diff --git a/packages/tui/src/component/devtools-bar.tsx b/packages/tui/src/component/devtools-bar.tsx
index 3516287cc10..2702db1b06f 100644
--- a/packages/tui/src/component/devtools-bar.tsx
+++ b/packages/tui/src/component/devtools-bar.tsx
@@ -86,7 +86,15 @@ export function DevToolsBar() {
   const offEscape = keymap.intercept(
     "key",
     ({ event }) => {
-      if (!panel() || event.name !== "escape") return
+      if (!panel() || keymap.mode.current() !== "base") return
+      if (event.name !== "escape" && !(event.ctrl && event.name === "c")) return
+      if (renderer.getSelection()?.getSelectedText()) {
+        if ((config.data.terminal?.copy ?? (process.platform === "win32" ? "manual" : "select")) !== "select") return
+        renderer.clearSelection()
+        event.preventDefault()
+        event.stopPropagation()
+        return
+      }
       event.preventDefault()
       event.stopPropagation()
       close()
diff --git a/packages/tui/src/component/prompt/autocomplete.tsx b/packages/tui/src/component/prompt/autocomplete.tsx
index cba04456cd5..ad2b6027930 100644
--- a/packages/tui/src/component/prompt/autocomplete.tsx
+++ b/packages/tui/src/component/prompt/autocomplete.tsx
@@ -759,6 +759,14 @@ export function Autocomplete(props: {
           hide()
         },
       },
+      {
+        id: "prompt.clear",
+        title: "Dismiss autocomplete",
+        group: "Autocomplete",
+        run() {
+          hide(true)
+        },
+      },
       {
         id: "prompt.autocomplete.select",
         title: "Select autocomplete item",
diff --git a/packages/tui/src/component/prompt/index.tsx b/packages/tui/src/component/prompt/index.tsx
index d03ba13540b..d5efd847c7b 100644
--- a/packages/tui/src/component/prompt/index.tsx
+++ b/packages/tui/src/component/prompt/index.tsx
@@ -987,9 +987,19 @@ export function Prompt(props: PromptProps) {
 
   Keymap.createLayer(() => {
     return {
+      priority: 1,
       target: inputTarget,
       enabled: inputTarget() !== undefined && store.mode === "shell",
-      commands: [{ bind: "escape", title: "Exit shell mode", group: "Prompt", run: () => setStore("mode", "normal") }],
+      commands: [
+        { bind: "escape", title: "Exit shell mode", group: "Prompt", run: () => setStore("mode", "normal") },
+        {
+          bind: "ctrl+c",
+          title: "Exit shell mode",
+          group: "Prompt",
+          enabled: () => store.prompt.text === "",
+          run: () => setStore("mode", "normal"),
+        },
+      ],
     }
   })
 
diff --git a/packages/tui/src/component/session-tabs.tsx b/packages/tui/src/component/session-tabs.tsx
index cbc5d4e641d..7ebb70614e0 100644
--- a/packages/tui/src/component/session-tabs.tsx
+++ b/packages/tui/src/component/session-tabs.tsx
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ import { projectName } from "../util/project"
 import { marqueeCycleWidth, marqueeOverflows, marqueeTextParts } from "../util/marquee"
 import { useDialog } from "../ui/dialog"
 import { DialogSessionRename } from "./dialog-session-rename"
+import { Keymap } from "../context/keymap"
 
