[FEATURE] VS Code extension: option to disable Up/Down arrow keys switching between past sessions in chat input
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
Because the chat runs inside a webview, VS Code's keybindings.json has no effect on
key events dispatched inside the panel. This means:
- It is impossible to disable this shortcut via
keybindings.json - It is impossible to remap it to another key
- The extension settings (
claudeCode.*) expose no option to control it
The behavior is especially disruptive when the input cursor happens to be at the
beginning/end of a line and a user presses Up/Down expecting normal cursor movement,
ending up switching to a completely different session.
Proposed Solution
Either:
- A setting in the extension (e.g.
claudeCode.disableArrowKeySessionNavigation: true)
that disables navigating sessions with Up/Down, or
- The shortcut uses a modifier (e.g. Alt+Up / Alt+Down) instead of bare arrow keys,
reserving plain Up/Down for cursor movement only.
Alternative Solutions
[FEATURE] Option to disable Up/Down arrow input history recall in VS Code extension
#51202
Priority
Medium - Would be very helpful
Feature Category
Configuration and settings
Use Case Example
In the VS Code extension chat panel (webview), pressing Up/Down arrow keys while
the input field is focused navigates through past sessions instead of moving the cursor.
There is no way to disable or remap this behavior.
Additional Context
Environment
- Claude Code VS Code extension v2.1.186
- VS Code on Linux
- Platform: VS Code (not TUI/terminal)
Related
- #75899 — Left arrow accidentally navigates to agents screen (not rebindable)