Cursor keeps all of VS Code's default shortcuts and adds a small set for AI features: Cmd + I (Ctrl + I on Windows and Linux) opens the Agent side panel, Shift + Tab cycles Agent modes, Cmd + / cycles models, and Tab accepts an autocomplete suggestion. To see or change every binding, press Cmd + R then Cmd + S (Ctrl + R then Ctrl + S).
The tables below come from Cursor's keyboard shortcuts reference and keyboard shortcuts help page, read on 26 October 2026. The reference lists Mac keys. Cursor's help pages give the Windows and Linux versions with Ctrl in place of Cmd, as shown in the first table.
What are the most important Cursor shortcuts?
These five come straight from the help page and cover most of what you do with AI in Cursor:
| Action | Mac | Windows/Linux |
|---|---|---|
| Toggle side panel (Agent) | Cmd + I, Cmd + L or Cmd + K | Ctrl + I, Ctrl + L or Ctrl + K |
| Mode menu | Cmd + . | Ctrl + . |
| Rotate between Agent modes | Shift + Tab | Shift + Tab |
| Loop between AI models | Cmd + / | Ctrl + / |
| Accept Tab suggestion | Tab | Tab |
If you learn nothing else, learn Cmd + I to open Agent, Shift + Tab to move between Agent, Ask, Plan and Debug, and Cmd + / to change models.
What are the general Cursor shortcuts?
From the General table in the reference (Mac keys):
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Cmd I | Toggle side panel (unless bound to a mode) |
| Cmd L or Cmd K | Toggle side panel (unless bound to a mode) |
| Cmd E | Toggle Agent layout |
| Cmd . | Mode menu |
| Cmd / | Loop between AI models |
| Cmd Shift J | Cursor settings |
| Cmd Shift Space | Toggle Voice Mode |
| Cmd , | General settings |
| Cmd Shift P | Command palette |
Note the two settings shortcuts. Cmd Shift J opens Cursor's own settings (models, Tab, network, rules), while Cmd , opens the general editor settings you know from VS Code.
Which shortcuts work in the Cursor chat?
These apply in the chat input box:
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Return | Queue message (default) |
| Cmd Return while typing | Force send message |
| Cmd Shift Backspace | Cancel generation |
| Cmd Shift L with code selected | Add selected code as context |
| Cmd V with code or a log in the clipboard | Add clipboard as context |
| Cmd Shift V with code or a log in the clipboard | Add clipboard to input box |
| Cmd Return with suggested changes | Accept all changes |
| Cmd Shift Backspace with suggested changes | Reject all changes |
| Tab | Cycle to next message |
| Shift Tab | Rotate between Agent modes |
| Cmd Opt / | Model toggle |
| Cmd N or Cmd R | New chat |
| Cmd T | New chat tab |
| Cmd [ and Cmd ] | Previous and next chat |
| Cmd W | Close chat |
| Escape | Unfocus field |
The queue matters once Agent is busy. The Agent docs explain that while Agent is working, Enter queues your message until it finishes the current task, and Cmd + Enter sends it right away by appending it to your most recent message.
To open a side chat with the current transcript selection, the side chats help page lists Shift + Cmd + S on Mac and Shift + Ctrl + S on Windows and Linux. You can also type /side in the chat input.
How do you add code and context with the keyboard?
From the Code Selection & Context table:
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| @ | @-mentions (files, folders and other context) |
| / | Shortcut commands |
| Cmd Shift L | Add selection to chat |
| Cmd L or Cmd K | Add selection to new chat |
| Cmd Return | Search codebase in chat |
| Select code, Cmd C, Cmd V | Add copied reference code as context |
| Select code, Cmd C, Cmd Shift V | Add copied code as text context |
If you learned Cursor with its older inline edit, Cmd + K will feel different. The Agent help page says that selecting code and pressing Cmd + L or Cmd + K opens Agent with those lines referenced, and that "Cmd + K used to open inline edit, which has been replaced by this workflow."
What are the Cursor Tab shortcuts?
Cursor Tab is the AI autocomplete. Its keys, from the Tab help page:
| Action | Mac | Windows/Linux |
|---|---|---|
| Accept the full suggestion | Tab | Tab |
| Accept word by word | Cmd + Right Arrow | Ctrl + Right Arrow |
| Reject | Escape, or keep typing | Escape, or keep typing |
| Jump to the next predicted edit | Tab again after accepting | Tab again after accepting |
To remap the accept key, search for Accept Cursor Tab Suggestions in Keyboard Shortcuts.
Which shortcuts work in the Agents Window?
The Agents Window is Cursor's agent-first interface. The Agents Window docs list a few keys you need there:
- Cmd + Shift + P, then Open Agents Window, to open it from the editor. Use Open IDE from the same palette to go back.
- Cmd + P to search files and Cmd + Shift + F to search all files without leaving the window.
- Cmd + K (Ctrl + K) opens the command palette, where you can search across past conversations, and Cmd + F (Ctrl + F) finds text in the open conversation. These two come from the Agent docs.
How do you customize Cursor shortcuts?
The help page gives these steps:
- Open Keyboard Shortcuts with Cmd + R then Cmd + S (Ctrl + R then Ctrl + S).
- Search for the command you want to remap.
- Click the pencil icon next to it.
- Press your new key combination.
- Press Return to save.
The reference confirms that "All Cursor keybindings, including Cursor-specific features, can be remapped." Cursor points to VS Code's key bindings docs as the baseline for how bindings work.
Coming from VS Code? The migration help page says Cursor "shares the same default shortcuts as VS Code" and that custom keybindings transfer when you import your settings from Cursor Settings > General > Account > VS Code Import.
If a shortcut stops working, an extension may be catching it. Cursor's extension conflicts page says extensions that "intercept keyboard shortcuts can conflict with Tab completion or Cursor's AI shortcuts." The Cursor troubleshooting guide walks through how to find the culprit.
Make your best prompts one keystroke away
Shortcuts save seconds; reusable prompts save minutes. If you retype the same instructions into Cursor's chat, keep them in a prompt library instead. Kipt stores prompts and Agent Skills as Markdown in a private GitHub repo you own, with a Cmd+K search to find and copy one fast. Using Claude Code too? See the Claude Code keyboard shortcuts guide.