Keybinds

PersistenceAI has a comprehensive list of keybinds that you can customize through the PersistenceAI config.

Leader Key

PersistenceAI uses a leader key for most keybinds. This avoids conflicts in your terminal.

By default, Ctrl+X is the leader key and most actions require you to first press the leader key and then the shortcut. For example, to start a new session you first press Ctrl+X and then press N.

Configuration

Keybinds can be customized in your configuration file (pai.json or pai.jsonc):

{
  "keybinds": {
    "leader": "ctrl+x",
    "app_exit": "ctrl+c,ctrl+d,<leader>q",
    "editor_open": "<leader>e",
    "theme_list": "<leader>t",
    "sidebar_toggle": "<leader>b",
    "username_toggle": "none",
    "status_view": "<leader>s",
    "session_export": "<leader>x",
    "session_new": "<leader>n",
    "session_list": "<leader>l",
    "session_timeline": "<leader>g",
    "session_share": "none",
    "session_unshare": "none",
    "session_interrupt": "escape",
    "session_compact": "<leader>c",
    "session_child_cycle": "<leader>+right",
    "session_child_cycle_reverse": "<leader>+left",
    "messages_page_up": "pageup",
    "messages_page_down": "pagedown",
    "messages_half_page_up": "ctrl+alt+u",
    "messages_half_page_down": "ctrl+alt+d",
    "messages_first": "ctrl+g,home",
    "messages_last": "ctrl+alt+g,end",
    "messages_copy": "<leader>y",
    "messages_undo": "<leader>u",
    "messages_redo": "<leader>r",
    "messages_last_user": "none",
    "messages_toggle_conceal": "<leader>h",
    "model_list": "<leader>m",
    "model_cycle_recent": "f2",
    "model_cycle_recent_reverse": "shift+f2",
    "command_list": "ctrl+p",
    "agent_list": "<leader>a",
    "agent_cycle": "tab",
    "agent_cycle_reverse": "shift+tab",
    "input_clear": "ctrl+c",
    "input_paste": "ctrl+v",
    "input_submit": "enter",
    "input_newline": "shift+enter,ctrl+j",
    "history_previous": "up",
    "history_next": "down"
  }
}

Leader Key Syntax

- Replaced with the leader key (default: Ctrl+X)
Example: N = Ctrl+X then N

Multiple Keybind Options

Some keybinds support multiple options (comma-separated):

{
  "app_exit": "ctrl+c,ctrl+d,<leader>q",
  "input_newline": "shift+return,ctrl+j"
}

The first matching keybind will be used.

Disabling Keybinds

Set a keybind to "none" to disable it:

{
  "session_share": "none",
  "username_toggle": "none"
}

Application-Level Keybinds

Application Control

Keybind	Default	Description
`app_exit`	`Ctrl+C`, `Ctrl+D`, `Q`	Exit the application
`terminal_suspend`	`Ctrl+Z`	Suspend terminal (send SIGTSTP)

Session Management

Keybind	Default	Description
`session_new`	`N`	Create a new session
`session_list`	`L`	List all sessions
`session_export`	`X`	Export session to editor
`session_timeline`	`G`	Show session timeline
`session_share`	`none`	Share current session
`session_unshare`	`none`	Unshare current session
`session_interrupt`	`Escape`	Interrupt current session
`session_compact`	`C`	Compact the session
`session_child_cycle`	`→` (Right Arrow)	Next child session
`session_child_cycle_reverse`	`←` (Left Arrow)	Previous child session

Message Navigation

Keybind	Default	Description
`messages_page_up`	`PageUp`	Scroll messages up by one page
`messages_page_down`	`PageDown`	Scroll messages down by one page
`messages_half_page_up`	`Ctrl+Alt+U`	Scroll messages up by half page
`messages_half_page_down`	`Ctrl+Alt+D`	Scroll messages down by half page
`messages_first`	`Ctrl+G, Home`	Navigate to first message
`messages_last`	`Ctrl+Alt+G, End`	Navigate to last message
`messages_last_user`	`none`	Navigate to last user message
`messages_copy`	`Y`	Copy message
`messages_undo`	`U`	Undo message
`messages_redo`	`R`	Redo message
`messages_toggle_conceal`	`H`	Toggle code block concealment in messages

Agent & Model Management

Keybind	Default	Description
`agent_list`	`A`	List agents
`agent_cycle`	`Tab`	Next agent
`agent_cycle_reverse`	`Shift+Tab`	Previous agent
`model_list`	`M`	List available models
`model_cycle_recent`	`F2`	Next recently used model
`model_cycle_recent_reverse`	`Shift+F2`	Previous recently used model

