When a test output or a stack trace is hundreds of lines long, these shortcuts let you scroll through the terminal buffer without touching your mouse scroll wheel. How to Customize Terminal Shortcuts in PHPStorm
: Press Alt + F12 (Windows/Linux) or ⌥ + F12 (macOS) again, or press Esc to return focus to the editor while keeping the terminal open.
In this article, we'll explore the world of PhpStorm terminal shortcuts, focusing on how to access and utilize them from the top of the IDE. We'll cover the benefits of using terminal shortcuts, provide a comprehensive list of available shortcuts, and offer tips and tricks for customizing and mastering these powerful tools.
Once you've accessed the terminal, you can use the following shortcuts to navigate and interact with the terminal:
(macOS). This command toggles the terminal window open and closed, moving your focus instantly between your code and the command line. Quick Terminal Shortcuts Toggle/Focus Terminal (Win/Linux) or New Terminal Tab Ctrl + Shift + T (Win/Linux) or (Win/Linux) or Switch Tabs Alt + Right/Left Arrow (Win/Linux) or ⌘ + Shift + ] / [ Return Focus to Editor The Terminal Ghost phpstorm terminal shortcut top
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If Alt+F12 feels awkward or conflicts with your window manager, change it:
This is the undisputed command because it solves the primary problem: accessibility.
This will dock the terminal at the top of your workspace instead of the bottom. Customizing Shortcuts When a test output or a stack trace
: Ctrl + Shift + F12 (Windows/Linux) or ⌘ ⇧ F12 (macOS). This hides the terminal and all other sidebars to bring you back to a clean code editor.
Spend one full day forcing yourself to use only Alt+F12 to open the terminal. Every time your hand moves toward the mouse, stop. Use the shortcut. By day two, it will be muscle memory. Then add one new shortcut from this list each week.
| Action | Windows / Linux | macOS | |--------|----------------|-------| | | Alt+F12 | Option+F12 |
Quick reference (recommended):
PHPStorm uses your operating system's default shell by default (PowerShell/CMD on Windows, Zsh/Bash on macOS and Linux). You can upgrade your terminal experience by changing the path to a custom shell like Git Bash, WSL, or Oh My Zsh under . If you want to customize your environment further, tell me: What operating system do you use? Which shell do you prefer (Git Bash, Zsh, WSL)?
: Ctrl + Shift + T (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Shift + T (macOS)
Shortcuts conflict with OS or shell (e.g., Ctrl + L clears screen but also triggers IDE action). Solution: In Settings > Keymap , right-click the shortcut → “Remove Ctrl + L ” for IDE actions, or change shell binding.
If the default PHPStorm terminal shortcuts conflict with your operating system or personal preferences, you can easily change them: We'll cover the benefits of using terminal shortcuts,