Claude Code Model Effort Shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts that step the model and reasoning effort, and remember your picks.
Illustration. Actual results depend on the mod, terminal and environment.
Install
/plugin marketplace add richkuo/claude-code-model-effort-shortcuts
/plugin install model-effort-shortcuts@richkuo
/reload-pluginsRun these commands one at a time in a Claude Code session.
claude plugin marketplace add richkuo/claude-code-model-effort-shortcuts
claude plugin install model-effort-shortcuts@richkuoThen run /reload-plugins in your session, or start a new session.
Please install the Claude Code mod "Claude Code Model Effort Shortcuts" (https://github.com/richkuo/claude-code-model-effort-shortcuts). Before installing, read the Security and Requirements sections of its README and tell me what it reads and writes, which commands it runs, whether it uses the network, and which Claude Code version, OS and terminal it needs. If everything looks fine, run claude plugin marketplace add richkuo/claude-code-model-effort-shortcuts and claude plugin install model-effort-shortcuts@richkuo, then remind me to run /reload-plugins in my session.Send this to Claude Code so it reads the author’s instructions before installing.
git clone https://github.com/richkuo/claude-code-model-effort-shortcuts
cd claude-code-model-effort-shortcuts
claude --plugin-dir .Clone the repository and try it in a local session with --plugin-dir.
What it accesses
Based on the author’s documentation, checked when listed; use claude plugin validate to check for yourself.
Reads
YesReads the session model, effort settings from settings, and each main request's model and effort.
Writes files
YesPlugin store keeps your last model pick and per-model effort picks.
Runs commands
UnspecifiedNot stated in README; no process launches seen in code.
Network
UnspecifiedNot stated in README; makes no requests itself but rewrites each main request's model and effort.
Introduction
Model & Effort Shortcuts is a Claude Code mod that changes the model and reasoning effort from the keyboard.
- Effort: Option/Alt+E cycles low, medium, high, xhigh; add Shift to go down. Set the range (max included if you like) in
/config. - Model: Option/Alt+P cycles Haiku 5.5, Sonnet 5.5, Opus 5.5 and Fable 5.1; turn models off in
/config. - Display: the footer shows what the next request uses, e.g.
Sonnet 5.5 · effort: high; each press adds a dim transcript line the model does not read. - Memory: your last model and per-model effort carry into new sessions;
/modeland/effortchanges are followed.
Before each main-thread request it replaces the request's model and effort; subagents keep Claude Code's own. Requires Claude Code 2.1.287+, keys bound in ~/.claude/keybindings.json, and a terminal that sends Option as Meta. A model switch starts a new prompt cache, so the next request costs more.
Who it is for
- People who often switch models and reasoning effort
Requirements
- Claude Code ≥ 2.1.287
- Bind keys such as strip:jump6–9 in ~/.claude/keybindings.json.
- The terminal must send Option as Meta; Cmd keys need terminal mappings.
- The author notes it uses an early-access plugin API that may change.