{"id":24256,"date":"2026-11-02T15:41:29","date_gmt":"2026-11-02T07:41:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cciedump.spoto.net\/blog\/?p=24256"},"modified":"2026-11-02T15:41:31","modified_gmt":"2026-11-02T07:41:31","slug":"how-to-clear-screen-cisco-command-line","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cciedump.spoto.net\/blog\/how-to-clear-screen-cisco-command-line_24256.html","title":{"rendered":"How Do I Clear the Screen in Cisco Command Line?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Network engineers transitioning from a Linux shell or Windows Command Prompt to a Cisco network device often encounter a frustrating hurdle: typing <code>clear<\/code> or <code>cls<\/code> does not blank the display. Instead, the Cisco IOS command-line interface (CLI) throws an error or demands additional parameters. During intense troubleshooting, routing analysis, or live debugging sessions, the terminal window quickly fills with verbose output, making it difficult to pinpoint new data.<\/p>\n<p>Because classic Cisco IOS was engineered to treat terminal display rendering as the responsibility of the client rather than the network operating system, clearing the screen requires specific terminal tricks, configuration workarounds, or platform-aware commands. This guide details native CLI behavior, shows how to configure a custom screen-clearing alias, highlights critical command pitfalls, and explores solutions across terminal emulators, Cisco NX-OS, and Packet Tracer.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_17 counter-hierarchy counter-decimal ez-toc-light-blue\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"display: none;\"><i class=\"ez-toc-glyphicon ez-toc-icon-toggle\"><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1\"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/cciedump.spoto.net\/blog\/how-to-clear-screen-cisco-command-line_24256.html\/#Native_Keyboard_Shortcuts_and_CLI_Screen_Behavior_in_Cisco_IOS\" title=\"Native Keyboard Shortcuts and CLI Screen Behavior in Cisco IOS\">Native Keyboard Shortcuts and CLI Screen Behavior in Cisco IOS<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/cciedump.spoto.net\/blog\/how-to-clear-screen-cisco-command-line_24256.html\/#Important_Caution_clear_line_vs_Clearing_the_Screen\" title=\"Important Caution: &#8220;clear line&#8221; vs. Clearing the Screen\">Important Caution: &#8220;clear line&#8221; vs. Clearing the Screen<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/cciedump.spoto.net\/blog\/how-to-clear-screen-cisco-command-line_24256.html\/#FAQ_Understanding_clear_line_in_Cisco_IOS\" title=\"FAQ: Understanding &#8220;clear line&#8221; in Cisco IOS\">FAQ: Understanding &#8220;clear line&#8221; in Cisco IOS<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/cciedump.spoto.net\/blog\/how-to-clear-screen-cisco-command-line_24256.html\/#Configuring_a_Reusable_cls_or_clear_Alias_in_Cisco_IOS\" title=\"Configuring a Reusable &#8220;cls&#8221; or &#8220;clear&#8221; Alias in Cisco IOS\">Configuring a Reusable &#8220;cls&#8221; or &#8220;clear&#8221; Alias in Cisco IOS<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/cciedump.spoto.net\/blog\/how-to-clear-screen-cisco-command-line_24256.html\/#Configuration_Template\" title=\"Configuration Template\">Configuration Template<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/cciedump.spoto.net\/blog\/how-to-clear-screen-cisco-command-line_24256.html\/#Execution_Example\" title=\"Execution Example\">Execution Example<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/cciedump.spoto.net\/blog\/how-to-clear-screen-cisco-command-line_24256.html\/#Removal_Rollback_Template\" title=\"Removal \/ Rollback Template\">Removal \/ Rollback Template<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/cciedump.spoto.net\/blog\/how-to-clear-screen-cisco-command-line_24256.html\/#Cisco_NX-OS_vs_Cisco_IOS_Screen_Clearing_Capabilities\" title=\"Cisco NX-OS vs. Cisco IOS: Screen Clearing Capabilities\">Cisco NX-OS vs. Cisco IOS: Screen Clearing Capabilities<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/cciedump.spoto.net\/blog\/how-to-clear-screen-cisco-command-line_24256.html\/#Clearing_the_Screen_and_Scrollback_in_PuTTY_and_SecureCRT\" title=\"Clearing the Screen and Scrollback in PuTTY and SecureCRT\">Clearing the Screen and Scrollback in PuTTY and SecureCRT<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/cciedump.spoto.net\/blog\/how-to-clear-screen-cisco-command-line_24256.html\/#PuTTY_Step-by-Step_Guide\" title=\"PuTTY Step-by-Step Guide\">PuTTY Step-by-Step Guide<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/cciedump.spoto.net\/blog\/how-to-clear-screen-cisco-command-line_24256.html\/#SecureCRT_Step-by-Step_Guide\" title=\"SecureCRT Step-by-Step Guide\">SecureCRT Step-by-Step Guide<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/cciedump.spoto.net\/blog\/how-to-clear-screen-cisco-command-line_24256.html\/#Clearing_the_CLI_Screen_in_Cisco_Packet_Tracer\" title=\"Clearing the CLI Screen in Cisco Packet Tracer\">Clearing the CLI Screen in Cisco