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Keyboard shortcuts

Work faster with Orbit’s built-in shortcuts — and rebind any of them to keys you prefer.

Cmd/Ctrl means ⌘ on Mac and Ctrl on Windows. Press Cmd/Ctrl+/ anytime to see this list inside Orbit as the Keyboard shortcuts overlay.

ShortcutAction
Cmd/Ctrl+JToggle command palette
Cmd/Ctrl+/Keyboard shortcuts

The command palette is the fastest route to everything else: it runs every command on this page plus note search, so Cmd/Ctrl+J is the one shortcut worth learning first.

ShortcutAction
Cmd/Ctrl+NCreate new note
Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+FCreate new folder
ShortcutAction
Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+HGo to home
Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+BGo to bookmarks
Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+GGo to graph view
Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+DGo to trash
Cmd/Ctrl+,Workspace settings
ShortcutAction
Cmd/Ctrl+KInsert or edit link
Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+TInsert table
Cmd/Ctrl+Alt+TToggle table of contents
Cmd/Ctrl+Alt+ZToggle focus mode
Cmd/Ctrl+Alt+LLock / unlock note
Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+1Open raw markdown
Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+4Open visual editor

Open raw markdown shows the note’s underlying markdown source — see Raw markdown. Open visual editor returns to the normal editor.

These keys are handled by the editor itself and cannot be rebound:

KeyAction
Tab / Shift+Tab in a listIndent or outdent the selected list items — only those items, not their whole subtree
Tab on the block below a collapsible sectionTuck that block into the section; Shift+Tab lifts the section’s last block back out
Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+VPaste as plain text
Cmd/Ctrl+FFind in note

Every shortcut in the General, Notes, Navigation, and Current note tables is customizable:

  1. Press Cmd/Ctrl+, to open settings.
  2. Select Shortcuts.
  3. Click a shortcut and press your new key combination.

While recording, press Backspace to unbind the command or Escape to cancel. A binding needs at least one modifier (⌘/Ctrl/Alt) — plain keys would fire while typing. If two commands end up on the same keys, Orbit flags the conflict and only the first command fires.

One command ships unbound: Rebuild link index. Assign it a shortcut here or run it from the command palette.

Do these shortcuts work on mobile? The shortcut system targets keyboard-driven use in the browser. On phones, use the bottom bar and sheets instead — see Use Orbit on your phone.

How do I make a heading or a list while typing? Formatting is driven by markdown typing shorthand, not key combos — type # and a space for a heading, - for a bullet. See Markdown shortcuts.