Keyboard shortcuts
Keyboard commands for the web and desktop Library, reader, Ask and Writing, with macOS and Windows/Linux keys side by side.
Use these shortcuts in the Distari window unless a row says otherwise. Cmd means Command (⌘), Option means ⌥, and Ctrl means Control. A plus sign joins keys held together. Delete/Backspace includes the Mac key labelled Delete (⌫); F2 may need Fn on your keyboard.
Commands follow your project permissions and the current selection. Editing commands need an editable project or item; actions that use plan usage still need permission and usage left. Browser and operating-system shortcuts can take precedence. If a combination is intercepted, use the matching button or menu command.
Global
These commands apply in an open project. Desktop-only commands are listed below.
| Action | macOS | Windows/Linux | Where it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focus the header search | Cmd+K | Ctrl+K | Web and desktop, when the current view has search. |
| Focus Library quick search | / | / | Web Library, outside a text field. |
| Open Discover | Cmd+Shift+D | Ctrl+Shift+D | Web and desktop, with a project open. |
| Close the current menu, picker or dialog | Escape | Escape | Web and desktop. The focused control handles Escape first; it can clear a search or selection instead. |
Use Tab and Shift+Tab to move between controls, Enter or Space to activate a focused button, and arrow keys in menus and tab groups. This page lists application and editor commands rather than every standard text-cursor movement.
Library
| Action | macOS | Windows/Linux | Where it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Add a paper | Cmd+N | Ctrl+N | Web Library, online, with permission to add papers; unavailable in Recently deleted. Desktop uses this combination for New project. |
| New project note | Cmd+Shift+N | Ctrl+Shift+N | Web project workspace, when New note is available. Desktop opens Quick note instead. |
| Save a quick note | Cmd+Enter | Ctrl+Enter | Web Quick note body or desktop Quick note dialog; the note must contain text. |
| Toggle the side panes | Cmd+\ | Ctrl+\ | Web Library and desktop workspace. |
| Toggle paper selection mode | Cmd+Shift+S | Ctrl+Shift+S | Web outside text fields; desktop with focus in the paper list. |
| Select all papers in the current list | Cmd+A | Ctrl+A | Web list area and desktop paper list. A focused text editor keeps Select all for text. |
| Open advanced search | Cmd+Shift+F | Ctrl+Shift+F | Web Library. On desktop, use Advanced search in the header search menu. |
| Export project citations | Cmd+Shift+E | Ctrl+Shift+E | Web Library. On desktop, use the citation export menu. |
| Focus the list filter | Cmd+F | Ctrl+F | Desktop, with focus in the paper list. |
| Move between paper rows | Up / Down; Home / End | Up / Down; Home / End | Web, with a list row focused; Home/End go to the first/last loaded row. |
| Open a focused paper | Enter | Enter | Web and desktop. In web selection mode, Enter toggles the card’s selection instead. |
| Toggle a paper’s selection | Space | Space | Focus the paper row in selection mode. Web Shift+Space extends the range from the selection anchor. |
| Navigate quick-search results | Up / Down; Enter | Up / Down; Enter | Web search: select a result, then open it. Enter without a highlighted result searches the full Library. Escape clears the box and closes results. |
| Zoom the citation graph in / out; fit the graph | + or = / −; 0 | + or = / −; 0 | Web and desktop graph, outside text fields. Escape clears the graph’s current suggestion/hover. |
For research notes, normal copy, cut, paste, undo and text selection apply in the editor. Rich-text formatting uses the Plain editor combinations below where that editor supports the format. In web rich notes, Cmd+Shift+9 on macOS or Ctrl+Shift+9 on Windows/Linux toggles a checklist. Notes save automatically.
Reader
Focus the paper rather than a text field. On the web, Reader tool shortcuts pause while a modal dialog is open. Annotation changes require permission; deleting a mark also requires that it belongs to you.