Packet Tracer<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/cciedump.spoto.net\/blog\/how-to-clear-screen-cisco-command-line_24256.html\/#FAQ_Managing_the_Packet_Tracer_CLI_Display\" title=\"FAQ: Managing the Packet Tracer CLI Display\">FAQ: Managing the Packet Tracer CLI Display<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Native_Keyboard_Shortcuts_and_CLI_Screen_Behavior_in_Cisco_IOS\"><\/span>Native Keyboard Shortcuts and CLI Screen Behavior in Cisco IOS<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In classic Cisco IOS and IOS-XE, the operating system does not include an out-of-the-box EXEC command to erase previously displayed text. To navigate a cluttered console, follow this progression of native behaviors and built-in shortcuts:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Test the Standard Form-Feed Shortcut (<code>Ctrl + L<\/code>):<\/strong><br \/>\nIn most Unix-like environments, pressing <code>Ctrl + L<\/code> sends an ASCII Form Feed (hex <code>0x0C<\/code>) or ANSI escape sequence requesting the terminal emulator to redraw the screen with the prompt at the top.<\/li>\n<li>In Cisco IOS, <code>Ctrl + L<\/code> is traditionally reserved for redrawing the current command line rather than wiping the screen buffer.<\/li>\n<li>However, when connected via modern SSH sessions, many terminal emulators intercept <code>Ctrl + L<\/code> directly, moving the cursor to the top and pushing previous commands into the scrollback buffer.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Repaint the Current Line (<code>Ctrl + R<\/code>):<\/strong><br \/>\nIf syslog messages or debug output disrupt your typing mid-command, do not erase the line. Press <code>Ctrl + R<\/code>. This instructs IOS to reprint the active command line exactly as typed on a clean line immediately below the log spam, allowing you to finish typing uninterrupted.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Use the Carriage Return Buffer Push:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen debugging live interfaces or running protocol traces, the fastest fallback without touching configuration settings is holding down the <code>[Enter]<\/code> key. Pushing 25 to 30 empty carriage returns forces old terminal output off the visible viewing pane. This creates an intentional visual gap between historical output and new diagnostic commands.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>If your workflow demands an actual command that blanks the terminal window, Cisco IOS allows you to build one using system menus, provided you avoid a dangerous built-in command with a similar name.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Important_Caution_clear_line_vs_Clearing_the_Screen\"><\/span>Important Caution: &#8220;clear line&#8221; vs. Clearing the Screen<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Because new administrators often search for a way to &#8220;clear&#8221; their console, they frequently stumble upon the native <code>clear line<\/code> command. Using this command to reset the display can disrupt production access.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ_Understanding_clear_line_in_Cisco_IOS\"><\/span>FAQ: Understanding &#8220;clear line&#8221; in Cisco IOS<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>What happens if I enter <code>clear line<\/code> to wipe my display?<\/strong><br \/>\nRunning <code>clear line<\/code> does not erase any text on your screen. In Cisco IOS, the <code>clear<\/code> keyword resets dynamic states, interface counters, routing processes, or hardware lines. The <code>clear line &lt;line-number&gt;<\/code> command forcefully resets an asynchronous terminal line (such as a console port, auxiliary port, or virtual terminal VTY session). If you enter the line number corresponding to your active connection, your SSH or Telnet session terminates immediately, locking you out of the device until you reconnect.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why does Cisco IOS use the word <code>clear<\/code> for session termination?<\/strong><br \/>\nIn the Cisco IOS syntax hierarchy, <code>clear<\/code> means &#8220;purge state&#8221; or &#8220;reset hardware counters&#8221;. For example:<br \/>\n&#8211; <code>clear counters<\/code>: Resets interface packet counters.<br \/>\n&#8211; <code>clear ip route *<\/code>: Flushes the routing table.<br \/>\n&#8211; <code>clear line<\/code>: Hangs up the communication channel on a specified TTY or VTY line.<\/p>\n<p>Because Cisco IOS historically left video display management to physical dumb terminals (like the VT100), it never included a native display-clearing EXEC command.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How do I safely verify my active session line before running maintenance commands?