diff --git a/docs/reference/keyboard-shortcuts.md b/docs/reference/keyboard-shortcuts.md
index f8aafa6502..e731b64b2d 100644
--- a/docs/reference/keyboard-shortcuts.md
+++ b/docs/reference/keyboard-shortcuts.md
@@ -130,10 +130,9 @@ available combinations.
 
 ## Customizing Keybindings
 
-You can add alternative keybindings for commands by creating or modifying the
+You can add alternative keybindings or remove default keybindings by creating a
 `keybindings.json` file in your home gemini directory (typically
-`~/.gemini/keybindings.json`). This allows you to bind commands to additional
-key combinations. Note that default keybindings cannot be removed.
+`~/.gemini/keybindings.json`).
 
 ### Configuration Format
 
@@ -144,28 +143,57 @@ a `key` combination.
 ```json
 [
   {
-    "command": "input.submit",
-    "key": "cmd+s"
+    "command": "edit.clear",
+    "key": "cmd+l"
   },
   {
-    "command": "edit.clear",
-    "key": "ctrl+l"
+    // prefix "-" to unbind a key
+    "command": "-app.toggleYolo",
+    "key": "ctrl+y"
+  },
+  {
+    "command": "input.submit",
+    "key": "ctrl+y"
+  },
+  {
+    // multiple modifiers
+    "command": "cursor.right",
+    "key": "shift+alt+a"
+  },
+  {
+    // Some mac keyboards send "Å" instead of "shift+option+a"
+    "command": "cursor.right",
+    "key": "Å"
+  },
+  {
+    // some base keys have special multi-char names
+    "command": "cursor.right",
+    "key": "shift+pageup"
   }
 ]
 ```
 
-### Keyboard Rules
-
+- **Unbinding** To remove an existing or default keybinding, prefix a minus sign
+  (`-`) to the `command` name.
+- **No Auto-unbinding** The same key can be bound to multiple commands in
+  different contexts at the same time. Therefore, creating a binding does not
+  automatically unbind the key from other commands.
 - **Explicit Modifiers**: Key matching is explicit. For example, a binding for
   `ctrl+f` will only trigger on exactly `ctrl+f`, not `ctrl+shift+f` or
-  `alt+ctrl+f`. You must specify the exact modifier keys (`ctrl`, `shift`,
-  `alt`/`opt`/`option`, `cmd`/`meta`).
+  `alt+ctrl+f`.
 - **Literal Characters**: Terminals often translate complex key combinations
-  (especially on macOS with the `Option` key) into special characters. To handle
-  this reliably across all operating systems and SSH sessions, you can bind
-  directly to the literal character produced. For example, instead of trying to
-  bind `shift+5`, bind directly to `%`.
-- **Special Keys**: Supported special keys include:
+  (especially on macOS with the `Option` key) into special characters, losing
+  modifier and keystroke information along the way. For example,`shift+5` might
+  be sent as `%`. In these cases, you must bind to the literal character `%` as
+  bindings to `shift+5` will never fire. To see precisely what is being sent,
+  enable `Debug Keystroke Logging` and hit f12 to open the debug log console.
+- **Key Modifiers**: The supported key modifiers are:
+  - `ctrl`
+  - `shift`,
+  - `alt` (synonyms: `opt`, `option`)
+  - `cmd` (synonym: `meta`)
+- **Base Key**: The base key can be any single unicode code point or any of the
+  following special keys:
   - **Navigation**: `up`, `down`, `left`, `right`, `home`, `end`, `pageup`,
     `pagedown`
   - **Actions**: `enter`, `escape`, `tab`, `space`, `backspace`, `delete`,
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/key/keyBindings.test.ts b/packages/cli/src/ui/key/keyBindings.test.ts
index c8a1c8787e..77237f128f 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/ui/key/keyBindings.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/key/keyBindings.test.ts
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ describe('loadCustomKeybindings', () => {
 
