Keyboard Shortcuts6 min read

Essential Cursor IDE Keyboard Shortcuts for macOS

Master Cursor's AI-powered coding with these essential macOS keyboard shortcuts for faster, smarter development.

Cursor brings AI directly into your editor. These shortcuts help you tap into its power while keeping your hands on the keyboard.

AI-powered shortcuts

ActionShortcut
Open AI Chat⌘ + L
Inline Edit with AI⌘ + K
Accept AI suggestionTab
Reject AI suggestionEsc
Toggle Composer⌘ + I
Add selection to Chat⌘ + ⇧ + L
Generate commit message⌘ + ⇧ + G (in source control)

The inline edit shortcut (⌘ + K) is your Swiss Army knife—highlight code, describe what you want, and watch Cursor rewrite it.

Command center essentials

ActionShortcut
Command Palette⌘ + ⇧ + P
Quick Open file⌘ + P
Go to Line⌃ + G
Go to Symbol in Workspace⌘ + T
Toggle Zen Mode⌘ + K Z

Navigation

ActionShortcut
Jump to Symbol in file⌘ + ⇧ + O
Open DefinitionF12
Peek Definition⌥ + F12
Toggle Sidebar⌘ + B
Toggle Terminal⌃ + `
Go Back⌃ + -
Go Forward⌃ + ⇧ + -

Find and replace

ActionShortcut
Find⌘ + F
Replace⌘ + H
Find in Files⌘ + ⇧ + F
Replace in Files⌘ + ⇧ + H
Find Next⌘ + G
Find Previous⌘ + ⇧ + G

Editing

ActionShortcut
Add next occurrence to selection⌘ + D
Move line up/down⌥ + ↑ / ⌥ + ↓
Copy line up/down⌥ + ⇧ + ↑ / ⌥ + ⇧ + ↓
Create additional cursor⌥ + Click
Toggle line comments⌘ + /
Toggle block comments⌥ + ⌘ + A
Delete line⌘ + ⇧ + K
Select all occurrences⌘ + ⇧ + L

Code intelligence

ActionShortcut
Trigger Suggestions⌃ + Space
Rename SymbolF2
Format Document⇧ + ⌥ + F
Quick Fix⌘ + .
Show Hover⌘ + K ⌘ + I

Multi-pane and tabs

ActionShortcut
Split editor⌘ + \
Focus editor group⌘ + 1, ⌘ + 2, ⌘ + 3
Close Editor⌘ + W
Reopen Closed Editor⌘ + ⇧ + T
Cycle Through Tabs⌃ + Tab

Terminal

ActionShortcut
Toggle Terminal⌃ + `
New Terminal⌃ + ⇧ + `
Split Terminal⌘ + \
Clear Terminal⌘ + K

Tips for Cursor

  • Use ⌘ + L to open Chat, then type @ to reference files, symbols, or documentation
  • Highlight code before pressing ⌘ + K to give AI context for inline edits
  • Press Tab repeatedly to cycle through AI suggestions
  • Use Composer (⌘ + I) for multi-file edits and larger refactors

Master these shortcuts and you'll spend less time clicking and more time building.

Show your shortcuts on screen

Creating tutorials or presenting live? KeyScreen displays your keystrokes beautifully on screen so viewers always know what you pressed.

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