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77> [!NOTE]

88>

9> Keyboard shortcuts may vary by platform and terminal. In [fullscreen rendering](/docs/en/fullscreen), press `?` in the transcript viewer to see available shortcuts there.

9> Keyboard shortcuts may vary by platform and terminal. In [fullscreen rendering](/docs/en/fullscreen.md), press `?` in the transcript viewer to see available shortcuts there.

1010>

11> **macOS users**: Option/Alt key shortcuts (`Alt+B`, `Alt+F`, `Alt+D`, `Alt+Y`, `Alt+P`) require configuring Option as Meta in your terminal. See [Enable Option key shortcuts on macOS](/docs/en/terminal-config#enable-option-key-shortcuts-on-macos) for the setting in each terminal.

11> **macOS users**: Option/Alt key shortcuts (`Alt+B`, `Alt+F`, `Alt+D`, `Alt+Y`, `Alt+P`) require configuring Option as Meta in your terminal. See [Enable Option key shortcuts on macOS](/docs/en/terminal-config.md#enable-option-key-shortcuts-on-macos) for the setting in each terminal.

1212

1313### General controls

1414

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1515| Shortcut | Description | Context |

1616| :- | :- | :- |

1717| `Ctrl+C` | Interrupt, or clear input | Interrupts a running operation. If nothing is running, the first press clears the prompt input and a second press exits Claude Code. To get a cleared draft back, see [Bring back a cleared draft](#bring-back-a-cleared-draft) |

18| `Ctrl+X Ctrl+K` | Stop all running [background subagents](/docs/en/sub-agents#run-subagents-in-foreground-or-background) in this session, and turn off [artifact auto-replies](/docs/en/artifacts#let-claude-reply-to-comments-on-its-own) for the rest of it. Press twice within 3 seconds to confirm. You can press it while a background subagent's permission prompt is open | Subagent control |

18| `Ctrl+X Ctrl+K` | Stop all running [background subagents](/docs/en/sub-agents.md#run-subagents-in-foreground-or-background) in this session, and turn off [artifact auto-replies](/docs/en/artifacts.md#let-claude-reply-to-comments-on-its-own) for the rest of it. Press twice within 3 seconds to confirm. You can press it while a background subagent's permission prompt is open | Subagent control |

1919| `Ctrl+D` | Exit Claude Code session | The first press shows a confirmation hint and a second press within 800ms exits. When the prompt has text, `Ctrl+D` deletes the character after the cursor instead |

2020| `Ctrl+G` or `Ctrl+X Ctrl+E` | Open in default text editor | Edit your prompt or custom response in your default text editor. `Ctrl+X Ctrl+E` is the readline-native binding. Turn on **Show last response in external editor** in `/config` to prepend Claude's previous reply as `#`-commented context above your prompt; Claude Code strips the comment block when you save |

21| `Ctrl+L` | Redraw the screen | Forces a full terminal redraw, keeping input and conversation history. Use this to recover if the display becomes garbled or partially blank. See [Clear the conversation](/docs/en/fullscreen#clear-the-conversation) for fullscreen rendering |

22| `Ctrl+O` | Toggle transcript viewer | Shows detailed tool usage and execution, with a timestamp and the model used on each assistant message. Also expands lines that collapse by default, such as MCP calls, shown as a single `Called slack 3 times` line, and [messages from your other sessions](/docs/en/cross-session-messaging#what-a-message-looks-like), shown as a one-line `Message from @<sender>` preview |

21| `Ctrl+L` | Redraw the screen | Forces a full terminal redraw, keeping input and conversation history. Use this to recover if the display becomes garbled or partially blank. See [Clear the conversation](/docs/en/fullscreen.md#clear-the-conversation) for fullscreen rendering |

22| `Ctrl+O` | Toggle transcript viewer | Shows detailed tool usage and execution, with a timestamp and the model used on each assistant message. Also expands lines that collapse by default, such as MCP calls, shown as a single `Called slack 3 times` line, and [messages from your other sessions](/docs/en/cross-session-messaging.md#what-a-message-looks-like), shown as a one-line `Message from @<sender>` preview |

2323| `Ctrl+R` | Reverse search command history | Search through previous commands interactively |

2424| `Ctrl+V` or `Cmd+V` (iTerm2) or `Alt+V` (Windows and WSL) | Paste image from clipboard | Inserts an `[Image #N]` chip at the cursor so you can reference it positionally in your prompt. On WSL, both `Ctrl+V` and `Alt+V` are bound; use `Alt+V` if your terminal intercepts `Ctrl+V` |

2525| `Ctrl+B` | Background running tasks | Backgrounds Bash commands and agents. Tmux users press twice |

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2626| `Ctrl+T` | Toggle Claude's task checklist | Show or hide [Claude's to-do checklist](#task-list) in the status area. This is not the background-task view; use [`/tasks`](/docs/en/commands) to see running shells and subagents |

2727| `Ctrl+S` | Stash or restore prompt | With text in the input, stashes it and clears the prompt. Pressed again on an empty prompt, restores the stashed text, cursor position, pasted content, and input mode, so a stashed `!` [shell command](#shell-mode-with-prefix) comes back in shell mode |

2828| `Ctrl+Z` | Suspend Claude Code | Unix only. Suspends the process to your shell; run `fg` to resume |

29| `Left/Right arrows` | Cycle through dialog tabs | Navigate between tabs in permission dialogs and menus. In a tabbed dialog, the keys switch tabs while the tab row has focus. See [Tabs actions](/docs/en/keybindings#tabs-actions) for how focus moves |

30| `Tab` | Accept an autocomplete suggestion, or add a comment to a permission answer | While autocomplete suggestions are showing in the prompt input, accepts the selected suggestion. On most permission prompts, with **Yes** or **No** focused, opens a comment field on that option, and pressing it again closes the field. See [add a comment when you answer a permission prompt](/docs/en/permissions#add-a-comment-when-you-answer-a-permission-prompt) |

30| `Tab` | Accept an autocomplete suggestion, or add a comment to a permission answer | While autocomplete suggestions are showing in the prompt input, accepts the selected suggestion. On most permission prompts, with **Yes** or **No** focused, opens a comment field on that option, and pressing it again closes the field. See [add a comment when you answer a permission prompt](/docs/en/permissions.md#add-a-comment-when-you-answer-a-permission-prompt) |

3131| `Up/Down arrows` or `Ctrl+P`/`Ctrl+N` | Move cursor or navigate command history | When the input spans more than one visual row, whether wrapped or multiline, first moves the cursor within the prompt. Once the cursor is on the first or last visual row, pressing again navigates command history. While you have messages queued, `Up` from the first row instead [takes them back](#take-back-what-you-queued) |

32| `Esc` | Interrupt Claude, or close a dialog | Stop the current response or tool call mid-turn so you can redirect. Claude keeps the work done so far. If you have [messages queued](#queue-messages-while-claude-works), Claude Code sends them next. When a dialog is open, `Esc` closes the dialog. While a footer item is selected, such as a row in the [subagent panel](/docs/en/sub-agents#run-subagents-in-foreground-or-background) below the prompt, `Esc` [deselects it](/docs/en/keybindings#footer-actions) instead of interrupting. On a permission prompt, `Esc` declines the action, the same as [**No** without a comment](/docs/en/permissions#add-a-comment-when-you-answer-a-permission-prompt) |

