Keyboard Shortcut
Esc — interrupt Claude
Interrupts Claude mid-response or mid-tool-call — the fastest way to redirect without waiting for it to finish.
If Claude starts down the wrong path — reading files you don't need, about to run a command you want to stop — Esc interrupts immediately rather than waiting for it to finish on its own. You can then type a correction and continue.
This is different from quitting: the session and its context are untouched, you've just cut off the current turn. It's the single most-used shortcut once you're used to steering Claude actively instead of only reacting after the fact.
See the double-Esc entry below for going a step further and rewinding to an earlier point in the conversation, not just stopping the current turn.
Press Esc while Claude is respondingFrequently asked questions
What does Esc — interrupt Claude do in Claude Code?
Interrupts Claude mid-response or mid-tool-call — the fastest way to redirect without waiting for it to finish.
How do I use it?
Try: Press Esc while Claude is responding
Any caveats to know about?
See the double-Esc entry below for going a step further and rewinding to an earlier point in the conversation, not just stopping the current turn.
Is this covered in OG Flow Code Premium Toolkit?
Yes — Esc — interrupt Claude and patterns like it are covered by the commands, and in higher tiers the specialist agents and guided skills, in OG Flow Code Premium Toolkit. Tiers start at $19.90.
Want the full command, hook, and template pack?
This is one pattern from the OG Flow Code toolkit. Choose the tier that fits your workflow, including Multi-Stack for six additional language stacks.
See pricing — from $19.90 once