How do I clear the scroll back history in iTerm2?

To clear the scroll back history in iTerm2, press Command + K. This will completely clear the scroll back buffer, not just the visible screen.

What is the difference between Command + K and Control + L in iTerm2?

Control + L only clears the visible screen in iTerm2, so the scroll back history remains. As soon as you run the next command, the previous history will reappear. Command + K, on the other hand, fully clears the scroll back history.

Does Control + L permanently clear the terminal history in iTerm2?

No, Control + L does not permanently clear the terminal history in iTerm2. It only clears the visible screen, and the scroll back history will reappear once you run the next command. Use Command + K to fully clear the scroll back history.

What keyboard shortcut clears the scroll back buffer in iTerm2?

The keyboard shortcut to clear the scroll back buffer in iTerm2 is Command + K. This removes all previous output from the scroll back history.

How can I view my command history in the terminal?

To view your command history in the terminal, you can type the 'history' command. This will display a list of previously executed commands in your terminal session.

11 May 2023 Macbooks

iTerm2: Clear Scroll Back History with Command + K

By Andrew Baker · Group CIO, Capitec Bank · 11 May 2023

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Pressing Command + K in iTerm2 clears the entire scroll back history buffer, permanently removing all previous output from the session. Control + L only clears the visible screen but leaves the scroll back history intact, meaning past output reappears when you scroll up. Use Command + K whenever you need a completely fresh, history free terminal session.

iTerm2: Clear Scroll Back History with Command + KAndrew Baker's Technology Blog Posts, 11/May/2023
https://andrewbaker.ninja/2023/05/11/iterm2-clear-scroll-back-history-with-command-k/

Article Summary

1.
What it is
This article explains how to clear iTerm2's scroll back history using Command + K, distinguishing it from Control + L which only clears the visible screen.
2.
Why it matters
Knowing this shortcut helps you truly clear your terminal history instead of just hiding it temporarily, which is useful for privacy or decluttering your workspace.
3.
Key takeaway
Use Command + K in iTerm2 to permanently clear scroll back history, not Control + L which only clears the current screen.

57 words · ~1 min read

I frequently forget this command shortcut, so this post is simply because I am lazy. To clear your history in iTerm press Command + K. Control + L only clears the screen, so as soon as you run the next command you will see the scroll back again.

If you want to view your command history (for terminal) type:

$ ls -a ~ | grep hist
.zsh_history
$ cat .zsh_history

1 comment

Pascal says:

28/Oct/2025 at 11:31

I’d prefer to use `less $HISTFILE`
So, no matter what you name the command line history file

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iTerm2: Clear Scroll Back History with Command + K

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