33| `Esc` + `Esc` | Clear input draft, or rewind | When the prompt input contains text, double `Esc` clears it and saves the draft to history so `Up` recalls it. When the input is empty, double `Esc` opens the [rewind menu](/docs/en/checkpointing) to restore or summarize code and conversation from a previous point |

32| `Esc` | Interrupt Claude, or close a dialog | Stop the current response or tool call mid-turn so you can redirect. Claude keeps the work done so far. If you have [messages queued](#queue-messages-while-claude-works), Claude Code sends them next. When a dialog is open, `Esc` closes the dialog. While a footer item is selected, such as a row in the [subagent panel](/docs/en/sub-agents.md#run-subagents-in-foreground-or-background) below the prompt, `Esc` [deselects it](/docs/en/keybindings.md#footer-actions) instead of interrupting. On a permission prompt, `Esc` declines the action, the same as [**No** without a comment](/docs/en/permissions.md#add-a-comment-when-you-answer-a-permission-prompt) |

33| `Esc` + `Esc` | Clear input draft, or rewind | When the prompt input contains text, double `Esc` clears it and saves the draft to history so `Up` recalls it. When the input is empty, double `Esc` opens the [rewind menu](/docs/en/checkpointing.md) to restore or summarize code and conversation from a previous point |

3434| `Ctrl+Enter` or `Ctrl+X Ctrl+S` | Send queued messages now | Sends your [queued messages](#queue-messages-while-claude-works), and your draft with them, right away. [When Claude Code sends what you queued](#when-claude-code-sends-what-you-queued) covers what happens to the turn Claude is working on. In [shell mode](#shell-mode-with-prefix), the key only queues your command. In terminals that don't report extended keys, `Ctrl+Enter` arrives as plain `Enter`; `Ctrl+X Ctrl+S` works in any terminal. Requires Claude Code v2.1.275 or later |

35| `Shift+Tab`, or `Alt+M` on Windows when the Node or Bun runtime doesn't enable VT input mode | Cycle permission modes | Cycle through `default` (labeled Manual in the mode indicator), `acceptEdits`, `plan`, and, when available, `bypassPermissions` and then `auto`. From `auto`, the first press switches to `default`. See [permission modes](/docs/en/permission-modes). On a file permission prompt, the same key closes an open [comment field](/docs/en/permissions#add-a-comment-when-you-answer-a-permission-prompt). With no field open, it selects the option that allows the action for the rest of the session, when the prompt offers that option |

35| `Shift+Tab`, or `Alt+M` on Windows when the Node or Bun runtime doesn't enable VT input mode | Cycle permission modes | Cycle through `default` (labeled Manual in the mode indicator), `acceptEdits`, `plan`, and, when available, `bypassPermissions` and then `auto`. From `auto`, the first press switches to `default`. See [permission modes](/docs/en/permission-modes.md). On a file permission prompt, the same key closes an open [comment field](/docs/en/permissions.md#add-a-comment-when-you-answer-a-permission-prompt). With no field open, it selects the option that allows the action for the rest of the session, when the prompt offers that option |

3636| `Option+P` (macOS) or `Alt+P` (Windows/Linux) | Switch model | Switch models without clearing your prompt |

3737| `Option+T` (macOS) or `Alt+T` (Windows/Linux) | Toggle extended thinking | Enable or disable extended thinking mode. Has no effect on Opus 5.5, Sonnet 5.5, Haiku 5.5, or the Fable models, which always use extended thinking. Works on macOS without configuring Option as Meta |

38| `Option+O` (macOS) or `Alt+O` (Windows/Linux) | Toggle fast mode | Enable or disable [fast mode](/docs/en/fast-mode) |

38| `Option+O` (macOS) or `Alt+O` (Windows/Linux) | Toggle fast mode | Enable or disable [fast mode](/docs/en/fast-mode.md) |

3939

4040### Text editing

4141

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6363

6464These readline conventions apply in Claude Code v2.1.261 and later. The [`keybindingFlavor`](/docs/en/settings-reference#keybindingflavor) setting that turned them on in earlier versions is deprecated and has no effect.

6565

66You can't remap these shortcuts in the [keybindings configuration file](/docs/en/keybindings), which has no actions for them.

66You can't remap these shortcuts in the [keybindings configuration file](/docs/en/keybindings.md), which has no actions for them.

6767

6868### Theme and display

6969

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7676| Method | Shortcut | Context |

7777| :- | :- | :- |

7878| Quick escape | `\` + `Enter` | Works in all terminals |

79| Option key | `Option+Enter` | After enabling [Option as Meta](/docs/en/terminal-config#enable-option-key-shortcuts-on-macos) on macOS |

80| Shift+Enter | `Shift+Enter` | Native in iTerm2, WezTerm, Ghostty, Kitty, Warp, Apple Terminal, Windows Terminal. For other terminals, see [Enter multiline prompts](/docs/en/terminal-config#enter-multiline-prompts) |

79| Option key | `Option+Enter` | After enabling [Option as Meta](/docs/en/terminal-config.md#enable-option-key-shortcuts-on-macos) on macOS |

8181| Control sequence | `Ctrl+J` | Works in any terminal without configuration |

8282| Paste mode | Paste directly | For code blocks, logs |

8383

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8585

8686| Shortcut | Description | Notes |

8787| :- | :- | :- |

88| `/` at start | Command or skill | See [commands](#commands) and [skills](/docs/en/skills) |

88| `/` at start | Command or skill | See [commands](#commands) and [skills](/docs/en/skills.md) |

8989| `!` at start | Shell mode | Run a command directly, add its output to the session, and have Claude respond to it |

90| `@` | File path mention | Trigger file path autocomplete. In sessions with [cross-session messaging](/docs/en/cross-session-messaging#message-another-session), when you type at least one letter after the `@`, Claude Code also suggests your other live sessions on this machine, so you can tell Claude to message the one you pick. Requires Claude Code v2.1.232 or later |

90| `@` | File path mention | Trigger file path autocomplete. In sessions with [cross-session messaging](/docs/en/cross-session-messaging.md#message-another-session), when you type at least one letter after the `@`, Claude Code also suggests your other live sessions on this machine, so you can tell Claude to message the one you pick. Requires Claude Code v2.1.232 or later |

9191| `:` | Emoji shortcode | Type a full `:name:` to insert the emoji, or two or more characters for suggestions. See [Emoji shortcodes](#emoji-shortcodes). Requires Claude Code v2.1.217 or later |

9292| `?` on empty input | Toggle the shortcut help panel | Typing `?` when the input already contains text inserts the character |

9393

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9797

9898| Shortcut | Description |

9999| :- | :- |

100| `?` | Toggle the keyboard shortcut help panel. Requires [fullscreen rendering](/docs/en/fullscreen) |

101| `{` / `}` | Jump to the previous or next user prompt, like vim paragraph motion. Requires [fullscreen rendering](/docs/en/fullscreen) |

102| `Ctrl+E` | Toggle show all content. Available in the classic renderer only, not in [fullscreen rendering](/docs/en/fullscreen) |

103| `[` | Write the full conversation to your terminal's native scrollback so `Cmd+F`, tmux copy mode, and other native tools can search it. Requires [fullscreen rendering](/docs/en/fullscreen#search-and-review-the-conversation) |

