🔧Git Bash Keyboard Shortcuts
20 essential shortcuts for Git Bash
Shell
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+C | Cancel current command / send SIGINT |
| Ctrl+D | Exit shell (EOF) / close terminal |
| Ctrl+Z | Suspend current process |
| Ctrl+L | Clear screen |
History
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+R | Reverse search command history |
| Ctrl+P/↑ | Previous command in history |
| Ctrl+N/↓ | Next command in history |
Line Editing
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+A | Move cursor to beginning of line |
| Ctrl+E | Move cursor to end of line |
| Ctrl+W | Delete word backward |
| Ctrl+U | Delete from cursor to beginning of line |
| Ctrl+K | Delete from cursor to end of line |
| Alt+B/Alt+F | Move back / forward one word |
| Ctrl+Y | Paste (yank) previously cut text |
Completion
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Tab | Autocomplete file/directory names |
| Tab Tab | Show all completions |
Terminal
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Alt+Enter | Toggle full screen (mintty) |
| Ctrl+Shift+V/Shift+Insert | Paste from clipboard |
| Ctrl+Plus/Ctrl+Minus | Zoom in / out |
| Ctrl+0 | Reset zoom |
About Git Bash Shortcuts
Git Bash is a terminal emulator for Windows that provides a Unix-like command-line experience with Git commands, Bash shell, and common Unix utilities. Bundled with Git for Windows, it allows Windows users to use Git with the same commands as macOS and Linux users. Git Bash shortcuts combine Bash readline editing shortcuts with mintty terminal emulator controls.
This reference covers 20 essential Git Bash keyboard shortcuts organized across 5 categories: Shell, History, Line Editing, and more. Each shortcut lists both macOS and Windows/Linux key combinations where applicable, making it easy to find the right key combo regardless of your operating system.
Learning keyboard shortcuts is one of the highest-leverage investments you can make in your daily workflow. Studies show that developers and designers who rely on keyboard shortcuts are measurably faster at common tasks. Rather than memorizing every shortcut at once, focus on the ones you use most frequently and gradually expand your repertoire.
Bookmark this page for quick reference whenever you need to look up a Git Bash shortcut. The categorized layout makes it easy to find shortcuts by their function, whether you need navigation, editing, or specialized commands.