Guiding the Conversation

When working with Claude Code on complex tasks, it is easy for the conversation to drift or become cluttered. In this lesson, we learn how to take control of the conversation flow and context to keep Claude focused and productive. This includes techniques for interrupting or rewinding the session when Claude goes off track, as well as commands to summarize or reset the conversation history. We explore how to use the “Escape” key to pause or rewind a response, and how to combine “Escape” with memory additions to teach Claude new instructions. We also learn how to use context-management commands like /compact to condense the conversation and /clear to start fresh, as well as when to apply each of these strategies for best results.

How does “Escape” work in Claude Code?

Sometimes, Claude might start heading in the wrong direction or attempt to tackle too much at once. In such cases, you can interrupt Claude’s response by pressing “Escape.” Pressing “Escape” immediately stops Claude mid-response (without quitting the session) and preserves all conversation up until that point. This allows you to clarify your request or break the task into smaller parts before Claude proceeds. For example, if you asked Claude Code to write tests for multiple functions and it started generating a comprehensive plan for all of them, press “Escape,” then ask it to focus on one function at a time. This redirects the conversation to a specific task instead of letting Claude continue down an unproductive path.

Note: In Claude Code’s terminal interface, do not use “Ctrl+C” to stop a response as this exits the session. To pause output, press “Escape” once.

Claude Code can also rewind the conversation if it has gone off track or collected too much irrelevant context. Press “Escape” twice to bring up a list of your previous messages and return to an earlier point in the conversation. In practice, you ...