Keyboard Shortcut to Clear Terminal in VS Code
Learn how to quickly clear the VS Code integrated terminal using keyboard shortcuts. This guide covers built-in methods, custom bindings, cross-platform tips, and troubleshooting for faster workflows.
There isn't a universal built-in keyboard shortcut to clear the terminal in VS Code. The recommended approach is to use the Command Palette: Terminal: Clear, or bind a custom keybinding to the command workbench.action.terminal.clear. Shortcuts can vary by platform, so many users adopt a personal binding for speed. This Shortcuts Lib guide covers setup and cross‑platform considerations.
Understanding the Terminal Clear Action in VS Code
Clearing the integrated terminal is a frequent housekeeping step in VS Code. The terminal is a persistent shell session inside your editor window, and a clean slate helps you focus on new output without distractions. There is no universal default keyboard shortcut across all platforms; instead, you can rely on the Command Palette to execute Terminal: Clear, or bind a keyboard shortcut to the underlying command workbench.action.terminal.clear. This section shows how to perform the action using built‑in features and practical shell workarounds.
# VS Code approach: open the Command Palette and run Terminal: Clear
# 1) Windows/Linux: Ctrl+Shift+P
# 2) macOS: Cmd+Shift+P
# 3) Type 'Terminal: Clear' and press Enter// Example keybinding (custom) to clear the terminal when focused
{
"key": "ctrl+shift+c",
"command": "workbench.action.terminal.clear",
"when": "terminalFocus"
}# Shell-level clearing inside the integrated terminal
clearWindows-specific alternative: in PowerShell, you can clear the screen using a host command:
Clear-HostBreakdown:
- What happens: VS Code sends a clear screen sequence to the active integrated terminal. This usually clears the visible scrollback but does not terminate the session.
- When to use: Ensure the terminal has focus before triggering the command to avoid running in the wrong pane.
- Variations: You can bind to different keys, or customize the binding via keybindings.json for a personalized setup.
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Steps
Estimated time: 15-25 minutes
- 1
Identify the need to clear
Acknowledge that a cluttered terminal scrollback slows reading. Decide whether you need a full clear of the visible area or just to reset the current session's display. This helps determine whether to use Terminal: Clear or a shell command.
Tip: Clarify whether you want to clear only the view or also reset the actual terminal state. - 2
Open keyboard shortcuts or Command Palette
Open VS Code and access either the Command Palette or Keyboard Shortcuts editor. This is your path to triggering Terminal: Clear without memorizing a hostile combo.
Tip: Familiarize yourself with Command Palette first to reduce binding conflicts. - 3
Bind a dedicated shortcut (optional)
Create a personal binding to workbench.action.terminal.clear in keybindings.json. Choose a combination that doesn’t clash with your shell or editor shortcuts.
Tip: Choose a combination you use frequently in daily workflows. - 4
Test in a real session
Open a terminal, generate some output, and press your new shortcut. Confirm that the terminal clears and that focus remains in the terminal for subsequent commands.
Tip: If it doesn’t work, check focus condition (terminalFocus) in the binding. - 5
Document and reuse
Document your shortcut in a project wiki or personal notes. Reuse across projects to maintain consistency and speed.
Tip: Consider sharing your binding with teammates for a cohesive setup.
Prerequisites
Required
- Required
- Basic keyboard familiarityRequired
Optional
- Optional
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Clear terminal (default not bound)No universal default. Use Command Palette (Terminal: Clear) or bind a keybinding. | none (no default keybinding) |
| Bind a shortcut (recommended)Add to keybindings.json to create a quick access shortcut. | Ctrl+K, Ctrl+L |
Questions & Answers
What does Terminal: Clear actually do in VS Code?
Terminal: Clear sends a clear screen signal to the active integrated terminal. It removes visible scrollback but does not terminate the shell session or delete history within the shell itself. This makes it a quick way to start fresh without restarting the terminal.
Terminal: Clear clears your screen without closing the session, so you can keep working without losing your place in a shell history.
Is there a default keyboard shortcut for clearing the terminal in VS Code?
There is no universal default shortcut for Terminal: Clear across all platforms. You can use the Command Palette to run Terminal: Clear, or define a custom keybinding through keybindings.json.
There isn’t a built-in universal shortcut; you can set your own binding or use the Command Palette.
How do I bind a custom shortcut for Terminal: Clear on Windows and macOS?
Open File > Preferences > Keyboard Shortcuts (or press Ctrl+K Ctrl+S), search for Terminal: Clear, and bind a new key combination. The command id to bind is workbench.action.terminal.clear and you can scope it to terminalFocus.
Create a dedicated key combination in the keyboard shortcuts settings to clear the terminal when it has focus.
Will clearing the terminal remove my command history?
Clearing the terminal screen typically clears the visible scrollback, not the shell history. Your command history remains accessible via the shell (e.g., up-arrow) unless the shell session is closed.
Clearing the screen removes the viewport, not the history stored by the shell.
Can I clear all terminals or just the active one?
VS Code provides a per-terminal clear action; some commands may clear all terminals, but the standard behavior clears only the active terminal. Check the command reference for your exact VS Code version.
It usually clears the active terminal; for multiple terminals, you may need to run the command in each one.
How do I revert to the default keybindings after customizing?
Open Keyboard Shortcuts, click the gear icon for the binding, and choose 'Reset Keybinding' to restore the default behavior. You can also delete the custom entry from keybindings.json.
Reset any custom binding from the keyboard shortcuts menu to return to the original defaults.
Main Points
- No universal default exists for clearing terminal in VS Code
- Use Command Palette or a custom keybinding for Terminal: Clear
- Bind a keyboard shortcut using workbench.action.terminal.clear
- Test focus before triggering the binding for reliability