diff --git a/example/config.kdl b/example/config.kdl
index 9689be1bad..b54fe1724d 100644
--- a/example/config.kdl
+++ b/example/config.kdl
@@ -126,6 +126,7 @@ keybinds {
         bind "k" { MoveFocus "Up"; SwitchToMode "Normal"; }
         bind "o" { FocusNextPane; }
         bind "d" { Detach; }
+        bind "x" { CloseFocus; SwitchToMode "Normal"; }
     }
     shared_except "locked" {
         bind "Ctrl g" { SwitchToMode "Locked"; }
diff --git a/example/default.kdl b/example/default.kdl
index 2397f5bae2..248b4026cf 100644
--- a/example/default.kdl
+++ b/example/default.kdl
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ keybinds {
         bind "k" { MoveFocus "Up"; SwitchToMode "Normal"; }
         bind "o" { FocusNextPane; }
         bind "d" { Detach; }
+        bind "x" { CloseFocus; SwitchToMode "Normal"; }
     }
     shared_except "locked" {
         bind "Ctrl g" { SwitchToMode "Locked"; }
diff --git a/zellij-utils/assets/config/default.kdl b/zellij-utils/assets/config/default.kdl
index 2397f5bae2..248b4026cf 100644
--- a/zellij-utils/assets/config/default.kdl
+++ b/zellij-utils/assets/config/default.kdl
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ keybinds {
         bind "k" { MoveFocus "Up"; SwitchToMode "Normal"; }
         bind "o" { FocusNextPane; }
         bind "d" { Detach; }
+        bind "x" { CloseFocus; SwitchToMode "Normal"; }
     }
     shared_except "locked" {
         bind "Ctrl g" { SwitchToMode "Locked"; }
diff --git a/zellij-utils/src/snapshots/zellij_utils__setup__setup_test__default_config_with_no_cli_arguments.snap b/zellij-utils/src/snapshots/zellij_utils__setup__setup_test__default_config_with_no_cli_arguments.snap
index 8d946d7b1b..2ccadb3cef 100644
--- a/zellij-utils/src/snapshots/zellij_utils__setup__setup_test__default_config_with_no_cli_arguments.snap
+++ b/zellij-utils/src/snapshots/zellij_utils__setup__setup_test__default_config_with_no_cli_arguments.snap
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 ---
 source: zellij-utils/src/setup.rs
-assertion_line: 582
 expression: "format!(\"{:#?}\", config)"
 ---
 Config {
@@ -3124,6 +3123,14 @@ Config {
                     Normal,
                 ),
             ],
+            Char(
+                'x',
+            ): [
+                CloseFocus,
+                SwitchToMode(
+                    Normal,
+                ),
+            ],
             Char(
                 'z',
             ): [
diff --git a/zellij-utils/src/snapshots/zellij_utils__setup__setup_test__layout_env_vars_override_config_env_vars.snap b/zellij-utils/src/snapshots/zellij_utils__setup__setup_test__layout_env_vars_override_config_env_vars.snap
index 97fb9f8125..6bc0fbbac6 100644
--- a/zellij-utils/src/snapshots/zellij_utils__setup__setup_test__layout_env_vars_override_config_env_vars.snap
+++ b/zellij-utils/src/snapshots/zellij_utils__setup__setup_test__layout_env_vars_override_config_env_vars.snap
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 ---
 source: zellij-utils/src/setup.rs
-assertion_line: 640
 expression: "format!(\"{:#?}\", config)"
 ---
 Config {
@@ -3124,6 +3123,14 @@ Config {
                     Normal,
                 ),
             ],
+            Char(
+                'x',
+            ): [
+                CloseFocus,
+                SwitchToMode(
+                    Normal,
+                ),
+            ],
             Char(
                 'z',
             ): [
diff --git a/zellij-utils/src/snapshots/zellij_utils__setup__setup_test__layout_plugins_override_config_plugins.snap b/zellij-utils/src/snapshots/zellij_utils__setup__setup_test__layout_plugins_override_config_plugins.snap
index f106051299..d2391eddb9 100644
--- a/zellij-utils/src/snapshots/zellij_utils__setup__setup_test__layout_plugins_override_config_plugins.snap
+++ b/zellij-utils/src/snapshots/zellij_utils__setup__setup_test__layout_plugins_override_config_plugins.snap
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 ---
 source: zellij-utils/src/setup.rs
-assertion_line: 668
 expression: "format!(\"{:#?}\", config)"
 ---
 Config {
@@ -3124,6 +3123,14 @@ Config {
                     Normal,
                 ),
             ],
+            Char(
+                'x',
+            ): [
+                CloseFocus,
+                SwitchToMode(
+                    Normal,
+                ),
+            ],
             Char(
                 'z',
             ): [
diff --git a/zellij-utils/src/snapshots/zellij_utils__setup__setup_test__layout_themes_override_config_themes.snap b/zellij-utils/src/snapshots/zellij_utils__setup__setup_test__layout_themes_override_config_themes.snap
index 13c499ddba..a69286fee2 100644
--- a/zellij-utils/src/snapshots/zellij_utils__setup__setup_test__layout_themes_override_config_themes.snap
+++ b/zellij-utils/src/snapshots/zellij_utils__setup__setup_test__layout_themes_override_config_themes.snap
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 ---
 source: zellij-utils/src/setup.rs
-assertion_line: 682
 expression: "format!(\"{:#?}\", config)"
 ---
 Config {
@@ -3124,6 +3123,14 @@ Config {
                     Normal,
                 ),
             ],
+            Char(
+                'x',
+            ): [
+                CloseFocus,
+                SwitchToMode(
+                    Normal,
+                ),
+            ],
             Char(
                 'z',
             ): [
diff --git a/zellij-utils/src/snapshots/zellij_utils__setup__setup_test__layout_ui_config_overrides_config_ui_config.snap b/zellij-utils/src/snapshots/zellij_utils__setup__setup_test__layout_ui_config_overrides_config_ui_config.snap
index fc47de2322..dc086ff093 100644
--- a/zellij-utils/src/snapshots/zellij_utils__setup__setup_test__layout_ui_config_overrides_config_ui_config.snap
+++ b/zellij-utils/src/snapshots/zellij_utils__setup__setup_test__layout_ui_config_overrides_config_ui_config.snap
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 ---
 source: zellij-utils/src/setup.rs
-assertion_line: 654
 expression: "format!(\"{:#?}\", config)"
 ---
 Config {
@@ -3124,6 +3123,14 @@ Config {
                     Normal,
                 ),
             ],
+            Char(
+                'x',
+            ): [
+                CloseFocus,
+                SwitchToMode(
+                    Normal,
+                ),
+            ],
             Char(
                 'z',
             ): [