Obsidian keyboard shortcuts
In Obsidian, Ctrl+P runs any command by name and Ctrl+O opens any note by name, with Cmd in place of Ctrl on a Mac. The keys for moving around and selecting text come from the operating system, or the framework Obsidian is built on, and cannot be changed; hotkeys for Obsidian's own commands can be set or changed under Settings → Hotkeys. Folding, and switching between Live Preview and Source mode, are commands you give a hotkey there yourself.
Checked against Obsidian Help — Editing shortcuts, Hotkeys, Command palette, Quick switcher, Search, Views and editing mode, Tabs, Internal links, Link notes, Manage notes, Create your first note, Basic formatting syntax, Settings, Multiple cursors, Slash commands, Core plugins, Note composer, Page preview, Tags view, File explorer, Properties, Table view, Canvas, Graph view, Slides and Help and support. Version: Obsidian for desktop, current release.
Showing the Windows keyboard. Showing the Mac keyboard.
110 shortcuts
The top 20 are the Obsidian shortcuts this page marks as the ones to learn first, in the order they appear here. The drill asks the marked ones first too, shuffled. Or tick your own and print those.
The 20 to learn first: the shortcuts the Obsidian page marks as the ones to learn first, in the order they appear on it.
Your own sheet: the Obsidian shortcuts you ticked.
Start here
The command palette runs any command by name, and the quick switcher opens any note by name.
Practise theseOpen the command palette # Type part of a command's name: fuzzy matching finds Save current file from scf. If a command has a hotkey, it is listed beside it.WinControl plusPMacCommand plusP
Open a note by typing its name # Aliases match too. If nothing matches, Enter creates a note with the name you typed.WinControl plusOMacCommand plusO
Create a new note # Type its name, then Enter to start writing.WinControl plusNMacCommand plusN
Search every note in the vault # With text selected, it searches for that text. With the search box empty, it lists your recent searches.WinControl plusShift plusFMacShift plusCommand plusF
Switch between Reading view and editing # New tabs open for editing unless Settings → Editor → Default view for new tabs says otherwise.WinControl plusEMacCommand plusE
Link to another note # Then pick the note from the list. Typed with text selected, it turns that text into a link.
[[Notes, links and files
Practise theseRename the note # Type the new name, then Enter. Links to the note are updated to match, unless Automatically update internal links is off in Settings → Files and links, in which case Obsidian asks first.WinF2MacF2
Open the link in a new tab # In Source mode, add Shift.WinControl plusclickMacCommand plusclick
Open the link in a new tab group # A tab group is a split of the window. Split right and Split down, on a tab's right-click menu, make one too.WinControl plusAlt plusclickMacOption plusCommand plusclick
Open the link in a new window #WinControl plusAlt plusShift plusclickMacOption plusShift plusCommand plusclick
Preview a linked note without opening it # Needed in editing view only. In search results, the file explorer and backlinks, pointing at the link is enough. Page preview is a core plugin and is on by default.WinControl plushoverMacCommand plushover
Open the chosen note in a new tab # In the quick switcher.WinControl plusEnterMacCommand plusReturn
Create a note with exactly the name typed # In the quick switcher, when what you typed also matches notes that already exist.WinShift plusEnterMacShift plusReturn
Flip back to the note you had open before # With nothing typed, the quick switcher lists your most recent notes, so this flips between the last two.WinControl plusOthenDown arrowthenEnterMacCommand plusOthenDown arrowthenReturn
Link to a heading in this note # A list of the note's headings opens. To reach a heading in another note, type # after that note's name inside the link.
[[#Search the headings of every note for one to link to # Keep typing to narrow it: [[## team finds headings that contain team.
[[##Search the blocks of every note for one to link to # A block is a paragraph, quote or list item. Inside a link to one note, typing ^ after the # lists that note's blocks instead.
