New Plugin Better Page Preview: Fix Page Preview unwanted trigger after cmd hotkeys

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

  1. Keep the core “Page Preview” plugin enabled
  2. In its settings, turn off all “Require ⌘” toggles (our plugin takes over)
  3. 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

github desaixie/better-page-preview