Keyboard shortcut or setting to expand [Pasted text #N] placeholders inline
Preflight Checklist
- [x] I have searched existing requests and this feature hasn't been requested yet
- [x] This is a single feature request (not multiple features)
Problem Statement
When pasting multi-line or longer text into Claude Code's input, it automatically replaces the content with a placeholder like [Pasted text #1]. While this keeps the UI clean, it prevents editing the pasted content before submission, which breaks workflows that rely on reviewing/editing auto-generated prompts.
Current Workarounds
- Submit + ESC ESC: Press submit, then quickly press ESC twice to cancel and see the text
- Problem: Uncomfortable, hacky, requires quick timing
- Paste into external editor first: Edit there, copy back
- Problem: Breaks the auto-paste workflow, adds friction
Steps to Reproduce
- Copy text with multiple paragraphs (~500+ characters)
- Paste into Claude Code input
- Observe: Shows
[Pasted text #1]instead of actual text - Cannot edit content without submitting first
Environment
- OS: Windows
- Terminal: VS Code integrated terminal
- Claude Code version: v2.0.33
Proposed Solution
Option 1: Keyboard shortcut (preferred)
- Add shortcut (e.g., Ctrl+Shift+E or V or click on placeholder) to expand inline
- Allows editing while keeping clean UI for those who don't need it
Alternative Solutions
Option 2: Configurable threshold
- Setting like paste_inline_threshold: 1000 (characters)
- Text below threshold pastes inline, above uses placeholder
Option 3: Always expandable
- Make
[Pasted text #N]clickable to expand/collapse - Best of both worlds: clean UI + editability
Priority
High - Significant impact on productivity
Feature Category
Configuration and settings
Use Case Example
I have a voice recording application that:
- Records audio instructions in my native language
- Transcribes using Whisper API
- Translates and formats the text
- Auto-pastes into Claude Code
For recordings of 2-3 minutes (~500-1000 characters), the text appears as [Pasted text #1] instead of inline. This means I cannot review or edit the auto-generated prompt before sending it, which is essential for catching transcription errors or refining instructions.
Additional Context
The current behavior works well for very large pastes, but for medium-length content (500-1500 characters) that users often need to edit, having no way to expand the placeholder is limiting. This particularly affects automated workflows where prompts are generated programmatically.
11 Comments
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Found 3 possible duplicate issues:
This issue will be automatically closed as a duplicate in 3 days.
🤖 Generated with Claude Code
Closing as duplicate of #3412. My use case (voice transcription workflow with auto-paste) provides additional context for why this feature would be valuable, but the core request is the same. Seems like more and more people are running into this, so hope to see this implemented soon!
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+1 for this feature request.
My use case: I need to visually verify pasted content (code, configs, error logs) before sending. The current placeholder behavior creates uncertainty about what's being submitted.
I'd prefer Option 2 (configurable threshold) with an additional toggle like
"alwaysShowPastedText": truein settings.json to disable collapsing entirely. Default could remain current behavior for backwards compatibility.The inability to see raw pasted text before submission is a significant workflow friction point.
I'm +1 for this feature as well. I often paste snippets of code that I'd want to edit before submitting.
+1, I find the current implementation extremely annoying and frustrating, I would really like the option to see the pasted text as well
This issue has been automatically closed due to 60 days of inactivity. If you're still experiencing this issue, please open a new issue with updated information.
This issue was closed incorrectly despite recent human comments. This behavior of the bot is reported at https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/16497. Please upvote that issue, so maybe it gets noticed.
In my opinion, this issue is discussed more thoroughly in #3412, even though I am the author of the current issue. I asked for it to be closed as a duplicate on the same day it was opened. Still, feel free to upvote both. Hopefully, this simple fix will be implemented sooner.
Repeating here what I posted in #3412:
This issue has been automatically locked since it was closed and has not had any activity for 7 days. If you're experiencing a similar issue, please file a new issue and reference this one if it's relevant.