     expect(errors.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
 
-    expect(errors[0]).toMatch(/error at 0.command: Invalid enum value/);
+    expect(errors[0]).toMatch(/error at 0.command: Invalid command: "unknown"/);
     // Should still have defaults
     expect(config.get(Command.RETURN)).toEqual([new KeyBinding('enter')]);
   });
@@ -227,4 +227,34 @@ describe('loadCustomKeybindings', () => {
       new KeyBinding('ctrl+c'),
     ]);
   });
+
+  it('removes specific bindings when using the minus prefix', async () => {
+    const customJson = JSON.stringify([
+      { command: `-${Command.RETURN}`, key: 'enter' },
+      { command: Command.RETURN, key: 'ctrl+a' },
+    ]);
+    await fs.writeFile(tempFilePath, customJson, 'utf8');
+
+    const { config, errors } = await loadCustomKeybindings();
+
+    expect(errors).toHaveLength(0);
+    // 'enter' should be gone, only 'ctrl+a' should remain
+    expect(config.get(Command.RETURN)).toEqual([new KeyBinding('ctrl+a')]);
+  });
+
+  it('returns an error when attempting to negate a non-existent binding', async () => {
+    const customJson = JSON.stringify([
+      { command: `-${Command.RETURN}`, key: 'ctrl+z' },
+    ]);
+    await fs.writeFile(tempFilePath, customJson, 'utf8');
+
+    const { config, errors } = await loadCustomKeybindings();
+
+    expect(errors.length).toBe(1);
+    expect(errors[0]).toMatch(
+      /Invalid keybinding for command "-basic.confirm": Error: cannot remove "ctrl\+z" since it is not bound/,
+    );
+    // Defaults should still be present
+    expect(config.get(Command.RETURN)).toEqual([new KeyBinding('enter')]);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/key/keyBindings.ts b/packages/cli/src/ui/key/keyBindings.ts
index b151ad8ee3..e8014b7429 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/ui/key/keyBindings.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/key/keyBindings.ts
@@ -216,6 +216,16 @@ export class KeyBinding {
       !!key.cmd === !!this.cmd
     );
   }
+
+  equals(other: KeyBinding): boolean {
+    return (
+      this.key === other.key &&
+      this.shift === other.shift &&
+      this.alt === other.alt &&
+      this.ctrl === other.ctrl &&
+      this.cmd === other.cmd
+    );
+  }
 }
 
 /**
@@ -622,10 +632,32 @@ export const commandDescriptions: Readonly<Record<Command, string>> = {
 };
 
 const keybindingsSchema = z.array(
-  z.object({
-    command: z.nativeEnum(Command),
-    key: z.string(),
-  }),
+  z
+    .object({
+      command: z.string().transform((val, ctx) => {
+        const negate = val.startsWith('-');
+        const commandId = negate ? val.slice(1) : val;
+
+        const result = z.nativeEnum(Command).safeParse(commandId);
+        if (!result.success) {
+          ctx.addIssue({
+            code: z.ZodIssueCode.custom,
+            message: `Invalid command: "${val}".`,
+          });
+          return z.NEVER;
+        }
+
+        return {
+          command: result.data,
+          negate,
+        };
+      }),
+      key: z.string(),
+    })
+    .transform((val) => ({
+      commandEntry: val.command,
+      key: val.key,
+    })),
 );
 
 /**
@@ -648,15 +680,29 @@ export async function loadCustomKeybindings(): Promise<{
 
     if (result.success) {
       config = new Map(defaultKeyBindingConfig);
-      for (const { command, key } of result.data) {
+      for (const { commandEntry, key } of result.data) {
+        const { command, negate } = commandEntry;
         const currentBindings = config.get(command) ?? [];
 
         try {
           const keyBinding = new KeyBinding(key);
-          // Add new binding (prepend so it's the primary one shown in UI)
-          config.set(command, [keyBinding, ...currentBindings]);
+
+          if (negate) {
+            const updatedBindings = currentBindings.filter(
+              (b) => !b.equals(keyBinding),
+            );
+            if (updatedBindings.length === currentBindings.length) {
+              throw new Error(`cannot remove "${key}" since it is not bound`);
+            }
+            config.set(command, updatedBindings);
+          } else {
+            // Add new binding (prepend so it's the primary one shown in UI)
+            config.set(command, [keyBinding, ...currentBindings]);
+          }
         } catch (e) {
-          errors.push(`Invalid keybinding for command "${command}": ${e}`);
+          errors.push(
+            `Invalid keybinding for command "${negate ? '-' : ''}${command}": ${e}`,
+          );
         }
       }
     } else {