Feature request: option to steer an in-progress turn immediately instead of queuing until the current action completes
Open 💬 0 comments Opened Jul 15, 2026 by mmm2198
Environment
- Claude Code desktop app
- Windows 11 Home (10.0.26200)
Summary
When I send a message while Claude is working, it's queued rather than taking effect right away. In practice it often feels like it lands only after the whole task is done, not after the current step. I'd like a way to steer immediately.
Current behavior
Per the docs, a message sent mid-turn is read once the in-flight action completes. The only way to intervene immediately is Esc to stop, then type — which discards the running work rather than redirecting it.
Request
An option (setting or keybinding) to have a mid-turn message interrupt and redirect the current work immediately, rather than waiting for the in-flight action.
Today there is no setting, config key, or keybinding action for this — steering is either "wait" or "kill it with Esc", with nothing in between.