Reference
Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard Shortcuts

Master Lokus with these comprehensive keyboard shortcuts. All shortcuts use native OS conventions.

Essential Shortcuts

These are the most important shortcuts to learn first:

ActionMacWindows/LinuxDescription
Command Palette⌘KCtrl+KAccess all commands and files
Save⌘SCtrl+SSave current file
New File⌘NCtrl+NCreate new file
Open⌘OCtrl+OOpen file dialog
Find⌘FCtrl+FFind in current file

File Operations

Basic File Management

ActionMacWindows/LinuxDescription
New File⌘NCtrl+NCreate new untitled file
Open File⌘OCtrl+OOpen file browser
Save⌘SCtrl+SSave current file
Save As⌘⇧SCtrl+Shift+SSave with new name/location
Close Tab⌘WCtrl+WClose current tab
Close Window⌘⇧WCtrl+Shift+WClose application window

Workspace Navigation

ActionMacWindows/LinuxDescription
Command Palette⌘KCtrl+KQuick file/command access
Toggle Sidebar⌘BCtrl+BShow/hide file sidebar
Focus Sidebar⌘0Ctrl+0Move focus to sidebar
Focus Editor⌘1Ctrl+1Move focus to editor

Text Editing

Selection and Navigation

ActionMacWindows/LinuxDescription
Select All⌘ACtrl+ASelect all content
Cut⌘XCtrl+XCut selected text
Copy⌘CCtrl+CCopy selected text
Paste⌘VCtrl+VPaste from clipboard
Undo⌘ZCtrl+ZUndo last action
Redo⌘⇧ZCtrl+Shift+ZRedo last undone action

Advanced Selection

ActionMacWindows/LinuxDescription
Select WordDouble-clickDouble-clickSelect word under cursor
Select LineTriple-clickTriple-clickSelect entire line
Select to End⌘⇧→Ctrl+Shift+→Select to end of line
Select to Start⌘⇧←Ctrl+Shift+←Select to start of line

Text Formatting

ActionMacWindows/LinuxDescription
Bold⌘BCtrl+BToggle bold formatting
Italic⌘ICtrl+IToggle italic formatting
Strikethrough⌘⇧XCtrl+Shift+XToggle strikethrough
Code⌘ECtrl+EToggle inline code
Link⌘K then LCtrl+K then LInsert/edit link

Search and Replace

Find Operations

ActionMacWindows/LinuxDescription
Find⌘FCtrl+FOpen find dialog
Find Next⌘GF3Find next match
Find Previous⌘⇧GShift+F3Find previous match
Find and Replace⌘⌥FCtrl+HOpen find/replace dialog
Close FindEscapeEscapeClose find dialog

Quick Search

ActionMacWindows/LinuxDescription
Quick Find⌘ECtrl+EFind selected text
Find Files⌘PCtrl+PQuick open file by name
Go to Line⌘GCtrl+GGo to specific line number

Command Palette Actions

Press ⌘K (or Ctrl+K) then type any of these commands:

File Commands

  • new - Create new file
  • save - Save current file
  • open - Open file dialog
  • folder - Create new folder

View Commands

  • sidebar - Toggle sidebar
  • preferences - Open preferences
  • command - Show command palette
  • find - Open find dialog

Quick Actions

  • Type filename to quickly open
  • Type folder name to navigate
  • Use arrow keys to navigate results
  • Press Enter to execute action

Context Menu Shortcuts

File Context Menu (Right-click file)

ActionShortcutDescription
OpenEnterOpen file in editor
RenameF2Rename file
DeleteDeleteMove to trash
Cut⌘XCut file
Copy⌘CCopy file
Copy Path⌘⌥CCopy file path

Editor Context Menu (Right-click in editor)

ActionShortcutDescription
Cut⌘XCut selected text
Copy⌘CCopy selected text
Paste⌘VPaste from clipboard
Select All⌘ASelect all content
Find⌘FFind in document

Task Management Shortcuts

Task Creation Widget

ActionTriggerDescription
Open Task Widget!task Type !task + space to open task creation widget
Cycle Task TypeTabCycle through task types (Urgent → Question → Progress → Todo)
Create TaskEnterCreate task with current description and type
Cancel WidgetEscapeCancel and close task creation widget

