Fix Page Preview Hover + Modifier (“Better Page Preview” plugin)
TL;DR This plugin lets you pick any modifier key (⌘ / ⌃ / ⌥ / none) for Page Preview and blocks pop-ups unless that key is already held before your cursor touches a link. No more surprise windows when you press ⌘-S, ⌘-W, etc.
What it changes
| Feature | Result |
|---|---|
| Choose your modifier (Cmd, Ctrl, Alt or None) | Works everywhere—Editor & Reading view, File Explorer, Search, Outline, tab headers, embeds, PDF++… |
| Must be held before hover | Pop-ups only appear when you mean it. Pressing the key after you’re already on a link does nothing. |
Everything else—dwell-time, alias handling, PDF previews—stays in the core Page Preview (and Hover Editor) plugins.
Quick setup
- Keep the core “Page Preview” plugin enabled
- In its settings, turn off all “Require ⌘” toggles (our plugin takes over)
- Install Better Page Preview → choose your modifier in its settings. Done.
Tip: set the modifier to None any time you want classic hover behaviour again.
Why this exists
Existing request threads. I am also supper annoyed by this and wrote a tiny gatekeeper:
- Runs a capture-phase mouse-over filter; cancels the event when the key isn’t down.
- Adds a lightweight workspace listener for Search / Files / PDF++ hovers.
- No synthetic events, no DOM hacks—just early preventDefault().
Built with ChatGPT-o3, tested on macOS 13 · Obsidian 1.8.10 with Hover Editor, PDF++, Surfing, etc.
Get it
- GitHub release ZIP: <your-repo/releases> → unzip to /.obsidian/plugins/
- Awaiting approval in Community Plugins (PR submitted).
MIT-licensed. Feedback & PRs welcome