Windsurf Keyboard Shortcuts & Commands (7)
Complete collection of 7 Windsurf keyboard shortcuts and commands. Browse all shortcuts organized by category with our interactive search tool.
Windsurf is built on the VS Code codebase, so everything under "Editor" below is the standard VS Code binding and transfers unchanged. What is new is Cascade, the agent panel, and the small set of keys that drive it — those are where the workflow differs, and they are worth learning before the editor keys if you are coming from VS Code already.
Related Shortcut Pages
Search all Windsurf shortcuts interactively with real-time filtering
Open Interactive Shortcut FinderAll Shortcuts
Cascade AI Core
| Shortcut | Action | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ctrl + L | Open Cascade chat | Open the Cascade AI chat panel. |
| Ctrl + I | Inline AI edit | Trigger inline code generation or modification. |
| Ctrl + Shift + L | Cascade with selection | Send selected code to Cascade with context. |
| Tab | Accept suggestion | Accept the current AI inline suggestion. |
| Esc | Reject suggestion | Dismiss the current AI suggestion. |
| Alt + ] | Next suggestion | Cycle to the next AI suggestion. |
| Alt + [ | Previous suggestion | Cycle to the previous AI suggestion. |
Editor (VS Code Base)
| Shortcut | Action | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ctrl + P | Quick open file | Fuzzy search and open any file in the project. |
| Ctrl + Shift + P | Command palette | Open the command palette. |
| Ctrl + ` | Toggle terminal | Open or close the integrated terminal. |
| Ctrl + / | Toggle comment | Comment or uncomment the selected lines. |
| Ctrl + D | Select next match | Add next occurrence of selected text to selection. |
| Alt + Up / Down | Move line | Move the current line up or down. |
| Ctrl + Shift + K | Delete line | Delete the entire current line. |
| Ctrl + B | Toggle sidebar | Show or hide the file explorer sidebar. |
| F2 | Rename symbol | Rename a variable or function across the project. |
| F12 | Go to definition | Jump to the definition of a symbol. |
| Ctrl + Shift + F | Search all files | Search text across the entire project. |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo | Undo the last change. |
| Ctrl + Shift + Z | Redo | Redo the last undone change. |
Flows & Memories
| Shortcut | Action | Description |
|---|---|---|
| / memory | View memories | List saved Cascade memories for the project. |
| / remember <text> | Save memory | Permanently save a fact or rule for future sessions. |
| @filename | Mention file | Reference a specific file in the Cascade prompt. |
| @codebase | Full codebase context | Give Cascade context of the entire codebase. |
| Write mode | Autonomous edits | Cascade makes file changes automatically. |
| Chat mode | Ask only | Cascade answers questions without editing files. |
Search all Windsurf shortcuts interactively with real-time filtering
Open Interactive Shortcut FinderAll Shortcuts
Cascade AI Core
| Shortcut | Action | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ctrl + L | Open Cascade chat | Open the Cascade AI chat panel. |
| Ctrl + I | Inline AI edit | Trigger inline code generation or modification. |
| Ctrl + Shift + L | Cascade with selection | Send selected code to Cascade with context. |
| Tab | Accept suggestion | Accept the current AI inline suggestion. |
| Esc | Reject suggestion | Dismiss the current AI suggestion. |
| Alt + ] | Next suggestion | Cycle to the next AI suggestion. |
| Alt + [ | Previous suggestion | Cycle to the previous AI suggestion. |
Editor (VS Code Base)
| Shortcut | Action | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ctrl + P | Quick open file | Fuzzy search and open any file in the project. |
| Ctrl + Shift + P | Command palette | Open the command palette. |
| Ctrl + ` | Toggle terminal | Open or close the integrated terminal. |
| Ctrl + / | Toggle comment | Comment or uncomment the selected lines. |
| Ctrl + D | Select next match | Add next occurrence of selected text to selection. |
| Alt + Up / Down | Move line | Move the current line up or down. |
| Ctrl + Shift + K | Delete line | Delete the entire current line. |
| Ctrl + B | Toggle sidebar | Show or hide the file explorer sidebar. |
| F2 | Rename symbol | Rename a variable or function across the project. |
| F12 | Go to definition | Jump to the definition of a symbol. |
| Ctrl + Shift + F | Search all files | Search text across the entire project. |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo | Undo the last change. |
| Ctrl + Shift + Z | Redo | Redo the last undone change. |
Flows & Memories
| Shortcut | Action | Description |
|---|---|---|
| / memory | View memories | List saved Cascade memories for the project. |
| / remember <text> | Save memory | Permanently save a fact or rule for future sessions. |
| @filename | Mention file | Reference a specific file in the Cascade prompt. |
| @codebase | Full codebase context | Give Cascade context of the entire codebase. |
| Write mode | Autonomous edits | Cascade makes file changes automatically. |
| Chat mode | Ask only | Cascade answers questions without editing files. |
Cascade in three keys
Ctrl + L opens Cascade, the chat and agent panel, and Ctrl + Shift + L opens it with the current selection already attached as context, which is the normal way to ask about a specific function. Ctrl + I starts an inline edit at the cursor for small, local changes that do not need the panel. Inside Cascade, @filename attaches a file and @codebase lets the agent search the whole repository; the difference between Write mode and Chat mode is whether the agent is allowed to edit files or only answer.
Suggestions
Autocomplete suggestions appear inline as you type: Tab accepts, Esc rejects, and Alt + ] and Alt + [ step through alternatives when more than one is offered. The tab-to-accept convention is the same as Copilot and Cursor, so the habit transfers across the three.
Memories
Windsurf keeps persistent notes about your project that Cascade reads on every session. /memory in the Cascade input lists them, and /remember <text> saves a new one — coding conventions, the command to run tests, which directory is generated code. Memories are the fix for repeating the same instruction at the start of every conversation.
Frequently asked questions
Do VS Code shortcuts work in Windsurf?
Yes. Windsurf is a VS Code fork and keeps its keymap, extensions and settings; only the Cascade bindings are new.
What is the difference between Ctrl + L and Ctrl + I?
Ctrl + L opens the Cascade panel for conversation and multi-file work. Ctrl + I edits inline at the cursor without leaving the editor.
How do I give Cascade the whole project as context?
Type @codebase in the Cascade input. For one file, type @ followed by the file name.
How do I stop repeating project instructions every session?
Save them with /remember in Cascade. They persist as memories and are loaded automatically.
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