104| `v` | Write the conversation to a temporary file and open it in `$VISUAL` or `$EDITOR`. Requires [fullscreen rendering](/docs/en/fullscreen) |

100| `?` | Toggle the keyboard shortcut help panel. Requires [fullscreen rendering](/docs/en/fullscreen.md) |

101| `{` / `}` | Jump to the previous or next user prompt, like vim paragraph motion. Requires [fullscreen rendering](/docs/en/fullscreen.md) |

102| `Ctrl+E` | Toggle show all content. Available in the classic renderer only, not in [fullscreen rendering](/docs/en/fullscreen.md) |

104| `v` | Write the conversation to a temporary file and open it in `$VISUAL` or `$EDITOR`. Requires [fullscreen rendering](/docs/en/fullscreen.md) |

105105| `q`, `Ctrl+C`, `Esc` | Exit transcript view. All three can be rebound via [`transcript:exit`](/docs/en/keybindings) |

106106

107107### Voice input

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108108

109109| Shortcut | Description | Notes |

110110| :- | :- | :- |

111| Hold or tap `Space` | Voice dictation | Requires [voice dictation](/docs/en/voice-dictation) to be enabled. Hold to record, or run `/voice tap` for tap-to-toggle. [Rebindable](/docs/en/voice-dictation#rebind-the-dictation-key) |

111| Hold or tap `Space` | Voice dictation | Requires [voice dictation](/docs/en/voice-dictation.md) to be enabled. Hold to record, or run `/voice tap` for tap-to-toggle. [Rebindable](/docs/en/voice-dictation.md#rebind-the-dictation-key) |

112112

113113## Commands

114114

115Type `/` in Claude Code to see the commands available to you, or type `/` followed by any letters to filter. The `/` menu lists built-in commands, bundled and user-authored [skills](/docs/en/skills), and commands contributed by [plugins](/docs/en/plugins/overview) and [MCP servers](/docs/en/mcp#use-mcp-prompts-as-commands). Not all built-in commands are visible to every user since some depend on your platform or plan, and [a few available commands are hidden from the menu by design](/docs/en/commands#how-the-command-menu-matches-what-you-type) and run when you type their full name.

115Type `/` in Claude Code to see the commands available to you, or type `/` followed by any letters to filter. The `/` menu lists built-in commands, bundled and user-authored [skills](/docs/en/skills.md), and commands contributed by [plugins](/docs/en/plugins/overview.md) and [MCP servers](/docs/en/mcp.md#use-mcp-prompts-as-commands). Not all built-in commands are visible to every user since some depend on your platform or plan, and [a few available commands are hidden from the menu by design](/docs/en/commands.md#how-the-command-menu-matches-what-you-type) and run when you type their full name.

116116

117In [fullscreen rendering](/docs/en/fullscreen#use-the-mouse), the `/` command and `@` file suggestion lists also respond to the mouse: hovering highlights a row and clicking accepts it.

117In [fullscreen rendering](/docs/en/fullscreen.md#use-the-mouse), the `/` command and `@` file suggestion lists also respond to the mouse: hovering highlights a row and clicking accepts it.

118118

119See the [commands reference](/docs/en/commands) for the full list of commands included in Claude Code.

119See the [commands reference](/docs/en/commands.md) for the full list of commands included in Claude Code.

120120

121121### Complete a command mid-prompt

122122

123Command completion also works partway through a prompt: type `/` after a space, then the first letters of a name, as in `run the tests, then /com`. Only commands whose names start with those letters match, so a file path such as `/tmp/notes.md` doesn't keep a list open. Claude Code runs a command itself only when the command [starts your message](/docs/en/commands).

124124

125* **In [fullscreen rendering](/docs/en/fullscreen)**: the matches open as a list while you type, with no row highlighted, so `Enter` still sends your prompt as typed. Press `Tab` to insert the top match, or pick a row with the arrow keys and `Enter`.

125* **In [fullscreen rendering](/docs/en/fullscreen.md)**: the matches open as a list while you type, with no row highlighted, so `Enter` still sends your prompt as typed. Press `Tab` to insert the top match, or pick a row with the arrow keys and `Enter`.

126126* **Outside fullscreen**: the rest of the top match appears as ghost text at your cursor, with a count such as `+2` when more commands match. Press `Tab` to insert the only match, or to open the list when several match, then pick a row with the arrow keys and `Enter`.

127127

128128In both renderers, press `Tab` on a bare mid-prompt `/` to list every command.

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166166

167167Typing the first character of a sequence inserts it normally. Pressing the second character within one second removes that pending character and switches to NORMAL mode, leaving neither character in your input. After the one-second window, or if a different key follows, both characters stay as literal text, so you can still type a word containing the sequence by pausing between the two keys.

168168

169Claude Code reads this setting from your user settings file, the `--settings` flag, and [managed settings](/docs/en/managed-settings) only. Entries in a project's `.claude/settings.json` or `.claude/settings.local.json` are ignored, so a checked-out repository can't remap your keystrokes.

169Claude Code reads this setting from your user settings file, the `--settings` flag, and [managed settings](/docs/en/managed-settings.md) only. Entries in a project's `.claude/settings.json` or `.claude/settings.local.json` are ignored, so a checked-out repository can't remap your keystrokes.

170170

171171### Navigation (NORMAL mode)

172172

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193193

194194> [!NOTE]

195195>

196> In vim NORMAL mode, if the cursor is at the beginning or end of input and can't move further, `j`/`k` and `↑`/`↓` navigate command history instead. `←` on an empty prompt opens [agent view](/docs/en/agent-view) from NORMAL mode as well as INSERT; before v2.1.219, `←` on an empty prompt did nothing in NORMAL mode.

196> In vim NORMAL mode, if the cursor is at the beginning or end of input and can't move further, `j`/`k` and `↑`/`↓` navigate command history instead. `←` on an empty prompt opens [agent view](/docs/en/agent-view.md) from NORMAL mode as well as INSERT; before v2.1.219, `←` on an empty prompt did nothing in NORMAL mode.

197197

198198### Editing (NORMAL mode)

199199

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260260

261261### Cancel a question in vim mode

262262

263When you're typing your own answer in the `Other` row of a [question Claude asks](/docs/en/tools-reference#askuserquestion-tool-behavior), press `Esc` twice to cancel the question.

263When you're typing your own answer in the `Other` row of a [question Claude asks](/docs/en/tools-reference.md#askuserquestion-tool-behavior), press `Esc` twice to cancel the question.

264264

265To cancel with a single key press instead, [bind another key to cancel the question](/docs/en/keybindings#cancel-a-question-with-one-key-press).

265To cancel with a single key press instead, [bind another key to cancel the question](/docs/en/keybindings.md#cancel-a-question-with-one-key-press).

266266

267267## Command history

268268

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271271* Input history is stored per working directory

272272* Running `/clear` starts a new session: recall then lists the new session's prompts first, with earlier sessions' prompts after them. The previous session's conversation is preserved and can be resumed.

