Cline’s keyboard shortcuts let you access AI assistance without taking your hands off the keyboard. Speed up your workflow by using hotkeys for common Cline actions.

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Default Keyboard Shortcuts

Cline comes with the following built-in keyboard shortcuts to streamline your workflow:

ActionWindows/LinuxmacOSConditionDescription
Add to ClineCtrl+'Cmd+'When text is selectedAdds selected code to Cline chat
Focus Chat InputCtrl+'Cmd+'When no text is selectedFocuses the Cline chat input field
Generate Commit Message(unset)(unset)When Git is the SCM providerAvailable through the Source Control view

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Available Commands for Custom Shortcuts

While Cline has only a few default keyboard shortcuts, you can assign your own shortcuts to any of these commands:

Command IDDescription
cline.openInNewTabOpens Cline in a new editor tab
cline.addToChatAdds selected code to Cline chat
cline.addTerminalOutputToChatAdds terminal output to Cline
cline.focusChatInputFocuses the Cline chat input field
cline.generateGitCommitMessageGenerates a commit message for staged changes
cline.explainCodeExplains selected code
cline.improveCodeSuggests improvements for selected code
cline.fixWithClineFixes code with errors
claude-dev.SidebarProvider.focusOpens and focuses the Cline sidebar

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Customizing Keyboard Shortcuts

You can customize Cline’s keyboard shortcuts to match your preferences:

  1. Open the Keyboard Shortcuts editor in VSCode:

    • Press Ctrl+K Ctrl+S (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+K Cmd+S (macOS)
    • Or go to File > Preferences > Keyboard Shortcuts

  2. Search for “Cline” to see all available commands

  3. Click on the pencil icon next to any command to change its shortcut

  4. Press the keys you want to assign to that command

  5. Press Enter to save the new shortcut

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Suggested Custom Shortcuts

Here are some suggested shortcuts you might find useful:

ActionSuggested ShortcutCommand IDDescription
Open Cline SidebarCtrl+Shift+C / Cmd+Shift+Cclaude-dev.SidebarProvider.focusOpens the Cline sidebar panel
New TaskAlt+Ncline.plusButtonClickedStarts a new Cline task
Add Terminal to ClineAlt+Tcline.addTerminalOutputToChatAdds terminal output to Cline
Clear Current TaskAlt+C(Requires custom keybinding to UI action)Clears the current task

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Keyboard-Only Workflow

With the right shortcuts, you can use Cline without ever touching the mouse:

  1. Select code with keyboard navigation (Shift+Arrow keys)
  2. Send to Cline with Ctrl+' / Cmd+'
  3. Type your question and press Enter
  4. Review the response and apply suggestions

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Editor Integration Shortcuts

Cline’s keyboard shortcuts integrate seamlessly with VSCode’s built-in shortcuts:

  • Use VSCode’s selection shortcuts (Ctrl+L / Cmd+L to select line, etc.) before sending code to Cline
  • Combine with VSCode’s split editor shortcuts to view code and Cline side by side
  • Use VSCode’s terminal focus shortcut (Ctrl+` / Cmd+`) before capturing terminal output

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Tips for Effective Use

  • Learn the default shortcut first: The Ctrl+' / Cmd+' shortcut is versatile - it adds selected code to chat when text is selected, or focuses the chat input when nothing is selected
  • Create muscle memory: Use keyboard shortcuts consistently to build habits
  • Customize for your workflow: Assign shortcuts to commands you use frequently
  • Consider ergonomics: Choose shortcuts that are comfortable for your keyboard layout

Keyboard shortcuts may seem like a small optimization, but they can significantly speed up your workflow when using Cline regularly. By keeping your hands on the keyboard, you maintain your coding flow while still getting AI assistance exactly when you need it.

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How to Find All Available Commands

To see all Cline commands that can be assigned shortcuts:

  1. Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P / Cmd+Shift+P)
  2. Type “Cline” to filter the list
  3. Browse the available commands

This helps you discover features you might not have known about and assign shortcuts to the ones you use most frequently.