[[^^Put the merged or extracted text at the end of the chosen note # When Note composer asks which note to merge into, or which note to extract a selection to. Its commands are in the command palette and on the right-click menu.WinEnterMacReturn
Put the merged or extracted text at the start of the chosen note # In the same Note composer list.WinShift plusEnterMacShift plusReturn
Put the merged or extracted text in a new note instead # In the same Note composer list.WinControl plusEnterMacCommand plusReturn
Select several files in the file explorer # Then drag them to another folder to move them together.WinAlt plusclickMacOption plusclick
Select a run of files in the file explorer #WinShift plusclickMacShift plusclick
Add a tag to the search, or take it out again # In the Tags view. A plain click searches for the tag.WinControl plusclickMacCommand plusclick
Tabs, views and the window
Open a new tab #WinControl plusTMacCommand plusT
Go to the next tab # Ctrl on a Mac as well, not Cmd.WinControl plusTabMacControl plusTab
Go to the previous tab #WinControl plusShift plusTabMacControl plusShift plusTab
Go to a tab by its place in the row # 1 is the first tab on the left, and 2 to 8 are the tabs after it.WinControl plusnumberMacCommand plusnumber
Go to the last tab #WinControl plus9MacCommand plus9
Reopen the tab you closed last #WinControl plusShift plusTMacShift plusCommand plusT
Open the note in reading and editing view side by side # The view switcher is the icon in the top-right corner of the editor. It shows only while Settings → Appearance → Show tab title bar is on.WinControl plusclick the view switcherMacCommand plusclick the view switcher
Make the text bigger or smaller # This is the Quick font size adjustment setting, under Settings → Appearance. A trackpad pinch does the same.WinControl plusscrollMacCommand plusscroll
Open the developer console # Where to find the error log that Obsidian's support asks for with a plugin bug report.WinControl plusShift plusIMacOption plusCommand plusI
Editing and formatting
Practise theseBold the selection # The Markdown for bold is **text**, which you can also type.WinControl plusBMacCommand plusB
Italicise the selection # The Markdown for italic is *text* or _text_, which you can type on any system.WinNot listedMacCommand plusI
Paste without formatting # Skips the conversion to Markdown that Convert pasted HTML to Markdown, in Settings → Editor, otherwise applies.WinControl plusShift plusVMacShift plusCommand plusV
Undo #WinControl plusZMacCommand plusZ
Redo #WinControl plusShift plusZorControl plusYMacShift plusCommand plusZ
Copy the whole paragraph # With nothing selected.WinControl plusCMacCommand plusC
Cut the whole paragraph # With nothing selected.WinControl plusXMacCommand plusX
Delete the line # With nothing selected.WinControl plusShift plusKMacShift plusCommand plusK
Delete the word before the cursor #WinControl plusBackspaceMacOption plusDelete
Delete the word after the cursor #WinControl plusDeleteMacOption plusForward Delete
Delete back to the start of the line #WinNot listedMacCommand plusDelete
Delete to the end of the line #WinNot listedMacCommand plusForward Delete
Insert a line break without starting a new paragraph # In a numbered list, it adds a line without changing the numbering.WinShift plusEnterMacShift plusReturn
Indent the list item # Works on several selected items at once. With Indent using tabs turned off in Settings → Editor, it indents with four spaces instead of a tab.WinTabMacTab
Unindent the list item #WinShift plusTabMacShift plusTab
Run a command without leaving the text # At the start of a line or after a space. Type part of the command's name, then Enter; Esc or Space closes the list without running anything. Slash commands is a core plugin: if no list opens, turn it on under Settings → Core plugins.
/Moving around a note
Practise theseBack one word #WinControl plusLeft arrowMacOption plusLeft arrow
Forward one word # Stops at the end of the word, not the start of the next one.WinControl plusRight arrowMacOption plusRight arrow
To the start of the line #WinHomeMacCommand plusLeft arrow
To the end of the line #WinEndMacCommand plusRight arrow
To the top of the note #WinControl plusHomeMacCommand plusUp arrow
To the end of the note #WinControl plusEndMacCommand plusDown arrow
Up one page #WinPage UpMacFunction key plusUp arrow
Down one page #WinPage DownMacFunction key plusDown arrow
Selecting and multiple cursors
Practise theseSelect everything in the note #WinControl plusAMacCommand plusA
Extend the selection by a character #WinShift plusLeft arroworShift plusRight arrowMacShift plusLeft arroworShift plusRight arrow
Extend the selection back a word #WinControl plusShift plusLeft arrowMacOption plusShift plusLeft arrow
Extend the selection forward a word #WinControl plusShift plusRight arrowMacOption plusShift plusRight arrow
Select to the start of the line #WinShift plusHomeMacShift plusCommand plusLeft arrow
Select to the end of the line #WinShift plusEndMacShift plusCommand plusRight arrow
Select to the top of the note #WinControl plusShift plusHomeMacShift plusCommand plusUp arrow
Select to the end of the note #WinControl plusShift plusEndMacShift plusCommand plusDown arrow
Extend the selection up a page # Ctrl on a Mac, not Cmd: Cmd+Shift+Up selects to the top of the note.WinShift plusPage UpMacControl plusShift plusUp arrow
Extend the selection down a page #WinShift plusPage DownMacControl plusShift plusDown arrow
Add another cursor # Click each extra place you want to type in. What you type then goes in at every cursor at once.WinAlt plusclickMacOption plusclick
Make a rectangular selection across several lines # For editing the same place on consecutive lines, such as turning paragraphs into list items. Dragging with the middle mouse button does the same.WinAlt plusShift plusdragMacOption plusShift plusdrag
Go back to a single cursor # Removes the selection and every extra cursor. Clicking in the note without holding a key does the same.WinEscapeMacEscape
Properties
The name and value fields at the top of a note. Apart from adding one, these work once a property has focus.
