kitty keyboard shortcuts for Linux and Mac

Q: I pressed “new window” and got a split, not a window. Why?

Kitty terminology: a kitty window is a split inside a tab; what you were expecting is an OS window. Ctrl + Shift + Enter deliberately creates the split kind — it is the pane-management workhorse, and the layout system (Ctrl + Shift + L) decides how the splits arrange themselves.

Q: What is the pager scrollback for when I can already scroll?

Scrolling shows history; Ctrl + Shift + H makes it searchable and navigable — the whole buffer opens in your pager, so slash-search, jump-to-top, and copy work exactly as in less. For the common case, Ctrl + Shift + G skips straight to the previous command's output.

Q: How do I open a URL without the mouse?

Ctrl + Shift + E enters hints mode: every visible URL gets a short letter label, and typing a label opens that link. The same hints machinery can be configured to grab paths, words, or line contents — the URL binding is just the default everyone learns first.

Default kitty shortcuts for release 0.49.2. The Linux column shows the kitty_mod bindings (kitty_mod is Ctrl + Shift); the Mac column shows the Cmd alternatives macOS adds. A kitty window is a split inside a tab, while a separate desktop window is an OS window. Bindings such as Ctrl + Shift + P, F are sequences: press the chord, then the next key. Default mouse actions are included; example mappings and actions without a default key are not.

93 shortcuts in 9 sections. Checked row by row against kitty documentation on 6 October 2026. Edited by Jay.

Window management 21

On macOS the Linux-column bindings keep working; the Cmd bindings in the Mac column are added on top of them.

Every Ctrl + Shift default is written with the alias kitty_mod; changing kitty_mod in kitty.conf moves all of them at once.

Action	Linux	Mac
New windowOpen a new kitty window (split) in the current tab.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Enter`	`Cmd`+`Return`
New OS windowOpens a separate top-level window rather than a split inside the current tab.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`N`	`Cmd`+`N`
Close windowCloses the focused kitty window, not the whole tab or OS window.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`W`	`Cmd`+`Shift`+`D`
Start resizing windowEnters a resizing mode with on-screen instructions; what changes is a layout row or column.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`R`	`Cmd`+`R`
Next windowFocus the next window in the tab.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`]`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`]`
Previous windowFocus the previous window in the tab.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`[`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`[`
Move window forward	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F`
Move window backward	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`B`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`B`
Move window to top	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`
Visually focus windowShows a number or letter over each window; press it to jump to that one.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F7`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F7`
Visually swap windowUses the same overlay labels, but exchanges the active window with the one you pick.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F8`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F8`
First windowNumbered windows are counted clockwise, starting from the top-left one.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`1`	`Cmd`+`1`
Second window	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`2`	`Cmd`+`2`
Third window	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`3`	`Cmd`+`3`
Fourth window	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`4`	`Cmd`+`4`
Fifth window	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`5`	`Cmd`+`5`
Sixth window	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`6`	`Cmd`+`6`
Seventh window	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`7`	`Cmd`+`7`
Eighth window	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`8`	`Cmd`+`8`
Ninth window	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`9`	`Cmd`+`9`
Tenth windowThe only numbered window key without a Cmd variant on macOS.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`0`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`0`

Tabs and layouts 8

Action	Linux	Mac
New tabOpens another tab in the current OS window.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`T`	`Cmd`+`T`
Close tabCloses the current tab along with every kitty window inside it.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Q`	`Cmd`+`W`
Next tabSwitch to the tab on the right.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Right`or`Ctrl`+`Tab`	`Cmd`+`Shift`+`]`or`Ctrl`+`Tab`
Previous tabSwitch to the tab on the left.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Left`or`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Tab`	`Cmd`+`Shift`+`[`or`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Tab`
Move tab forward	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`.`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`.`
Move tab backward	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`,`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`,`
Set tab title	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Alt`+`T`	`Cmd`+`Shift`+`I`
Next layoutCycle through the enabled window layouts.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`L`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`L`

Clipboard 4

Action	Linux	Mac
Copy to clipboardOn macOS the Cmd form copies only when text is selected and otherwise passes the key to the running program.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`C`	`Cmd`+`C`
Paste from clipboard	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`V`	`Cmd`+`V`
Paste from selectionPastes the primary selection, which is filled automatically whenever text is selected, where the platform has one.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`S`or`Shift`+`Insert`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`S`or`Shift`+`Insert`
Pass selection to programHands the selected text to the system open program as a command-line argument.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`O`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`O`