 // A long title fades out over its last cells instead of cutting hard.
 const FADE_WIDTH = 4
@@ -266,6 +267,11 @@ function TabContextMenu(props: { state: TabContextMenuState; tabs: SessionTabsCo
   const dimensions = useTerminalDimensions()
   const theme = useTheme("elevated")
   const dialog = useDialog()
+  onCleanup(Keymap.use().mode.push("menu"))
+  Keymap.createLayer(() => ({
+    mode: "menu",
+    commands: [{ bind: "escape,ctrl+c", title: "Close tab menu", group: "Tabs", run: props.onClose }],
+  }))
   const actions = createMemo(() => {
     const sessionID = props.state.sessionID
     return [
@@ -1050,7 +1056,12 @@ function HorizontalSessionTabs(props: { controller?: SessionTabsController; anim
     if (closeHold() && heldLayout()) {
       const current = untrack(motion.value)
       const seeded = changed
-        ? seedSessionTabMotion(previous.split(":"), layout().tabs.map((tab) => tab.sessionID), current, next)
+        ? seedSessionTabMotion(
+            previous.split(":"),
+            layout().tabs.map((tab) => tab.sessionID),
+            current,
+            next,
+          )
         : current
       if (!seeded) return motion.jump(next)
       motion.jump({ ...seeded, widths: next.widths })
diff --git a/packages/tui/src/feature-plugins/system/diff-viewer.tsx b/packages/tui/src/feature-plugins/system/diff-viewer.tsx
index b0090c9dae1..509d52f1b60 100644
--- a/packages/tui/src/feature-plugins/system/diff-viewer.tsx
+++ b/packages/tui/src/feature-plugins/system/diff-viewer.tsx
@@ -423,6 +423,12 @@ function DiffViewer(props: { context: Plugin.Context }) {
       group: "VCS",
       run: close,
     },
+    {
+      id: "app.exit",
+      title: "Close diff viewer",
+      group: "VCS",
+      run: close,
+    },
     {
       id: "diff.down",
       title: "Move diff viewer down",
diff --git a/packages/tui/src/routes/session/composer/index.tsx b/packages/tui/src/routes/session/composer/index.tsx
index 04fbf59330d..f773668b1bc 100644
--- a/packages/tui/src/routes/session/composer/index.tsx
+++ b/packages/tui/src/routes/session/composer/index.tsx
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ export function Composer(props: ComposerProps) {
       { bind: "left", title: "Previous tab", group: "Composer", run: () => switchTab(-1) },
       { bind: "right", title: "Next tab", group: "Composer", run: () => switchTab(1) },
       { bind: "escape", title: "Close composer", group: "Composer", run: close },
+      { bind: "ctrl+c", title: "Close composer", group: "Composer", run: close },
     ],
   }))
 
diff --git a/packages/tui/src/routes/session/composer/subagents-tab.tsx b/packages/tui/src/routes/session/composer/subagents-tab.tsx
index afb6a7b0965..b9e69557fd8 100644
--- a/packages/tui/src/routes/session/composer/subagents-tab.tsx
+++ b/packages/tui/src/routes/session/composer/subagents-tab.tsx
@@ -126,10 +126,6 @@ export function SubagentsTab(props: { sessionID: string }) {
           },
         ]
       },
-      onClose: () => {
-        const parentID = session()?.parentID
-        if (parentID) navigate({ type: "session", sessionID: parentID })
-      },
     })
     onCleanup(cleanup)
   })
diff --git a/packages/tui/src/routes/session/form.tsx b/packages/tui/src/routes/session/form.tsx
index de93cfb4bd8..2e45791a682 100644
--- a/packages/tui/src/routes/session/form.tsx
+++ b/packages/tui/src/routes/session/form.tsx
@@ -540,6 +540,10 @@ export function FormPrompt(props: { form: FormWithLocation }) {
         run() {
           const text = textarea?.plainText ?? ""
           if (!text) {
+            if (textual()) {
+              cancel()
+              return
+            }
             setStore("editing", false)
             return
           }
diff --git a/packages/tui/src/routes/session/index.tsx b/packages/tui/src/routes/session/index.tsx
index cef7f18a005..564ab55be6b 100644
--- a/packages/tui/src/routes/session/index.tsx
+++ b/packages/tui/src/routes/session/index.tsx
@@ -242,6 +242,11 @@ export function Session(props: { verticalTabsWidth: number }) {
     if (sidebar() === "auto" && wide()) return true
     return false
   })
+  Keymap.createLayer(() => ({
+    priority: 10,
+    enabled: () => sidebarOpen() && !wide() && !disabled(),
+    commands: [{ bind: "escape,ctrl+c", title: "Close sidebar", group: "Session", run: () => setSidebarOpen(false) }],
+  }))
   const contentWidth = createMemo(() => availableWidth() - (sidebarVisible() ? 42 : 0) - 4)
   const models = createMemo(() => data.location.model.list(location()) ?? [])
 
