Aider keyboard shortcuts
Aider is an AI pair programmer that runs in your terminal and edits the code in your git repo. Its prompt keys stop a reply and add multiline input, with Emacs-style editing by default and a vi mode if you start Aider with --vim.
Windows, macOS, Linux · 39 shortcutsPrompt control and multiline input
Interrupt generation, add a line without submitting, or move the current prompt into an external editor when the terminal supports the documented key sequence.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Interrupt Aider while preserving the partial response | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + C |
| Insert a new line without sending the message | Windows / macOS / LinuxMeta + EnterorEsc then EnterThe fallback is a sequence: press Escape, then Enter. |
| Open the current input in an external editor | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + X then Ctrl + EPress Ctrl+X, then Ctrl+E. The terminal must allow the sequence. |
Default Emacs input mode
Navigate and edit the current prompt with the Emacs-style bindings that Aider enables by default through prompt-toolkit.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Move up one line in the current message | Windows / macOS / LinuxUp |
| Move down one line in the current message | Windows / macOS / LinuxDown |
| Scroll back through previously sent messages | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + Up |
| Scroll forward through previously sent messages | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + Down |
| Move the cursor to the start of the line | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + A |
| Move the cursor back one character | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + B |
| Delete the character under the cursor | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + D |
| Move the cursor to the end of the line | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + E |
| Move the cursor forward one character | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + F |
| Delete from the cursor to the end of the line | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + K |
| Clear the screen | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + L |
| Move down to the next history entry | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + N |
| Move up to the previous history entry | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + P |
| Reverse-search command history | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + R |
| Paste text that was previously cut | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + Y |
Optional vi input mode
Use these command-mode controls after starting Aider with --vim. Escape enters command mode, while i, a, A, and I return to insert mode at different positions.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Move up one line in the current message | Windows / macOS / LinuxUp |
| Move down one line in the current message | Windows / macOS / LinuxDown |
| Scroll back through previously sent messages | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + Up |
| Scroll forward through previously sent messages | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + Down |
| Switch to command mode | Windows / macOS / LinuxEsc |
| Switch to insert mode | Windows / macOS / Linuxi |
| Move right one character and switch to insert mode | Windows / macOS / Linuxa |
| Move to the line end and switch to insert mode | Windows / macOS / LinuxA |
| Move to the line beginning and switch to insert mode | Windows / macOS / LinuxI |
| Move one character left | Windows / macOS / Linuxh |
| Move down one line | Windows / macOS / Linuxj |
| Move up one line | Windows / macOS / Linuxk |
| Move one character right | Windows / macOS / Linuxl |
| Move forward one word | Windows / macOS / Linuxw |
| Move backward one word | Windows / macOS / Linuxb |
| Move to the beginning of the line | Windows / macOS / Linux0 |
| Move to the end of the line | Windows / macOS / Linux$ |
| Delete the character under the cursor | Windows / macOS / Linuxx |
| Delete the current line | Windows / macOS / Linuxd then d |
| Undo the last change | Windows / macOS / Linuxu |
| Redo the last undone change | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + R |
Source
Aider in-chat commands and keybindings · Checked
Current Aider command-line documentation checked August 31, 2026. Emacs bindings are the default. The vi group applies only when Aider is started with --vim. Terminal emulators and operating systems can intercept some control or meta combinations before Aider receives them.