Mistral Vibe: Vim Normal and Insert Modes in the Prompt Input
Mistral VibeMistral Vibe added Vim Normal and Insert modes to the prompt input. The modes are switched on with the vim_keybindings config option. Developers who edit in Vim can now compose prompts with familiar modal editing inside the terminal.
Key Takeaways
- Mistral Vibe's prompt input now supports Vim Normal and Insert modes.
- The behavior is enabled through the
vim_keybindingsconfig option. - The feature is opt-in, so default input behavior does not change.
- It targets long, multi-line prompts that benefit from modal editing.
- It shipped in Mistral Vibe 3.1.1 on 2026-11-09.
- It brings the prompt box closer to the editing habits of terminal-native developers.
Modal editing in the prompt
Mistral Vibe 3.1.1 added Vim Normal and Insert modes to the prompt input. Users who think in Vim motions can move around and edit a long prompt without reaching for the mouse or non-modal shortcuts.
How to enable it
The feature is opt-in. It is turned on with the vim_keybindings config option, so existing users keep their current input behavior until they choose otherwise.
Why it matters
Prompts to coding agents are often multi-line and detailed. Modal editing makes that kind of text easier to revise for people who already use Vim in their editor or shell.