---
title: "WezTerm Default Key Assignments"
aliases: [wezterm-keybindings, wezterm-shortcuts, wezterm-keys]
tags: [wezterm, keybindings, terminal, dotfiles]
sources: [raw/Default Key Assignments - Wez's Terminal Emulator.md]
created: 2026-04-17
updated: 2026-04-17
---

## Overview

WezTerm ships with a full set of default key bindings. To inspect them in Lua format (copy-paste ready), run:

```sh
wezterm show-keys --lua
```

To disable all defaults and start from scratch:

```lua
config.disable_default_key_bindings = true
-- then register every binding explicitly
```

> Tip: if disabling defaults, assign `ShowDebugOverlay` and `ActivateCommandPalette` manually — useful for troubleshooting.

---

## Clipboard

| Modifiers | Key | Action |
|-----------|-----|--------|
| `SUPER` / `CTRL+SHIFT` | `c` | `CopyTo="Clipboard"` |
| `SUPER` / `CTRL+SHIFT` | `v` | `PasteFrom="Clipboard"` |
| `CTRL` | `Insert` | `CopyTo="PrimarySelection"` |
| `SHIFT` | `Insert` | `PasteFrom="PrimarySelection"` |

---

## Window & Font

| Modifiers | Key | Action |
|-----------|-----|--------|
| `SUPER` | `m` | `Hide` |
| `SUPER` / `CTRL+SHIFT` | `n` | `SpawnWindow` |
| `ALT` | `Enter` | `ToggleFullScreen` |
| `SUPER` / `CTRL` | `-` | `DecreaseFontSize` |
| `SUPER` / `CTRL` | `=` | `IncreaseFontSize` |
| `SUPER` / `CTRL` | `0` | `ResetFontSize` |
| `SUPER` | `h` | `HideApplication` *(macOS only)* |

---

## Tabs

| Modifiers | Key | Action |
|-----------|-----|--------|
| `SUPER` / `CTRL+SHIFT` | `t` | `SpawnTab="CurrentPaneDomain"` |
| `SUPER+SHIFT` | `T` | `SpawnTab="DefaultDomain"` |
| `SUPER` / `CTRL+SHIFT` | `w` | `CloseCurrentTab{confirm=true}` |
| `SUPER` / `CTRL+SHIFT` | `1`–`8` | `ActivateTab=0`–`7` |
| `SUPER` / `CTRL+SHIFT` | `9` | `ActivateTab=-1` (last tab) |
| `SUPER+SHIFT` / `CTRL+SHIFT` | `[` / `Tab` | `ActivateTabRelative=-1` |
| `SUPER+SHIFT` / `CTRL` | `]` / `Tab` | `ActivateTabRelative=1` |
| `CTRL` | `PageUp` / `PageDown` | `ActivateTabRelative=-1/1` |
| `CTRL+SHIFT` | `PageUp` / `PageDown` | `MoveTabRelative=-1/1` |

---

## Scrollback

| Modifiers | Key | Action |
|-----------|-----|--------|
| `SHIFT` | `PageUp` | `ScrollByPage=-1` |
| `SHIFT` | `PageDown` | `ScrollByPage=1` |
| `SUPER` / `CTRL+SHIFT` | `k` / `K` | `ClearScrollback="ScrollbackOnly"` |

---

## Panes

| Modifiers | Key | Action |
|-----------|-----|--------|
| `CTRL+SHIFT+ALT` | `"` | `SplitVertical` (CurrentPaneDomain) |
| `CTRL+SHIFT+ALT` | `%` | `SplitHorizontal` (CurrentPaneDomain) |
| `CTRL+SHIFT` | `←↑→↓` | `ActivatePaneDirection` |
| `CTRL+SHIFT+ALT` | `←↑→↓` | `AdjustPaneSize` by 1 |
| `CTRL+SHIFT` | `Z` | `TogglePaneZoomState` |

---

## Utilities

| Modifiers | Key | Action |
|-----------|-----|--------|
| `SUPER` / `CTRL+SHIFT` | `r` / `R` | `ReloadConfiguration` |
| `CTRL+SHIFT` | `L` | `ShowDebugOverlay` |
| `CTRL+SHIFT` | `P` | `ActivateCommandPalette` |
| `CTRL+SHIFT` | `U` | `CharSelect` |
| `SUPER` / `CTRL+SHIFT` | `f` / `F` | `Search={CaseSensitiveString=""}` |
| `CTRL+SHIFT` | `X` | `ActivateCopyMode` |
| `CTRL+SHIFT` | `Space` | `QuickSelect` |

---

## Key Takeaways

- `SUPER` bindings are macOS; `CTRL+SHIFT` equivalents work cross-platform
- Pane splits: `CTRL+SHIFT+ALT` + `"` (vertical) or `%` (horizontal)
- Pane navigation: `CTRL+SHIFT` + arrow keys; resize with `CTRL+SHIFT+ALT` + arrows
- Tab navigation: `CTRL+Tab` / `CTRL+PageDown` (next), `CTRL+SHIFT+Tab` / `CTRL+PageUp` (prev)
- `CTRL+SHIFT+Z` zooms/unzooms the active pane
- `CTRL+SHIFT+P` opens the Command Palette — discover any action without memorizing bindings
- Disable all defaults with `config.disable_default_key_bindings = true`, then add only what you need

---

## Related

- [[wiki/dotfiles/wezterm-config|WezTerm Config]] — Lua config structure and file locations
- [[wiki/dotfiles/wezterm-cli-reference|WezTerm CLI Reference]] — CLI subcommands and scripting
- [[wiki/dotfiles/wezterm-colors-appearance|WezTerm Colors & Appearance]] — color schemes and tab bar styling
- [[wiki/dotfiles/terminal-cheatsheet|Terminal Cheatsheet]] — daily stack reference

---

## Sources

- [wezterm.org/config/default-keys.html](https://wezterm.org/config/default-keys.html)
