Essential Keyboard Shortcuts

💡 TL;DR: Master these 15 shortcuts to double your daily productivity.

📝 Course Notes

Key takeaways from this lesson:

Essential shortcuts cheat sheet

What You'll Be Able to Do

Quickly create/switch sessions with shortcuts
One-key model and Agent switching
Quickly undo, redo, and copy messages
Navigate long conversations with page keys

Your Current Pain Points

Typing /new every time to create a new session
Typing /models to switch models
Not knowing how to undo operations
Slowly scrolling through long conversations

When to Use This

When you need to: work frequently in OpenCode
And don't want to: type commands every time

🎒 Prerequisites

Make sure you've completed the following:

[ ] Completed 2.1 Interface & Operations
[ ] Can have normal conversations with AI

Core Concepts

The Leader Key Mechanism (Important!)

OpenCode uses a Leader key (default Ctrl+X) as a shortcut prefix to avoid conflicts with terminal shortcuts.

🤔 What is a Leader Key?

A Leader key is similar to Vim's <Leader> or "combo keys" in games. It's not a function key itself, but a prefix key.

After pressing the Leader key, OpenCode waits for you to press a letter key. The combination forms a complete shortcut.

How to Use (Three-Step Method):

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  Step 1           Step 2           Step 3                   │
│  Press Ctrl+X  →  Release all  →  Press letter (e.g. N)     │
│                                                             │
│  ⚠️ Key: Step 2 must release! Don't hold all three keys!    │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Examples:

What You Want	Correct Operation	Wrong Operation
New session	Press Ctrl+X → Release → Press N	❌ Press Ctrl+X+N simultaneously
Open session list	Press Ctrl+X → Release → Press L	❌ Hold Ctrl, press X then L
Switch model	Press Ctrl+X → Release → Press M	❌ Press too fast without releasing

💡 Practice Tip

Initially, deliberately slow down: after pressing Ctrl+X, mentally count "1", then press the letter key. You'll naturally speed up with practice.

Selection Criteria

From 60+ shortcuts, selected based on:

High frequency - Used almost daily
Time-saving - Much faster than typing commands
Easy to remember - Follows a pattern

15 Essential Shortcuts

🔥 Tier 1: Daily Essentials

These 8 are the most frequently used - memorize these first:

Shortcut	Function	Notes
`Enter`	Send message	Enter to send
`Shift`+`Enter`	New line (don't send)	Use when writing multi-line prompts
`Ctrl`+`C`	Clear input / Close dialog / Exit	See details below
`Escape`	Interrupt AI response	Press while AI is generating to stop immediately. Press twice to force interrupt
`↑` / `↓`	Browse input history	When input is empty, use arrow keys to recall previous messages
`Tab`	Switch Agent	Switch between Plan/Build/different Agents
`Ctrl`+`X` → `N`	New session	Leader + N = New
`Ctrl`+`X` → `L`	Session list	Leader + L = List

💡 Multiple Ways to Create New Lines

Besides Shift+Enter, you can also use:

Ctrl+Enter
Alt+Enter
Ctrl+J

Just pick one that feels natural.

📦 Three Behaviors of Ctrl+C (v1.1.58 update)

When dialog is open: Close dialog (confirmations, selections, etc.)
When input has content: Clear input box (doesn't exit)
When input is empty: Exit OpenCode

⚠️ Note: Although both Ctrl+C and Ctrl+D can exit, their behaviors differ slightly. Ctrl+D sends a direct exit signal, while Ctrl+C first tries to clear the input. This matches terminal behavior that programmers are familiar with.

