Keyboard Shortcuts
Inkdown is designed for keyboard-centric workflows. All shortcuts are customizable through Settings > Keyboard Shortcuts.
Mod refers to Cmd on macOS and Ctrl on Windows/Linux.
Application Shortcuts
General
| Shortcut | Command | Description |
|---|
Mod+, | Open Settings | Open the settings dialog |
Mod+\ | Toggle Sidebar | Show or hide the file explorer sidebar |
Mod+E | Toggle View Mode | Switch between editor, side-by-side, and preview modes |
Mod+Shift+O | Open Workspace | Open a different workspace folder |
Tab Management
| Shortcut | Command | Description |
|---|
Mod+N | New Note | Create a new note |
Mod+T | New Tab | Open a new editor tab |
Mod+W | Close Tab | Close the current tab |
Mod+S | Save File | Save the current file |
Mod+Tab | Next Tab | Switch to the next tab |
Mod+Shift+Tab | Previous Tab | Switch to the previous tab |
Alt+1 to Alt+9 | Switch to Tab 1-9 | Jump directly to a specific tab |
Editor Shortcuts
Text Formatting
| Shortcut | Command | Description |
|---|
Mod+B | Toggle Bold | Make selected text bold |
Mod+I | Toggle Italic | Make selected text italic |
Mod+Shift+S | Toggle Strikethrough | Make selected text strikethrough |
Mod+Shift+E | Toggle Inline Code | Make selected text inline code |
Mod+Shift+H | Toggle Highlight | Highlight selected text |
Links and Images
| Shortcut | Command | Description |
|---|
Mod+K | Insert Link | Insert a markdown link |
Mod+Shift+K | Insert Image | Insert a markdown image |
Headings
| Shortcut | Command | Description |
|---|
Mod+Shift+1 | Insert Header 1 | Insert or convert to # Heading 1 |
Mod+Shift+2 | Insert Header 2 | Insert or convert to ## Heading 2 |
Mod+Shift+3 | Insert Header 3 | Insert or convert to ### Heading 3 |
Mod+Shift+4 | Insert Header 4 | Insert or convert to #### Heading 4 |
Mod+Shift+5 | Insert Header 5 | Insert or convert to ##### Heading 5 |
Mod+Shift+6 | Insert Header 6 | Insert or convert to ###### Heading 6 |
Lists
| Shortcut | Command | Description |
|---|
Mod+Shift+8 | Toggle Bullet List | Create or toggle a bullet list |
Mod+Shift+7 | Toggle Numbered List | Create or toggle a numbered list |
Mod+L | Toggle Task List | Create or toggle a task list with checkboxes |
Blocks
| Shortcut | Command | Description |
|---|
Mod+Shift+. | Toggle Blockquote | Create or toggle a blockquote |
Mod+Shift+C | Insert Code Block | Insert a fenced code block |
Mod+Shift+- | Insert Horizontal Rule | Insert a horizontal rule (---) |
Mod+Shift+T | Insert Table | Insert a markdown table template |
Editor Suggestions
When an autocomplete suggestion popup is visible:
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|
↑ | Select previous suggestion |
↓ | Select next suggestion |
Enter | Accept selected suggestion |
Escape | Close suggestion popup |
History Commands
Standard editing history is available:
| Shortcut | Command |
|---|
Mod+Z | Undo |
Mod+Shift+Z or Mod+Y | Redo |
Customizing Shortcuts
All keyboard shortcuts can be customized to match your workflow:
- Open Settings with
Mod+,
- Navigate to Keyboard Shortcuts
- Click on any shortcut to edit it
- Press your desired key combination
- Click Save to apply changes
Shortcut Conflicts
Inkdown automatically detects and prevents shortcut conflicts:
- User customizations take highest priority
- Plugin shortcuts override core shortcuts
- Core shortcuts have lowest priority
If a conflict is detected, you’ll be notified and asked to choose a different key combination.
Resetting Shortcuts
To reset a shortcut to its default value:
- Navigate to Settings > Keyboard Shortcuts
- Find the shortcut you want to reset
- Click the Reset button next to it
- The shortcut will revert to its default key combination
Priority System
Shortcuts are executed based on context:
Editor Context
Shortcuts starting with editor: only work when the editor has focus. This prevents conflicts with other UI elements.
Global Shortcuts
These shortcuts work anywhere in the application:
- File operations (
Mod+N, Mod+S)
- Tab management (
Mod+W, Mod+T)
- Application commands (
Mod+,, Mod+\)
When typing in input fields (except the editor), most shortcuts are disabled to prevent accidental command execution. Only global shortcuts remain active.
Shortcuts in Inkdown use the following format:
['Mod', 'Shift', 'K'] // Mod+Shift+K
['Alt', '1'] // Alt+1
['Mod', 'B'] // Mod+B
- Mod:
Cmd on macOS, Ctrl on Windows/Linux
- Shift: Shift modifier
- Alt: Alt/Option modifier
- Ctrl: Control key (separate from Mod on macOS)
Vim Mode Keybindings
When Vim mode is enabled, additional Vim keybindings become available. See Editor Basics for details on Vim mode.
Vim keybindings work alongside standard shortcuts, allowing you to use both systems simultaneously.
Plugin Commands
Plugins can register their own keyboard shortcuts. These appear in the Keyboard Shortcuts settings alongside core commands.
Plugin shortcuts follow the same priority system and can be customized just like core shortcuts.
Tips for Efficiency
- Learn Mod+K first: The quick command palette (if available) provides access to all commands
- Use tab switching:
Alt+1 through Alt+9 for fast navigation
- Master formatting shortcuts:
Mod+B, Mod+I, Mod+K are used constantly
- Customize for your workflow: Don’t hesitate to change shortcuts that don’t match your habits
- Print this page: Keep a reference handy while learning the shortcuts
Keyboard-Centric Philosophy
Inkdown is designed with keyboard efficiency in mind:
- Every action has a keyboard shortcut
- Mouse usage is optional for most tasks
- Vim mode provides modal editing for power users
- Customization allows personal optimization
- Consistent key patterns across similar commands
Next Steps
- Configure your editor settings in Editor Basics
- Customize the appearance with Themes
- Set up Sync for multi-device access