273273* Submitting the same prompt twice in a row records one history entry, so pressing Up steps to the previous distinct prompt

274* When you recall a prompt that included pasted text, Claude Code sends the full pasted content again when you resubmit. If the content has since been [cleaned up](/docs/en/claude-directory#cleaned-up-automatically), Claude Code doesn't send the literal `[Pasted text #N]` string; see [Paste large content](/docs/en/terminal-config#paste-large-content) for what happens to the prompt

274* When you recall a prompt that included pasted text, Claude Code sends the full pasted content again when you resubmit. If the content has since been [cleaned up](/docs/en/claude-directory.md#cleaned-up-automatically), Claude Code doesn't send the literal `[Pasted text #N]` string; see [Paste large content](/docs/en/terminal-config.md#paste-large-content) for what happens to the prompt

275275* History expansion with `!` is disabled by default

276276

277277### Bring back a cleared draft

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283283

284284### Reverse search with Ctrl+R

285285

286Press `Ctrl+R` to interactively search through your command history. In [fullscreen rendering](/docs/en/fullscreen), `Ctrl+R` opens a search dialog instead: type to filter, press `Up` and `Down` to move through matches, and press `Ctrl+S` to cycle the scope through this session, this project, and all projects. Press `Enter` or `Tab` to place a match in the prompt input, or `Esc` to cancel. The steps below describe the classic renderer's inline search:

286Press `Ctrl+R` to interactively search through your command history. In [fullscreen rendering](/docs/en/fullscreen.md), `Ctrl+R` opens a search dialog instead: type to filter, press `Up` and `Down` to move through matches, and press `Ctrl+S` to cycle the scope through this session, this project, and all projects. Press `Enter` or `Tab` to place a match in the prompt input, or `Esc` to cancel. The steps below describe the classic renderer's inline search:

287287

2882881. **Start search**: press `Ctrl+R` to activate reverse history search

2892892. **Type query**: enter text to search for in previous commands. The search term is highlighted in matching results

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313313* Prompt Claude Code to run a command in the background

314314* Press `Ctrl+B` to move a regular Bash tool invocation to the background. Tmux users must press `Ctrl+B` twice due to tmux's prefix key.

315315

316When a command reaches its timeout before it finishes, Claude Code automatically [moves it to the background](/docs/en/tools-reference#foreground-commands-that-move-to-the-background) instead of stopping it, unless the command starts with `sleep`. If you've turned background tasks off with [`CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_BACKGROUND_TASKS`](/docs/en/env-vars#variables) or by starting in [bare mode](/docs/en/headless#start-faster-with-bare-mode), the command stops at its timeout. To change the timeout, set the [Bash timeout environment variables](/docs/en/tools-reference#timeout-and-output-limits).

316When a command reaches its timeout before it finishes, Claude Code automatically [moves it to the background](/docs/en/tools-reference.md#foreground-commands-that-move-to-the-background) instead of stopping it, unless the command starts with `sleep`. If you've turned background tasks off with [`CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_BACKGROUND_TASKS`](/docs/en/env-vars#variables) or by starting in [bare mode](/docs/en/headless.md#start-faster-with-bare-mode), the command stops at its timeout. To change the timeout, set the [Bash timeout environment variables](/docs/en/tools-reference.md#timeout-and-output-limits).

317317

318318**Key features:**

319319

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320320* Output is written to a file and Claude can retrieve it using the Read tool

321321* Background tasks have unique IDs for tracking and output retrieval

322322* Background tasks are automatically cleaned up when Claude Code exits. On macOS and Linux, when you stop a background task from [`/tasks`](/docs/en/commands) or Claude Code stops it at exit, processes that detached from the task's shell, such as ones started under `setsid` or `timeout`, stop too

323* If you background the session instead of exiting it, your background tasks keep running in the background session. See [background a running session](/docs/en/agent-view#from-inside-a-session)

323* If you background the session instead of exiting it, your background tasks keep running in the background session. See [background a running session](/docs/en/agent-view.md#from-inside-a-session)

324324* Background tasks are automatically terminated if output exceeds 5GB, with a note in stderr explaining why

325325* On macOS and Linux, Claude Code stops your running background tasks when the operating system reports critical memory pressure, provided the session has been idle for at least 30 minutes and no turn or subagent is running

326 * The [debug log](/docs/en/debug-your-config) says why tasks were stopped, or why a pressure event left them running

326 * The [debug log](/docs/en/debug-your-config.md) says why tasks were stopped, or why a pressure event left them running

327327 * Set [`CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_BG_SHELL_PRESSURE_REAP`](/docs/en/env-vars) to `1` to turn off memory-pressure stops

328* Background commands in a local session you work in from a terminal, the desktop app, or the VS Code extension have no time limit. In a session that runs unattended, such as a `-p` run or a cloud session, Claude Code stops a background command at its [time limit](/docs/en/tools-reference#time-limit-for-background-commands)

329* A background command that a foreground [subagent](/docs/en/sub-agents#run-subagents-in-foreground-or-background) started ends when that subagent's run ends, whether it finished, failed, or was interrupted; see [When a background command stops](/docs/en/tools-reference#when-a-background-command-stops) in the tools reference

329* A background command that a foreground [subagent](/docs/en/sub-agents.md#run-subagents-in-foreground-or-background) started ends when that subagent's run ends, whether it finished, failed, or was interrupted; see [When a background command stops](/docs/en/tools-reference.md#when-a-background-command-stops) in the tools reference

330330

331To disable all background task functionality, set the [`CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_BACKGROUND_TASKS`](/docs/en/env-vars#variables) environment variable to `1`. Starting in [bare mode](/docs/en/headless#start-faster-with-bare-mode) turns it off as well.

331To disable all background task functionality, set the [`CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_BACKGROUND_TASKS`](/docs/en/env-vars#variables) environment variable to `1`. Starting in [bare mode](/docs/en/headless.md#start-faster-with-bare-mode) turns it off as well.

332332

333333**Common backgrounded commands:**

334334

from line 359

359359* Exit with `Escape`, `Backspace`, or `Ctrl+U` on an empty prompt

360360* Pasting text that starts with `!` into an empty prompt enters shell mode automatically, matching typed `!` behavior

361361

362Unless your session is one of those listed under [strict sandbox mode](/docs/en/sandboxing#turn-off-the-retry-with-strict-sandbox-mode), commands you type in shell mode run outside the [sandbox](/docs/en/sandboxing) even when you've enabled sandboxing, because the sandbox applies to the commands Claude runs.

362Unless your session is one of those listed under [strict sandbox mode](/docs/en/sandboxing.md#turn-off-the-retry-with-strict-sandbox-mode), commands you type in shell mode run outside the [sandbox](/docs/en/sandboxing.md) even when you've enabled sandboxing, because the sandbox applies to the commands Claude runs.

363363

364364Claude responds to the command output automatically once it lands in the transcript, so you can run `! npm test` and get an explanation of the failures without a second prompt. The response costs the same as sending a normal prompt. To add the output to context without a response instead, set [`respondToBashCommands`](/docs/en/settings-reference#respondtobashcommands) to `false` in `settings.json`.

365365

366366## Queue messages while Claude works

367367

368Type a message and press `Enter` while Claude is working. Claude Code queues the message instead of interrupting the turn, and lists the queued entries in the conversation until it sends them. You can queue `!` [shell commands](#shell-mode-with-prefix) and most [commands](/docs/en/commands) the same way, apart from the commands, such as `/status`, that Claude Code runs as soon as you send them.

