Obsidian Hotkeys: Favorites and best practices

[nickmilo]

There are so many wonderful hotkeys. The crazy thing about hotkeys, is that each hotkey can open up a whole new world of workflow possibilities… That said, this is how my personal setup has emerged. Every choice is deliberate to match my personal needs. Hotkeys are a personal thing, but hopefully there are a few moves here you dig. Enjoy!

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Essentials

Some basics

Make new note — Cmd-n
Create note in new pane — Cmd-shift-n
Open the link you’re hovering over in a new pane (while in edit mode) — Cmd-click
Toggle edit/preview mode — Cmd-e
Open quick switcher — Cmd-o
Close active pane — Cmd-w

Formatting basics

Undo, cut, copy, paste, bold, italicize — Cmd-z,x,c,v,b,i

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Intermediate

Open command palette — Cmd-p
Search and replace in current file — Cmd-f
Search in all files — Cmd-shift-f

Some faves for outlining

Swap line up — I mapped this to: Cmd-1
Swap line down — I mapped this to: Cmd-2
Toggle fold on current line — I mapped this to Cmd-3
Toggle line to bulleted of numbered list † — I mapped this to Cmd-4

†: Requires the plugin “Hotkeys++”

Formatting intermediate

Insert template — I mapped this to: Cmd-t

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Advanced

Changing the view

Load workspace — I mapped this to: Shift-Esc
Manage workspaces — I mapped this to: Control-Esc
Toggle left sidebar — I mapped this to: Cmd-LeftArrow
Toggle right sidebar — I mapped this to: Cmd-RightArrow

Some secret weapons

Navigate back — I mapped this to: Opt-a
Navigate forward — I mapped this to: Opt-s

Programmed to my mouse

Open previous daily note — extra mouse button back
Open next daily note — extra mouse button forward
Open my Home note — When I click this mouse button, it types Cmd-o, 000, Enter

Setup and File Management

Open settings — Cmd-,
Show in system explorer — I mapped this to: Cmd-ctrl-opt-i
Reveal active file in navigation — I mapped this to: Cmd-ctrl-i
Move file to another folder — I mapped this to: Cmd-shift-i
Open another vault — I mapped this to: Cmd-ctrl-opt-o

Note Management

Toggle pin — I mapped this to: Cmd-shift-e
Note Refactor: Extract selection to new note - first line as file name †† — I mapped this to: Cmd-shift-r
Edit file title — I mapped this to: Cmd-l (then hit enter to return to the note)
Calendar: Open Weekly Note — I mapped this to: Cmd-shift-m

††: Requires the plugin “Note Refactor”
†††: Requires the plugin “Calendar”

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You might find some hotkeys missing that you can’t live without. Please do share, along with how you’re using it!

[3mbry0]

Was supposed to learn VIM keybindings to make good use of the keyboard but found that it distracted me too much from getting things done. After watching your outlining video, I decided to take your suggestion and implement left-hand hotkeys myself to be more efficient in using both the keyboard and the mouse (which I found that I still needed to use even with VIM anyway), so much so that I made a note of these left-hand hotkeys should I forget them—which would become unlikely after frequently using them.

Left hand keyboard shortcuts

Pairs

• Navigate back and forward: Cmd + Opt + Z & Cmd + Opt + X
  • Was pleasantly surprised that you had a similar setting for navigating notes lol
• Toggle left and right sidebars: Cmd + Shift + A & Cmd + Shift + S
• Previous and next daily notes: Cmd + Opt + A & Cmd + Opt + S

Misc.

• Toggle highlight for sentence (Extract Highlights plugin): Cmd + Opt + Spacebar
• Toggle highlight for selection: Cmd + Shift + Spacebar
• Split horizontally (duplicate active pane): Cmd + Opt + D
• Reveal active file in navigation: Cmd + S
• Random note (Smart Random Note plugin): Cmd + Opt + R

Outlining (four of these hotkeys might be familiar )

• Swap line up and down: Cmd + Opt + 1 & Cmd + Opt + 2
• Toggle bullet and unordered list: Cmd + Opt + 3
• Toggle fold and unfold: Cmd + Opt + 4
• Fold and unfold all headings and lists: Cmd + Opt + - & Cmd + Opt + +
  • Best with full-sized keyboard

I have some frequently-used hotkeys that I deliberately didn’t change to left-hand; these are the ones where I would need to type out something, thus would require my two hands anyway.

• Create new note and in new pane: Cmd + N & Cmd + Shift + N
• Insert template (Templater plugin): Cmd + ;
• Jump to Link plugin: Cmd + '
• Move file to folder: Cmd + /
• Command Palette & Quick Switcher: Cmd + P & Cmd + O

[nickmilo]

I enjoy the thought process that went into your selections, thanks for sharing! There are a few here I will reference in the future, during my next big venture into setting up additional hotkeys

[Bhume]

Helpful. Thank you!

