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Obsidian Keyboard Shortcuts - Mac & Windows Cheat Sheet (2026)
Obsidian keyboard shortcuts for 2026 — create and link notes, search your vault, format markdown, and navigate your knowledge base without touching the mouse.
Download the Obsidian Cheat Sheet (PDF)
41 shortcuts across 4 categories · Windows · macOS · Linux
Use the Quick Switcher (Ctrl+O / Cmd+O) to find notes and the Command Palette (Ctrl+P / Cmd+P) to find commands. Compare Windows/Linux and Mac editing shortcuts below, then assign your own hotkeys for navigation, templates, and plugins. To create a wikilink, type [[ and select a note.
Quick lookups (32 key combinations)
Compare what these combinations do across applications and operating systems.
Official documentation
- Official source: Checked against obsidian.md/help
General & Navigation
| Action | Windows / Linux | Mac | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Command Palette | Ctrl + P | Cmd + P | Access all Obsidian commands; start typing to filter — the fastest way to trigger anything |
| Quick Switcher | Ctrl + O | Cmd + O | Type part of a note title to jump to it instantly |
| New Note | Ctrl + N | Cmd + N | Create a blank note in the current vault |
| Search Across Vault | Ctrl + Shift + F | Cmd + Shift + F | Full-text search across all notes, including backlinks |
| Rename Current Note | F2 | F2 | Open the file rename UI for the active note |
| Open Graph View | Ctrl + G | Cmd + G | Open the global graph view to visualise all note connections |
| Toggle Reading View | Ctrl + E | Cmd + E | Switch between editing and reading (preview) mode |
| Close Active Pane | Ctrl + W | Cmd + W | Close the currently focused note pane |
| Undo | Ctrl + Z | Cmd + Z | Undo the last action |
| Redo | Ctrl + Shift + Z or Ctrl + Y | Cmd + Shift + Z | Redo the last undone action |
Editing & Formatting
| Action | Windows / Linux | Mac | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bold | Ctrl + B | Cmd + B | Wrap selected text with **bold** markdown |
| Italic | Ctrl + I | Cmd + I | Wrap selected text with *italic* markdown |
| Toggle Comment | Ctrl + / | Cmd + / | Comment out the selected markdown line |
| Indent List Item | Tab | Tab | Indent the current list item one level |
| Outdent List Item | Shift + Tab | Shift + Tab | Outdent the current list item one level |
| Delete the current line | Ctrl + Shift + K | Cmd + Shift + K | Delete the current line with no text selected. |
| Paste without formatting | Ctrl + Shift + V | Cmd + Shift + V | Paste clipboard text without its original formatting. |
| Copy paragraph (no selection) | Ctrl + C | Cmd + C | Copy the current paragraph when no text is selected. |
| Cut paragraph (no selection) | Ctrl + X | Cmd + X | Cut the current paragraph when no text is selected. |
| Delete previous word | Ctrl + Backspace | Option + Backspace | Delete the word before the cursor. |
| Delete next word | Ctrl + Delete | Option + Delete | Delete the word after the cursor. |
| Go to start of note | Ctrl + Home | Cmd + ↑ | Move the cursor to the beginning of the note. |
| Go to end of note | Ctrl + End | Cmd + ↓ | Move the cursor to the end of the note. |
Links, Embeds & Templates
| Action | Windows / Linux | Mac | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insert Markdown Link | Ctrl + K | Cmd + K | Insert a Markdown link; type [[ to create a wikilink to another note. |
| Open Developer Console | Ctrl + Shift + I | Cmd + Shift + I | Open the developer console — for power users and plugin debugging |
Popular hotkeys to assign yourself
Not set by default in every install — assign in Settings → Hotkeys. These are suggestions, custom binding suggestions. Choose unused combinations to avoid conflicts; plugin commands require the relevant plugin.