368Type a message and press `Enter` while Claude is working. Claude Code queues the message instead of interrupting the turn, and lists the queued entries in the conversation until it sends them. You can queue `!` [shell commands](#shell-mode-with-prefix) and most [commands](/docs/en/commands.md) the same way, apart from the commands, such as `/status`, that Claude Code runs as soon as you send them.

369369

370370Sent and queued messages show in gray until Claude starts responding to them, so you can tell which messages Claude hasn't started on yet.

371371

372If you queue a message with a selection attached from a [connected IDE](/docs/en/vs-code#the-built-in-ide-mcp-server), it keeps the selection you had when you pressed `Enter`, whatever you select afterward.

372If you queue a message with a selection attached from a [connected IDE](/docs/en/vs-code.md#the-built-in-ide-mcp-server), it keeps the selection you had when you pressed `Enter`, whatever you select afterward.

373373

374374### When Claude Code sends what you queued

375375

from line 391

391391

392392Claude Code runs some commands as soon as you send them instead of queueing them, among them `/model`, `/effort`, and `/fast`. Each of the three changes a setting: the model, the effort level, or fast mode. Whether Claude Code applies the new setting to the turn Claude is already working on, or only from your next turn, differs by command:

393393

394* [`/model`](/docs/en/model-config#setting-your-model): once you confirm the [cache warning](/docs/en/prompt-caching#switching-models), if Claude Code shows one, Claude Code applies your change to the next request it makes in that turn

395* [`/effort`](/docs/en/model-config#adjust-effort-level): once you confirm the [cache warning](/docs/en/prompt-caching#changing-effort-level), if Claude Code shows one, Claude Code applies your change to the next request it makes in that turn

396* [`/fast`](/docs/en/fast-mode#toggle-fast-mode): Claude Code keeps the fast mode setting that was active when the turn started, so your speed change applies from your next turn. If your current model doesn't support fast mode, turning it on also [switches your model](/docs/en/prompt-caching#turning-on-fast-mode), and Claude Code uses the new model from its next request in that turn

394* [`/model`](/docs/en/model-config#setting-your-model): once you confirm the [cache warning](/docs/en/prompt-caching.md#switching-models), if Claude Code shows one, Claude Code applies your change to the next request it makes in that turn

395* [`/effort`](/docs/en/model-config#adjust-effort-level): once you confirm the [cache warning](/docs/en/prompt-caching.md#changing-effort-level), if Claude Code shows one, Claude Code applies your change to the next request it makes in that turn

396* [`/fast`](/docs/en/fast-mode#toggle-fast-mode): Claude Code keeps the fast mode setting that was active when the turn started, so your speed change applies from your next turn. If your current model doesn't support fast mode, turning it on also [switches your model](/docs/en/prompt-caching.md#turning-on-fast-mode), and Claude Code uses the new model from its next request in that turn

397397

398398### Background a session with messages queued

399399

400400When the session moves to the background after you [press `←`](/docs/en/agent-view#switch-sessions-without-leaving-the-terminal), the messages you had queued move with it. Claude reads them there in the order you sent them.

401401

402Commands and `!` shell commands can't move, and neither can some messages, such as one with an [IDE selection](/docs/en/vs-code#the-built-in-ide-mcp-server) attached. If you press `←` while one of them is queued, the session stays in the foreground and a notice that begins `Cannot open agents` appears. To background the session, get the entry out of the queue and then press `←` again:

402Commands and `!` shell commands can't move, and neither can some messages, such as one with an [IDE selection](/docs/en/vs-code.md#the-built-in-ide-mcp-server) attached. If you press `←` while one of them is queued, the session stays in the foreground and a notice that begins `Cannot open agents` appears. To background the session, get the entry out of the queue and then press `←` again:

403403

404404* **Commands and `!` shell commands**: wait for them to run at the end of the turn, or [take them back](#take-back-what-you-queued) and clear the input box. While anything else is queued, you can't take `!` shell commands back, so wait for them to run.

405405* **Messages that can't move**: wait until Claude has read them

from line 410

410410

411411Claude Code takes back queued shell commands only when the input box is empty and you have nothing else queued, and it switches the input box to shell mode when it does. Otherwise it leaves them in the queue, listed with their `!` prefix, and runs them after the turn ends.

412412

413If you take back queued text while `←` [waits to background the session](/docs/en/agent-view#switch-sessions-without-leaving-the-terminal), the text stays in the input box and Claude Code cancels the switch. If you take it back at the moment the session moves, the text disappears with the foreground screen: it wasn't sent. Each message you took back is saved as its own entry in [command history](#command-history). To recover one, reopen the session and press `Up` on an empty prompt with nothing queued.

413If you take back queued text while `←` [waits to background the session](/docs/en/agent-view.md#switch-sessions-without-leaving-the-terminal), the text stays in the input box and Claude Code cancels the switch. If you take it back at the moment the session moves, the text disappears with the foreground screen: it wasn't sent. Each message you took back is saved as its own entry in [command history](#command-history). To recover one, reopen the session and press `Up` on an empty prompt with nothing queued.

414414

415415## Prompt suggestions

416416

from line 425

425425

426426### When Claude Code skips suggestions

427427

428In interactive mode, Claude Code leaves prompt suggestions off by default and hides the **Prompt suggestions** toggle in `/config` in a [session that doesn't fetch feature flags](/docs/en/env-vars#features-that-need-feature-flag-fetching), such as one on a third-party provider or through a Claude apps gateway, and in a [first session after an install or upgrade](/docs/en/env-vars#first-session-after-an-install-or-upgrade) whose flags haven't arrived yet.

428In interactive mode, Claude Code leaves prompt suggestions off by default and hides the **Prompt suggestions** toggle in `/config` in a [session that doesn't fetch feature flags](/docs/en/env-vars.md#features-that-need-feature-flag-fetching), such as one on a third-party provider or through a Claude apps gateway, and in a [first session after an install or upgrade](/docs/en/env-vars.md#first-session-after-an-install-or-upgrade) whose flags haven't arrived yet.

429429

430430Claude Code also skips individual suggestions in several situations, including:

431431

from line 434

434434* The previous response ended in an error

435435* While you're in plan mode

436436* Your account is close to or at its usage limit. To keep this skip from applying until you reach the limit, set [`CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_PROMPT_SUGGESTION`](/docs/en/env-vars) to `true`. Before v2.1.238, Claude Code skipped suggestions near the limit even with the variable set to `true`

437* In an [agent team](/docs/en/agent-teams), in teammates' sessions by default. The lead's session shows suggestions

437* In an [agent team](/docs/en/agent-teams.md), in teammates' sessions by default. The lead's session shows suggestions

438438

439439The notice `Showing fewer prompt suggestions · use one to bring them back` means Claude Code is showing suggestions less often because you left many in a row unused. To return to the usual frequency, use a suggestion or set [`CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_PROMPT_SUGGESTION`](/docs/en/env-vars) to `true`.

440440

from line 451

451451 export CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_PROMPT_SUGGESTION=false

452452 ```

453453

454To turn prompt suggestions off across an organization, set `promptSuggestionEnabled` to `false` in [managed settings](/docs/en/managed-settings). Also set `CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_PROMPT_SUGGESTION` to `false` under the managed [`env`](/docs/en/settings-reference#env) key so that users can't re-enable them with their own environment variable.

