Claude Code Cheat Sheet

Page 1 of 2 • Verified against [Link]/docs (May 2026) Type / for command list • Press ? for shortcuts in your terminal

/release-notes View changelog by version

KEYBOARD — GENERAL
SLASH — SESSION
Ctrl+C Cancel input or generation BUNDLED SKILLS
/clear Clear conversation. Aliases: /reset, /new
Ctrl+D Exit session (EOF)
/compact [focus] Compact context with optional focus /simplify [focus] 3 review agents in parallel; reuse, quality,
Ctrl+L Redraw screen perf
/resume [name] Resume conversation. Alias: /continue
Ctrl+O Toggle transcript viewer /batch <instruction> Decompose into 5–30 worktree agents,
/rename [name] Rename current session
Ctrl+R Reverse search history each opens a PR
/branch [name] Branch the conversation. Alias: /fork
Ctrl+G / Ctrl+X Open prompt in editor /debug [description] Enable debug logging; analyze the log
Ctrl+E /rewind Rewind code/conversation. Alias: /checkpoint
/loop [interval] Run prompt repeatedly. Alias: /proactive
Ctrl+B Background running task (tmux: 2x) /cost Token usage stats [prompt]
Ctrl+T Toggle task list /usage Plan limits & rate-limit status /claude-api Load Claude API + Managed Agents
Ctrl+V / Alt+V Paste image from clipboard /context Visualize context usage as grid reference

Ctrl+X Ctrl+K Kill all background agents (2x within 3s) /diff Interactive diff viewer (uncommitted + per-turn)

Esc Esc Rewind / summarize from a message /copy [N] Copy last (or Nth) response. 'w' to write to file SLASH — SPECIAL / WORKFLOW
/export [file] Export conversation as text /plan [desc] Enter plan mode (read-only, no writes)
KEYBOARD — MODE SWITCHING /exit Exit. Alias: /quit /btw <question> Side question — no context cost, no tools

Shift+Tab / Alt+M Cycle permission modes /voice Toggle push-to-talk dictation

SLASH — CONFIG /chrome Configure Claude in Chrome
Alt+P (Opt+P mac) Switch model
Alt+T (Opt+T mac) Toggle extended thinking /config Open Settings UI. Alias: /settings /desktop Continue session in desktop app. Alias: /app

Alt+O (Opt+O mac) Toggle fast mode /model [name] Select model; arrows adjust effort /mobile QR for mobile app. Aliases: /ios, /android
/effort [low|medium|high| Set effort level (max needs Opus 4.6) /teleport Pull web session to terminal. Alias: /tp
max|auto]
KEYBOARD — TEXT EDITING /remote-control Expose session to [Link]. Alias: /rc
/fast [on|off] Toggle fast mode /schedule [desc] Create routine on Anthropic infra
Ctrl+A / Ctrl+E Start / end of line
/theme Change color theme /autofix-pr Web session watches PR, fixes CI/comments
Ctrl+K / Ctrl+U / Delete to EOL / SOL / prev word
/color [name|default] Set prompt-bar color this session [prompt]
Ctrl+W
/permissions Manage allow/ask/deny rules. Alias: /security-review Scan branch diff for vulnerabilities
Ctrl+Y Paste deleted text
/allowed-tools /insights Report on your session patterns
Alt+B / Alt+F Word back / forward
/keybindings Open keybindings config /stats Daily usage, streaks, model preferences
Alt+Y Cycle paste history (after Ctrl+Y)
/terminal-setup Configure Shift+Enter etc. /team-onboarding Generate teammate onboarding from your
/statusline Configure status line history
MULTILINE INPUT Summarize what happened this session
/login / /logout Auth /recap
\ + Enter Newline (works everywhere) /sandbox Toggle sandbox mode (supported platforms)
Ctrl+J Newline (any terminal) SLASH — TOOLS & SETUP /extra-usage Configure extra usage past rate limits
Shift+Enter Newline (iTerm2, WezTerm, Ghostty, etc.) /passes Share a free week with friends (if eligible)
/init Create [Link]
Option+Enter Newline (mac, requires Opt as Meta) (CLAUDE_CODE_NEW_INIT=1 for guided) /upgrade Upgrade plan tier
/memory Edit [Link], manage auto-memory
QUICK PREFIXES /skills List available skills CLI FLAGS & HEADLESS
/ Slash command or skill /agents Manage subagent configs claude Start interactive session
! Shell mode — runs cmd, output enters context /hooks View/configure hooks claude "prompt" Start with initial prompt
@ File path mention with autocomplete /mcp Manage MCP servers + OAuth claude -c Continue last conversation
/plugin Manage plugins claude -r [name] Resume by name or via picker
TRANSCRIPT VIEWER (CTRL+O) /reload-plugins Reload plugins without restart claude -p "..." Print mode (non-interactive / headless)
/add-dir <path> Add working directory for file access --add-dir <p1> <p2> Add working dirs (validates each exists)
Ctrl+E Toggle show all content
/ide Manage IDE integrations --allowedTools "..." e.g. "Bash(git log:*)" "Read"
[ Write to terminal scrollback (fullscreen)
/doctor Diagnose installation; press 'f' to fix --disallowedTools "..." Block tools without prompting
v Open transcript in $EDITOR
/feedback [report] Submit feedback. Alias: /bug --permission-mode plan Start in plan mode
q / Esc / Ctrl+C Exit transcript view
Claude Code Cheat Sheet
Page 2 of 2 • Verified against [Link]/docs (May 2026) Type / for command list • Press ? for shortcuts in your terminal