| Action | Windows / Linux | Mac | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navigate Back | Alt + ← (suggested) | Option + ← (suggested) | Go back to the previously opened note (like browser history) |
| Navigate Forward | Alt + → (suggested) | Option + → (suggested) | Go forward in your note navigation history |
| Open Backlinks | Ctrl + Shift + B (suggested) | Cmd + Shift + B (suggested) | Show all notes that link to the current note |
| Follow Link Under Cursor | Ctrl + Enter (suggested) | Cmd + Enter (suggested) | Open the [[wikilink]] under the cursor |
| Toggle Left Sidebar | Ctrl + Shift + L (suggested) | Cmd + Shift + L (suggested) | Show or hide the left sidebar panel |
| Toggle Right Sidebar | Ctrl + Shift + R (suggested) | Cmd + Shift + R (suggested) | Show or hide the right sidebar panel |
| Underline (via plugin) | Ctrl + U (suggested) | Cmd + U (suggested) | Underline selected text — requires the 'Underline' community plugin |
| Toggle Inline Code | Ctrl + ` (suggested) | Cmd + ` (suggested) | Wrap selected text in inline code backticks |
| Toggle Strikethrough | Alt + Shift + D (suggested) | Option + Shift + D (suggested) | Toggle strikethrough on selected text |
| Toggle Checklist | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + L (suggested) | Cmd + Option + Shift + L (suggested) | Convert the current line to a task-list item (checkbox) |
| Duplicate Current Line | Ctrl + Shift + D (suggested) | Cmd + Shift + D (suggested) | Duplicate the current line below — handy for quick list entries |
| Move Line Up | Ctrl + Shift + ↑ (suggested) | Cmd + Shift + ↑ (suggested) | Move the current line up in the document |
| Move Line Down | Ctrl + Shift + ↓ (suggested) | Cmd + Shift + ↓ (suggested) | Move the current line down in the document |
| Toggle Embed | Ctrl + Shift + M (suggested) | Cmd + Shift + M (suggested) | Quickly embed a note or block as ![[note]] inline |
| Insert Template | Ctrl + Shift + Space (suggested) | Cmd + Shift + Space (suggested) | Open the 'Insert template' dialog to apply a recurring note structure |
| Open Link in New Pane | Ctrl + Shift + Enter (suggested) | Cmd + Shift + Enter (suggested) | Open the wikilink under cursor in a split pane |
How to Change or Add Hotkeys in Obsidian
- Open Settings → Hotkeys.
- Search for the command you want.
- Click the + next to it and press your key combination.
- Click Save. You can add more than one combo per command.
To see only commands that already have a hotkey, click the filter icon at the top of the Hotkeys list. To remove one, click the × next to it.
Tip: the Command Palette (Ctrl+P / Cmd+P) shows a command's current hotkey next to its name.
Obsidian Tips & Tricks
- Use the Quick Switcher: Ctrl+O / Cmd+O finds notes by title. Type [[ to create links between notes.
- Find commands and their current hotkeys: Ctrl+P / Cmd+P opens the Command Palette. Assigned shortcuts appear beside commands.
- Assign a template hotkey: Enable the Templates plugin, then choose an unused combination in Settings → Hotkeys. Ctrl+Shift+Space is a suggestion, not a guaranteed default.
Frequently Asked Questions — Obsidian
- What is the Obsidian command palette shortcut?
- Ctrl+P on Windows/Linux, Cmd+P on Mac. It lists every command and shows any hotkey already assigned.
- How do I see all my Obsidian hotkeys?
- Settings → Hotkeys, then click the filter icon to show only commands with a hotkey assigned.
- Can I change Obsidian keyboard shortcuts?
- Yes. Command hotkeys are customizable in Settings → Hotkeys. Basic text-editing shortcuts (copy, paste, cursor movement) come from your OS and can't be changed in Obsidian.
- Is there a printable Obsidian cheat sheet?
- Yes — print this page (Ctrl+P in your browser, Cmd+P on Mac) or explore the formatted PDF packs in the Shop. Browse PDF packs in the Shop.
- How do I delete a whole line in Obsidian?
- Put the cursor on the line with nothing selected and press Ctrl+Shift+K (Cmd+Shift+K on Mac).
- How do I create a new note in Obsidian?
- Press Ctrl+N (Cmd+N on Mac) to create a new note in your vault. The note opens in the editor immediately so you can start writing. If you want to create a note and link to it at the same time, type [[note name]] anywhere in your text and press Ctrl+Enter to follow the link and create the note.
- How do I search across all notes in Obsidian?
- Press Ctrl+Shift+F (Cmd+Shift+F on Mac) to open the full-text search panel, which searches across every note in your vault. For quick note-by-note navigation by title, use Ctrl+O (Cmd+O on Mac) to open the Quick Switcher instead.
- How do I switch between editing and reading mode in Obsidian?
- Press Ctrl+E (Cmd+E on Mac) to toggle between Edit mode (where you write markdown) and Reading mode (where the rendered preview is shown). Obsidian also supports Live Preview mode, which renders markdown inline as you type without needing to switch.
- How do I create a link to another note in Obsidian?
- While writing, press Ctrl+K (Cmd+K on Mac) to insert an internal wikilink. Obsidian will show an autocomplete dropdown of existing note names. Linking notes freely is the core habit that makes the graph view useful over time — link early and often.
How to Learn Obsidian Keyboard Shortcuts
Obsidian stores your notes as local Markdown files. Start with the Quick Switcher (Ctrl+O / Cmd+O) to jump to a note by filename and the Command Palette (Ctrl+P / Cmd+P) to find commands and their assigned hotkeys. To create a wikilink, type [[ and select a note; Ctrl+K inserts a Markdown link instead.
Learn the editing shortcuts separately from customizable command hotkeys. The editing defaults listed here come from Obsidian's official documentation; suggested combinations for navigation, sidebars, templates, and plugins must first be assigned in Settings → Hotkeys. Check the command palette for the current binding, and choose unused combinations to avoid conflicts.