454To turn prompt suggestions off across an organization, set `promptSuggestionEnabled` to `false` in [managed settings](/docs/en/managed-settings.md). Also set `CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_PROMPT_SUGGESTION` to `false` under the managed [`env`](/docs/en/settings-reference#env) key so that users can't re-enable them with their own environment variable.

455455

456456## You should know suggestions

457457

from line 462

462462 1: Learn more 2: Knew this already 0: Dismiss

463463```

464464

465It's one of Claude Code's [built-in mods](/docs/en/plugins/mods/overview#mods-built-into-claude-code), a plugin built into Claude Code that is off by default. Requires Claude Code v2.1.287 or later.

465It's one of Claude Code's [built-in mods](/docs/en/plugins/mods/overview.md#mods-built-into-claude-code), a plugin built into Claude Code that is off by default. Requires Claude Code v2.1.287 or later.

466466

467467While it's on, a side agent rereads the conversation from time to time as Claude works through a longer task. The side agent is a separate request to the same model and has no tools, so it can't read files, run commands, or change what Claude does.

468468

469469If the mod is available for your organization, `/plugin` lists it when you connect to the Claude API directly with a claude.ai account or a Console API key. It doesn't when you connect through an [LLM gateway](/docs/en/llm-gateway) or a [Claude apps gateway](/docs/en/claude-apps-gateway), or get your key from an [`apiKeyHelper`](/docs/en/settings-reference#apikeyhelper). Even with a direct connection, these sessions don't list it:

470470

471* A session that [doesn't fetch the feature flags](/docs/en/env-vars#features-that-need-feature-flag-fetching) the mod depends on, such as one with `DISABLE_TELEMETRY` set

472* A [first session after an install or upgrade](/docs/en/env-vars#first-session-after-an-install-or-upgrade) whose flags haven't arrived yet

471* A session that [doesn't fetch the feature flags](/docs/en/env-vars.md#features-that-need-feature-flag-fetching) the mod depends on, such as one with `DISABLE_TELEMETRY` set

472* A [first session after an install or upgrade](/docs/en/env-vars.md#first-session-after-an-install-or-upgrade) whose flags haven't arrived yet

473473

474474To turn it on, run this at the Claude Code prompt:

475475

from line 481

481481

482482### Cost of checks

483483

484While the mod is on, checks are background requests to the same model your session is using, and they count toward your plan's usage limits or your API costs. Each check sends what's already in Claude's context, meaning the conversation so far with its tool results, followed by the mod's own instructions and the text of your recent notes. The conversation part is read from the session's [prompt cache](/docs/en/prompt-caching) on the same terms as Claude's own next request. The instructions, several thousand tokens of them, and the side agent's reply are billed in full on every check.

484While the mod is on, checks are background requests to the same model your session is using, and they count toward your plan's usage limits or your API costs. Each check sends what's already in Claude's context, meaning the conversation so far with its tool results, followed by the mod's own instructions and the text of your recent notes. The conversation part is read from the session's [prompt cache](/docs/en/prompt-caching.md) on the same terms as Claude's own next request. The instructions, several thousand tokens of them, and the side agent's reply are billed in full on every check.

485485

486486To watch the checks happen, set [`CLAUDE_CODE_YOU_SHOULD_KNOW_DEBUG=1`](/docs/en/env-vars) in your shell before you start Claude Code.

487487

from line 520

520520

521521## Check spelling as you type

522522

523Claude Code can underline misspelled words in the prompt input while you type. It checks only the text in the input box, never Claude's replies or your files. It also checks nothing while the input box is in [shell mode](#shell-mode-with-prefix), `Ctrl+R` history search, or [voice dictation](/docs/en/voice-dictation).

524524

525Spell checking is off by default, and Claude Code checks nothing in [screen reader mode](/docs/en/accessibility). Requires Claude Code v2.1.235 or later.

525Spell checking is off by default, and Claude Code checks nothing in [screen reader mode](/docs/en/accessibility.md). Requires Claude Code v2.1.235 or later.

526526

527527### Prerequisites

528528

from line 535

535535

536536**User settings**

537537

538Add `spellcheck` to `~/.claude/settings.json`. It applies in every project you open, like the rest of your [user settings](/docs/en/settings#where-settings-live):

538Add `spellcheck` to `~/.claude/settings.json`. It applies in every project you open, like the rest of your [user settings](/docs/en/settings.md#where-settings-live):

539539

540540```json theme={null}

541541{

from line 561

561561

562562**Managed settings**

563563

564Add `spellcheck` to one of your organization's [managed settings sources](/docs/en/permissions#managed-settings). It applies to every user who receives those settings, and they can't turn it off:

564Add `spellcheck` to one of your organization's [managed settings sources](/docs/en/permissions.md#managed-settings). It applies to every user who receives those settings, and they can't turn it off:

565565

566566```json theme={null}

567567{

from line 615

615615

616616## Invisible characters in prompts

617617

618Pasted text can carry Unicode characters that a terminal draws as nothing at all, such as tag characters, bidirectional controls, and zero-width spaces, so a prompt can contain text you never see. To keep copied text from carrying instructions your terminal doesn't draw, Claude Code removes those characters when you press Enter, before sending anything. It cleans both the prompt and the contents of any collapsed [pasted-text reference](/docs/en/terminal-config#paste-large-content) the prompt includes. Claude Code keeps the joiners that Persian and Indic scripts write and the selectors inside emoji sequences.

618Pasted text can carry Unicode characters that a terminal draws as nothing at all, such as tag characters, bidirectional controls, and zero-width spaces, so a prompt can contain text you never see. To keep copied text from carrying instructions your terminal doesn't draw, Claude Code removes those characters when you press Enter, before sending anything. It cleans both the prompt and the contents of any collapsed [pasted-text reference](/docs/en/terminal-config.md#paste-large-content) the prompt includes. Claude Code keeps the joiners that Persian and Indic scripts write and the selectors inside emoji sequences.

619619

620620If Claude Code removed anything, that Enter sends nothing. The cleaned prompt goes back into the input box with a notice such as `Removed 3 invisible characters · review and press Enter to send`, and pressing Enter again sends the text as shown.

621621

from line 625

625625

626626Run `/diff` to look over the changes in your working tree without leaving Claude Code. You see the edits Claude has made so far alongside anything else you haven't committed. What `/diff` opens depends on which renderer is active:

627627

628* **[Fullscreen rendering](/docs/en/fullscreen)**: the [diff panel](#diff-panel) opens beside the conversation. It stays open and updates while you keep working.

628* **[Fullscreen rendering](/docs/en/fullscreen.md)**: the [diff panel](#diff-panel) opens beside the conversation. It stays open and updates while you keep working.

629629* **Classic renderer**: the [diff dialog](#diff-dialog) opens above the prompt, and you close it when you're done reading.

630630

631The panel and the dialog both come from `cc-plugin-diff`, one of the [mods built into Claude Code](/docs/en/plugins/mods/overview#mods-built-into-claude-code). If you disable that mod in `/plugin`, `/diff` opens Claude Code's earlier panel and [diff viewer](/docs/en/keybindings#diff-actions) instead.

631The panel and the dialog both come from `cc-plugin-diff`, one of the [mods built into Claude Code](/docs/en/plugins/mods/overview.md#mods-built-into-claude-code). If you disable that mod in `/plugin`, `/diff` opens Claude Code's earlier panel and [diff viewer](/docs/en/keybindings.md#diff-actions) instead.

