Allow customization of mode switching shortcuts (Alt+M vs Shift+Tab)

Status Fixed / completed
Maintainer reply None cached
Activity 11 comments · opened Aug 16, 2025 · closed Aug 17, 2026

## Summary

Currently, Claude Code uses different keyboard shortcuts for mode switching on different platforms:

  • Mac: Shift+Tab
  • Windows: Alt+M (as workaround, see #3390)

This inconsistency creates a poor user experience when switching between platforms.

## Request

Please add the ability to customize mode switching shortcuts in Claude Code settings, or standardize the shortcut
across all platforms.

## Use Case

As a user who works across multiple platforms (Mac, Windows, Unix), I would like to:

  1. Use the same keyboard shortcut for mode switching regardless of platform
  2. Customize the shortcut to match my workflow preferences
  3. Have consistent muscle memory across environments

## References

  • Related issue: #3390 (Windows Shift+Tab not working)
  • Related issue: #3368

View original on GitHub ↗

10 Comments

mateusnc · 10 months ago

I would like to add that when using Claude Code over SSH, keyboard shortcuts are configured based on the host machine, not the client machine I am currently using. Adding this feature would also solve this issue.

elik-ru · 10 months ago

Control-O overlaps with Midnight Commander, who intercepts it. Sorry, oldfag here. I'd like to remap it to something different

github-actions[bot] · 8 months ago

This issue has been inactive for 30 days. If the issue is still occurring, please comment to let us know. Otherwise, this issue will be automatically closed in 30 days for housekeeping purposes.

elik-ru · 8 months ago

Still occurs

muhFaza · 8 months ago

I need this feature. It's annoying and I can't change it. Does anyone have a work around at the moment?

JulianPinzaru · 8 months ago

Oh my God, please add this feature. This is insane how much time it's been since it was asked and nobody bothered.
In the meanwhile, I can't remap/ignore the Iterm2 ALT+T for opening a new tab while preserving that same key combination to be sent to claude for "toggle thinking". "TAB TAB" used to work for me in the version prior to that for toggle thinking, and it was removed deliberately without providing users an adequate alternative. People complain about "ALT+M" on Macos too, which is another fair thing to call out. It's frustrating. Please make it flexible for your users.

mipsou · 8 months ago

ALTGR + space is overloaded by Claude Desktop. This prevents the use of the Bépo keyboard to get “_”.

jsfentress · 7 months ago

plus 1 for custom mapping mode change hotkey

holovskyi · 7 months ago

+

damody · 7 months ago

Still occurs

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