "command": "cursor.right", |
| "key": "shift+alt+a" |
| }, |
| { |
| // Some mac keyboards send "Å" instead of "shift+option+a" |
| "command": "cursor.right", |
| "key": "Å" |
| }, |
| { |
| // some base keys have special multi-char names |
| "command": "cursor.right", |
| "key": "shift+pageup" |
| } |
| ] |
| ``` |
| |
| - **Unbinding** To remove an existing or default keybinding, prefix a minus sign |
| (`-`) to the `command` name. |
| - **No Auto-unbinding** The same key can be bound to multiple commands in |
| different contexts at the same time. Therefore, creating a binding does not |
| automatically unbind the key from other commands. |
| - **Explicit Modifiers**: Key matching is explicit. For example, a binding for |
| `ctrl+f` will only trigger on exactly `ctrl+f`, not `ctrl+shift+f` or |
| `alt+ctrl+f`. |
| - **Literal Characters**: Terminals often translate complex key combinations |
| (especially on macOS with the `Option` key) into special characters, losing |
| modifier and keystroke information along the way. For example,`shift+5` might |
| be sent as `%`. In these cases, you must bind to the literal character `%` as |
| bindings to `shift+5` will never fire. To see precisely what is being sent, |
| enable `Debug Keystroke Logging` and hit f12 to open the debug log console. |
| - **Key Modifiers**: The supported key modifiers are: |
| - `ctrl` |
| - `shift`, |
| - `alt` (synonyms: `opt`, `option`) |
| - `cmd` (synonym: `meta`) |
| - **Base Key**: The base key can be any single unicode code point or any of the |
| following special keys: |
| - **Navigation**: `up`, `down`, `left`, `right`, `home`, `end`, `pageup`, |
| `pagedown` |
| - **Actions**: `enter`, `escape`, `tab`, `space`, `backspace`, `delete`, |
| `clear`, `insert`, `printscreen` |
| - **Toggles**: `capslock`, `numlock`, `scrolllock`, `pausebreak` |
| - **Function Keys**: `f1` through `f35` |
| - **Numpad**: `numpad0` through `numpad9`, `numpad_add`, `numpad_subtract`, |
| `numpad_multiply`, `numpad_divide`, `numpad_decimal`, `numpad_separator` |
| |
| ## Additional context-specific shortcuts |
| |
| - `Option+B/F/M` (macOS only): Are interpreted as `Cmd+B/F/M` even if your |
| terminal isn't configured to send Meta with Option. |
| - `!` on an empty prompt: Enter or exit shell mode. |
| - `?` on an empty prompt: Toggle the shortcuts panel above the input. Press |
| `Esc`, `Backspace`, any printable key, or a registered app hotkey to close it. |
| The panel also auto-hides while the agent is running/streaming or when |
| action-required dialogs are shown. Press `?` again to close the panel and |
| insert a `?` into the prompt. |
| - `Tab` + `Tab` (while typing in the prompt): Toggle between minimal and full UI |
| details when no completion/search interaction is active. The selected mode is |
| remembered for future sessions. Full UI remains the default on first run, and |
| single `Tab` keeps its existing completion/focus behavior. |
| - `Shift + Tab` (while typing in the prompt): Cycle approval modes: default, |
| auto-edit, and plan (skipped when agent is busy). |
| - `\` (at end of a line) + `Enter`: Insert a newline without leaving single-line |
| mode. |
| - `Esc` pressed twice quickly: Clear the input prompt if it is not empty, |
| otherwise browse and rewind previous interactions. |
| - `Up Arrow` / `Down Arrow`: When the cursor is at the top or bottom of a |
| single-line input, navigate backward or forward through prompt history. |
| - `Number keys (1-9, multi-digit)` inside selection dialogs: Jump directly to |
| the numbered radio option and confirm when the full number is entered. |
| - `Ctrl + O`: Expand or collapse paste placeholders (`[Pasted Text: X lines]`) |
| inline when the cursor is over the placeholder. |
| - `Ctrl + X` (while a plan is presented): Open the plan in an external editor to |
| [collaboratively edit or comment](../cli/plan-mode.md#collaborative-plan-editing) |
| on the implementation strategy. |
| - `Double-click` on a paste placeholder (alternate buffer mode only): Expand to |
| view full content inline. Double-click again to collapse. |
| |
| ## Vi mode shortcuts |
| |