<\/strong><br \/>\nTo prevent accidentally terminating your own session or interrupting a colleague&#8217;s configuration session, execute <code>show users<\/code> or <code>show line<\/code>:<\/p>\n<pre><code class=\"language-text\">Router# show users\n    Line       User       Host(s)              Idle       Location\n*  2 vty 0     admin      idle                 00:00:00   192.168.1.50\n<\/code><\/pre>\n<p>The asterisk (<code>*<\/code>) indicates your current active session line. Never execute <code>clear line<\/code> on that line number unless your specific goal is to tear down the transport connection.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Configuring_a_Reusable_cls_or_clear_Alias_in_Cisco_IOS\"><\/span>Configuring a Reusable &#8220;cls&#8221; or &#8220;clear&#8221; Alias in Cisco IOS<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>While Cisco IOS lacks a native <code>cls<\/code> command, it features an internal Menu generation facility that supports a native <code>clear-screen<\/code> attribute. By defining a self-terminating menu and binding it to an EXEC alias, you can create a working <code>cls<\/code> and <code>clear<\/code> command in Cisco IOS and IOS-XE.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Configuration_Template\"><\/span>Configuration Template<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Copy and paste the following configuration block into global configuration mode:<\/p>\n<pre><code class=\"language-cisco\">configure terminal\n!\n! Step 1: Create a menu named CLEARSCREEN that clears the terminal and exits\nmenu CLEARSCREEN command 1 menu-exit\nmenu CLEARSCREEN clear-screen\nmenu CLEARSCREEN default 1\n!\n! Step 2: Map the EXEC aliases to invoke the CLEARSCREEN menu\nalias exec cls menu CLEARSCREEN\nalias exec clear menu CLEARSCREEN\n!\nend\nwrite memory\n<\/code><\/pre>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Execution_Example\"><\/span>Execution Example<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Once applied, the alias behaves like native shell commands:<\/p>\n<pre><code class=\"language-cisco\">Router# cls\n<\/code><\/pre>\n<p>The device executes the menu routine, fires the terminal screen-clear control sequence, selects option <code>1<\/code> by default, and immediately exits back to the standard EXEC prompt with a clean screen.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Removal_Rollback_Template\"><\/span>Removal \/ Rollback Template<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>To remove the menu and aliases from the device configuration, run:<\/p>\n<pre><code class=\"language-cisco\">configure terminal\nno alias exec cls\nno alias exec clear\nno menu CLEARSCREEN\nend\nwrite memory\n<\/code><\/pre>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cisco_NX-OS_vs_Cisco_IOS_Screen_Clearing_Capabilities\"><\/span>Cisco NX-OS vs. Cisco IOS: Screen Clearing Capabilities<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Data center switches running Cisco NX-OS (such as Nexus 9000, 7000, and 3000 series) handle terminal sessions differently than traditional campus switches running classic IOS. Because NX-OS is built on top of a Linux kernel, it includes built-in screen clearing capabilities out of the box.<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"text-align: left;\">Feature \/ Capability<\/th>\n<th style=\"text-align: left;\">Cisco IOS \/ IOS-XE<\/th>\n<th style=\"text-align: left;\">Cisco NX-OS<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Native Screen Clear Command<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\">Not natively supported (<code>% Invalid input detected<\/code>)<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\">Supported: <code>clear screen<\/code> in EXEC mode<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong><code>cls<\/code> Command Availability<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\">Requires custom menu alias<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\">Supported via command alias (<code>cli alias name cls clear screen<\/code>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Underlying Operating System<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\">Proprietary monolithic \/ IOS-XE Linux wrapper<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\">Linux-based microkernel architecture<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Built-in <code>Ctrl + L<\/code> Handling<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\">Redraws current line (terminal emulator dependent)<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\">Clears terminal display buffer natively<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Direct Bash Shell Access<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\">Limited \/ requires Guestshell containers<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\">Full native access via <code>feature bash-shell<\/code> and <code>run bash<\/code><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Action of Bare <code>clear<\/code> Word<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\">Ambiguous command \/ requires subsystem argument<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\">Requires subsystem argument (e.g., <code>clear counters<\/code>, <code>clear screen<\/code>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>On Cisco NX-OS devices, simply enter:<\/p>\n<pre><code class=\"language-text\">switch# clear screen\n<\/code><\/pre>\n<p>The switch immediately clears the active terminal screen without requiring custom menu configurations or third-party emulator intervention.