DocsKeyboard shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts
Almost everything in Skwir has a shortcut. These are the defaults; you can change any of them.
Tip
F1 lists the keys that work where you are. The command palette (CtrlShiftP) lists every action by name, with its keys.
The essentials
| Keys | What it does |
|---|---|
| Space | Quick look at the selected file (press again to close) |
| F11orCtrlShiftSpace | Show or hide the preview panel |
| CtrlIorAltEnter | Show the details of the selected file |
| CtrlZ | Undo the last change |
| CtrlShiftZorCtrlY | Redo |
| CtrlShiftP | Command palette |
| Ctrl, | Settings |
| F1orCtrl? | List of shortcuts |
| CtrlQ | Quit |
Moving around
| Keys | What it does |
|---|---|
| Enter | Open the selected folder or file |
| BackspaceorAlt↑ | Go up to the parent folder |
| Alt←orAlt→ | Back and forward |
| AltHome | Go to your home folder |
| CtrlL | Type a location in the address bar |
| CtrlF | Search the folder shown (a search is a place you can keep) |
| AltEnter in the address | Search your home folder instead |
| CtrlJ | Jump to a recent or frequent folder |
| CtrlD | Keep the folder, search or tag shown in the sidebar |
| AltG | The tags of the folder shown, and back |
| CtrlAltO | Show in Folder: where a file listed in a search, a tag or the Shelf lives |
| CtrlHorAlt. | Show or hide hidden files |
| F5orCtrlR | Refresh |
| F9 | Show or hide the sidebar |
| F6 | Give the sidebar the keyboard: the arrows walk it, Enter opens a place, Esc goes back to the list |
| Esc | Clear the filter, then the selection, then what waits for a paste |
Selecting
| Keys | What it does |
|---|---|
| arrow keys | Move the selection |
| HomeorEnd | First or last item |
| Page UporPage Down | One screen up or down |
| Shift + arrow keys | Extend the selection |
| Ctrl + arrow keys | Move without changing the selection |
| CtrlSpace | Add or remove the item under the cursor |
| CtrlA | Select everything |
| CtrlShiftI | Invert the selection |
Working with files
| Keys | What it does |
|---|---|
| F2 | Rename (several selected: rename them together) |
| CtrlF2 | Bulk rename with a live preview |
| CtrlC,CtrlX,CtrlV | Copy, cut and paste |
| Delete | Move to the Trash. In a tag or the Shelf it takes the file out instead; in the Trash it deletes for good, after asking |
| ShiftDelete | Delete permanently (asks first) |
| CtrlShiftN | New folder |
| ShiftEnter | Open with another app |
| CtrlE | Edit the folder as text in your editor |
| CtrlShiftB | Add to the Shelf |
| CtrlShiftG | Edit tags |
| CtrlShiftC | Copy the paths of the selection |
| ShiftF10orMenu | Context menu |
| Shift, Ctrl, CtrlShift while dropping | Move, copy or link without being asked |
Views, panes and tabs
| Keys | What it does |
|---|---|
| Ctrl1 | List |
| Ctrl2 | Grid |
| Ctrl3 | Columns |
| Ctrl4 | Usage (what takes up space) |
| Ctrl5 | Map (where photos and tracks were taken) |
| CtrlShiftL | Timeline |
| Ctrl=orCtrl- | Bigger or smaller (in Usage: more or fewer levels) |
| Ctrl0 | Default size |
| F3orCtrlShiftD | Split into two panes |
| ShiftF3 | Split the other way |
| Tab | Switch between the two panes |
| ShiftF5orShiftF6 | Copy or move the selection to the other pane |
| CtrlT | New tab |
| CtrlW | Close tab |
| CtrlShiftT | Reopen the tab you closed |
| CtrlTaborCtrlShiftTab | Next or previous tab (also CtrlPage Down and CtrlPage Up) |
| CtrlShiftPage UporCtrlShiftPage Down | Move the tab left or right |
| Alt1 … Alt8 | Go to a tab (Alt+9: the last one) |
| CtrlEnter | Open the selection in a new tab |
| F4 | Show or hide the built-in terminal |
| ShiftF4 | Open your terminal here |
In previews
Quick look
| Keys | What it does |
|---|---|
| ← ↑or→ ↓ | Previous or next file |
| SpaceorEsc | Close |
Documents and books
Click the page first so the reader has the keyboard.
| Keys | What it does |
|---|---|
| Page UporPage Down | Previous or next page |
| AltPage UporAltPage Down | Previous or next page, chapter or section, from anywhere |
| [or] | Previous or next page or section |
| CtrlF | Find in the document (Enter searches) |
| F3orShiftF3 | Next or previous match |
| CtrlA | Select the page’s text |
| CtrlC | Copy |
| Ctrl=orCtrl- | Zoom in or out (also pictures and maps) |
| CtrlShiftO | Label the links in view in a text preview or the terminal, to follow one from the keyboard |
| Ctrl + click | Follow a web address or a path found in plain text or in the terminal |
Music and video
When the player has the keyboard. The small player that keeps playing while you browse answers to the same keys, and to your keyboard’s media keys.
| Keys | What it does |
|---|---|
| Space | Play or pause |
| ←or→ | Back or forward 5 seconds |
| Shift←orShift→ | Previous or next track |
| ↑or↓ | Volume up or down |
| M | Mute |
| F | Full screen (video) |
| C | Show or hide the controls |
Rename and review
| Keys | What it does |
|---|---|
| TaborShiftTab | Next or previous field in the bulk rename dialog |
| CtrlK | Cycle the letter case of new names |
| Enter | Apply the rename, or a plan you are reviewing |
| Esc | Cancel |
Changing shortcuts
Settings › Keyboard lists every shortcut, yours first. Record your own over any default, or free a key by leaving its action empty. Yours win over the defaults and over key schemes like Vim keys.
Vim keys
Turn on the Vim keys plugin in Settings › Plugins (off by default) and the file list answers to the keys of yazi, the terminal file manager. Each is also a command in the palette.
| Keys | What they do |
|---|---|
| h j k l | Parent, down, up, open |
| g g · G | First item · last item |
| CtrlU · CtrlD | Half a screen up · down |
| Space | Pick the item under the cursor (and move on) |
| v · V | Select a range as you move |
| y · x · p | Copy · cut · paste |
| d · D | Trash · delete permanently |
| a · r | Create · rename |
| / ? · n N | Find forward, backward · next, previous match |
| , then a letter | Sort (,m by date and the other yazi sorts) |
| g h · g c · g d | Go home · to config · to downloads |
| t t · 1…9 · [ ] · { } | New tab · go to tab · switch tabs · move tabs |
| ~ | Help |
| u | Undo |
While Vim keys are on, typed letters no longer jump to names. A key that starts a sequence, like g, shows what can follow. A few things differ from yazi: there are no line modes or task list, ←, → and Tab keep their Skwir meaning, f and s both search, and u undoes, as in vim. The tables above keep working.
Updated 11 October 2026 · 6 min read Edit
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