---
title: "Keyboard shortcuts"
description: "Notarium's default layout and how the VS Code, Obsidian, Vim, and JetBrains presets differ."
---

# Keyboard shortcuts

Notarium gives you one customizable set of keyboard shortcuts: the shortcuts, the cheat sheet, and the editor all read from the same active map, so they never drift apart. You can switch the layout with a preset (Notarium, VS Code, Obsidian, Vim, JetBrains) and override any key in **Settings → Keyboard**.

`Cmd/Ctrl` below means `Cmd` on macOS and `Ctrl` on other platforms. Keys are matched by physical key rather than by the printed symbol, so your OS layout (RU/EN) has no effect on whether a shortcut fires.

## Default layout (Notarium preset)

The default is web-native: single keys and `g` sequences (press `g`, then a letter) so nothing collides with the critical browser combos `Cmd/Ctrl+T/N/W/L/R`. A single key fires only when focus is outside an input field.

**Navigation and interface**

| Action | Key |
|---|---|
| Quick switcher (Spotlight) | `Cmd/Ctrl+P` |
| Search | `/` |
| Keyboard shortcuts cheat sheet | `?` |
| Light/dark theme | `t` |
| Left / right panel | `[` / `]` |
| Home / Feed / Graph | `g h` / `g f` / `g g` |
| Files / Agents / Trash / Settings | `g i` / `g a` / `g t` / `g s` |

**Working with a note**

| Action | Key |
|---|---|
| New note | `c` |
| Edit note | `e` |
| Save draft | `Cmd/Ctrl+Enter` or `Cmd/Ctrl+S` |
| Cancel / close draft | `Esc` |

**Editor (formatting)**

These fire while focus is in the editor.

| Action | Key |
|---|---|
| Bold / italic / code | `Cmd/Ctrl+B` / `Cmd/Ctrl+I` / `Cmd/Ctrl+E` |
| Link / strikethrough | `Cmd/Ctrl+K` / `Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+X` |
| Multi-cursor (next occurrence) | `Cmd/Ctrl+D` |
| Focus / typewriter mode | `Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+F` / `Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+Y` |
| Undo / Redo | `Cmd/Ctrl+Z` / `Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+Z` or `Cmd/Ctrl+Y` |

> [!note] Undo/redo are built-in editor commands
> Undo (`Cmd/Ctrl+Z`) and redo are built-in commands of the editor itself, not customizable keyboard shortcuts, so you can't override them in **Settings → Keyboard**. Redo is bound to `Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+Z` and `Cmd/Ctrl+Y` on every OS.

## How the presets differ

A preset is the Notarium base with the matching editor's signature combos layered on top. Anything a preset doesn't override keeps the web-native default. Below are only the actions that differ between presets.

| Action | Notarium | VS Code | Obsidian | Vim | JetBrains |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quick switcher | `Cmd/Ctrl+P` | `Cmd/Ctrl+P` | `Cmd/Ctrl+O` | `Space f` | `Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+O` |
| Search | `/` | `Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+F` | `Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+F` | `/` | `Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+F` |
| Left panel | `[` | `Cmd/Ctrl+B` | `[` | `Space e` | `[` |
| Right panel | `]` | `Cmd/Ctrl+J` | `]` | `]` | `]` |
| Files | `g i` | `Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+E` | `g i` | `g i` | `Cmd/Ctrl+1` |
| Graph | `g g` | `g g` | `Cmd/Ctrl+G` | `g g` | `g g` |
| Settings | `g s` | `g s` | `g s` | `g s` | `Cmd/Ctrl+,` |
| Theme | `t` | `Cmd/Ctrl+K Cmd/Ctrl+T` | `t` | `t` | `t` |
| Cheat sheet | `?` | `Cmd/Ctrl+K Cmd/Ctrl+S` | `?` | `Space ?` | `?` |
| New note | `c` | `c` | `Cmd/Ctrl+N` | `o` | `c` |
| Edit | `e` | `e` | `e` | `i` | `e` |
| Save | `Cmd/Ctrl+Enter`, `Cmd/Ctrl+S` | `Cmd/Ctrl+S` | same as Notarium | same as Notarium | same as Notarium |

> [!warning] The browser intercepts some desktop combos
> A few of these signature combos (for example, `Cmd/Ctrl+N` in the Obsidian preset) are reserved by the browser in an ordinary tab — they won't fire there. **Settings → Keyboard** flags such bindings with a ⚠ icon. You pick a preset deliberately, for the familiar feel.

## Cheat sheet and customization

- Press `?` to open the cheat sheet, grouped by section. The list is read from the active map, so it always matches what actually fires and reflects your edits.
- **Settings → Keyboard** — pick a preset and rebind row by row: an action can have several bindings, the **+** button adds another one (recording your next keypress), and reset buttons restore a row, or everything, to the preset. A conflict with another action is highlighted.
- For editor actions the recorder requires a modifier — a single key would break typing. `Esc` and `Tab` cancel recording, so they can't be recorded as a binding.

## See also

- [Editor](/docs/guides/editor/) — formatting, multi-cursor, saving, and conflict resolution.
- [Keyboard shortcuts: how it works](/docs/guides/hotkeys/) — the model of actions, presets, and overrides.
- [Glossary](/docs/reference/glossary/) — interface and engine terms.