[BUG] Claude Code MacOS Desktop overrides system text editing shortcuts (option+up/down)

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

After a recent update, Claude Code MacOS desktop app started using option+up and option+down keyboard shortcuts to switch between sessions in the sidebar.

This is a bug because option+up and option+down are standard text editing shortcuts on MacOS – when user presses those keys in the prompt text field, they expect the cursor to move to the beginning or end of the line respectively. This behaviour is universal in MacOS text inputs, except for a small number of misbehaving apps, now including Claude Code. The app suddenly switching to a different session is absolutely not expected.

Moreover, session switching already has different shortcuts associated with it. Option+up/down is the THIRD pair of shortcuts in Claude Code for the same pair of actions – that's excessive.

What Should Happen?

Instead of switching sessions, Option+up/down shortcuts should follow standard MacOS behaviour when a text input (e.g. prompt input) is focused – they should move the cursor to the start or end of the line.

The vast majority of MacOS applications respect their users expectations and don't repurpose standard system shortcuts for unrelated features. Claude Code should revert to normal behaviour as well. The current misbehaviour is a very annoying ergonomics and accessibility issue that makes me not want to use the app at all as it's fighting (and losing) 20 years of muscle memory.

At the very least, there should be an option to disable this, as suggested in https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/78643 (that issue is about a similar problem in Claude VS Code extension, was closed due to "inactivity").

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

1. In Claude Code MacOS Desktop app, make sure you have several sessions in the sidebar.
2. Focus on the prompt text input, and type something in there.
3. Press option+up or option+down

Expected the cursor in the focused text window to move to the start of the line or the end of the line.

Instead, the app switches the view to the previous or next session in the sidebar.

Claude Model

_No response_

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

Not sure but it stopped working after an update 1-2 weeks ago.

Claude Code Version

Claude for Mac version is "Claude 2.7032.0 (6c468a) 2026-09-22T05:53:19.000Z". claude --version returns "2.1.269 (Claude Code)"

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

iTerm2

Additional Information

_No response_