Practise theseAdd a property to the note # Obsidian's help writes it Cmd/Ctrl+;. The Add file property command in the command palette does the same.WinControl plusSemicolonMacCommand plusSemicolon
Add properties by typing # At the very beginning of the file.
---Go to the next property #WinDown arroworTabMacDown arroworTab
Go to the previous property #WinUp arroworShift plusTabMacUp arroworShift plusTab
Go back to the text of the note #WinAlt plusDown arrowMacOption plusDown arrow
Extend the selection up a property #WinShift plusUp arrowMacShift plusUp arrow
Extend the selection down a property #WinShift plusDown arrowMacShift plusDown arrow
Select every property #WinNot listedMacCommand plusA
Edit the property's name #WinLeft arrowMacLeft arrow
Edit the property's value #WinRight arrowMacRight arrow
Give focus back to the whole property #WinEscapeMacEscape
Delete the property # With properties selected, it deletes the selection instead.WinNot listedMacCommand plusDelete
Bases tables
In a base's table view, which shows a row for each file and a column for each property.
Practise theseSelect a block of cells #WinShift plusclickMacShift plusclick
Select every cell in one direction # Ctrl on a Mac too, not Cmd.WinControl plusShift plusarrow keyMacControl plusShift plusarrow key
Select the column #WinControl plusSpace barMacNot listed
Select the row #WinShift plusSpace barMacNot listed
Edit the cell # On a checkbox it ticks or clears the box. On a formula it opens the formula editor.WinEnterMacNot listed
Clear the selected cells #WinBackspaceMacNot listed
Go to the next cell #WinTabMacNot listed
Go to the previous cell #WinShift plusTabMacNot listed
Clear the cell selection #WinEscapeMacNot listed
Canvas, graph view and slides
Practise theseSelect every card on the canvas #WinControl plusAMacCommand plusA
Add a card to the selection, or take it out #WinShift plusclickMacShift plusclick
Duplicate the selection #WinAlt plusdragMacOption plusdrag
Move the selection in one direction only #WinShift plusdragMacShift plusdrag
Move or resize a card without it snapping #WinSpace bardrag a cardMacSpace bardrag a card
Resize a card and keep its proportions #WinShift plusdrag an edgeMacShift plusdrag an edge
Delete the selected cards or connection # Obsidian's help calls it Delete on a Mac, the key labelled delete there.WinBackspaceMacDelete
Stop editing a card # Also finishes a label you are typing on a connection.WinEscapeMacEscape
Pan the canvas # Dragging with the middle mouse button pans too.WinSpace bardrag the canvasMacSpace bardrag the canvas
Pan sideways # A plain scroll pans up and down.WinShift plusscrollMacShift plusscroll
Zoom in or out # The zoom buttons in the top-right corner do the same.WinControl plusscrollorSpace barscrollMacCommand plusscrollorSpace barscroll
Zoom to fit everything #WinShift plus1MacShift plus1
Zoom to the selection #WinShift plus2MacShift plus2
Open a web page card in the browser # Right-click the card and choose Open in browser for the same thing.WinControl plusclick the card labelMacCommand plusclick the card label
Zoom the graph in # In graph view. The mouse's scroll wheel zooms too.WinPlusMacPlus
Zoom the graph out #WinMinusMacMinus
Move around the graph # Hold Shift to move faster.Winarrow keyMacarrow key
Go to the next slide # In a presentation, started with Start presentation from the command palette or from a tab's right-click menu.WinRight arroworSpace barMacRight arroworSpace bar
Go to the previous slide #WinLeft arrowMacLeft arrow
End the presentation #WinEscapeMacEscape
Next
Notion
Notion treats everything on a page as a block, so most of its speed comes from selecting blocks, moving them and changing their type from the keyboard.
Vim
Vim is not a list of shortcuts so much as a small language: an operator, then a motion or a text object.
VS Code
VS Code has more shortcuts than anyone can hold in their head, so this page is ordered by how often you would actually reach for one.
Docs
In Google Docs the key worth learning first is Alt+/, or Option+/ on a Mac, which finds any menu command when you type its name.
Obsidian keyboard shortcuts — comboshelf.com. Checked 25 September 2026 against Obsidian Help — Editing shortcuts.