| Action | macOS | Windows/Linux | Where it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Select tool | V | V | Web and desktop. |
| Highlight / underline / strike out | H / U / S | H / U / S | Web and desktop. |
| Note / draw / area / erase tool | N / D / A / E | N / D / A / E | Web and desktop. On the web, N places a note immediately when the Paper text region itself has focus. |
| Choose colour 1–5, or mark selected text in that colour | 1–5 | 1–5 | Web and desktop. Selected text uses underline or strike when that tool is active, otherwise highlight. |
| Mark selected text in the current colour | Enter | Enter | Web and desktop. In the focused web Paper text region, Enter or Space instead places a note when the Note tool is selected. |
| Previous / next page | Left or Page Up / Right or Page Down | Left or Page Up / Right or Page Down | Web and desktop, outside text fields. |
| Zoom in / out; reset zoom | + or = / −; 0 | + or = / −; 0 | Web resets to 100%; desktop returns to the fitted PDF scale. |
| Undo annotation change | Cmd+Z | Ctrl+Z | Web and desktop Reader, outside text fields. |
| Redo annotation change | Cmd+Shift+Z | Ctrl+Shift+Z | Web and desktop. Web also accepts Cmd+Y or Ctrl+Y. |
| Delete your selected annotation | Delete/Backspace | Delete or Backspace | Web and desktop, outside text fields. |
| Clear the active selection or popover | Escape | Escape | Web and desktop. |
| Find in the original PDF | Cmd+F | Ctrl+F | Web original PDF. This command is specific to the web reader. |
| Next / previous search hit | Enter / Shift+Enter | Enter / Shift+Enter | Web, with Find in this paper focused. Escape closes Find. |
| Draw a straight line | Hold Shift while drawing | Hold Shift while drawing | Web and desktop Draw tool. |
Ask
The project mode is labelled Threads on the web and desktop. Item shortcuts act on the row whose menu is open, otherwise the open thread or comparison. Your permissions determine which actions are available; a comparison cannot be duplicated with the thread command.
| Action | macOS | Windows/Linux | Where it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| New thread | Cmd+N | Ctrl+N | Web Threads. Desktop reserves this for New project; use New in the Threads rail. |
| Pin / unpin the current item | Cmd+P | Ctrl+P | Web and desktop Threads. |
| Duplicate your thread | Cmd+D | Ctrl+D | Web and desktop Threads, in an editable project. |
| Export thread Markdown or comparison CSV | Cmd+E | Ctrl+E | Web and desktop Threads. A comparison needs an exportable evidence table. |
| Copy the item link | Cmd+L | Ctrl+L | Web and desktop Threads. |
| Delete the item | Cmd+Backspace | Ctrl+Backspace | Web and desktop Threads, outside text fields. Comparison deletion asks for confirmation. |
| Rename the item | F2 | F2 | Web and desktop Threads, outside text fields. |
| Send a question / insert a new line | Enter / Shift+Enter | Enter / Shift+Enter | Web and desktop question composer. Send needs a valid question and an enabled send action. |
Writing
Workspace commands
| Action | macOS | Windows/Linux | Where it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Save now | Cmd+S | Ctrl+S | Web and desktop Writing; automatic saving continues too. |
| Compile / refresh preview | Cmd+Enter | Ctrl+Enter | Web and desktop Writing, when compilation is available and focus is outside the editor. A focused editor can also insert a line break or blank line with this key; use the Compile button to avoid changing text. |
| Toggle Suggest as I type | Option+Shift+S | Alt+Shift+S | Web and desktop Writing, when permitted and affordable. |
| Insert a citation, web | Cmd+Shift+K | Ctrl+Shift+K | Web Plain opens the citation picker. LaTeX and Typst insert their citation trigger (\citep{ or @) at the cursor and leave the rest of the line unchanged. |
| Insert a citation, desktop | Cmd+Shift+C | Ctrl+Shift+C | Desktop Writing. |
| Rename a file | F2 | F2 | Web and desktop, with an editable file row focused. Enter commits a name; Escape cancels. |
| Zoom preview in / out; fit width | Cmd++ or Cmd+= / Cmd+−; Cmd+0 | Ctrl++ or Ctrl+= / Ctrl+−; Ctrl+0 | Web and desktop, with focus inside Preview. |
| Choose a citation | Up / Down; Enter; Escape | Up / Down; Enter; Escape | Move through the open picker, insert the chosen source, or close it. |
| Accept / dismiss an inline suggestion | Tab / Escape | Tab / Escape | Web and desktop editor, while ghost text is showing. Otherwise Tab keeps its normal editor behavior. |
| Send an assistant prompt / insert a new line | Enter / Shift+Enter | Enter / Shift+Enter | Focus the Writing assistant’s prompt. |
Plain editor formatting
Focus editable Plain draft text. These are editor commands, so they do not format a LaTeX or Typst source file. Standard Cmd/Ctrl+C, X, V, A and Z copy, cut, paste, select all and undo; Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+Z redoes. Desktop Plain also accepts Cmd/Ctrl+Y for redo.
