> interface & shortcuts
The interactive TUI is driven by slash commands and keyboard shortcuts. Slash commands cover everything from /help and /model to /shell and /config; keys handle newlines, mode switching, change review, and context selection. Behavior persists through ~/.cursor/cli-config.json, which you can edit directly or via /config.
// interface & shortcuts
6 commands$ /help$ @src/auth.ts$ /setup-terminal$ /shell$ { "version": 1, "editor": { "vimMode": true }, "notifications": true }// faq
How do I see all the slash commands?
Type / at an empty prompt to browse them, or run /help for the full list and /help <command> for details on one. Handy ones include /about (version and account), /model, /shell, /summarize, /copy-request-id, and /config. There are more than thirty in total.
How do I add a newline instead of sending my message?
Shift+Enter inserts a newline in most terminals. If it submits instead — common in tmux — use Ctrl+J or Ctrl+Enter, which work everywhere, or run /setup-terminal to fix the keybinding. ArrowUp cycles through your previous messages.
How do I review changes before the agent continues?
Press Ctrl+R to open the change review. Press i to add follow-up instructions, Up/Down to scroll within a file, and Left/Right to move between files. This is the main safety checkpoint in Agent mode before edits go further.
How do I run a shell command inside a session?
Use /shell (aliases /sh and /run) to enter Shell Mode. Commands run in your login $SHELL from the current directory, with a 30-second timeout and no interactive prompts. Ctrl+O expands truncated output; Escape or Ctrl+C on an empty input leaves Shell Mode. A bare cd does not persist, so chain it: cd subdir && npm test.
Where does the CLI store its settings?
In ~/.cursor/cli-config.json (global) and <project>/.cursor/cli.json (project), as strict comment-free JSON. Keys include editor.vimMode, model, approvalMode, sandbox.mode, notifications, and display.* toggles. Override the directory with CURSOR_CONFIG_DIR or XDG_CONFIG_HOME; a corrupt file is backed up as .bad and recreated.