Cursor Basics
Cursor Keyboard Shortcuts: The Cheat Sheet
The four Cursor shortcuts to learn first: Tab accepts AI autocomplete, Ctrl/Cmd+K makes an inline edit on a selection, Ctrl/Cmd+L opens chat (Ask), and Ctrl/Cmd+I opens the agent. Use @ inside any prompt to add files, folders, docs, or web context. Confirm your exact bindings in Cursor's Keyboard Shortcuts settings.
What are the most important Cursor shortcuts?
| Action | Default shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Accept suggestion | Tab | Accept the inline autocomplete |
| Inline edit | Ctrl / Cmd + K | Edit the current selection in place |
| Open chat (Ask) | Ctrl / Cmd + L | Ask questions about your code (read-only) |
| Open agent | Ctrl / Cmd + I | Start an agent task (multi-file + commands) |
| Add context | @ in any prompt | @Files, @Folders, @Docs, @Web |
Common defaults; verify and customize in Cursor → Keyboard Shortcuts.
Which shortcut should I use when?
- Reading or planning, no changes → chat / Ask (Ctrl/Cmd+L).
- One precise change to code you're looking at → inline edit (Ctrl/Cmd+K).
- A change across files or that runs commands → agent (Ctrl/Cmd+I).
Matching the surface to the task is the real skill — see the Ask vs Agent vs Composer guide for the full mental model.
Frequently asked questions
How do I change Cursor's keyboard shortcuts?
Open the command palette and search for Keyboard Shortcuts (or Cursor → Settings → Keyboard Shortcuts). Because Cursor is built on VS Code, the keybindings UI is the familiar one.
What is the Tab shortcut in Cursor?
Tab accepts the current AI autocomplete suggestion. Cursor's autocomplete is multi-line and edit-aware, so Tab often applies a whole block, not just one line.
How do I add a file to the prompt?
Type @ in any chat or agent prompt and pick @Files, @Folders, @Docs, or @Web. Scoping context with @ beats making the AI search the whole repo.
Sources & last verified
Cursor ships frequently. Facts verified against primary sources on June 15, 2026.