Scrollback 11

Action	Linux	Mac
Scroll line upMoves the view a single line back into the history.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Up`or`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`K`	`Cmd`+`Up`or`Cmd`+`Option`+`Page Up`
Scroll line downMoves the view a single line towards the newest output.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Down`or`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`J`	`Cmd`+`Down`or`Cmd`+`Option`+`Page Down`
Scroll page upMoves the view back through the history one screenful at a time.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Page Up`	`Cmd`+`Page Up`
Scroll page downAdvances a full screen of history at a time towards the latest output.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Page Down`	`Cmd`+`Page Down`
Scroll to topJump to the beginning of the scrollback.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Home`	`Cmd`+`Home`
Scroll to bottomJumps back to the newest output at the end of the history.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`End`	`Cmd`+`End`
Previous shell promptJumps the view to the prompt before the one shown; needs shell integration.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Z`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Z`
Next shell promptMoves the view forward by one prompt; works only with shell integration.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`X`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`X`
Open scrollback in pagerBrowse the entire scrollback in less.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`H`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`H`
Last command outputOpen the previous command's output in the pager (needs shell integration).	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`G`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`G`
Search scrollbackOpens the history in the pager and starts a search there for the currently selected text.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`/`	`Cmd`+`F`

Font size and display 9

The background opacity shortcuts do nothing until dynamic_background_opacity is set to yes; it is off by default.

Action	Linux	Mac
Increase font sizeAdds 2.0 to the font size in every OS window; the numeric keypad plus works too.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`=`	`Cmd`+`+`or`Cmd`+`=`
Decrease font sizeTakes 2.0 off the font size in every OS window; the numeric keypad minus works too.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`-`	`Cmd`+`-`
Reset font size	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Backspace`	`Cmd`+`0`
Toggle fullscreen	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F11`	`Ctrl`+`Cmd`+`F`
Toggle maximized	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F10`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F10`
Increase background opacityRaises opacity by 0.1; works only when dynamic_background_opacity is set to yes in kitty.conf.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`A`then`M`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`A`then`M`
Decrease background opacityLowers opacity by 0.1, making the window more transparent; needs the same dynamic opacity option.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`A`then`L`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`A`then`L`
Make background fully opaqueSets opacity straight to 1, removing all transparency.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`A`then`1`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`A`then`1`
Reset background opacityReturns to the default opacity value from the configuration.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`A`then`D`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`A`then`D`

Selecting visible text 10

Action	Linux	Mac
Open URL with hintsShow hints to open a URL from the screen with the keyboard.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`E`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`E`
Insert selected pathPick a path or filename shown on screen and have it typed at the cursor.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`P`then`F`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`P`then`F`
Open selected pathOpens the picked path with the default open program instead of inserting it.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`P`then`Shift`+`F`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`P`then`Shift`+`F`
Insert chosen fileRuns the choose-files kitten and types the picked file into the terminal.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`P`then`C`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`P`then`C`
Insert chosen directorySame file chooser in directory mode: the picked folder is typed at the cursor.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`P`then`D`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`P`then`D`
Insert selected linePicks a whole line of visible text, handy after one-per-line listings such as ls -1.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`P`then`L`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`P`then`L`
Insert selected wordLabels the words on screen and types the ones you choose.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`P`then`W`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`P`then`W`
Insert selected hashPicks text that looks like a hash, such as a git commit ID.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`P`then`H`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`P`then`H`
Open file at linePicks a filename:linenum match and opens it in your default editor at that line.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`P`then`N`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`P`then`N`
Open selected hyperlinkWorks on links a program marked explicitly, for example with ls --hyperlink=auto.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`P`then`Y`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`P`then`Y`

Configuration and tools 8

Action	Linux	Mac
Show documentationOpens the overview page of the kitty documentation.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F1`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F1`
Command paletteLists every mappable action so you can search for one and run it.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F3`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F3`
Edit kitty.confOpen the config file in your editor.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F2`	`Cmd`+`,`
Reload kitty.confApplies changes made since the last load; a handful of options still need a full restart.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F5`	`Ctrl`+`Cmd`+`,`
Debug kitty.confPrints the settings kitty actually loaded plus information about the host system.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F6`	`Cmd`+`Option`+`,`
Open kitty shellOpens a window where you control kitty by typing commands.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Esc`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Esc`
Unicode inputInsert any character by name or code point.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`U`	`Ctrl`+`Cmd`+`Space`
Reset the terminalActs on the current kitty window only, not on every open one.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Delete`	`Cmd`+`Option`+`R`

Mouse actions 9

When a terminal program has grabbed the mouse, hold Shift to make kitty do the selecting.

Action	Linux	Mac
Open URL under pointerAt a shell prompt, a click moves the cursor there instead when shell integration is active.	`Click`	`Click`
Open link immediatelySkips the short wait a plain click needs to rule out a double click; also works in mouse-grabbing programs.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Click`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Click`
Select wordKeep dragging after the second click to extend the selection word by word.	`Double-click`	`Double-click`
Select lineDragging afterwards extends the selection one line at a time.	`Triple-click`	`Triple-click`
Select to end of lineStarts at the clicked character rather than at the beginning of the line.	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Triple-click`	`Ctrl`+`Option`+`Triple-click`
Extend selectionMoves the nearest edge of an existing selection to the clicked position.	`Right-click`	`Right-click`
Select rectangular blockSelects a column-shaped block instead of whole lines.	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Drag`	`Ctrl`+`Option`+`Drag`
Paste primary selectionAvailable only on platforms that provide a primary selection.	`Middle-click`	`Middle-click`
Show clicked command outputOpens that output in the pager; requires shell integration.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Right-click`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Right-click`