⚡ Tier 2: Productivity Boosters

These 5 significantly improve efficiency:

Shortcut	Function	Memory Tip
`Ctrl`+`X` → `M`	Model list	Model
`F2`	Quick switch recent model	IDE standard
`Ctrl`+`X` → `U`	Undo message	Undo
`Ctrl`+`X` → `R`	Redo message	Redo
`Ctrl`+`P`	Command palette	Same as VS Code

🎯 Tier 3: Nice to Have

These 5 are useful in specific scenarios:

Shortcut	Function	Use Case
`Ctrl`+`X` → `Y`	Copy message	Copy AI response
`Ctrl`+`X` → `C`	Compress context	When conversation is too long
`Ctrl`+`X` → `B`	Toggle sidebar	View session tree
`PageUp` / `PageDown`	Page navigation	Browse long conversations
`Ctrl`+`X` → `T`	Theme list	Change the look

🧑‍💻 For Programmers: Input Box Shortcuts

If you've used terminals or Emacs, these will be familiar:

Shortcut	Function	Readline Style
`Ctrl`+`A`	Jump to line start	✅
`Ctrl`+`E`	Jump to line end	✅
`Ctrl`+`K`	Delete cursor to line end	✅
`Ctrl`+`U`	Delete cursor to line start	✅
`Ctrl`+`W`	Delete previous word	✅
`Alt`+`B`	Back one word	✅
`Alt`+`F`	Forward one word	✅

📦 What is Readline Style?

Readline is the standard input library for Unix/Linux terminals that defines a common set of shortcuts.

Almost all terminal programs (bash, zsh, python REPL) support these shortcuts. If you work in a terminal daily, these are already muscle memory.

OpenCode fully supports Readline, letting you edit text with familiar keystrokes.

Follow Along

Step 1: Practice Multi-line Input

Why
When writing multi-line prompts, you need to create new lines without sending.

Type First line in the input box
Press Shift+Enter
Type Second line

You should see: Two lines of text in the input box, message not sent

⚠️ Common Issue

If Shift+Enter sends instead of creating a new line, your terminal doesn't support modifier keys. Solutions:

Use Ctrl+J instead (more universal)
Or refer to 5.6b Keybinds to configure your terminal

Why
Resend or modify previous messages without retyping.

First send a message: Hello
After AI replies, make sure the input box is empty
Press ↑ (up arrow)

You should see: The input box automatically fills with Hello that you just sent

Continue pressing ↑ to browse older history, press ↓ to go to more recent messages.

Step 3: Practice Ctrl+C

Why
Quickly clear input, close dialogs, or exit OpenCode.

Scenario A - Clear Input:

Type some text in the input box
Press Ctrl+C

You should see: Input box is cleared

Scenario B - Close Dialog:

Trigger a dialog (e.g., press Ctrl+X → L to open session list)
Press Ctrl+C

You should see: Dialog closes, returns to normal conversation interface

Scenario C - Exit Application:

Make sure input box is empty and no dialog is open
Press Ctrl+C

You should see: OpenCode exits

Step 4: Practice Leader Key Combinations

Why
This is OpenCode's core shortcut mechanism.

Important: This is a two-step operation, not simultaneous!

Press Ctrl+X
Release all keys (this step is crucial!)
Press N

You should see: A new session is created

Try opening the session list:

Press Ctrl+X
Release
Press L

You should see: Session list popup appears

Step 5: Practice Undo/Redo

Why
Retry when AI's response is unsatisfactory.

Send a message to AI
After AI replies, press Ctrl+X → U

You should see: The message and reply are undone

Press Ctrl+X → R to redo.

Step 6: Practice Interrupting Response

Why
Stop AI early when response is too long or going in the wrong direction.