Does anyone one know if there is a way to make a hot key to star a file?

[nickmilo]

Yep, you’ll have to set up the hotkey of your choice:

[Bhume]

Oops…my mistake. Sorry! Silly question.

Thank you nonetheless!

[unclebubba]

Could you say a little about how you actually use these left-handed key combinations in practice? I’m thinking maybe sticky keys might work? When I try to do things like CTL-1, I have to contort myself into a pretzel. LOL

In any case, thanks for your post.

[nickmilo]

I use cmd-1 and cmd-2 like “tap-ity-tap-tap”, real easily. But that’s because I’m particular about the cmd key being situated under the “x” key, which makes perfect sense, but for some ill-advised reason, most keyboards place it moreso under the “z” key, which makes no sense. Seriously, the space bar doesn’t need to be that massive folks!

Smart:

Not-smart (but most common):

The first version is ergonomically friendly. The second version is trying very hard not to be.

[unclebubba]

Thanks for the info. I’m using a MS Surface Pro so I obviously can’t use a different keyboard. I guess my options are 1) Sticky keys or 2) use the ALT rather than CTL (I have two ALT keys, one on each side of the oversized space bar). The second choice would take switching hands but my mouse is always close to the ALT key. In any case, this is one of those “first world problems”. Thanks again!

OBTW: I just had a thought. I could add all kinds of interesting hot keys with the AHK (Auto Hot Key) app. It seems to be nearly unlimited in what one can do with it. Hmmmm

[3mbry0]

Sorry for the late reply. I actually use an external Windows keyboard with my Macbook.

On that keyboard, I’ve set the following modifier keys (from Mac to Windows keys respectively):

• Cmd to Ctrl
• Opt/Alt to just Alt; and
• Windows key to Ctrl.

I believe I’ve set this so that whenever I need to work with a Windows computer, the layout of the keyboard wouldn’t be so foreign to me.

I use a full-size mechanical keyboard, and what I’ve found comparing to a laptop keyboard is that the latter has flat keys, which makes it harder for me to access, say, the Ctrl and number keys simultaneously as this forces my fingers to “contort like a pretzel” as you say.

But with a mechanical keyboard, I technically use “6 fingers” with my left hand, the extra finger being my palm—specifically the bone right before the pinky. This enables me to press the Ctrl key—using that part of my palm—while keeping the other fingers, especially the pinky, on the home row keys (good luck doing this with laptop keyboards tho). This is much easier than using your pinky to press Ctrl, which I’d still need to do for other combinations like Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + (number) (but you could also use your palm to press the Ctrl and Shift keys simultaneously lol).

If the contortion I need to do is too uncomfortable, the numpad is also an option, which makes it less left-handed but still doesn’t require much right arm movement as my right hand is close to the numpad when using a mouse.

Speaking of which, what I’ve found is that the use of left-handed key combos isn’t as needed when using the laptop keyboard as I’d be using the trackpad instead of the mouse, the former being closer to the keyboard than the latter is, and the latter requiring more right arm movement. When I’m not using the external keyboard and mouse, some of the combinations I’ve mentioned in my other post I easily do with two hands on laptop, e.g. to do Cmd + Opt + Z, I press Cmd and Opt with my right hand and press Z with my left.

That said, I’m not too focused on ergonomics, this is just what I’ve observed from what has come natural to me. (Apologies for the long post, I really need to work on being concise rip)

[3mbry0]

I personally don’t mind the common layout, but I guess it’s what I’ve lived with for a long time now. I do notice that my thumb needs to bend more, and the Macbook keyboard is more comfortable in that regard.

[davecan]

• Alt , - quick switcher
• Ctrl . - command palette
• Ctrl / - Andy mode toggle

Since these are three of my most used shortcuts they can all be triggered quickly using only two fingers on my right hand.

I also have Alfred set to Alt Space so it is also triggered by my right hand.

My keyboard is a Kinesis Freestyle split mechanical keyboard so it doesn’t have Cmd keys. and I haven’t gotten around to installing the Mac keycaps on it yet.

You can see in this image why I chose those key combinations:

[DitchComfort]

Obsidian Custom Hotkeys

A list of awesome hotkeys, deliberately-chosen to match my personal needs.

Hyper Key (Modifier)

⇪ (Caps Lock) – Remapped to ⌘ (Cmd) ⌃ (Ctrl) ⌥ (Opt) ⇧ (Shift)
(And the added benefit of Esc when pressed alone.)