@@ -1294,7 +1299,14 @@ export function Session(props: { verticalTabsWidth: number }) {
                 sessionID={route.sessionID}
                 open={composer.open || (!!session()?.parentID && forms().length === 0)}
                 defaultTab={composer.tab ?? (session()?.parentID ? "subagents" : undefined)}
-                onClose={() => setComposer("open", false)}
+                onClose={() => {
+                  const parent = session()?.parentID
+                  if (parent) {
+                    navigate({ type: "session", sessionID: parent })
+                    return
+                  }
+                  setComposer("open", false)
+                }}
               />
               <Switch>
                 <Match when={composer.open || (!!session()?.parentID && forms().length === 0)}>{null}</Match>
diff --git a/packages/tui/src/routes/session/permission.tsx b/packages/tui/src/routes/session/permission.tsx
index a4ef6e3cf08..4b46d829bfd 100644
--- a/packages/tui/src/routes/session/permission.tsx
+++ b/packages/tui/src/routes/session/permission.tsx
@@ -299,7 +299,11 @@ function RejectPrompt(props: {
         id: "app.exit",
         title: "Cancel permission rejection",
         group: "Permission",
-        run() {
+        run(_input, event) {
+          if (event?.ctrl && event.name === "c" && input.plainText) {
+            input.setText("")
+            return
+          }
           props.onCancel()
         },
       },
@@ -436,6 +440,13 @@ export function SessionQuestion<const T extends Record<string, string>>(props: {
   const shortcuts = Keymap.useShortcuts()
   const id = () => props.id ?? "session.permission"
   const group = () => props.group ?? "Permission"
+  const dismiss = () => {
+    if (store.expanded) {
+      setStore("expanded", false)
+      return
+    }
+    if (props.escapeKey) props.onSelect(props.escapeKey)
+  }
 
   Keymap.createLayer(() => ({
     mode: "base",
@@ -447,7 +458,7 @@ export function SessionQuestion<const T extends Record<string, string>>(props: {
               title: "Reject permission",
               group: group(),
               bind: false as const,
-              run: () => props.onSelect(props.escapeKey!),
+              run: dismiss,
             },
           ]
         : []),
@@ -490,9 +501,7 @@ export function SessionQuestion<const T extends Record<string, string>>(props: {
         group: group(),
         run: () => props.onSelect(store.selected),
       },
-      ...(props.escapeKey
-        ? [{ bind: "escape", title: "Reject permission", group: group(), run: () => props.onSelect(props.escapeKey!) }]
-        : []),
+      ...(props.escapeKey ? [{ bind: "escape", title: "Reject permission", group: group(), run: dismiss }] : []),
     ],
     bindings: [...(props.escapeKey ? ["app.exit"] : []), ...(props.fullscreen ? ["permission.prompt.fullscreen"] : [])],
   }))
diff --git a/packages/tui/src/ui/dialog.tsx b/packages/tui/src/ui/dialog.tsx
index 4abe30e1b2b..4dae6fff822 100644
--- a/packages/tui/src/ui/dialog.tsx
+++ b/packages/tui/src/ui/dialog.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { useRenderer, useTerminalDimensions } from "@opentui/solid"
 import { batch, createContext, createEffect, onCleanup, Show, useContext, type JSX, type ParentProps } from "solid-js"
 import { Keymap } from "../context/keymap"
 import { useTheme } from "../context/theme"
-import { MouseButton, Renderable, RGBA } from "@opentui/core"
+import { InputRenderable, MouseButton, Renderable, RGBA } from "@opentui/core"
 import { createStore } from "solid-js/store"
 import { useToast } from "./toast"
 import { useClipboard } from "../context/clipboard"
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ function init() {
 
