Please add keyboard shortcuts to the Desktop App to move between Chat, Cowork, Code and Conversations

Status Open
Maintainer reply None cached
Activity 12 comments · opened Jan 17, 2026

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

I want shortcuts or at least in the menu so I can assign MacOS keyboard shortcuts to Claude desktop so that it makes it easier to navigate the application. Right now you have to go and click on the on if you want to be in chat or call work or code and then you have to go and click on the different conversations. I mean I get it in the conversations you probably could do a command one, command two, command three or if you put it in a go option in the menu again I can create Mac OS keyboard shortcuts but navigating the app right now is a bit of a pain because of the fact that you can't have to go with the mouse every single time

Proposed Solution

Either add the shortcuts or add them to the menus in the application. That way we can assign Mac OS keyboard shortcuts

Alternative Solutions

_No response_

Priority

Medium - Would be very helpful

Feature Category

CLI commands and flags

Use Case Example

_No response_

Additional Context

_No response_

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12 Comments

sackville · 6 months ago

I was wondering this same thing, and thought it would be nice to use control-tab, which is the key command for switching between tabs in browsers (and other tab-driven interfaces).

The use case I'm targeting is when I get a response from Claude that makes me think "I should capture that idea for a later discussion," and I want to switch quickly to Cowork to add a reminder. My fingers would love to stay on the keyboard as I complete that interaction and switch back to Chat.

shoshiro · 5 months ago

plus one on this. i switched from claude code to claude desktop and the lack of keyboard shortcuts is annoying.

theoctano · 5 months ago

I agree, started using more Desktop App since Cowork is not available in CLI and have been surely bothered by the near-to-zero customization.

ErikSievers · 5 months ago

This works on mac, both with cmd+1/2/3 and ctrl+tab

sackville · 4 months ago
This works on mac, both with cmd+1/2/3 and ctrl+tab

Confirmed.
Thanks folks!

speaktexan · 4 months ago

upvote

GitCroque · 4 months ago

I’m seeing this too on macOS.

In Claude Desktop, Command+2 is shown for Cowork, but it does not work on my machine, while Command+N works fine for New Conversation. I use a French keyboard layout.

Please add these navigation actions to the standard macOS menu bar (Chat, Cowork, Code, Conversations) so they are real menu commands and users can also assign their own shortcuts in System Settings. Right now the shortcut appears in the UI, but it is not reliable in practice.

theoctano · 4 months ago
I’m seeing this too on macOS. In Claude Desktop, Command+2 is shown for Cowork, but it does not work on my machine, while Command+N works fine for New Conversation. I use a French keyboard layout. Please add these navigation actions to the standard macOS menu bar (Chat, Cowork, Code, Conversations) so they are real menu commands and users can also assign their own shortcuts in System Settings. Right now the shortcut appears in the UI, but it is not reliable in practice.

Interesting. I am also using a French keyboard layout. Maybe we have a pattern here.

pomykalakyle · 3 months ago

Would like this also

therealji · 3 months ago

Cmd+1, Cmd+2, and Cmd+3 work for me on MacOS.

jeegrover · 1 month ago

With the new toggle in the UI, the keyboard shortcuts no longer work. Please bring back similar functionality for this.

tdg · 1 month ago

I'd really like this for Dispatch (the desktop and mobile area of Claude that can access the desktop's code) too please.

Dispatch being agnostic makes it by far the most useful Claude surface for me, a founder and technically minded non-dev.