Programmed to Wacom Intuos Pro

ExpKey1: Show date switcher – ([Hyper Key] + ↑)
ExpKey2: Open today’s daily note – ([Hyper Key] + ↓)
ExpKey3:
ExpKey4:
ExpKey5:
ExpKey6: [Hyper Key]
Touch Ring – Auto Scroll/Zoom (Fast)

Pro Pen 2 (Eraser) – Undo (⌘ + Z)

** Requires the plugin Periodic Notes

Essentials/Basics

Make new note – ⌘ + N
Create note in new pane – ⌘ + ⇧ + N
Toggle live/reading view – ⌘ + E
Open quick switcher – ⌘ + O
Close active pane – ⌘ + W

Open graph view – ⌘ + G
Open local graph – ⌘ + ⌥ + G
Start graph timelapse animation – [Hyper Key] + G

Formatting Basics

Undo – ⌘ + Z
Cut – ⌘ + X
Copy – ⌘ + C
Paste ⌘ + V
Bold – ⌘ + B
Italic – ⌘ + I

Intermediate

Open command palette – ⌘ + P (and mapped to [Double Shift])
Search and replace in current file – [Hyper Key] + F
Search current file – ⌘ + F
Search in all files – ⌘ + ⇧ + F

Swap line down – ⌥ + J
Swap line up – ⌥ + K
Toggle checkbox status – ⌘ + ↵

** Requires the plugin Doubleshift

Formatting Intermediate

Create new note from template – ⌘ + ⌥ + N
Open Insert Template modal – ⌘ + T
Replace templates in the active file – ⌘ + ⌥ + R

** Requires the plugin Templater

Advanced

Changing the View

Open Workspaces Plus – ⇧ + Esc
Toggle left sidebar – ⌘ + ←
Toggle right sidebar – ⌘ + →

** Requires the plugin Workspaces Plus

Secret Weapons

Snap active Hover Editor to left – [Hyper Key] + A
Snap active Hover Editor to view – [Hyper Key] + W
Snap active Hover Editor to right – [Hyper Key] + S

Navigate back – ⌘ + ⌥ + ← or ⌥ + H
Navigate forward – ⌘ + ⌥ + → or ⌥ + L

** Requires the plugin Hover Editor

Color Schemes

Switch between light and dark mode – ⌘ + 0
Switch light color scheme to default (light) – ⌘ + 1
Switch light color scheme to macOS (light) – ⌘ + 2
Switch light color scheme to Nord (light) – ⌘ + 3
Switch light color scheme to Notion (light) – ⌘ + 4
Switch light color scheme to Things (light) – ⌘ + 5
Switch dark color scheme to macOS (dark) – ⌘ + 6
Switch dark color scheme to Dracula (dark) – ⌘ + 7
Switch dark color scheme to Solarized (dark) – ⌘ + 8
Switch dark color scheme to default (dark) – ⌘ + 9

** Requires the plugin Minimal Theme Settings

Setup and File Management

Beta Reviewers Auto-Update Tester (All Commands) – [Hyper Key] + B
Open settings – ⌘ + ,
Open another vault – [Hyper Key] + O

** Requires the plugin Obsidian42 - BRAT

Note Management

Toggle pin –
Edit file title – [Hyper Key] + R (then hit ↵ to return to the note)
Delete current file – ⌘ + ⌫
Move file to another folder – [Hyper Key] + M

Task Management

Add Todoist task with the current page – [Hyper Key] + T

** Requires the plugin Todoist Sync

[Calion]

I’m sorry…Command-P brings up the command palette? On a Mac???

[john2525]

Kinda late I realize, but if ⌘+p doesn’t bring up the Command Palette for you, you can see what the hotkey is for it and change it in the Preferences, as you can see in this image.

[Calion]

Fair, but the tone-deafness of hijacking the 40-year-old Print command is just mind-boggling.

Of course, I suppose this is ameliorated by the fact that there’s no Print command in the first place. Which I don’t even have words for.

Okay, so yes, I need to print far less often than in the past, and even more rarely the sort of things I put in Obsidian, but it’s hardly implausible. Yes, I can create a PDF and print that, but why in the world should a professional desktop app lack this basic functionality?

[Domi923]

Awesome hotkeys in here already, one I haven‘t seen yet is Add Internal Link (I have CTRL + L set for it), that I find myself using a lot and absolutely love.

[nhanjkl]

@Calion

why in the world should a professional desktop app lack this basic functionality?

Why would something that’s 40 year olds that people rarely use is put there instead of the Command Pallet, a genius invention that allows people to search for what they want to do instead of having to remember where that function is.

[nhanjkl]

In case you don’t yet know, you can just type [ twice for the same effect.

[Calion]

The fact that people have 40 years of muscle memory for a particular key combination is reason itself not to change it. The fact that an app which people are basing their lives around does not have a print command is mind-boggling. Sure, people are printing less often. But “less often” does not remotely mean “not at all.” And until we never need to print anything (even to PDF), we should keep both the capability for printing and the print shortcut the same, and assign a new shortcut for new functionality.

This is basic UX.