| When vim mode is enabled with `/vim` or `general.vimMode: true`, Gemini CLI |
| supports NORMAL and INSERT modes. |
| |
| ### Mode switching |
| |
| | Action | Keys | |
| | -------------------------------------------- | --------- | |
| | Enter NORMAL mode from INSERT mode | `Esc` | |
| | Enter INSERT mode at the cursor | `i` | |
| | Enter INSERT mode after the cursor | `a` | |
| | Enter INSERT mode at the start of the line | `I` | |
| | Enter INSERT mode at the end of the line | `A` | |
| | Insert a new line below and switch to INSERT | `o` | |
| | Insert a new line above and switch to INSERT | `O` | |
| | Clear input in NORMAL mode | `Esc Esc` | |
| |
| ### Navigation in NORMAL mode |
| |
| | Action | Keys | |
| | --------------------------------- | --------------- | |
| | Move left | `h` | |
| | Move down | `j` | |
| | Move up | `k` | |
| | Move right | `l` | |
| | Move to start of line | `0` | |
| | Move to first non-whitespace char | `^` | |
| | Move to end of line | `$` | |
| | Move forward by word | `w` | |
| | Move backward by word | `b` | |
| | Move to end of word | `e` | |
| | Move forward by WORD | `W` | |
| | Move backward by WORD | `B` | |
| | Move to end of WORD | `E` | |
| | Go to first line | `gg` | |
| | Go to last line | `G` | |
| | Go to line N | `N G` or `N gg` | |
| |
| Counts are supported for navigation commands. For example, `5j` moves down five |
| lines and `3w` moves forward three words. |
| |
| ### Editing in NORMAL mode |
| |
| | Action | Keys | |
| | ------------------------------ | ----- | |
| | Delete character under cursor | `x` | |
| | Delete to end of line | `D` | |
| | Delete line | `dd` | |
| | Change to end of line | `C` | |
| | Change line | `cc` | |
| | Delete forward word | `dw` | |
| | Delete backward word | `db` | |
| | Delete to end of word | `de` | |
| | Delete forward WORD | `dW` | |
| | Delete backward WORD | `dB` | |
| | Delete to end of WORD | `dE` | |
| | Change forward word | `cw` | |
| | Change backward word | `cb` | |
| | Change to end of word | `ce` | |
| | Change forward WORD | `cW` | |
| | Change backward WORD | `cB` | |
| | Change to end of WORD | `cE` | |
| | Delete to start of line | `d0` | |
| | Delete to first non-whitespace | `d^` | |
| | Change to start of line | `c0` | |
| | Change to first non-whitespace | `c^` | |
| | Delete from first line to here | `dgg` | |
| | Delete from here to last line | `dG` | |
| | Change from first line to here | `cgg` | |
| | Change from here to last line | `cG` | |
| | Undo last change | `u` | |
| | Repeat last command | `.` | |
| |
| Counts are also supported for editing commands. For example, `3dd` deletes three |
| lines and `2cw` changes two words. |
| |
| ### Find, replace, yank, and paste in NORMAL mode |
| |
| | Action | Keys | |
| | ----------------------------------------- | ----------- | |
| | Find next matching character | `f{char}` | |
| | Find previous matching character | `F{char}` | |
| | Move until before next matching character | `t{char}` | |
| | Move until after previous matching char | `T{char}` | |
| | Repeat latest character find | `;` | |
| | Repeat latest character find in reverse | `,` | |
| | Delete character before cursor | `X` | |
| | Toggle case under cursor | `~` | |
| | Replace character under cursor | `r{char}` | |
| | Yank line | `yy` | |
| | Yank to end of line | `Y` or `y$` | |
| | Yank word / WORD | `yw`, `yW` | |
| | Yank to end of word / WORD | `ye`, `yE` | |
| | Paste after cursor | `p` | |
| | Paste before cursor | `P` | |
| |
| Delete and change operators also compose with character-find motions, so |
| commands such as `dfx`, `dtx`, `cFx`, and `cTx` are supported. |
| |
| ## Limitations |
| |
| - On [Windows Terminal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Terminal): |
| - `shift+enter` is only supported in version 1.25 and higher. |
| - `shift+tab` |
| [is not supported](https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli/issues/20314) |
| on Node 20 and earlier versions of Node 22. |
| - On macOS's [Terminal](<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminal_(macOS)>): |
| - `shift+enter` is not supported. |
| |
