Claude Code /btw Gets a "c to Copy" Shortcut: Preserve Markdown Formatting in One Keystroke
Claude CodeClaude Code's /btw command, which lets developers ask quick side questions without polluting conversation history, now includes a "c to copy" keyboard shortcut that copies the raw markdown answer directly to the clipboard. The shortcut preserves markdown formatting, making it easy to paste /btw responses into documentation, pull request descriptions, or any other context where formatted text matters. This small but practical addition closes a common workflow gap: users no longer need to manually select and copy text from the overlay panel.
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A New Keyboard Shortcut for the /btw Command
Claude Code's /btw command has become one of the tool's most-loved productivity features since its introduction in March 2026. The command allows developers to ask side questions while a task is still running: the answer appears in an overlay, the main task keeps going, and the question never enters the conversation history. Version 2.1.163 adds a small but immediately useful enhancement: pressing "c" while viewing a /btw response copies the raw markdown content to the clipboard.
Why Markdown Preservation Matters
Without this shortcut, copying from the /btw overlay involved manually selecting text, a process that sometimes stripped markdown formatting. The raw markdown copy mode ensures that headers, bold text, code blocks, and bullet lists all survive the clipboard journey intact. Developers who use /btw to generate quick summaries, command snippets, or documentation fragments can now paste that content directly into a pull request description, a Slack message, or a README without reformatting.
How to Use It
The workflow is simple:
- Type
/btwfollowed by a question while Claude Code is processing a task - Read the answer in the overlay panel
- Press
cto copy the raw markdown to the clipboard - Paste anywhere markdown is rendered
The shortcut sits alongside the existing interaction model: the main task continues uninterrupted, and the copied content is available immediately without needing to wait for the primary response to finish.
Context: What /btw Is
Launched by Erik Schluntz on the Claude Code team and announced on March 11, 2026, /btw drew over 2.2 million views on X when Thariq Shihipar (Claude Code lead) shared it. The command fills a gap that had frustrated developers: asking a quick clarifying question mid-task previously required canceling the response, asking the question, and re-prompting, adding tokens and breaking flow. The new "c to copy" shortcut builds on that foundation, making the answers produced by /btw more reusable.