632632

633633In the changes `/diff` reads from git, a submodule appears as a single entry, and only when the commit it points to changes; edits to files inside the submodule don't appear there. The panel and the dialog also offer a view of each turn's edits once Claude has edited files. These turn views come from Claude's file edits rather than from git, so a change Claude makes through a shell command appears only under `Current`, the working-tree view.

634634

from line 638

638638

639639To use the panel you need:

640640

641* [Fullscreen rendering](/docs/en/fullscreen)

641* [Fullscreen rendering](/docs/en/fullscreen.md)

642642* A git repository

643643* A terminal at least 110 columns wide

644644* Claude Code v2.1.287 or later

from line 653

653653* **Show the files the panel leaves out**: the list skips test files and generated files, and collapses changes from before this session into one line at the bottom. Click either count line to expand it.

654654* **Change what the panel compares against**: press `Ctrl+X B` to cycle from this session's changes, to your uncommitted changes as one list, to everything since your branch split from the default branch. Claude Code remembers the choice for each repository.

655655

656To rebind the keys that scroll the file list or change the comparison, see [Diff panel actions](/docs/en/keybindings#diff-panel-actions).

656To rebind the keys that scroll the file list or change the comparison, see [Diff panel actions](/docs/en/keybindings.md#diff-panel-actions).

657657

658658### Diff dialog

659659

from line 678

678678

679679Claude answers a side question from what's already in the conversation: your messages, its replies, and the tool results it has gathered. You can ask about code Claude has already read, decisions it made earlier, or anything else from the session. A later side question also sees your earlier side questions: Claude Code replays the newest 20 exchanges with each ask, until you clear them. The question and answer never enter the conversation history. In the terminal, they appear in a dismissible overlay. The terminal keeps the thread in memory: press `x` to clear the earlier exchanges, and it's gone when you exit Claude Code.

680680

681In the [VS Code extension](/docs/en/vs-code#use-the-prompt-box)'s chat panel, `/btw` opens a panel rather than the overlay this section describes, and you ask follow-up questions right in the panel. The panel's thread survives window reloads, on the retention schedule that page describes. You need the extension at v2.1.227 or later. Earlier extension versions don't offer `/btw`.

681In the [VS Code extension](/docs/en/vs-code.md#use-the-prompt-box)'s chat panel, `/btw` opens a panel rather than the overlay this section describes, and you ask follow-up questions right in the panel. The panel's thread survives window reloads, on the retention schedule that page describes. You need the extension at v2.1.227 or later. Earlier extension versions don't offer `/btw`.

682682

683683* **Available while Claude is working**: you can run `/btw` even while Claude is processing a response. The side question runs independently and doesn't interrupt the main turn. It sees everything in the conversation so far, except the reply Claude is still writing.

684684* **No tool access**: side questions answer only from what is already in context. Claude can't read files, run commands, or search when answering a side question. If Claude writes out tool calls as text anyway, the answer ends with a note that nothing was executed.

685* **Single response**: there are no follow-up turns in the overlay. To continue the thread, ask another `/btw` question. To continue with full tool access in a local session, press `f` to fork this question and answer into a [background subagent](/docs/en/sub-agents#fork-the-current-conversation).

686* **Low cost**: while the conversation's [prompt cache](/docs/en/prompt-caching) is warm, a side question costs little beyond the answer itself.

686* **Low cost**: while the conversation's [prompt cache](/docs/en/prompt-caching.md) is warm, a side question costs little beyond the answer itself.

687687

688688Your five newest earlier side questions appear as a dimmed list above the current answer, with a count of any older ones. They stay out of the conversation history.

689689

from line 697

697697| `Up` / `Down` | Scroll the answer |

698698| `Shift+Left` / `Shift+Right` | Step between this answer and your earlier `/btw` answers. `Shift+Left` moves to older answers and `Shift+Right` returns toward the current one. `[` and `]` do the same, for terminals that don't report `Shift` with arrow keys. `Tab` / `Shift+Tab` cycle through the same answers. Requires Claude Code v2.1.257 or later. Between v2.1.187 and v2.1.256, the keys were plain `Left` / `Right` |

699699| `c` | Copy the answer to your clipboard as raw Markdown. Use this instead of mouse selection, which captures the hard-wrapped terminal rendering rather than the source text |

700| `f` | Start a [forked subagent](/docs/en/sub-agents#fork-the-current-conversation) that inherits the parent conversation plus this question and answer, so it can continue with full tool access. You stay in the current session and find the fork in the [panel below your prompt](/docs/en/sub-agents#observe-and-steer-running-forks). Available in local sessions only |

700| `f` | Start a [forked subagent](/docs/en/sub-agents.md#fork-the-current-conversation) that inherits the parent conversation plus this question and answer, so it can continue with full tool access. You stay in the current session and find the fork in the [panel below your prompt](/docs/en/sub-agents.md#observe-and-steer-running-forks). Available in local sessions only |

701701| `x` | Clear the list of earlier `/btw` exchanges shown above the current answer |

702702

703In an attached [background session](/docs/en/agent-view#attach-to-a-session), `Left` detaches and returns you to agent view, even while the answer is still arriving. The side question keeps running while you're away. The next time you attach to the session, the overlay reopens with the side question, or with its answer. Before v2.1.257, `Left` didn't detach there.

703In an attached [background session](/docs/en/agent-view.md#attach-to-a-session), `Left` detaches and returns you to agent view, even while the answer is still arriving. The side question keeps running while you're away. The next time you attach to the session, the overlay reopens with the side question, or with its answer. Before v2.1.257, `Left` didn't detach there.

704704

705`/btw` sees your full conversation but has no tools. A [subagent](/docs/en/sub-agents) has tools and starts from the prompt it receives, or, for a [fork](/docs/en/sub-agents#fork-the-current-conversation), from a copy of this conversation. Use `/btw` to ask about what Claude already knows from this session; use a subagent to go find out something new.

705`/btw` sees your full conversation but has no tools. A [subagent](/docs/en/sub-agents.md) has tools and starts from the prompt it receives, or, for a [fork](/docs/en/sub-agents.md#fork-the-current-conversation), from a copy of this conversation. Use `/btw` to ask about what Claude already knows from this session; use a subagent to go find out something new.

706706

707707## Task list

708708

709709The task list is Claude's to-do checklist: items Claude created to plan multi-step work, with indicators showing what's pending, in progress, or complete. It's separate from the background-task view. To see running shells and subagents, use [`/tasks`](/docs/en/commands) instead.