Task Import Widget

ActionTriggerDescription
Open Import Widget@task Type @task + space to open task import widget
Search TasksType to searchFilter existing tasks by typing
Navigate Results↑/↓Navigate up/down through task list
Select TaskEnterImport selected task into current note
Cancel WidgetEscapeCancel and close import widget

Kanban Navigation

ActionMacWindows/LinuxDescription
Open Kanban⌘K → "kanban"Ctrl+K → "kanban"Open full kanban board via command palette
Toggle Tasks ViewClick Tasks tabClick Tasks tabSwitch to mini kanban in sidebar
Click Task ElementMouse clickMouse clickClick any task in notes to jump to kanban

Task Types Reference

TypeIconKeyboard Navigation
UrgentRedDefault selection in widget
QuestionYellowPress Tab once from Urgent
In ProgressBluePress Tab twice from Urgent
Todo⚪Press Tab three times from Urgent

Advanced Shortcuts

Power User Features

ActionMacWindows/LinuxDescription
Multi-cursor⌘DCtrl+DAdd cursor at next match
Column Select⌥+dragAlt+dragSelect rectangular region
Duplicate Line⌘⇧DCtrl+Shift+DDuplicate current line
Move Line Up⌥↑Alt+↑Move line up
Move Line Down⌥↓Alt+↓Move line down

Developer Features

ActionMacWindows/LinuxDescription
Toggle Dev Tools⌘⌥ICtrl+Shift+IOpen developer tools
Reload⌘RCtrl+RReload application
Force Reload⌘⇧RCtrl+Shift+RForce reload (clear cache)

Custom Shortcuts

You can customize shortcuts in Preferences → Keyboard Shortcuts.

Creating Custom Shortcuts

  1. Open Preferences (⌘,)
  2. Navigate to Keyboard Shortcuts
  3. Click "Add Custom Shortcut"
  4. Choose action and key combination
  5. Save changes

Shortcut Guidelines

  • Use ⌘ (Cmd) as primary modifier on Mac
  • Use Ctrl as primary modifier on Windows/Linux
  • Add ⇧ (Shift) for related but opposite actions
  • Add ⌥ (Alt/Option) for variants of actions

Accessibility Shortcuts

Screen Reader Support

ActionMacWindows/LinuxDescription
Navigate HeadingsVO+⌘HHJump between headings
Navigate LinksVO+⌘LKJump between links
Read SelectionVO+SCtrl+Shift+SRead selected text

High Contrast Mode

ActionMacWindows/LinuxDescription
Toggle High Contrast⌘⌥⇧8Alt+Shift+PrtScnSystem high contrast
Increase Text Size⌘+Ctrl++Zoom in
Decrease Text Size⌘-Ctrl+-Zoom out

Tips for Efficiency

1. Learn Command Palette First

Master ⌘K - it's the gateway to everything:

⌘K → "save" → Enter    (Save file)
⌘K → "new" → Enter     (New file)
⌘K → filename → Enter  (Open file)

2. Use Context Menus

Right-click is your friend:

  • Files: Quick actions like rename, delete, copy path
  • Editor: Text operations and formatting

3. Combine Shortcuts

Chain shortcuts for complex actions:

⌘A → ⌘C → ⌘N → ⌘V    (Copy all to new file)
⌘F → Type → ⌘G → ⌘G   (Find and navigate matches)

4. Practice Muscle Memory

Focus on these daily shortcuts:

  • ⌘K - Command palette
  • ⌘S - Save
  • ⌘F - Find
  • ⌘Z/⌘⇧Z - Undo/Redo

5. Customize for Your Workflow

Set up shortcuts for actions you use frequently:

  • Custom export formats
  • Specific folder navigation
  • Template insertion

Platform Differences

macOS Specific

  • Use ⌘ (Command) as primary modifier
  • ⌥ (Option) for alternative actions
  • Natural scroll direction supported

Windows/Linux Specific

  • Use Ctrl as primary modifier
  • Alt for alternative actions
  • Windows key integration available

Universal Shortcuts

These work the same across all platforms:

  • F1-F12 function keys
  • Escape to cancel actions
  • Enter to confirm actions
  • Arrow keys for navigation

Pro Tip: Print this page and keep it nearby while learning. Most users become proficient with essential shortcuts within a week of regular use!

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