   Keymap.createLayer(() => ({
     mode: "modal",
-    enabled: store.stack.length > 0 && !renderer.getSelection()?.getSelectedText(),
+    enabled: store.stack.length > 0,
     commands: [
       {
         bind: "escape",
@@ -121,6 +121,7 @@ function init() {
         run: () => {
           if (renderer.getSelection()) {
             renderer.clearSelection()
+            return
           }
           const current = store.stack.at(-1)
           current?.onClose?.()
@@ -135,6 +136,13 @@ function init() {
         run: () => {
           if (renderer.getSelection()) {
             renderer.clearSelection()
+            return
+          }
+          const editor = renderer.currentFocusedEditor
+          if (editor?.plainText) {
+            if (editor instanceof InputRenderable) editor.value = ""
+            else editor.setText("")
+            return
           }
           const current = store.stack.at(-1)
           current?.onClose?.()
@@ -225,7 +233,9 @@ export function DialogProvider(props: ParentProps) {
           evt.preventDefault()
           evt.stopPropagation()
         }}
-        onMouseUp={copyOnSelectEnabled() ? (event) => copyOnSelectRelease(event, renderer, toast, clipboard) : undefined}
+        onMouseUp={
+          copyOnSelectEnabled() ? (event) => copyOnSelectRelease(event, renderer, toast, clipboard) : undefined
+        }
       >
         <Show when={value.stack.length}>
           <Dialog onClose={() => value.clear()} size={value.size} centered={value.centered}>
diff --git a/packages/tui/test/app-lifecycle.test.tsx b/packages/tui/test/app-lifecycle.test.tsx
index a71d94ce42b..9a7e7f0b0f7 100644
--- a/packages/tui/test/app-lifecycle.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/tui/test/app-lifecycle.test.tsx
@@ -636,3 +636,48 @@ test("configured app bindings execute settings and permission commands", async (
     await server.stop()
   }
 })
+
+test("ctrl+c dismisses autocomplete and shell mode before exiting", async () => {
+  const setup = await createTestRenderer({ width: 100, height: 30, useThread: false, kittyKeyboard: true })
+  setup.renderer.start()
+  const ready = Promise.withResolvers<void>()
+  const events = createEventStream()
+  const calls = createFetch(undefined, events)
+  const server = Bun.serve({ port: 0, fetch: (request) => calls.fetch(request) })
+
+  try {
+    const { run } = await import("../src/app")
+    const task = Effect.runPromise(
+      run({
+        app: { name: "test", version: "test", channel: "test" },
+        server: { endpoint: { url: server.url.toString() } },
+        config: { get: async () => ({ animations: false }), update: async () => ({}) },
+        packages: { resolve: async () => undefined },
+        args: {},
+        terminalHandoff: async () => ({ renderer: setup.renderer, mode: "dark", complete: ready.resolve }),
+        log: () => {},
+      }).pipe(Effect.provide(AppNodeBuilder.build(Global.node)), Effect.provide(FileSystem.layerNoop({}))),
+    )
+
+    await ready.promise
+    await setup.waitForFrame((frame) => frame.includes("commands"))
+    await setup.mockInput.typeText("/theme")
+    await setup.waitForFrame((frame) => frame.includes("Switch theme"))
+
+    setup.mockInput.pressKey("c", { ctrl: true })
+    await setup.waitForFrame((frame) => !frame.includes("Switch theme"))
+    expect(setup.renderer.isDestroyed).toBe(false)
+
+    await setup.mockInput.typeText("!")
+    await setup.waitForFrame((frame) => frame.includes("Shell"))
+    setup.mockInput.pressKey("c", { ctrl: true })
+    await setup.waitForFrame((frame) => !frame.includes("Shell"))
+    expect(setup.renderer.isDestroyed).toBe(false)
+
+    setup.renderer.destroy()
+    await task
+  } finally {
+    if (!setup.renderer.isDestroyed) setup.renderer.destroy()
+    await server.stop()
+  }
+})
diff --git a/packages/tui/test/cli/tui/composer-keymap.test.tsx b/packages/tui/test/cli/tui/composer-keymap.test.tsx
index 0e00ef2ba60..88a2381aac5 100644
--- a/packages/tui/test/cli/tui/composer-keymap.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/tui/test/cli/tui/composer-keymap.test.tsx
@@ -187,6 +187,17 @@ test("configured composer bindings work with a focused textarea", async () => {
   }
 })
 
+test("ctrl+c closes the active composer", async () => {
+  const composer = await renderComposer("shell", {})
+
+  try {
+    composer.app.mockInput.pressKey("c", { ctrl: true })
+    await composer.app.waitFor(() => composer.closed() === 1)
+  } finally {
+    composer.app.renderer.destroy()
+  }
+})
+
 function session(id: string, title: string, parentID?: string) {
   return {
     id,
diff --git a/packages/tui/test/cli/tui/dialog-select.test.tsx b/packages/tui/test/cli/tui/dialog-select.test.tsx
index 54275bacdf5..aa7f54ea681 100644
--- a/packages/tui/test/cli/tui/dialog-select.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/tui/test/cli/tui/dialog-select.test.tsx
@@ -163,6 +163,48 @@ test("budgets option content for constrained and full-width large dialogs", () =
   expect(dialogSelectContentWidth(Math.min(dialogWidth("large"), 100 - 2)) - 7).toBe(69)
 })
 
