VS Code chat and edit 13
On a Mac the key this table calls Backspace is the one labelled Delete: Continue's Edit guide writes Cmd + Shift + Backspace as Cmd+Shift+Delete.
| Action | Windows / Linux | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Open chatStarts a new chat with the selected code attached; pressed again while the chat has focus, it closes the sidebar. | Ctrl+L | Cmd+L |
| Add to chatAppends the selected code to the conversation already open instead of clearing it for a fresh one. | Ctrl+Shift+L | Cmd+Shift+L |
| Edit highlighted codeOpens Edit mode for the selection; with nothing selected, new code goes in at the cursor. | Ctrl+I | Cmd+I |
| Exit Edit modeWorks while Edit mode is active and the editor has focus. | Esc | Esc |
| Accept diffApplies every proposed change at once; bound only while a Continue diff is visible. | Ctrl+Shift+Enter | Cmd+Shift+Return |
| Reject diffThrows away every proposed change at once while a Continue diff is on screen. | Ctrl+Shift+Backspace | Cmd+Shift+Backspace |
| Reject diff (undo key)While a diff is showing, the usual undo key rejects the proposal instead of undoing an edit. | Ctrl+Z | Cmd+Z |
| Accept vertical diff blockAccepts a single block of the inline diff; the in-app list calls it the top change. | Ctrl+Alt+Y | Cmd+Option+Y |
| Reject vertical diff blockDiscards a single block of the inline diff and leaves the remaining blocks pending. | Ctrl+Alt+N | Cmd+Option+N |
| Apply code from chat | Alt+A | Option+A |
| Debug terminal | Ctrl+Shift+R | Cmd+Shift+R |
| Open in new windowA two-step sequence that is inactive while the terminal has focus; the in-app list names it Toggle Full Screen. | Ctrl+KthenCtrl+M | Cmd+KthenCmd+M |
| Cancel responseStops the answer that is streaming into the chat. | Ctrl+Backspace | Cmd+Backspace |
VS Code autocomplete and Next Edit 7
| Action | Windows / Linux | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Force autocompleteAsks for a suggestion at once; needs text focus in a writable editor with nothing selected. | Ctrl+Alt+Space | Cmd+Option+Space |
| Toggle autocomplete enabledSwitches tab autocomplete on or off; the sequence is not bound while the terminal has focus. | Ctrl+KthenCtrl+A | Cmd+KthenCmd+A |
| Toggle Next EditTurns Next Edit predictions on or off when pressed in a text editor. | Ctrl+KthenCtrl+N | Cmd+KthenCmd+N |
| Accept Next Edit suggestionTakes over the key only while the Next Edit window is open in the editor. | Tab | Tab |
| Hide Next Edit suggestionCloses the Next Edit window and leaves the code as it was. | Esc | Esc |
| Accept jump suggestionApplies while a jump decoration is visible, in place of the Next Edit accept action. | Tab | Tab |
| Reject jump suggestionDismisses the jump decoration when one is visible in the editor. | Esc | Esc |
JetBrains shortcuts 8
| Action | Windows / Linux | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| New chat with selectionStarts a fresh chat with the highlighted code as context, clearing the previous conversation. | Ctrl+J | Cmd+J |
| Add selection to current chatKeeps the running conversation and adds the highlighted code to it. | Ctrl+Shift+J | Cmd+Shift+J |
| Inline editOpens the Edit prompt as an inline popup over the code in the JetBrains editor. | Ctrl+I | Cmd+I |
| Accept diff (JetBrains)Applies the whole proposed diff, the same chord as in VS Code. | Ctrl+Shift+Enter | Cmd+Shift+Return |
| Reject diff (JetBrains)Throws out the whole proposed diff, the same chord as in VS Code. | Ctrl+Shift+Backspace | Cmd+Shift+Backspace |
| Accept vertical diff block (JetBrains)Accepts one block of the diff; the plugin declares the same keystroke for its Mac keymap. | Alt+Shift+Y | Option+Shift+Y |
| Reject vertical diff block (JetBrains)Rejects one block of the diff; VS Code uses Ctrl + Alt + N for this action. | Alt+Shift+N | Option+Shift+N |
| Cancel response (JetBrains)Stops the streaming answer; the chat code swaps the VS Code modifier for Alt when it runs in JetBrains. | Alt+Backspace | Option+Backspace |
Autocomplete and chat keys in both editors 6
The in-app list under Help Center writes every modifier as cmd; Continue prints it as Ctrl on Windows and Linux.
| Action | Windows / Linux | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Accept suggestionInserts the whole inline completion; the autocomplete guide gives one key for both editors. | Tab | Tab |
| Reject suggestionDismisses the whole inline completion without inserting anything. | Esc | Esc |
| Accept next wordTakes the completion one word at a time rather than all of it. | Ctrl+Right | Cmd+Right |
| Send with active fileSubmits the chat request with the file open in the editor added as context. | Alt+Enter | Option+Return |
| Cycle modesSteps the selector under the chat input through Chat, Plan and Agent. | Ctrl+. | Cmd+. |
| Toggle selected modelListed in the in-app shortcut list of both the VS Code and the JetBrains build. | Ctrl+' | Cmd+' |
Chat context providers and prompts 15
A provider shows up after @ only when it is listed under context in the config file; the docs give the YAML line for each one.
