---
title: "Ctrl+C Exit Behavior"
description: "Ctrl+C operates on two levels:"
type: skill
canonical_url: https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/ctrl-c-behavior
source: "Claudary"
difficulty: intermediate
author: "Claude Code Knowledge Pack"
date: 2026-07-10T11:19:12.064Z
license: CC-BY-4.0
attribution: "Ctrl+C Exit Behavior — Claudary (https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/ctrl-c-behavior)"
---

# Ctrl+C Exit Behavior
Ctrl+C operates on two levels:

## Overview

# Ctrl+C Exit Behavior

## Overview

Ctrl+C operates on two levels:

1. **Menus/Selectors**: Immediate cancellation and return to previous state
2. **Main Application**: Two-stage exit requiring double Ctrl+C within 1 second

## Two-Stage Exit (Main Application)

### First Ctrl+C

- Shows temporary status message "ctrl+c to exit" in bottom-left status bar
- Message automatically disappears after 1 second
- Clears any text in the input field (if focused)
- Does **not** exit the application

### Second Ctrl+C (within 1 second)

- Exits the application immediately
- Performs graceful shutdown

### Second Ctrl+C (after 1 second)

- Treated as a new "first Ctrl+C"
- Shows exit message again
- User must press Ctrl+C twice within 1 second window to actually exit

## Menu/Selector Cancellation

Ctrl+C immediately cancels and returns to the previous state in all interactive menus and selectors.

---

Source: [Claudary](https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/ctrl-c-behavior) · https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com