Send a complex question
While AI is responding, press Escape

You should see: AI stops generating

Checklist ✅

Must pass all to continue

[ ] Shift+Enter creates new line without sending
[ ] ↑ browses input history (when input is empty)
[ ] Ctrl+C clears input, closes dialogs
[ ] Ctrl+X → N creates new session (remember to release before pressing N)
[ ] Ctrl+X → L opens session list
[ ] Escape interrupts AI response

Common Pitfalls

Symptom	Cause	Solution
Shift+Enter sends instead of new line	Terminal doesn't send modifier keys	Use `Ctrl`+`J`, or configure terminal
Ctrl+X then N does nothing	Pressed N without releasing Ctrl+X	Must release first, then press N
Ctrl+X has no response	Terminal captured the key	Check terminal settings, or try a different terminal
Ctrl+C is not copy	Used to clear input or exit, not copy	To copy, use `Ctrl`+`X` → `Y` or select with mouse then `Ctrl`+`V`
Up arrow doesn't show history	Input box is not empty	First clear input box (Ctrl+C), then press up arrow
Tab doesn't switch Agent	Pressed while in input mode	Press Escape to exit input, then press Tab
Ctrl+Z accidentally suspends	Thought it was undo, actually suspends terminal	OpenCode will pause, need to type `fg` in terminal to resume. Don't use for "undo"!

Quick Memory Rhyme

Enter sends, Shift for new line
Up arrow for history, Ctrl+C clears and exits
New is N, List is L, Model M remember well
Undo U, Redo R, Copy Y with ease
Escape interrupts fast
Tab switches Agents conveniently
Ctrl+Z will suspend, don't use for undo

Lesson Summary

You learned:

New line technique: Shift+Enter for new line, Enter to send
History navigation: When input is empty, ↑/↓ to browse history
Ctrl+C: Close dialog / Clear input (has content) or Exit (empty)
Leader key mechanism: Ctrl+X → Release → Letter key
Session management: N (new), L (list), U (undo)
Programmer bonus: Full Readline-style shortcut support

Want More?

Quick Reference/Shortcuts - Complete 60+ shortcuts list
5.6b Keybinds - Custom shortcuts tutorial

Next Lesson Preview

Next we'll learn about Global Rules to make AI permanently remember your work preferences.
You'll learn:
Create rule files, no need to say "reply in English" every time
Difference between global rules vs project rules
Practical rule examples

Appendix: Source Code Reference

Click to expand source code locations

Last updated: 2026-01-13

Feature	File Path	Lines
Default shortcuts	`src/config/config.ts`	616-754
Shortcut parsing	`src/util/keybind.ts`	Entire file

Key Defaults (from config.ts):

input_submit = "return" - Send message (line 668)
input_newline = "shift+return,ctrl+return,alt+return,ctrl+j" - New line (lines 669-673)
input_clear = "ctrl+c" - Clear input (line 666)
app_exit = "ctrl+c,ctrl+d,<leader>q" - Exit application (line 617)
history_previous = "up" - Previous history (line 747)
history_next = "down" - Next history (line 748)
agent_cycle = "tab" - Switch Agent (line 663)
leader = "ctrl+x" - Leader key (line 616)
session_new = "<leader>n" - New session
session_list = "<leader>l" - Session list
model_list = "<leader>m" - Model list
messages_undo = "<leader>u" - Undo message
messages_redo = "<leader>r" - Redo message

Essential Keyboard Shortcuts ​

📝 Course Notes ​

What You'll Be Able to Do ​

Your Current Pain Points ​

When to Use This ​

🎒 Prerequisites ​

Core Concepts ​

The Leader Key Mechanism (Important!) ​

Selection Criteria ​

15 Essential Shortcuts ​

🔥 Tier 1: Daily Essentials ​

⚡ Tier 2: Productivity Boosters ​

🎯 Tier 3: Nice to Have ​

🧑‍💻 For Programmers: Input Box Shortcuts ​

Follow Along ​

Step 1: Practice Multi-line Input ​

Step 2: Practice History Navigation ​

Step 3: Practice Ctrl+C ​

Step 4: Practice Leader Key Combinations ​

Step 5: Practice Undo/Redo ​

Step 6: Practice Interrupting Response ​

Checklist ✅ ​

Common Pitfalls ​

Quick Memory Rhyme ​

Lesson Summary ​

Want More? ​

Next Lesson Preview ​

Appendix: Source Code Reference ​