710710

711The list fills only in sessions that have the task-tracking tools, which Claude Code provides by default on [Opus 4.7, Sonnet 4.6, Haiku 4.5, and earlier models](/docs/en/tools-reference#task-tool-availability). On any other model, including a model ID Claude Code doesn't recognize, the list stays empty unless you opt in with `CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_TODO_TOOLS=1` or one of the other ways under [Task tool availability](/docs/en/tools-reference#task-tool-availability). When the session has the tools, the task list works as follows:

711The list fills only in sessions that have the task-tracking tools, which Claude Code provides by default on [Opus 4.7, Sonnet 4.6, Haiku 4.5, and earlier models](/docs/en/tools-reference.md#task-tool-availability). On any other model, including a model ID Claude Code doesn't recognize, the list stays empty unless you opt in with `CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_TODO_TOOLS=1` or one of the other ways under [Task tool availability](/docs/en/tools-reference.md#task-tool-availability). When the session has the tools, the task list works as follows:

712712

713713* Press `Ctrl+T` to toggle the task list view. The display shows up to five tasks at a time. When Claude hasn't created any checklist items yet, the toggle has no visible effect because there's nothing to display

714714* If you leave the list expanded, Claude Code restores the expanded view the next time you launch into a session that still has tasks, such as with `--resume` or `--continue`. When the task list is empty, Claude Code starts it collapsed

from line 720

720720

721721When you return to the terminal after stepping away, Claude Code shows a one-line recap of what happened in the session so far. The recap generates in the background once at least three minutes have passed since the last completed turn and the terminal is unfocused, so it's ready when you switch back. Recaps only appear once the session has at least three turns, and never twice in a row.

722722

723Run `/recap` to generate a summary on demand. It runs only when you ask for it yourself. When it arrives in a message relayed from a Slack, Teams, or project thread, you get a [notice](/docs/en/errors#recap-only-runs-when-you-ask-for-it-yourself) instead of a recap. You also get the notice when `/recap` arrives in a prompt a cloud scheduled task sent.

723Run `/recap` to generate a summary on demand. It runs only when you ask for it yourself. When it arrives in a message relayed from a Slack, Teams, or project thread, you get a [notice](/docs/en/errors.md#recap-only-runs-when-you-ask-for-it-yourself) instead of a recap. You also get the notice when `/recap` arrives in a prompt a cloud scheduled task sent.

724724

725725Session recap is on by default for every plan and provider. To turn automatic recaps off, open `/config` and turn off **Session recap**. The automatic recap never appears in non-interactive mode. Claude Code caps both automatic recaps and `/recap` output at 400 characters.

726726

727727## Wait for a usage limit to reset

728728

729When a claude.ai [usage limit](/docs/en/errors#youve-hit-your-session-limit) stops Claude mid-task, Claude Code waits in the open session and continues the task on its own after the limit resets. Automatic continue is on by default in interactive sessions signed in with a claude.ai subscription. Requires Claude Code v2.1.234 or later.

729When a claude.ai [usage limit](/docs/en/errors.md#youve-hit-your-session-limit) stops Claude mid-task, Claude Code waits in the open session and continues the task on its own after the limit resets. Automatic continue is on by default in interactive sessions signed in with a claude.ai subscription. Requires Claude Code v2.1.234 or later.

730730

731731While Claude Code waits, the lines at the bottom of the session show when your limit resets and when Claude will continue:

732732

from line 741

741741

742742* **At the reset**: the second line changes to `Continuing shortly · esc to cancel`. Then `Usage limit reset · continuing automatically` appears in the conversation, and Claude Code prompts Claude to pick the task up where it stopped. It doesn't resend your last message.

743743* **After your computer slept**: if it slept for more than about 30 minutes and the limit reset while it slept, the first line reads `Your usage limit has reset` and the second reads `Press enter to continue`. Press `Enter` to continue. After a shorter sleep, or one that ended before the reset, Claude Code continues on its own.

744* **Early**: when you finish adding [usage credits](/docs/en/costs#add-usage-credits-to-your-subscription) with `/usage-credits`, sign back in after `/upgrade`, or switch models with `/model` during the wait, Claude Code checks whether usage is available again and continues right away if it is. It doesn't check after an upgrade or purchase you make in a browser on your own. Under [`opusplan`](/docs/en/model-config#opusplan-model-setting) and other model settings that run plan mode on a different model, Claude Code waits for the reset instead.

744* **Early**: when you finish adding [usage credits](/docs/en/costs.md#add-usage-credits-to-your-subscription) with `/usage-credits`, sign back in after `/upgrade`, or switch models with `/model` during the wait, Claude Code checks whether usage is available again and continues right away if it is. It doesn't check after an upgrade or purchase you make in a browser on your own. Under [`opusplan`](/docs/en/model-config#opusplan-model-setting) and other model settings that run plan mode on a different model, Claude Code waits for the reset instead.

745745

746The continued task runs like any other turn. Claude Code still asks for [permissions](/docs/en/permissions) as usual, so the task can stop on a prompt while you're away. If it hits the limit again, Claude Code re-arms the wait on its own at most twice in a row, then stops and shows `Automatic continue stopped after repeated usage-limit hits · /rate-limit-options to try again`.

746The continued task runs like any other turn. Claude Code still asks for [permissions](/docs/en/permissions.md) as usual, so the task can stop on a prompt while you're away. If it hits the limit again, Claude Code re-arms the wait on its own at most twice in a row, then stops and shows `Automatic continue stopped after repeated usage-limit hits · /rate-limit-options to try again`.

747747

748748### Cancel the wait

749749

from line 767

767767* **A reset more than 24 hours away**: a weekly limit can reset days out.

768768* **An Opus or Sonnet limit while you run a model outside that family**: your next turn may not hit that limit. [`opusplan`](/docs/en/model-config#opusplan-model-setting) and other model settings that run plan mode on the limited family don't get this exception.

769769

770In those cases, and whenever automatic continue is off, Claude Code opens the usage-limit options menu once per reset window when you hit a limit at your own terminal. Pick the row that starts **Wait here, then continue automatically** to start the wait. In a [Remote Control](/docs/en/remote-control) or [agent team](/docs/en/agent-teams) teammate session, run `/rate-limit-options` yourself to open the menu.

770In those cases, and whenever automatic continue is off, Claude Code opens the usage-limit options menu once per reset window when you hit a limit at your own terminal. Pick the row that starts **Wait here, then continue automatically** to start the wait. In a [Remote Control](/docs/en/remote-control.md) or [agent team](/docs/en/agent-teams.md) teammate session, run `/rate-limit-options` yourself to open the menu.

771771

772772Claude Code doesn't offer the wait at all in these cases:

773773

from line 777

777777

778778### Turn automatic continue off

779779

780In `/config`, turn off **Continue automatically at usage limit**, or set [`autoContinueAtUsageLimit`](/docs/en/settings-reference#autocontinueatusagelimit) to `false` in your user settings. `/config autoContinueAtUsageLimit=false` also works, including with `-p`, but the `key=value` form can't turn it back on, because the setting grants unattended execution. Which settings files Claude Code reads for this key is in the [settings reference](/docs/en/settings-reference#autocontinueatusagelimit).

781781

782782## PR review status

783783

from line 847

847847

848848## See also

849849

850* [Skills](/docs/en/skills) - Custom prompts and workflows

851* [Checkpointing](/docs/en/checkpointing) - Rewind Claude's edits and restore previous states

852* [CLI reference](/docs/en/cli-reference) - Command-line flags and options

853* [Settings](/docs/en/settings) - Configuration options

854* [Memory management](/docs/en/memory) - Managing CLAUDE.md files

850* [Skills](/docs/en/skills.md) - Custom prompts and workflows

851* [Checkpointing](/docs/en/checkpointing.md) - Rewind Claude's edits and restore previous states

852* [CLI reference](/docs/en/cli-reference.md) - Command-line flags and options

853* [Settings](/docs/en/settings.md) - Configuration options

854* [Memory management](/docs/en/memory.md) - Managing CLAUDE.md files

855855

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