@Codebase, @Folder and @Docs are now on the deprecated list; Continue points to its codebase and documentation awareness guide instead.
| Action | Windows / Linux | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Open context provider listTyping it in the chat input opens a dropdown of content you can hand to the model. | @ | @ |
| Reference fileAdds any file of the current workspace to the request. | @File | @File |
| Reference function or classPicks a single function or class from anywhere in the project. | @Code | @Code |
| Reference branch changesUseful for a summary or a review of your work before committing. | @Git Diff | @Git Diff |
| Reference open fileAdds the file that is open in the editor right now. | @Current File | @Current File |
| Reference terminal outputCovers the most recent command of the IDE terminal together with what it printed. | @Terminal | @Terminal |
| Reference open filesAdds every open file, or only pinned ones when onlyPinned is true. | @Open | @Open |
| Reference clipboard itemsOffers recently copied items rather than only the latest one. | @Clipboard | @Clipboard |
| Reference workspace structureGives the model the folder and file layout of the workspace. | @Tree | @Tree |
| Reference file problemsPulls the problems reported for the file you have open. | @Problems | @Problems |
| Reference debugger variablesReads local variables from the debugger; available in VS Code only. | @Debugger | @Debugger |
| Reference codebase outlineHands over an outline of the repository, with signatures unless the config turns them off. | @Repository Map | @Repository Map |
| Reference system platformTells the model which platform and CPU architecture the machine runs. | @Operating System | @Operating System |
| Reference custom HTTP endpointPosts to the address set in the config and uses the context items the server sends back. | @HTTP | @HTTP |
| List invokable promptsShows the prompt files whose front matter sets invokable to true. | / | / |
No row on this page matches that filter.
Notes
Two keys in, one model of your choosing
Continue lives on two chords in VS Code: Ctrl + L opens a new chat with your current selection attached, and Ctrl + I edits inline — describe the change and the diff appears in place. The subtle third is Ctrl + Shift + L: it adds the selection to the chat you already have, instead of starting fresh — the key for building up context across several files. Autocomplete rides on Tab to accept, Esc to dismiss, and Ctrl + Alt + Space to summon a suggestion when none appeared. JetBrains users get the trio on Ctrl + J for a new chat, Ctrl + I for inline edit, and Ctrl + Shift + J to add a selection.
Context is explicit, which is Continue's quiet superpower: type @File to pull in a file, @Code for a function or class, @Git Diff for the changes on your branch, @Terminal for the last command and its output, @Problems for the current file's problems, @Clipboard for what you recently copied. The older @Codebase and @Docs providers are now on Continue's deprecated list. Slash commands are no longer a fixed set: / lists the prompt files you marked as invokable, so the menu is whatever your own configuration defines.
Questions
What is the difference between Ctrl + L and Ctrl + Shift + L?
Ctrl + L starts a new chat and attaches the current selection to it. Ctrl + Shift + L appends the selection to the existing conversation — use it to feed the same chat pieces from multiple files before asking a question that spans them.
Is @Codebase still available in Continue?
Continue's documentation now lists @Codebase, @Folder and @Docs as deprecated context providers and points to its codebase and documentation awareness guide instead. For a known file, @File is the direct route, and @Repository Map gives the model an outline of the repository.
Which AI model does Continue use?
Whichever you configure — that is the point of it being open-source. Commercial APIs, self-hosted endpoints, or fully local models (an Ollama install on the same machine is a popular pairing) all plug in through its config, and you can route chat, edit, and autocomplete to different models.
Autocomplete is not suggesting anything. What do I check?
First, summon one manually with Ctrl + Alt + Space in VS Code — if that works, the feature is fine and it was simply being conservative. If nothing appears, check that autocomplete is switched on (Ctrl + K, Ctrl + A toggles it) and that an autocomplete model is configured; autocomplete uses its own model slot, separate from chat.
Do the VS Code shortcuts work in JetBrains IDEs?
Only some of them. Chat moves to Ctrl + J and adding a selection to Ctrl + Shift + J, and the per-block diff keys become Alt + Shift + Y and Alt + Shift + N. Inline edit stays on Ctrl + I, and accepting or rejecting a whole diff keeps Ctrl + Shift + Enter and Ctrl + Shift + Backspace. The @ context providers are typed the same way once you are in the chat.
Sources and checks
- Continue repository — VS Code extension manifest, extensions/vscode/package.json (release tag v2.0.0-vscode) Default VS Code keybindings for Windows / Linux and Mac
- Continue repository — JetBrains plugin descriptor, extensions/intellij plugin.xml (release tag v2.0.0-vscode) Default JetBrains keystrokes of the plugin actions
- Continue repository — in-app Help Center shortcut list, gui HelpSection.tsx (release tag v2.0.0-vscode) Mac keys of the JetBrains rows, cancel response and model toggle
- Continue repository — chat page source, gui Chat.tsx (release tag v2.0.0-vscode) Cancel-response key in JetBrains
- Continue Docs — Quick Start with Continue Edit (page source) Edit mode key and the Mac wording of the diff keys
- Continue Docs — Quick Start with Continue Autocomplete (page source) Accept, reject and word-by-word accept of a completion
4 more source pages
- Continue Docs — Chat Mode Context Selection (page source) Sending a chat request with the active file
- Continue Docs — Agent mode Quick Start (page source) Cycling Chat, Plan and Agent mode
- Continue Docs — Context Providers (page source) Built-in @ context providers and the deprecated ones
- Continue Docs — How to Create and Manage Prompts in Continue (page source) Slash commands as invokable prompts
Every row on this page was matched to a line in the documentation above on . A binding that could not be found there is not listed.
7 rows from the earlier version of this page were removed in that check: duplicates, and bindings the documentation does not list or lists differently.
Found a wrong or missing key? Tell us and it gets checked against the source. How we verify describes the process and its limits.