Mac only 13

Action	Linux	Mac
Close OS windowCloses the whole OS window with all its tabs.	—	`Cmd`+`Shift`+`W`
Clear to startClears the screen above the cursor line or the current prompt; needs shell integration.	—	`Cmd`+`K`
Clear scrollbackErases the stored history of the current window.	—	`Cmd`+`Option`+`K`
Clear the last commandRemoves the most recent command together with its output; needs shell integration.	—	`Cmd`+`L`
Clear screenLike Cmd + K, but the cleared lines are pushed into the scrollback instead of being lost.	—	`Ctrl`+`Cmd`+`L`
Toggle secure keyboard entry	—	`Cmd`+`Option`+`S`
Cycle through OS windows	—	`Cmd`+`
Cycle OS windows backwards	—	`Cmd`+`Shift`+`
Open kitty website	—	`Cmd`+`Shift`+`/`
Hide kitty	—	`Cmd`+`H`
Hide other applications	—	`Cmd`+`Option`+`H`
Minimize window	—	`Cmd`+`M`
Quit kitty	—	`Cmd`+`Q`

Notes

In kitty, a “window” is a split

Kitty's naming trips everyone once: an OS window contains tabs, and each tab contains kitty windows — which are what other terminals call panes or splits. So Ctrl + Shift + Enter opens a new split in the current tab, Ctrl + Shift + ] and Ctrl + Shift + [ cycle between splits, and Ctrl + Shift + L cycles the layout — the arrangement pattern (stacked, tall, grid, and friends) that governs how those splits tile. Tabs ride on Ctrl + Shift + T / Ctrl + Shift + Q with Ctrl + Shift + Left and Ctrl + Shift + Right to move between them and Ctrl + Shift + Alt + T to retitle.

Scrollback is where kitty shows off. Ctrl + Shift + H opens the entire history in a pager, so you search and navigate megabytes of output with familiar less keys. Better still, Ctrl + Shift + G opens just the last command's output — the exact thing you usually want — and Ctrl + Shift + E overlays hint labels on visible URLs so you can open one without touching the mouse.

Config round-trips in seconds

Ctrl + Shift + F2 opens kitty.conf in your editor and Ctrl + Shift + F5 reloads it live — the edit-reload loop for trying fonts, colors, and keybindings without restarting. Font size adjusts on Ctrl + Shift + = / Ctrl + Shift + - with Ctrl + Shift + Backspace resetting, Ctrl + Shift + F11 toggles fullscreen, and Ctrl + Shift + U opens Unicode input for the character you can never remember how to type.

Questions

I pressed “new window” and got a split, not a window. Why?

Kitty terminology: a kitty window is a split inside a tab; what you were expecting is an OS window. Ctrl + Shift + Enter deliberately creates the split kind — it is the pane-management workhorse, and the layout system (Ctrl + Shift + L) decides how the splits arrange themselves.

Ctrl + Shift + G shows nothing. What is missing?

Last-command-output needs kitty's shell integration, which marks where each prompt begins and ends. It is enabled by default on recent installs for common shells; if your setup strips it (custom prompt frameworks sometimes do), re-enable shell_integration in kitty.conf and the key comes alive.

What are layouts, concretely?

Preset tiling patterns for the splits in a tab — one big pane with a stack beside it, an even grid, everything fullscreen-stacked, and so on. Ctrl + Shift + L cycles through the enabled ones; the enabled_layouts option in kitty.conf controls which patterns participate and in what order.

What is the pager scrollback for when I can already scroll?

Scrolling shows history; Ctrl + Shift + H makes it searchable and navigable — the whole buffer opens in your pager, so slash-search, jump-to-top, and copy work exactly as in less. For the common case, Ctrl + Shift + G skips straight to the previous command's output.

How do I open a URL without the mouse?

Ctrl + Shift + E enters hints mode: every visible URL gets a short letter label, and typing a label opens that link. The same hints machinery can be configured to grab paths, words, or line contents — the URL binding is just the default everyone learns first.

Sources and checks

kitty documentation — kitty.conf, sections "Keyboard shortcuts" and "Mouse actions" (kitty 0.49.2) Every default map and mouse_map line, including the macOS-only ones
kitty documentation — Overview (shortcut tables and mouse features) Linux binding with its macOS alternative per action; mouse features
kitty source code — kitty/options/definition.py (release v0.49.2) Which default mappings exist only on macOS; the kitty_mod default
kitty documentation — Arrange windows (Resizing windows) Keyboard resizing mode

Every row on this page was matched to a line in the documentation above on 6 October 2026. A binding that could not be found there is not listed.

Found a wrong or missing key? Tell us and it gets checked against the source. How we verify describes the process and its limits.