Using vim keys in zsh terminal, how to exit "excute:_" mode?

Question

I have recently switched to vim style key binding for my terminal by placing set -o vi in my .zshrc file. When using it I find myself in this "excute:_" mode after pressing Esc and then : , the terminal then looks like this:

[I] ➜ 
execute: _

What is this mode and how do I exit it?

I have looked here and here for answers to no avail. I also asked in the vim stack exchange and got told to move.

Answer 1

I think it's called the vicmd mode. You can execute commands from the ZLE (Zsh Line Editor). For example, you can type ed then TAB for completion which should write edit-command-line and if you run it, it will open your editor to edit the current line (as the name suggest).

You can go back to normal mode with ctrl + c