Windsurf Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts for Windsurf, the AI-native IDE, on MacWindowsLinux. Windsurf is built on VS Code, so its AI shortcuts (below) sit on top of the standard VS Code keymap.
Cascade (AI Agent)
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Open Cascade (AI agent panel) | CmdLCtrlLCtrlL |
| Start a new conversation | Click + in CascadeClick + in CascadeClick + in Cascade |
Command (Inline AI Edit)
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Invoke Command — edit selection or generate at cursor | CmdICtrlICtrlI |
| Accept the generation | CmdEnterCtrlEnterCtrlEnter |
| Reject the generation | CmdDeleteCtrlDeleteCtrlDelete |
| Invoke Command in the terminal (NL → command) | CmdICtrlICtrlI |
Tab (Autocomplete)
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Accept the suggestion | TabTabTab |
| Dismiss the suggestion | EscEscEsc |
| Accept suggestion word-by-word | CmdRightCtrlRightCtrlRight |
| Trigger a suggestion manually | Option\Alt\Alt\ |
| Next suggestion | Option]Alt]Alt] |
| Previous suggestion | Option[Alt[Alt[ |
Smart Paste & Shortcuts Editor
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Smart Paste — adapt pasted code to the file | CmdOptionVCtrlAltVCtrlAltV |
| Open the Keyboard Shortcuts editor | CmdKCmdSCtrlKCtrlSCtrlKCtrlS |
Editor Essentials (inherited from VS Code)
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Command Palette | CmdShiftPCtrlShiftPCtrlShiftP |
| Quick Open file by name | CmdPCtrlPCtrlP |
| Toggle the integrated terminal | Ctrl`Ctrl`Ctrl` |
| Save | CmdSCtrlSCtrlS |
| Find in file | CmdFCtrlFCtrlF |
| Search across files | CmdShiftFCtrlShiftFCtrlShiftF |
| Toggle line comment | Cmd/Ctrl/Ctrl/ |
| Multi-cursor: select next occurrence | CmdDCtrlDCtrlD |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Windsurf?
Windsurf is an AI-native IDE — a code editor built around an AI agent called Cascade. It started as a product from Codeium and is now developed by Cognition (the team behind Devin). Windsurf is built on VS Code, so it inherits the entire VS Code keymap; its own shortcuts are the AI features: Cascade, Command (inline edit), Tab autocomplete, and Smart Paste.
How do I open Cascade in Windsurf?
Press Cmd+L on Mac or Ctrl+L on Windows and Linux to open Cascade, Windsurf's AI agent panel. Any text you have selected in the editor or terminal is automatically included as context. To start a fresh conversation, click the + button in the Cascade panel — there is no dedicated keyboard shortcut for a new conversation.
What is the difference between Cascade and Command in Windsurf?
Cascade (Cmd/Ctrl+L) is the conversational AI agent that can plan and make multi-file changes. Command (Cmd/Ctrl+I) is an inline edit — with code selected it rewrites the selection from a natural-language prompt; with nothing selected it generates new code at the cursor. Accept a Command generation with Cmd/Ctrl+Enter or reject it with Cmd/Ctrl+Delete.
How do I accept Windsurf's autocomplete suggestions?
Press Tab to accept a Windsurf Tab (autocomplete) suggestion, or Esc to dismiss it. To accept just one word at a time, use Cmd+Right on Mac or Ctrl+Right on Windows and Linux. You can trigger a suggestion manually with Option+\ (Alt+\) and cycle suggestions with Option+] and Option+[ (Alt+] / Alt+[).
Does Windsurf use the same shortcuts as VS Code?
Mostly, yes. Windsurf is a fork of VS Code, so all the standard VS Code shortcuts work — Command Palette (Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+P), Quick Open (Cmd/Ctrl+P), the integrated terminal (Ctrl+`), multi-cursor, and so on. Windsurf adds its AI shortcuts (Cascade, Command, Tab, Smart Paste) on top. You can view and remap everything in the Keyboard Shortcuts editor (Cmd/Ctrl+K, Cmd/Ctrl+S).
How is Windsurf different from Cursor?
Both are AI-native editors built on VS Code, so they share the VS Code keymap, but their AI shortcuts differ. Windsurf opens its Cascade agent with Cmd/Ctrl+L and inline Command with Cmd/Ctrl+I; Cursor uses Cmd/Ctrl+L for chat and Cmd/Ctrl+K for inline edits. See the Cursor shortcuts page for the side-by-side.