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Alt+Backspace deletion by word is not working #69
Description
Describe the bug
In other CLI, Alt+Backspace in Ubuntu will perform word-by-word deletion. This is crucial because should there are many lines to be removed, it provides a quick way to remove these sentences.
Affected version
0.0.327 Commit: 0cbec74
Steps to reproduce the behavior
- Launch
copilotin Ubuntu WSL environment. - Type a very long sentence.
- Press Alt+Backspace, verify nothing happens.
Expected behavior
- Every Alt+Backspace will perform the word-by-word deletion.
Additional context
Ubuntu hosted by Windows 11 WSL2
x64 CPU
bash shell
Activity
SteveSandersonMS commentedon Sep 26, 2025
Thanks for suggesting this. It's a popular suggestion! Related: #45 #38
jayenashar commentedon Jan 15, 2026
Alt+Backspace in copilot-cli is working on my linux, but it's deleting words in the wrong direction. e.g.
if the words are:
first secondand the cursor is in the middle, alt+backspace in copilot-cli deletes
secondwhen it should deletefirst(as it does in bash, claude, codex, and every other tool i've tried)tkapin commentedon Jan 25, 2026
I was just looking to add a feature request for
Ctrl + Backspacedeleting the word backwards so it's consistent with many Windows apps behavior, only to learn some users would preferAlt + Backspace.jayenashar commentedon Jan 26, 2026
looks like it's a linux/terminal v windows/microsoft thing. no reason not to support both.
austindonnelly commentedon Feb 9, 2026
I've also just bumped into this bug/feature request.
Windows Terminal 1.23.20211.0
Copilot CLI 0.0.406
I'd like Alt+Backspace to delete a word to the left.
MelnykDmytroIF commentedon Feb 20, 2026
Same on MacOS/WebStorm console
tuomastik commentedon Feb 26, 2026
Version 0.0.417 fixed the issue. Its release notes say "Alt+backspace correctly registers as backspace instead of delete".
austindonnelly commentedon Feb 27, 2026
Fixed for me now, in v0.0.419
stephentoub commentedon Apr 6, 2026
Closing as fixed. Thanks.