[BUG] AskUserQuestion: Number keys instantly select options, preventing numeric input in "Other" free-text field

Resolved 💬 5 comments Opened Feb 13, 2026 by nantoka-el Closed Apr 6, 2026

Description

When AskUserQuestion presents numbered options, pressing a number key (1-4) instantly selects the corresponding option without requiring Enter. This makes it impossible to type any text starting with a digit in the "Other" (free-text) field.

Steps to Reproduce

  1. Claude presents an AskUserQuestion with options like:
  • 1: 5 PM
  • 2: 1 PM
  • 3: 5 PM
  • 4: Other (free text)
  1. Navigate to "Other" to type a custom response
  2. Attempt to type "15:00" or any text beginning with a digit
  3. Pressing "1" immediately selects option 1 instead of entering the character into the text field

Expected Behavior

When the "Other" free-text input is focused/selected, number keys should be treated as text input, not as option selectors.

Actual Behavior

Number keys are globally captured as option shortcuts regardless of context. There is no way to type a number as the first character in free-text input.

Impact

This is especially problematic for CJK language users (Japanese, Chinese, Korean) where starting input with numbers is extremely common:

  • Japanese: "15時" (3 PM), "2回目" (2nd time), "3つ" (3 items)
  • Times, quantities, dates, etc. all commonly start with digits

Even for English users, numeric input like "2 files", "10 minutes", "3rd option" would trigger accidental selection.

Suggested Fix

One of:

  • Don't capture number keys when "Other" is focused — only use them as shortcuts when option list is focused
  • Require Enter to confirm — number key highlights the option, Enter confirms
  • Add a keybinding setting to disable number-key quick select (~/.claude/keybindings.json)

Environment

  • Claude Code CLI (Ghostty terminal, macOS)
  • macOS Sequoia, Apple Silicon
  • IME: Google Japanese Input (Google日本語入力)

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