Three Useful Gemini CLI Shortcuts

July 7, 2025 • Wietse Venema

I've been using the Gemini CLI a lot lately and have found a few keyboard shortcuts that are particularly helpful. Here they are:

!: Start a prompt with an exclamation mark, to enter shell mode. The benefit of running shell commands here is that the output becomes part of the context and Gemini CLI can help you resolve any errors (hit ESC to return to prompt mode).
Ctrl + X: Open the current prompt in your default system editor. This is useful when you need more space to edit before you submit, for example when you're pasting in a long text.
Shift + Tab: Toggle the auto-apply mode. When you're in this mode, any file edits suggested by Gemini CLI are automatically applied. Use it with caution!

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