[FEATURE] Add a setting to exit with a single Ctrl+D instead of pressing it twice

Preflight Checklist

• [ ] 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

Exiting Claude Code currently requires Ctrl+D, Ctrl+D (pressed twice). Add a configuration option to allow exit on a single Ctrl+D, applied uniformly to a normal claude session, claude --resume, and the claude agents view. The default stays as-is (double Ctrl+D); single-press is strictly opt-in.

Motivation

• Double Ctrl+D is an extra keystroke for users who never fire it accidentally and want a fast, single-key exit.
• Behavior should be consistent everywhere — the same setting should govern the normal session, --resume, and claude agents, rather than each view having its own exit convention.
• Keeping double Ctrl+D as the default preserves the current accidental-exit safeguard for everyone who relies on it.

Proposed Solution

1. Add a config setting (e.g. in ~/.claude/settings.json) to control how many Ctrl+D presses are required to exit:

``json
{ "singleCtrlDExit": true }
``

1. When enabled, a single Ctrl+D exits — in claude, claude --resume, and claude agents alike.
2. When unset/false, keep the current double Ctrl+D behavior (default, unchanged).
3. The setting applies uniformly across all three views (and probably more); there is no per-view override.

Alternative Solutions

_No response_

Priority

High - Significant impact on productivity

Raising priority to High — this is not a one-off ask. There are already multiple existing user requests for the same behavior, showing real, repeated demand:

• #14027 — "Leave Claude with single Ctrl+D" (open)
• #78928 — "Make double-press Ctrl+C/Ctrl+D exit confirmation configurable" (open)
• #9177 — "Add user-configurable keyboard shortcut actions" (open; would encompass this)

Multiple independent users have requested exiting with a single Ctrl+D / making the exit gesture configurable, so this warrants prioritization rather than sitting as a low-priority nice-to-have.

Feature Category

CLI commands and flags

Use Case Example

_No response_

Additional Context

Environment

• Claude Code version: 2.1.198
• Platform: Linux (CLI / console)

Related

• #79435
• #79443
• #79451

Duplicates

• #14027
• #78928