[FEATURE] Add reload/restart session shortcut (similar to VS Code's Reload Window)
Resolved 💬 3 comments Opened Apr 14, 2026 by hyongbai Closed Apr 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
### Summary
Add a keyboard shortcut or slash command to reload/restart the Claude Code session without having to exit and re-run claude from the terminal.
### Motivation
VS Code has a Reload Window command that restarts the editor in-place without closing the window. This is particularly useful when:
- Configuration files (e.g.,
settings.json,CLAUDE.md) have been modified and need to take effect - Installed or updated plugins/skills need to be reloaded
Currently, the only way to reload Claude Code is to type /exit and re-run claude, which interrupts the workflow.
### Expected Behavior
- Session state is cleared (conversation history reset)
- All configuration files (
settings.json,CLAUDE.md, skills, etc.) are re-read from disk - The terminal window/context remains intact (no need to re-navigate to the project directory)
### Current Workaround
```bash
/exit or exit
### Proposed Solution
One or more of the following:
1. **Slash command**: `/reload` or `/restart` — restarts the session in-place, re-reading all config files
2. **Keyboard shortcut**: A configurable keybinding that triggers the same behavior
### Alternative Solutions
_No response_
### Priority
High - Significant impact on productivity
### Feature Category
CLI commands and flags
### Use Case Example
_No response_
### Additional Context
_No response_This issue has 3 comments on GitHub. Read the full discussion on GitHub ↗