diff --git a/src/resources/extensions/bg-shell/index.ts b/src/resources/extensions/bg-shell/index.ts
index 490ee5000..ee4662b4b 100644
--- a/src/resources/extensions/bg-shell/index.ts
+++ b/src/resources/extensions/bg-shell/index.ts
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ import { createConnection } from "node:net";
 import { randomUUID } from "node:crypto";
 import { writeFileSync, readFileSync, existsSync, mkdirSync } from "node:fs";
 import { join } from "node:path";
+import { shortcutDesc } from "../shared/terminal.js";
 import { createRequire } from "node:module";
 
 // ── Windows VT Input Restoration ────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -2356,7 +2357,7 @@ export default function (pi: ExtensionAPI) {
 	// ── Ctrl+Alt+B shortcut ──────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 	pi.registerShortcut(Key.ctrlAlt("b"), {
-		description: "Open background process manager",
+		description: shortcutDesc("Open background process manager", "/bg"),
 		handler: async (ctx) => {
 			latestCtx = ctx;
 			await ctx.ui.custom<void>(
diff --git a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/index.ts b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/index.ts
index 573baac72..b353b2917 100644
--- a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/index.ts
+++ b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/index.ts
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ import {
 import { Key } from "@mariozechner/pi-tui";
 import { join } from "node:path";
 import { existsSync } from "node:fs";
+import { shortcutDesc } from "../shared/terminal.js";
 import { Text } from "@mariozechner/pi-tui";
 
 // ── ASCII logo ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -184,10 +185,8 @@ export default function (pi: ExtensionAPI) {
   });
 
   // ── Ctrl+Alt+G shortcut — GSD dashboard overlay ────────────────────────
-  // Requires Kitty keyboard protocol or modifyOtherKeys support.
-  // Terminals without support (macOS Terminal.app, JetBrains): use /gsd status instead.
   pi.registerShortcut(Key.ctrlAlt("g"), {
-    description: "Open GSD dashboard (or use /gsd status)",
+    description: shortcutDesc("Open GSD dashboard", "/gsd status"),
     handler: async (ctx) => {
       // Only show if .gsd/ exists
       if (!existsSync(join(process.cwd(), ".gsd"))) {
diff --git a/src/resources/extensions/shared/terminal.ts b/src/resources/extensions/shared/terminal.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f87719995
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/resources/extensions/shared/terminal.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+/**
+ * Terminal capability detection for keyboard shortcut support.
+ *
+ * Ctrl+Alt shortcuts require the Kitty keyboard protocol or modifyOtherKeys.
+ * Terminals that lack this support silently swallow the key combos.
+ */
+
+const UNSUPPORTED_TERMS = ["apple_terminal"];
+
+export function supportsCtrlAltShortcuts(): boolean {
+  const term = (process.env.TERM_PROGRAM || "").toLowerCase();
+  const jetbrains = (process.env.TERMINAL_EMULATOR || "").toLowerCase().includes("jetbrains");
+  return !UNSUPPORTED_TERMS.some((t) => term.includes(t)) && !jetbrains;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Returns a shortcut description that includes a slash-command fallback hint
+ * when the current terminal likely can't fire Ctrl+Alt combos.
+ */
+export function shortcutDesc(base: string, fallbackCmd: string): string {
+  if (supportsCtrlAltShortcuts()) return base;
+  return `${base} — shortcut may not work in this terminal, use ${fallbackCmd}`;
+}
diff --git a/src/resources/extensions/voice/index.ts b/src/resources/extensions/voice/index.ts
index 39433dbf4..3184efb7c 100644
--- a/src/resources/extensions/voice/index.ts
+++ b/src/resources/extensions/voice/index.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import type { ExtensionAPI, ExtensionContext } from "@mariozechner/pi-coding-agent";
+import { shortcutDesc } from "../shared/terminal.js";
 import type { AssistantMessage } from "@mariozechner/pi-ai";
 import { isKeyRelease, Key, matchesKey, truncateToWidth, visibleWidth } from "@mariozechner/pi-tui";
 import { spawn, execSync, type ChildProcess } from "node:child_process";
@@ -131,7 +132,7 @@ export default function (pi: ExtensionAPI) {
 	});
 
 	pi.registerShortcut("ctrl+alt+v", {
-		description: "Toggle voice mode",
+		description: shortcutDesc("Toggle voice mode", "/voice"),
 		handler: async (ctx) => toggleVoice(ctx),
 	});