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Clearing_the_Screen_and_Scrollback_in_PuTTY_and_SecureCRT\"><\/span>Clearing the Screen and Scrollback in PuTTY and SecureCRT<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>When connecting to classic Cisco IOS switches where adding configuration aliases is not permitted by change-management policies, managing screen clutter falls to your terminal emulator.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"PuTTY_Step-by-Step_Guide\"><\/span>PuTTY Step-by-Step Guide<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>PuTTY provides two distinct functions: clearing the visible screen and purging historical text from the local buffer.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Clear the Scrollback Buffer:<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Hold <code>Ctrl<\/code> and right-click anywhere within the PuTTY window, or right-click the title bar at the top.<\/li>\n<li>Select <strong>Clear Scrollback<\/strong>. This deletes previous output stored in your local application memory, preventing you from scrolling up into old logs.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Reset the Active Terminal:<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Right-click the title bar and select <strong>Reset Terminal<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Press <code>[Enter]<\/code>. The active window redraws, clearing all visible characters and printing a fresh prompt at the top-left corner.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Keyboard-Only PuTTY Method:<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Open PuTTY settings, navigate to <strong>Window<\/strong> &gt; <strong>Behavior<\/strong>, and check <strong>System menu appears on ALT-Space<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>During a session, press <code>Alt + Space<\/code>, followed by <code>L<\/code>. This triggers the &#8220;Clear Scrollback&#8221; action instantly from the keyboard.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"SecureCRT_Step-by-Step_Guide\"><\/span>SecureCRT Step-by-Step Guide<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>SecureCRT offers deeper customization for clearing both the screen and scrollback buffer via menus or custom keymaps.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Menu Bar Operations:<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>To clear the visible display: Click <strong>Edit<\/strong> &gt; <strong>Clear Screen<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>To clear all historical data: Click <strong>Edit<\/strong> &gt; <strong>Clear Scrollback<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>To clear both simultaneously: Click <strong>Edit<\/strong> &gt; <strong>Clear Screen and Scrollback<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Using the Context Menu:<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Right-click inside the terminal window and select <strong>Clear Scrollback<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Map a Dedicated Screen-Clear Shortcut:<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Navigate to <strong>Options<\/strong> &gt; <strong>Session Options<\/strong> (or <strong>Edit Default Session<\/strong>) &gt; <strong>Terminal<\/strong> &gt; <strong>Emulation<\/strong> &gt; <strong>Mapped Keys<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Click <strong>Map a Key&#8230;<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Press your desired shortcut combination (e.g., <code>Ctrl + Shift + K<\/code> or <code>Ctrl + K<\/code>).<\/li>\n<li>In the <em>Function<\/em> dropdown, select <strong>Menu Function<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Under <em>Menu Function<\/em>, choose <strong>MENU_CLEAR_SCREEN_AND_SCROLLBACK<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Click <strong>OK<\/strong>. Pressing this shortcut during any session will wipe both the visible terminal and buffer history instantly.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Clearing_the_CLI_Screen_in_Cisco_Packet_Tracer\"><\/span>Clearing the CLI Screen in Cisco Packet Tracer<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Students and lab engineers preparing for certifications often attempt to clear the screen inside Cisco Packet Tracer, only to discover that emulator tricks and IOS aliases fail.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ_Managing_the_Packet_Tracer_CLI_Display\"><\/span>FAQ: Managing the Packet Tracer CLI Display<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Does Cisco Packet Tracer support <code>cls<\/code> or <code>clear screen<\/code>?<\/strong><br \/>\nNo. Cisco Packet Tracer is a simulation platform designed for learning environments, not a full virtualization engine. It runs an abbreviated parser that emulates common CCNA commands. Entering <code>cls<\/code> or <code>clear screen<\/code> on a simulated router or switch yields:<\/p>\n<pre><code class=\"language-text\">Router# cls\n         ^\n% Invalid input detected at '^' marker.