Arrow keys don't work in Vim in Azure Cloud Shell #6445

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opened 2026-01-31 00:38:52 +00:00 by claunia · 0 comments
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Originally created by @chunliu on GitHub (Feb 14, 2020).

Environment

Windows build number: 10.0.19041.0
Windows Terminal version (if applicable): 0.9.433.0

Steps to reproduce

  1. Open Azure Cloud Shell.
  2. Open Vim, such as vim ./.bashrc.
  3. Try to move the cursor with the arrow keys. It doesn't work and an error shows up with the left arrow key: E388: Couldn't find definition.

Expected behavior

Should be able to move the cursor with the arrow keys.

Actual behavior

Cannot move the cursor with the arrow keys and an error shows up with the left arrow key: E388: Couldn't find definition.
echo $TERM shows xterm-256color

Workaround

In ~/.vimrc, add :set term=builtin_ansi and then the arrow keys start working in Vim.
This issue seems only happen with Azure Cloud Shell. It doesn't happen with wsl.

Originally created by @chunliu on GitHub (Feb 14, 2020). <!-- 🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨 I ACKNOWLEDGE THE FOLLOWING BEFORE PROCEEDING: 1. If I delete this entire template and go my own path, the core team may close my issue without further explanation or engagement. 2. If I list multiple bugs/concerns in this one issue, the core team may close my issue without further explanation or engagement. 3. If I write an issue that has many duplicates, the core team may close my issue without further explanation or engagement (and without necessarily spending time to find the exact duplicate ID number). 4. If I leave the title incomplete when filing the issue, the core team may close my issue without further explanation or engagement. 5. If I file something completely blank in the body, the core team may close my issue without further explanation or engagement. All good? Then proceed! --> <!-- This bug tracker is monitored by Windows Terminal development team and other technical folks. **Important: When reporting BSODs or security issues, DO NOT attach memory dumps, logs, or traces to Github issues**. Instead, send dumps/traces to secure@microsoft.com, referencing this GitHub issue. If this is an application crash, please also provide a Feedback Hub submission link so we can find your diagnostic data on the backend. Use the category "Apps > Windows Terminal (Preview)" and choose "Share My Feedback" after submission to get the link. Please use this form and describe your issue, concisely but precisely, with as much detail as possible. --> # Environment ```none Windows build number: 10.0.19041.0 Windows Terminal version (if applicable): 0.9.433.0 ``` # Steps to reproduce 1. Open Azure Cloud Shell. 2. Open Vim, such as `vim ./.bashrc`. 3. Try to move the cursor with the arrow keys. It doesn't work and an error shows up with the left arrow key: `E388: Couldn't find definition`. # Expected behavior Should be able to move the cursor with the arrow keys. # Actual behavior Cannot move the cursor with the arrow keys and an error shows up with the left arrow key: `E388: Couldn't find definition`. `echo $TERM` shows xterm-256color # Workaround In `~/.vimrc`, add `:set term=builtin_ansi` and then the arrow keys start working in Vim. This issue seems only happen with Azure Cloud Shell. It doesn't happen with wsl.
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Reference: starred/terminal#6445