--system-prompt / Replace system prompt Prompt Tab/→ to accept; Enter to accept+submit $0, $1, $N Indexed positional args (shell-style quoting)
--system-prompt-file suggestions $ARGUMENTS[N] Same as $N
--append-system-prompt Add to system prompt Session recap Auto after 3+ min idle and 3+ turns. /recap on $<name> Named arg from `arguments:` list
--output-format json Structured output (with -p) demand.
${CLAUDE_SESSION_ Current session ID
--debug Capture debug logs from start Fullscreen In transcript: '[' writes to native scrollback ID}
scrollback
--dangerously-skip-permis Skip ALL prompts (use with care) ${CLAUDE_EFFORT} Active effort level
sions PR status footer Cmd/Ctrl+click to open. Needs `gh auth login`
${CLAUDE_SKILL_DI Skill's own directory (for bundled scripts)
R}
PERMISSION MODES MEMORY — [Link] `!cmd` Inline shell — runs before prompt is sent
default Prompt for every action ./[Link] Project — checked in, team-shared ```! ... ``` Multi-line shell block — same idea
acceptEdits Auto-accept file edits, prompt for the ./[Link] Project — gitignored, personal
rest ~/.claude/[Link] Personal — across all your projects MCP — SCOPES
plan Read-only — no writes, just planning Enterprise Managed settings — org-wide Local ~/.[Link] — only you
bypassPermissions Skip all permission checks (session) @path/to/file Import another file inside [Link] Project .[Link] — committed, team-shared
--dangerously-skip-permis CLI flag — skip ALL prompts Auto-memory /memory toggles. Topic files, auto-loaded. User ~/.[Link] — global to your account
sions ~25KB / 200 lines per file.
Skill(name) / Skill(name Allow/deny rules for skills in
MCP — TRANSPORTS
*) /permissions SKILLS — LOCATIONS
--transport http Remote HTTP (recommended for remote)
.claude/skills/<name>/SKILL Project skill
PLAN, THINKING & EFFORT .md --transport sse Remote Server-Sent Events

Plan Mode Shift+Tab cycles default → acceptEdits → plan. Or ~/.claude/skills/<name>/SKI Personal — all your projects --transport Local process
pass --permission-mode plan, or use /plan. [Link] stdio

Extended thinking Toggle with Alt+T. Include the word 'ultrathink' in a <plugin>/skills/<name>/SKIL Plugin scope (namespaced)
skill to force it. [Link] MCP — OPERATIONS
Effort levels low / medium / high / xhigh / max — availability .claude/commands/<name>.md Legacy commands dir (still works; /mcp Interactive MCP UI (servers, OAuth)
depends on model. skill takes precedence)
claude mcp list List configured servers
Fast mode Alt+O. See /fast and docs.
claude mcp serve Run Claude Code itself as an MCP
[Link] Survives auto-compaction. Re-attaches the most SKILLS — FRONTMATTER server
recent skill invocation.
name Display name (default: directory name) /mcp__<server>__<prompt> Invoke an MCP-exposed prompt as a
Auto-compact Triggers when context fills; recent skills carried command
forward up to 25K tokens. description When to use it — Claude reads this to decide
when_to_use Extra trigger phrases (combined cap 1,536
chars)
PARALLEL & BACKGROUND
disable-model-invoc true → only you can invoke (e.g. /deploy)
/batch Auto-creates 5–30 worktrees, one agent ation
per unit user-invocable false → only Claude invokes; hidden from /
Worktrees Isolate parallel agents; each in its own menu
branch allowed-tools Pre-approved tools while skill active
/tasks List & manage background tasks. Alias: model / effort Override for this skill's turn only
/bashes
context: fork Run in subagent. Pair with `agent:
Ctrl+B Background a running bash command Explore|Plan|...`
CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_BACKG Disable backgrounding paths Glob — auto-load only when matching files in
ROUND_TASKS=1 play
argument-hint / Autocomplete hint + named positional args
WORKFLOW TIPS arguments
Side question /btw — no tools, no context cost, sees the convo hooks Hooks scoped to this skill's lifecycle

Fork conversation /branch — return to original via /resume

Search history Ctrl+R; Ctrl+S cycles session/project/all SKILLS — SUBSTITUTIONS
Image paste Ctrl+V drops [Image #N] chip you can refer to $ARGUMENTS Full argument string