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Speed up your workflow by accessing Cline’s AI assistance without taking your hands off the keyboard.
The One Shortcut You Need: Ctrl+' (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+' (macOS)This context-aware shortcut handles your most common needs:
  • With text selected: Adds code to Cline chat
  • Without selection: Focuses the chat input
Master this one shortcut, and you’re 90% there.

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Default Shortcuts

Cline has minimal default shortcuts by design, so they won’t conflict with your existing VSCode setup:
ShortcutWindows/LinuxmacOSWhat It Does
Add to Chat / Focus InputCtrl+'Cmd+'Context-aware: adds selected code or focuses chat
That’s it! Everything else is available for you to customize.

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Quick Workflow Examples

Here’s how keyboard shortcuts fit into real coding workflows:

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Debug & Fix Workflow

  1. Find error in code → VSCode highlights it
  2. Select the problematic code → Shift+Arrow or Ctrl+L / Cmd+L
  3. Send to Cline → Ctrl+' / Cmd+'
  4. Ask for help → Type your question, hit Enter

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Code Review Workflow

  1. Review a function → Select it with Ctrl+L / Cmd+L
  2. Get AI review → Ctrl+' / Cmd+' then ask “Review this”
  3. Iterate → Apply suggestions and repeat

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Terminal Integration Workflow

  1. Open terminal → Press Ctrl+` / Cmd+`
  2. Run your command → Execute in terminal
  3. Capture output → Press Alt+T (after assigning shortcut)
  4. Get help → Ask Cline to interpret errors or output
Pro Tip: Assign Alt+T to the cline.addTerminalOutputToChat command for quick terminal output capture. Without a shortcut, you can still right-click in the terminal and select “Add to Cline” - but the keyboard approach is much faster for frequent debugging workflows.

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Customizing Shortcuts

Want to assign shortcuts to more Cline commands? Here’s how: Step 1: Open VSCode’s Keyboard Shortcuts editor
  • Press Ctrl+K Ctrl+S (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+K Cmd+S (macOS)
  • Or: File → Preferences → Keyboard Shortcuts
Step 2: Search for “Cline” Step 3: Click the ✏️ icon next to any command Step 4: Press your desired key combo, then Enter
Avoid Conflicts: Check that your shortcut doesn’t override important VSCode commands. The shortcuts editor will warn you about conflicts.

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Available Commands Reference

These commands help you navigate and manage Cline tasks:
Command IDDescriptionSuggested Shortcut
cline.plusButtonClickedStart a new taskCtrl+Shift+N / Cmd+Shift+N
cline.historyButtonClickedOpen task historyCtrl+Shift+H / Cmd+Shift+H
claude-dev.SidebarProvider.focusOpen Cline sidebarCtrl+Shift+L / Cmd+Shift+L
Note: claude-dev prefix is for historical reasons - it works with Cline.
Work directly with your code:
Command IDDescriptionSuggested Shortcut
cline.addToChatAdd selected code to chatCtrl+' / Cmd+' ⭐ (default)
cline.focusChatInputFocus chat inputCtrl+' / Cmd+' ⭐ (default)
cline.explainCodeExplain selected codeCtrl+Shift+E / Cmd+Shift+E
cline.improveCodeSuggest code improvementsCtrl+Shift+I / Cmd+Shift+I
⭐ These share the same shortcut - it’s context-aware!
Connect Cline with your terminal:
Command IDDescriptionSuggested Shortcut
cline.addTerminalOutputToChatAdd terminal output to ClineAlt+T
Tip: Use this after running commands to get help interpreting output or fixing errors.
Generate commit messages with AI:
Command IDDescriptionSuggested Shortcut
cline.generateGitCommitMessageGenerate commit messageCtrl+Shift+G / Cmd+Shift+G
cline.abortGitCommitMessageStop generationCtrl+Shift+Esc / Cmd+Shift+Esc
These commands open Cline’s configuration panels. Most users access these via the sidebar buttons, but keyboard shortcuts can be useful for:
  • Frequent MCP server developers who constantly adjust server configurations
  • Demo/presentation scenarios where you need quick, keyboard-only navigation
  • Accessibility workflows where mouse usage is minimized
Command IDDescriptionSuggested Shortcut
cline.settingsButtonClickedOpen Cline settingsCtrl+Alt+, / Cmd+Opt+,
cline.mcpButtonClickedOpen MCP servers configCtrl+Alt+M / Cmd+Opt+M
cline.accountButtonClickedOpen account settingsCtrl+Alt+A / Cmd+Opt+A
cline.openWalkthroughOpen walkthrough guide(not recommended)
Our take: Unless you’re constantly tweaking settings or building MCP servers, the sidebar buttons are more convenient. But if you find yourself opening these panels frequently, shortcuts can save time.

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What About “Fix with Cline”?

You CAN’T assign a keyboard shortcut to “Fix with Cline”This command only appears in the lightbulb menu (💡) when VSCode detects errors in your code. It needs the error context to work, so it’s not available as a standalone command.Workarounds:
  • Click the 💡 lightbulb icon that appears next to errors
  • Or select code with errors and use Ctrl+' / Cmd+' to ask Cline to fix them
  • Or right-click and select “Add to Cline”
Learn more about code actions in our Code Commands documentation.

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Best Practices

Start SimpleDon’t try to memorize 20 shortcuts on day one. Start with:
  1. Ctrl+' / Cmd+' (the essential one)
  2. Add 1-2 more based on your actual usage patterns
  3. Build muscle memory over time
Choose Shortcuts Wisely:
  • Be ergonomic: Use comfortable key combinations
  • Create patterns: Group related commands (e.g., all Cline shortcuts use Ctrl+Shift+...)
  • Avoid conflicts: Don’t override VSCode essentials like Ctrl+C or Ctrl+S
  • Use modifiers: Combine Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + Alt to reduce conflicts
Build the Habit:
  • Use shortcuts consistently for a week to build muscle memory
  • Keep a note of your custom shortcuts until they’re automatic
  • Review monthly to see if your workflow has changed

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Discovering Commands

Not sure what commands are available? Use VSCode’s Command Palette:
  1. Press Ctrl+Shift+P / Cmd+Shift+P
  2. Type “Cline” to filter
  3. Browse all available commands
  4. Assign shortcuts to your favorites
Editor Integration Overview
Remember: The goal isn’t to memorize every possible shortcut. Master Ctrl+' / Cmd+' first, then gradually add shortcuts for commands you use frequently. Quality over quantity!