| Action | macOS | Windows/Linux | Where it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bold / italic / underline | Cmd+B / Cmd+I / Cmd+U | Ctrl+B / Ctrl+I / Ctrl+U | Web and desktop Plain. |
| Strike out | Cmd+Shift+S | Ctrl+Shift+S | Web and desktop Plain. |
| Inline code | Cmd+E | Ctrl+E | Web and desktop Plain. |
| Heading level 1–6 / normal paragraph | Cmd+Option+1–6 / Cmd+Option+0 | Ctrl+Alt+1–6 / Ctrl+Alt+0 | Web and desktop Plain. |
| Bullet / numbered list | Cmd+Shift+8 / Cmd+Shift+7 | Ctrl+Shift+8 / Ctrl+Shift+7 | Web and desktop Plain. |
| Block quote / code block | Cmd+Shift+B / Cmd+Option+C | Ctrl+Shift+B / Ctrl+Alt+C | Web and desktop Plain. |
| Indent / outdent a list item | Tab / Shift+Tab | Tab / Shift+Tab | Web and desktop Plain, inside a list. |
| Insert a line break | Shift+Enter | Shift+Enter | Web and desktop Plain. |
Find and edit source
| Action | macOS | Windows/Linux | Where it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Find in the editor | Cmd+F | Ctrl+F | Web LaTeX/Typst; desktop Plain, LaTeX and Typst. Web Plain uses the browser’s Find. |
| Open Replace | Cmd+Option+F | Ctrl+H | Desktop editor. On the web, open Find in a source editor and use its Replace field. |
| Next / previous match | Enter / Shift+Enter | Enter / Shift+Enter | With the Find field focused. Escape closes Find. |
| Replace all matches | Cmd+Enter | Ctrl+Enter | Desktop, with the Replace field focused. |
The following extra commands belong to the web’s LaTeX/Typst source editor. They do not apply to desktop source editors. Normal cursor movement, text selection, deletion and clipboard commands remain available.
| Action | macOS | Windows/Linux |
|---|---|---|
| Next / previous search match | Cmd+G or F3 / Cmd+Shift+G or Shift+F3 | Ctrl+G or F3 / Ctrl+Shift+G or Shift+F3 |
| Select the next occurrence / all matching selections | Cmd+D / Cmd+Shift+L | Ctrl+D / Ctrl+Shift+L |
| Go to line | Cmd+Option+G | Ctrl+Alt+G |
| Move / copy a line up or down | Option+Up/Down / Option+Shift+Up/Down | Alt+Up/Down / Alt+Shift+Up/Down |
| Add a cursor above / below | Cmd+Option+Up/Down | Ctrl+Alt+Up/Down |
| Select the current line / parent syntax | Ctrl+L / Cmd+I | Alt+L / Ctrl+I |
| Indent / outdent | Tab or Cmd+] / Shift+Tab or Cmd+[ | Tab or Ctrl+] / Shift+Tab or Ctrl+[ |
| Reindent the selection | Cmd+Option+\ | Ctrl+Alt+\ |
| Go to the matching bracket | Cmd+Shift+\ | Ctrl+Shift+\ |
| Toggle a line comment | Cmd+/ | Ctrl+/ |
| Let Tab move focus / return it to indentation | Option+Shift+M | Ctrl+M |
| Collapse extra selections | Escape | Escape |
Desktop-only
These commands require the native desktop app. They supplement the shared commands above.
| Action | macOS | Windows/Linux | Where it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Go to… command palette | Cmd+Shift+P | Ctrl+Shift+P | Signed-in desktop window. Up/Down chooses a command, Enter runs it and Escape closes the palette. |
| New project | Cmd+N | Ctrl+N | Signed-in desktop window, including Threads. |
| Import PDFs | Cmd+O | Ctrl+O | A project where you may import PDFs. |
| Sync now and open Offline and sync | Cmd+R | Ctrl+R | Signed-in desktop window. |
| Open account Settings | Cmd+, | Ctrl+, | Signed-in desktop window. |
| Go back / forward | Cmd+[ / Cmd+] | Ctrl+[ / Ctrl+] | Desktop navigation; an editor may handle these keys first. |
| Import from clipboard | Cmd+V | Ctrl+V | Desktop workspace outside text editors. A text editor keeps Paste. |
| Open Quick note | Cmd+Shift+N | Ctrl+Shift+N | In the signed-in app, or globally while Distari runs signed in and the global shortcut is enabled. |
Choose another global combination with Choose… in Account › This computer › Quick note shortcut, or turn it off with the switch there. The combination shown above is the default; another app can claim it. On Linux, global capture requires an X11 session. On Wayland, or when registration fails, choose Quick note… from the tray menu. The in-window shortcut and tray action remain separate from the configurable global binding. See the desktop guide.