+test("ctrl+c clears a dialog filter before closing the dialog", async () => {
+  await using tmp = await tmpdir()
+  const select = await mountSelect(tmp.path, [{ title: "Alpha", value: "alpha" }])
+
+  try {
+    await select.app.mockInput.typeText("alpha")
+    await select.app.waitFor(() => select.app.renderer.currentFocusedEditor?.plainText === "alpha")
+
+    select.app.mockInput.pressKey("c", { ctrl: true })
+    await select.app.waitFor(() => select.app.renderer.currentFocusedEditor?.plainText === "")
+    expect(select.app.captureCharFrame()).toContain("Mutable options")
+
+    select.app.mockInput.pressKey("c", { ctrl: true })
+    await select.app.waitForFrame((frame) => !frame.includes("Mutable options"))
+  } finally {
+    select.app.renderer.destroy()
+  }
+})
+
+test("ctrl+c clears a dialog text selection before closing the dialog", async () => {
+  await using tmp = await tmpdir()
+  const select = await mountSelect(tmp.path, [{ title: "Alpha", value: "alpha" }])
+
+  try {
+    const frame = select.app.captureCharFrame().split("\n")
+    const row = frame.findIndex((line) => line.includes("Alpha"))
+    const column = frame[row]!.indexOf("Alpha") + 1
+    await select.app.mockMouse.click(column, row)
+    await select.app.mockMouse.click(column, row)
+    expect(select.app.renderer.getSelection()?.getSelectedText()).toBe("Alpha")
+
+    select.app.mockInput.pressKey("c", { ctrl: true })
+    await select.app.waitFor(() => !select.app.renderer.getSelection())
+    expect(select.app.captureCharFrame()).toContain("Mutable options")
+
+    select.app.mockInput.pressKey("c", { ctrl: true })
+    await select.app.waitForFrame((frame) => !frame.includes("Mutable options"))
+  } finally {
+    select.app.renderer.destroy()
+  }
+})
+
 test("renders the complete truncated footer within the option row", async () => {
   await using tmp = await tmpdir()
   const title = "Project"
diff --git a/packages/tui/test/cli/tui/diff-viewer.test.tsx b/packages/tui/test/cli/tui/diff-viewer.test.tsx
index 426478f2bbc..7090a663c79 100644
--- a/packages/tui/test/cli/tui/diff-viewer.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/tui/test/cli/tui/diff-viewer.test.tsx
@@ -49,6 +49,18 @@ test("closing the diff viewer returns to the route it opened from", async () =>
   }
 })
 
+test("ctrl+c closes the diff viewer without exiting the application", async () => {
+  const viewer = await renderDiffViewer([])
+
+  try {
+    viewer.app.mockInput.pressKey("c", { ctrl: true })
+    await viewer.app.waitFor(() => viewer.current().type !== "plugin")
+    expect(viewer.current()).toEqual(startRoute)
+  } finally {
+    viewer.app.renderer.destroy()
+  }
+})
+
 test("shows an error instead of an empty diff when loading fails", async () => {
   const viewer = await renderDiffViewer([], { fail: true })
   try {
diff --git a/packages/tui/test/cli/tui/form.test.tsx b/packages/tui/test/cli/tui/form.test.tsx
index 4c762f9c9b5..0bc08b69970 100644
--- a/packages/tui/test/cli/tui/form.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/tui/test/cli/tui/form.test.tsx
@@ -606,6 +606,25 @@ test("text fields retain default paste behavior", async () => {
   }
 })
 
+test("ctrl+c clears a text field before cancelling its form", async () => {
+  await using tmp = await tmpdir()
+  const prompt = await mountForm(tmp.path, 80, [{ key: "notes", type: "string" }])
+
+  try {
+    await prompt.app.mockInput.typeText("draft answer")
+    await prompt.app.waitFor(() => prompt.app.renderer.currentFocusedEditor?.plainText === "draft answer")
+
+    prompt.app.mockInput.pressKey("c", { ctrl: true })
+    await prompt.app.waitFor(() => prompt.app.renderer.currentFocusedEditor?.plainText === "")
+    expect(prompt.cancellations).toEqual([])
+
+    prompt.app.mockInput.pressKey("c", { ctrl: true })
+    await prompt.app.waitFor(() => prompt.cancellations.length === 1)
+  } finally {
+    prompt.app.renderer.destroy()
+  }
+})
+
 test("pasting on a choice without custom answers does not open an editor", async () => {
   await using tmp = await tmpdir()
   const prompt = await mountForm(tmp.path, 80, [
diff --git a/packages/tui/test/component/session-tabs-mouse.test.tsx b/packages/tui/test/component/session-tabs-mouse.test.tsx
index e8206b0a270..51ba6ccabf0 100644
--- a/packages/tui/test/component/session-tabs-mouse.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/tui/test/component/session-tabs-mouse.test.tsx
@@ -108,7 +108,9 @@ test("the tab context menu keeps preview tabs open without offering promotion fo
     await app.waitForFrame((frame) => frame.includes("Rename"))
     expect(app.captureCharFrame()).not.toContain("Keep open")
 
-    await app.mockMouse.click(5, 0)
+    app.mockInput.pressKey("c", { ctrl: true })
+    await app.waitForFrame((frame) => !frame.includes("Rename"))
+
     await app.mockMouse.click(40, 0, MouseButton.RIGHT)
     await app.waitForFrame((frame) => frame.includes("Keep open"))
     const frame = app.captureCharFrame().split("\n")