Input/Prompt Keybindings

Keybind	Default	Description
`input_clear`	`Ctrl+C`	Clear input field
`input_paste`	`Ctrl+V`	Paste from clipboard
`input_submit`	`Enter`	Submit input
`input_newline`	`Shift+Enter`, `Ctrl+J`	Insert newline in input
`history_previous`	`↑` (Up Arrow)	Previous history item
`history_next`	`↓` (Down Arrow)	Next history item

Commands & Dialogs

Keybind	Default	Description
`command_list`	`Ctrl+P`	List available commands
`editor_open`	`E`	Open external editor
`theme_list`	`T`	List available themes
`sidebar_toggle`	`B`	Toggle sidebar
`status_view`	`S`	View status
`scrollbar_toggle`	`none`	Toggle session scrollbar
`username_toggle`	`none`	Toggle username visibility
`tool_details`	`none`	Toggle tool details visibility

Editor Pane Keybindings

These shortcuts work when the editor is focused.

File Operations

Shortcut	Action	Description
`Ctrl+S`	Save file	Saves the current file (only if modified)
`Ctrl+F`	Toggle search	Opens/closes the search bar
`Escape`	Close search	Closes search bar when search is visible

Code Navigation & LSP Features

Shortcut	Action	Description
`Ctrl+Space`	Trigger autocomplete	Opens code completion suggestions at cursor position
`F12` or `Ctrl+G`	Go to definition	Navigate to the definition of the symbol under cursor (LSP)
`Ctrl+I`	Show hover info	Display type information and documentation for symbol under cursor
`Ctrl+Shift+M` or `F8`	Toggle diagnostics	Show/hide the diagnostics panel with errors and warnings

Undo/Redo

Shortcut	Action	Description
`Ctrl+Z`	Undo	Undo last change (per-file history)
`Ctrl+Y`	Redo	Redo last undone change
`Ctrl+Shift+Z`	Redo	Alternative redo shortcut

Workspace & Editor Toggle Shortcuts

These shortcuts work globally (when no dialog is open).

Shortcut	Action	Description
`Ctrl+B`	Toggle workspace	Show/hide file explorer pane
`Ctrl+E`	Toggle editor	Show/hide editor pane

Note: When workspace is toggled on, it automatically refreshes the file tree.

Pane Resize Shortcuts

Workspace Resize (when workspace visible)

Shortcut	Action	Description
`Shift+Left`	Shrink workspace	Decrease workspace width by 2 characters (min: 15)
`Shift+Right`	Expand workspace	Increase workspace width by 2 characters (max: 50)
`Ctrl+Shift+Left`	Shrink workspace	Alternative: Decrease workspace width by 2 characters
`Ctrl+Shift+Right`	Expand workspace	Alternative: Increase workspace width by 2 characters

Editor Resize (when editor visible)

Shortcut	Action	Description
`Ctrl+Shift+,` (Comma)	Shrink editor	Decrease editor width by 5 characters (min: 30)
`Ctrl+Shift+.` (Period)	Expand editor	Increase editor width by 5 characters (max: screen width - 50)

Special Features

@ File Search

Press @ in the chat input to fuzzy search for files and agents in your project.

Type @ followed by a filename or path
Use arrow keys to navigate suggestions
Press Enter to select
Works for both files and agents

Example:

How does authentication work in @src/auth/login.ts

Command Palette

Press Ctrl+P to open the command palette with all available commands.

Quick Reference

Most Used Shortcuts

Editor:

Ctrl+S - Save file
Ctrl+F - Search
Ctrl+Space - Autocomplete
F12 or Ctrl+G - Go to definition
Ctrl+I - Hover info
Ctrl+Shift+M or F8 - Toggle diagnostics
Ctrl+Z - Undo
Ctrl+Y - Redo

Workspace:

Ctrl+B - Toggle workspace
Ctrl+E - Toggle editor
Shift+←/→ - Resize workspace

Chat:

Enter - Submit message
Shift+Enter - Newline
Ctrl+P - Command palette
↑/↓ - History navigation
@ - File/agent search

Session:

N (default: Ctrl+X N) - New session
L (default: Ctrl+X L) - List sessions
Escape - Interrupt session

Navigation:

PageUp/PageDown - Scroll messages
→/← - Navigate child sessions
Tab/Shift+Tab - Cycle agents

Notes

Leader Key: Most keybinds use the leader key (Ctrl+X by default) to avoid conflicts with terminal shortcuts.
Focus Context: Some shortcuts only work when specific components are focused:

- Editor shortcuts only work when editor pane is focused - Input shortcuts only work when chat input is focused - Message navigation works globally (when no dialog is open)

Dialog Priority: When a dialog is open, most global shortcuts are disabled to prevent conflicts.
Hardcoded vs Configurable:

- Configurable: Most application-level keybinds (session, messages, agents, etc.) - Hardcoded: Editor pane shortcuts, workspace/editor toggles, resize shortcuts

For a complete reference, see the Full Keybindings Reference.