> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://cortex-foundation-add13747-droid-1a2462c9-cor-444-sanitize.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Keyboard shortcuts

> Every key binding in the Cortex CLI, grouped by where it applies. Press Ctrl+X in the TUI for the in-app overlay, or ? for help.

Press **Ctrl+X** at any time for the shortcuts overlay, or **?** / **F1** for help. The footer always shows one hint for the current context.

<Frame caption="The Ctrl+X overlay: mode cycling, @ mentions, ! bash, & Cloud hand-off, / commands, the palette, session search, interrupt, settings, scrolling, and history.">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/cortex-foundation-add13747-droid-1a2462c9-cor-444-sanitize/f_vF1T0UHRUAu9OO/images/cli/runtime/120x40/shortcuts-overlay.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=f_vF1T0UHRUAu9OO&q=85&s=9f27764dff95d938a523721f77150d03" alt="Cortex CLI shortcuts overlay listing the key bindings" width="1232" height="912" data-path="images/cli/runtime/120x40/shortcuts-overlay.png" />
</Frame>

## Global

| Key                                 | Action                                           |
| ----------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ |
| **Shift+Tab**                       | Cycle the mode — Agent → Plan → Ask              |
| **Ctrl+K** or **Ctrl+P**            | Command palette                                  |
| **Ctrl+X**                          | Shortcuts overlay                                |
| **F2**                              | Settings                                         |
| **?** or **F1**                     | Help                                             |
| **Esc**                             | Cancel or close; interrupt a running turn        |
| **Esc**, **Esc** (quickly)          | Rewind overlay                                   |
| **Tab**                             | Focus the next element                           |
| **Ctrl+I**                          | Focus the composer                               |
| **Ctrl+B**                          | Toggle the sidebar                               |
| **Ctrl+N**                          | New session                                      |
| **Ctrl+S** or **Ctrl+O**            | Sessions                                         |
| **Ctrl+M**                          | Model picker                                     |
| **Ctrl+E**                          | MCP servers                                      |
| **Ctrl+T**                          | Transcript                                       |
| **Ctrl+Q**                          | Quit                                             |
| **Ctrl+C**                          | Copy the selection; force-quit while a turn runs |
| **Ctrl+Shift+C** / **Ctrl+Shift+V** | Copy / paste                                     |

## Composer

| Key                              | Action                            |
| -------------------------------- | --------------------------------- |
| **Enter**                        | Send                              |
| **Shift+Enter** or **Alt+Enter** | Insert a newline                  |
| **Up** / **Down**                | Previous / next prompt in history |
| **Ctrl+U** or **Ctrl+L**         | Clear the composer                |
| **Ctrl+V**                       | Paste                             |
| **Ctrl+A**                       | Select all                        |
| `/`                              | Slash command list                |
| `@`                              | File or symbol reference          |
| `!`                              | Run a shell command               |

## Timeline

Applies when the transcript has focus.

| Key                              | Action                          |
| -------------------------------- | ------------------------------- |
| **j** / **k**, **Down** / **Up** | Scroll                          |
| **g** / **Shift+G**              | Top / bottom                    |
| **Home** / **End**               | Top / bottom                    |
| **PageUp** / **PageDown**        | Page                            |
| **Ctrl+U** / **Ctrl+D**          | Half page                       |
| **e**                            | Expand or collapse tool details |
| **y**                            | Copy the selection              |
| **p**                            | Paste                           |

## Pickers and prompts

Approvals, `/mode`, `/permissions`, `/model`, plan confirmation, and questions are numbered pickers. The mouse works on them too: hover a row to highlight it, click to choose.

<Frame caption="An approval prompt with the pointer over a row. The numbered options, the right-hand hint per row, and the footer keys: ↑↓ select · Enter confirm · e edit command · Esc cancel.">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/cortex-foundation-add13747-droid-1a2462c9-cor-444-sanitize/f_vF1T0UHRUAu9OO/images/cli/runtime/120x40/permission-prompt-hover.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=f_vF1T0UHRUAu9OO&q=85&s=dae965770a025268478bd674fab36ec1" alt="Cortex CLI approval prompt with the pointer hovering over an option" width="1232" height="912" data-path="images/cli/runtime/120x40/permission-prompt-hover.png" />
</Frame>

| Key                            | Action                                 |
| ------------------------------ | -------------------------------------- |
| **↑** / **↓** or **k** / **j** | Move the selection                     |
| **1** – **9**                  | Choose an option by number             |
| **Enter**                      | Confirm                                |
| **Tab**                        | In `/model`, cycle the effort radios   |
| **e**                          | In an approval, edit the command       |
| **Esc**                        | Cancel — or clear the search box first |

In the theme picker, moving the selection previews the theme live and **Esc** reverts.

## Sessions panel

| Key                 | Action                      |
| ------------------- | --------------------------- |
| **Enter**           | Resume the selected session |
| **f**               | Favourite                   |
| **d** or **Delete** | Delete                      |
| **r** or **F2**     | Rename                      |
| **e**               | Export                      |

## Rewind overlay

| Key           | Action                                  |
| ------------- | --------------------------------------- |
| **←** / **→** | Move between points in the conversation |
| **Enter**     | Roll back to the selected point         |
| **f**         | Fork a new session from it              |
| **Esc**       | Cancel                                  |

## Resume picker (startup)

| Key              | Action                      |
| ---------------- | --------------------------- |
| **Enter**        | Resume the selected session |
| **F**            | Fork from it                |
| **N** or **Esc** | Start a new session         |

## Related

* [The TUI](/cli/tui) · [Slash commands](/cli/slash-commands)
* [Web app shortcuts](/getting-started/settings#keyboard-shortcuts)