microsoft / microsoft/PowerToys
Command Palette: Go back but keep the typed text
- Dominant language
- C
- Stars
- 139k
- Forks
- 8.6k
- PR merge metrics
- PR metrics pending
Description
### Description of the new feature / enhancement
When using the Command Palette, it would be great if hitting the Escape key gave us the option to keep our typed text instead of clearing it.
Currently, there are these options:
- "Clear search first, then go back"
- "Go back"
The issue is that even if you choose "Go back", the text in the field gets wiped out when you return to your previous screen.
It would be much more convenient if we could preserve what we've typed.
### Scenario when this would be used?
**Scenario 1: Using a Tool**
Imagine you’re using a tool and start typing, only to realize you've selected the wrong one. You want to head back to the main menu to pick the right tool without losing your progress. If you hit `Esc`, it takes you straight back to the main menu—but wouldn't it be great if you could also keep everything you’ve already written?
**Scenario 2: Using the Command Palette**
Suppose you open the Command Palette while already inside a tool (perhaps because you have "Automatically return home" set to Never). As you start typing, you realize you’re actually inside a tool rather than in the main menu. You hit `Esc` to jump back to the main menu, but just like before, you’d love to keep all that text you were working on!
### Supporting information
_No response_
Contributor guide
Research direction
Start by locating the Command Palette handling for Escape and the transition back to the previous screen, then reproduce both scenarios described in the issue. Done means choosing "Go back" preserves the text entered in the field while "Clear search first, then go back" continues to clear it.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Domain
- desktop
- Issue type
- Feature
- Difficulty
- 3/5
- Estimated time
- 1-2 days
- Activity status
- Quiet
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 55/100