microsoft / microsoft/terminal
Make the Windows menu ("alt spacebar") accessible without a mouse in wsl
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- C++
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Description
Description of the new feature/enhancement
Make alt+space or an alternative key combination access the Application context menu in a wsl console.
Edit: This is a feature request for "...the original Windows console host, ...", (which I assume is where the shortcuts are implemented), not the new terminal.
Edit2: In the windows console, ctrl+m activates the select/copy feature and ctrl+f the find menu (danish and english versions). These are only accessible through the "alt+space"-menu (rodent menu) in a WSL session . Adding an alternative to these in Windows Console for WSL would be a super deluxe bonus value productivity enhancement.
Pressing alt+spacebar opens this menu on common windows apps:

In the good old Windows Console/Terminal, as well as most windows app you have access to the (I think it's called?) application context menu, through alt+space without using the mouse. In WSL this does not work. We've got the ctrl+shift+c/v shortcut workarounds to paste/copy. A similar shortcut workaround for alt+space would be much appreciated for those with rodent allergy.
Proposed technical implementation details (optional)
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I have no idea how to implement it but I really would like a relief for my carpal tunnel syndrome :-)
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Start by determining whether this belongs in the original Windows console host or Windows Terminal, as the issue specifically targets the former and mentions WSL sessions. Trace where the Windows console's application context menu and keyboard handling are implemented; done means an accessible keyboard shortcut opens that menu in WSL without mouse input, with the requested copy/select and find access considered.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- cpp
- Domain
- accessibility, cli, operating-systems
- Issue type
- Feature
- Difficulty
- 5/5
- Estimated time
- Over a week
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Needs clarification
- Newbie friendliness
- 25/100