Feature request: Hit `Alt+V` to paste image from Clipboard

[doggy8088]

Describe the feature or problem you'd like to solve

It is not very convenient to paste an image from the clipboard in TUI

Proposed solution

In Claude Code, even on Windows, there is a keyboard shortcut "Alt+V" that allows users to paste an image from the clipboard. This feature is incredibly convenient and greatly enhances the developer experience.

I wish the Copilot CLI could have that feature too.

Example prompts or workflows

1. Run copilot
2. Hit Alt-V to paste image from user's clipboard

Additional context

N/A

[thawkins]

This would be great, I struggle to get screenshots into the agent, and this would make debugging to and fro with the cli so much easier.

[SidStraw]

I usually use a Mac with iTerm2.
When using Claude Code, I can paste images with Ctrl+V.
The GitHub Copilot CLI does not respond to this, which has indeed caused some inconvenience.
I hope this feature can be implemented.

[doggy8088]

The Claude Code also supports Windows Terminal when users press Alt-V to paste images.

[MRayermannMSFT]

Hi @doggy8088 , @thawkins , @SidStraw , and any other followers of this issue. The requested feature should now be available in CLI 0.0.362.

All of the following now results in an image being attached to your prompt:

• Copy & paste image data
  • On Windows and Linux use alt+v
  • On macOS use ctrl+v
• Drag and drop image file
• Copy & paste (normal keyboard shortcuts) image file (does not currently work with Finder on macOS)
• Copy & paste (normal keyboard shortcuts) path to image file

Please leave a comment here if you have any problems with these features. Thanks!

[thawkins]

This is close

Env: Fedora 43 Linux running Gnome 49

If I hit the "PrtSc" key, the GNOME screencapture tool pops up. I can select an area and hit capture.

If I click into the copilot-cli input line and hit Ctrl-Shift-V, nothing happens.

If I open Gimp and do the same Ctrl-Shift-V, it inserts the image data.

If I find the screenshot in ~/Pictures/Screenshots, right-click it, copy it, and paste it into the copilot-cli, it works.

What is the problem? In one case, the clipboard contains a file reference; in the other, the clipboard contains the actual image data.

Obviously, the PrtScr -> Paste workflow is the shortest and best.

[MRayermannMSFT]

If I hit the "PrtSc" key, the GNOME screencapture tool pops up. I can select an area and hit capture.

If I click into the copilot-cli input line and hit Ctrl-Shift-V, nothing happens.

Can you try doing alt+v in this case? Curious if that will work.

What is the problem? In one case, the clipboard contains a file reference; in the other, the clipboard contains the actual image data.

When the clipboard contains image data, the alt+v shortcut is currently required.

[thawkins]

If I hit the "PrtSc" key, the GNOME screencapture tool pops up. I can select an area and hit capture.
If I click into the copilot-cli input line and hit Ctrl-Shift-V, nothing happens.

Can you try doing alt+v in this case? Curious if that will work.

What is the problem? In one case, the clipboard contains a file reference; in the other, the clipboard contains the actual image data.

When the clipboard contains image data, the alt+v shortcut is currently required.

This works fine and considerably speeds up my workflow for anything that uses screenshots. Sorry for the confusion; I have been using Ctrl-Shift-V for paste. This is actually easier. Thank you very much, guys.

[MRayermannMSFT]

This works fine and considerably speeds up my workflow for anything that uses screenshots. Sorry for the confusion;

Absolutely no worries. I appreciate you taking the time to work through it.

I have been using Ctrl-Shift-V for paste. This is actually easier. Thank you very much, guys.

What would your thoughts be on having Ctrl-Shift-V just work regardless of scenario? Like, if you put plain text on the clipboard we'll paste the text or if you put an image we'll paste the image.

Frankly, I think it'd be great if we can get ourselves down to having your OS/shell's paste shorcut work for every paste type. But it seems like you might be expressing a different sentiment? Let me know if I'm reading your words right/wrong. :)

[thawkins]

It would certainly help if it worked with Ctrl-Shift-V, since it's a standard. Originally, Ctrl-V was the "Paste" command, and Ctrl-Shift-V was the Unformatted Paste command across all OS's. A lot of us older folk have those programmed into our fingertips (I'm in my 60s). There are probably a lot of folks around with similar assumptions, and supporting it would help with the "It just works" aspect of the package. But you have a solution, so going the extra mile might not be as high a priority, given that there are other higher-priority things to do.

I work for a big fintech that I have rolled out about 6.5k GHCP dev seats to, and we are just starting the Copilot-CLI rollout trials. So the next thing I will be looking for is better support for Business and Enterprise plans; it sort of works, but there are several "quirks".

[doggy8088]

I also tested. It works. Thanks for the team! 👍

[MRayermannMSFT]

Thanks all for the confirmations and feedback. If you have any other issues regarding image support, or anything else for the CLI, please open a new issue.