Sixth’s keyboard shortcuts let you access AI assistance without taking your hands off the keyboard. Speed up your workflow by using hotkeys for common Sixth actions.

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Default Keyboard Shortcuts

Sixth comes with the following built-in keyboard shortcuts to streamline your workflow:
ActionWindows/LinuxmacOSConditionDescription
Add to SixthCtrl+'Cmd+'When text is selectedAdds selected code to Sixth chat
Focus Chat InputCtrl+'Cmd+'When no text is selectedFocuses the Sixth chat input field
Generate Commit Message(unset)(unset)When Git is the SCM providerAvailable through the Source Control view

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Available Commands for Custom Shortcuts

While Sixth has only a few default keyboard shortcuts, you can assign your own shortcuts to any of these commands:
Command IDDescription
sixth.openInNewTabOpens Sixth in a new editor tab
sixth.addToChatAdds selected code to Sixth chat
sixth.addTerminalOutputToChatAdds terminal output to Sixth
sixth.focusChatInputFocuses the Sixth chat input field
sixth.generateGitCommitMessageGenerates a commit message for staged changes
sixth.explainCodeExplains selected code
sixth.improveCodeSuggests improvements for selected code
sixth.fixWithSixthFixes code with errors
claude-dev.SidebarProvider.focusOpens and focuses the Sixth sidebar

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Customizing Keyboard Shortcuts

You can customize Sixth’s keyboard shortcuts to match your preferences:
  1. Open the Keyboard Shortcuts editor in VSCode:
    • Press Ctrl+K Ctrl+S (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+K Cmd+S (macOS)
    • Or go to File > Preferences > Keyboard Shortcuts
  2. Search for “Sixth” to see all available commands
  3. Click on the pencil icon next to any command to change its shortcut
  4. Press the keys you want to assign to that command
  5. Press Enter to save the new shortcut

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Suggested Custom Shortcuts

Here are some suggested shortcuts you might find useful:
ActionSuggested ShortcutCommand IDDescription
Open Sixth SidebarCtrl+Shift+C / Cmd+Shift+Cclaude-dev.SidebarProvider.focusOpens the Sixth sidebar panel
New TaskAlt+Nsixth.plusButtonClickedStarts a new Sixth task
Add Terminal to SixthAlt+Tsixth.addTerminalOutputToChatAdds terminal output to Sixth
Clear Current TaskAlt+C(Requires custom keybinding to UI action)Clears the current task

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Keyboard-Only Workflow

With the right shortcuts, you can use Sixth without ever touching the mouse:
  1. Select code with keyboard navigation (Shift+Arrow keys)
  2. Send to Sixth with Ctrl+' / Cmd+'
  3. Type your question and press Enter
  4. Review the response and apply suggestions

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Editor Integration Shortcuts

Sixth’s keyboard shortcuts integrate seamlessly with VSCode’s built-in shortcuts:
  • Use VSCode’s selection shortcuts (Ctrl+L / Cmd+L to select line, etc.) before sending code to Sixth
  • Combine with VSCode’s split editor shortcuts to view code and Sixth side by side
  • Use VSCode’s terminal focus shortcut (Ctrl+` / Cmd+`) before capturing terminal output

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Tips for Effective Use

  • Learn the default shortcut first: The Ctrl+' / Cmd+' shortcut is versatile - it adds selected code to chat when text is selected, or focuses the chat input when nothing is selected
  • Create muscle memory: Use keyboard shortcuts consistently to build habits
  • Customize for your workflow: Assign shortcuts to commands you use frequently
  • Consider ergonomics: Choose shortcuts that are comfortable for your keyboard layout
Keyboard shortcuts may seem like a small optimization, but they can significantly speed up your workflow when using Sixth regularly. By keeping your hands on the keyboard, you maintain your coding flow while still getting AI assistance exactly when you need it.

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How to Find All Available Commands

To see all Sixth commands that can be assigned shortcuts:
  1. Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P / Cmd+Shift+P)
  2. Type “Sixth” to filter the list
  3. Browse the available commands
Editor Integration Overview
This helps you discover features you might not have known about and assign shortcuts to the ones you use most frequently.