\n<\/code><\/pre>\n<p>The underlying text box is a custom Qt\/desktop GUI widget rather than a VT100-compliant terminal, meaning the IOS menu alias workaround described earlier will not process escape sequences properly.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Does <code>Ctrl + L<\/code> work in the Packet Tracer CLI tab?<\/strong><br \/>\nIn most releases of Packet Tracer, <code>Ctrl + L<\/code> does not clear the CLI window. Because the interface is a graphical text pane, standard ANSI terminal control signals sent via keystrokes are ignored by the internal parser.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What are the best workarounds to clear the screen in Packet Tracer?<\/strong><br \/>\nUse these three approaches to manage visual clutter:<br \/>\n1. <strong>The Fast Enter Sweep:<\/strong> Select the CLI console pane, hold down the <code>[Enter]<\/code> key for two seconds, and push old outputs off the viewport.<br \/>\n2. <strong>Clear Terminal Agents:<\/strong> On the top application menu bar, navigate to <strong>Extensions<\/strong> &gt; <strong>Clear Terminal Agents<\/strong>. A dialog appears listing all network devices in your workspace. Select the device whose terminal you wish to reset; this resets the CLI session to a clean slate.<br \/>\n3. <strong>Re-dock the CLI Window:<\/strong> Close the device properties window and click the device again on the workspace to reopen the CLI tab. While some versions preserve history, toggling the session or switching between the <em>Physical<\/em> and <em>CLI<\/em> tabs refreshes the rendering view.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>Managing terminal output across Cisco environments comes down to using the right method for your specific platform. On modern Cisco NX-OS switches, the native <code>clear screen<\/code> command provides an immediate solution. For classic Cisco IOS and IOS-XE hardware, configuring a self-terminating menu alias gives you a reusable <code>cls<\/code> command without risking session drops from commands like <code>clear line<\/code>. When working with locked-down production switches or lab simulators like Packet Tracer, relying on terminal emulator controls in PuTTY, SecureCRT, or simple carriage returns ensures a clean workspace for troubleshooting.<\/p>\n<div class='sfsi_Sicons' style='width: 100%; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle; text-align:left'><div style='margin:0px 8px 0px 0px; line-height: 24px'><span>Please follow and like us:<\/span><\/div><div class='sfsi_socialwpr'><div class='sf_fb_share sf_icon' style='text-align:left;vertical-align: middle;'><a href='https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fcciedump.spoto.net%2Fblog%2Fhow-to-clear-screen-cisco-command-line_24256.html' style='display:inline-block;'  > <img class='sfsi_wicon'  data-pin-nopin='true' width='auto' height='auto' alt='fb-share-icon' title='Facebook Share' src='https:\/\/cciedump.spoto.net\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/ultimate-social-media-icons\/images\/visit_icons\/fbshare_bck.png'  \/><\/a><\/div><div class='sf_twiter sf_icon' style='display: inline-block;vertical-align: middle;width: auto;margin-left: 7px;'>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a target='_blank' href='https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=How+Do+I+Clear+the+Screen+in+Cisco+Command+Line%3F+https:\/\/cciedump.spoto.net\/blog\/how-to-clear-screen-cisco-command-line_24256.html'style='display:inline-block' >\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img data-pin-nopin= true width='auto' class='sfsi_wicon' src='https:\/\/cciedump.spoto.net\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/ultimate-social-media-icons\/images\/visit_icons\/en_US_Tweet.svg' alt='Tweet' title='Tweet' >\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><div class='sf_pinit sf_icon' style='text-align:left;vertical-align: middle;float:left;line-height: 33px;width:auto;margin: 0 -2px;'><a href='#'  onclick='sfsi_pinterest_modal_images(event,\"https:\/\/cciedump.spoto.net\/blog\/how-to-clear-screen-cisco-command-line_24256.html\",\"How Do I Clear the Screen in Cisco Command Line?\")' style='display:inline-block;'  > <img class='sfsi_wicon'  data-pin-nopin='true' width='auto' height='auto' alt='fb-share-icon' title='Pin Share' src='https:\/\/cciedump.spoto.net\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/ultimate-social-media-icons\/images\/share_icons\/Pinterest_Save\/en_US_save.svg'  \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Network engineers transitioning from a Linux shell or Windows Command Prompt to a Cisco network device often encounter a frustrating hurdle: typing clear or cls does not blank the display. Instead, the Cisco IOS command-line interface (CLI) throws an error or demands additional parameters. 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