Keyboard shortcuts for Windows (PC)

Do you use a non-QWERTY keyboard? Learn how to work with different keyboard layouts here. Or if you're looking for macOS shortcuts check out this article.

File/Folder shortcutsCopied!Link to this section

These shortcuts apply when navigating around Whimsical, or in any file.

ACTION	SHORTCUT
Select multiple items	`Shift` + Click
Select all	`Control` + `A`
Deselect	`Esc`
Comment	`Control` + `Alt` + `M`
Show/Hide comments in a file	`Shift` + `Alt` + `C`
Search the current file	`Control` + `F`
Search file and folder names	`Control` + `Shift` + `F`
Search tasks only (with the search field open)	`Control` + `Shift` + `Enter`
Search everything (with the search field open)	`Control` + `Enter`
Open/Hide sidebar	`Control` + `E`
Get shareable link	`Control` + `Alt` + `S`
Add new file or folder	`Control` + `Alt` + `N`
Go to folder view	`Control` + `Shift` + `E`
Folder list view	`L`
Folder grid view	`G`
Delete selected file/s or folder/s	`Delete` or `Backspace`

Inbox shortcutsCopied!Link to this section

ACTION	SHORTCUT
Navigate to the previous notification	`K` or `Up` arrow key
Navigate to the next notification	`J` or `Down` arrow key
Mark notification as unread	`Shift` + `U`
Mark notification as read	`Shift` + `I`
Mark all notifications as unread	`Control` + `Shift` + `U`
Mark all notifications as read	`Control` + `Shift` + `I`
Delete notification	`Shift` + `Delete` or `Shift` + `Backspace`

Split view shortcutsCopied!Link to this section

ACTION	SHORTCUT
Open file in split view	`Alt` + `Click`
Close file in split view	`Control` + `Alt` + `W`
Create new split view	`Alt` + `T`

Board shortcutsCopied!Link to this section

General shortcutsCopied!Link to this section

ACTION	SHORTCUT
Zoom	`Z` + Click/Drag `Control` + Scroll
Zoom in	`=`
Zoom out	`-`
Zoom to 100%	`0`
Zoom to content	`1`
Zoom to selection	`2`
Pan / move around board	`Space` + Drag `Shift` + Scroll Mouse Wheel
Undo	`Control` + `Z`
Redo	`Control` + `Shift` + `Z`
Copy	`Control` + `C`
Paste	`Control` + `V`
Copy style	`Control` + `Alt` + `C`
Paste style	`Control` + `V`
Copy link to object	`Control` + `Alt` + `Shift` + `C`
Copy as image	`Control` + `Shift` + `C`
Duplicate	`Control` + `D` `Alt` + Drag object
Bring forward	`]`
Bring to front	`Alt` + ]
Send backward	`[`
Send to back	`Alt` + `[`
Select multiple items	`Shift` + Click
Select all (excluding locked objects)	`Control` + `A`
Select all (including locked objects)	Hold `Control` + Double press `A`
Deselect	`Esc`
Resize shapes with locked aspect ratio	`Shift` + Drag to resize
Resize from center	`Alt` + Drag to resize
Edit text	`Enter`
Group selected objects	`Control` + `G`
Ungroup selected objects	`Control` + `Shift` + `G`
Deep select	`Control` + Click
Ignore auto-snapping when moving object	`Control` + Drag
Ignore grid & auto-snapping when moving object	` + Drag
Save as default style	`Control` + `Shift` + `D`
Increase font size of text in object	`Control` + `Alt` + `=`
Decrease font size of text in object	`Control` + `Alt` + `-`
Comment	`Control` + `Alt` + `M`
Show/Hide comments in a file	`Shift` + `Alt` + `C`
Animate connector	`Control` + Click
Measure distance between objects	Select an object + Hold `Alt` + Hover over other objects
Change board mode	`W` (Wireframe mode) `Shift` + `C` (Task card mode)

Diagram shortcutsCopied!Link to this section

ACTION	SHORTCUT
Rectangle	`R`
Pill	`U`
Oval (circle)	`O`
Diamond	`D`
Trapezoid	`A`
Triangle	`G`
Hexagon	`H`
Cylinder	`Y`
Line	`L`
Bracket	`B`
Star	`V`
Cloud	`J`
Table	`E`
Image	`I`
Link	`K`
Connector	`C` or `L`
Text	`T`
Icon	`X`
Section	`.`
Quick add	`Alt` + Arrow key
Change "quick add" direction	`Shift` + Hover "quick add" button
Hide quick add	`Q`
Lock object	`Control` + `Shift` + `L`

Mind map shortcutsCopied!Link to this section

ACTION	SHORTCUT
Add root node	`M`
Add child	`Tab`
Add sibling	`Enter`
Add sibling above	`Control` + `Enter`
Add parent	`Alt` + `Enter`
Collapse/Expand node	`Control` + `/`
Add line break	`Shift` + `Enter`
Add link	`Control` + `K`
Add icon	`Shift` + `X`
Decrease text indent	`Control` + `Alt` + `[`
Increase text indent	`Control` + `Alt` + `]`

Sticky note shortcutsCopied!Link to this section

ACTION	SHORTCUT
Add sticky note	`N` (works in all board modes)
Quick add another note (with note selected)	`Option` + Arrow key
Duplicate note	`Alt` + Drag
Increase text size	`Control` + `Alt` + `=`
Decrease text size	`Control` + `Alt` + `-`
Paragraph	`Control` + `\`
Bulleted list	`*` or `-` then `Space` `Control` + `Shift` + `8`
Numbered list	`1.` then `Space` `Control` + `Shift` + `7`
Checklist	`_` then `Space`
Workspace link	`@`
External link	`Control` + `K`

Freehand drawing shortcutsCopied!Link to this section

ACTION	SHORTCUT
Marker	`H`
Highlighter	`Shift` + `H`
Eraser	`E`
Selector	`S`

Task mode shortcutsCopied!Link to this section

ACTION	SHORTCUT
Task	`A` or double click
Stack	`S`
Connector	`C` or `L`
Image	`I`
Link	`K`
Text	`T`
Icon	`X`
Expand selected task	`Control` + `Enter`
Lock stack	`Control` + `Shift` + `L`

Wireframe shortcutsCopied!Link to this section

ACTION	SHORTCUT
Annotation	`A`
Button	`B`
Line	`L` or `D`
Element	`E`
Frame	`F`
Image	`G`
Link	K
Circle	`O`
Input	`P`
Rectangle	`R`
Avatar	`V`
Connector	`C` or `L`
Text	`T`
Icon	`X`
Lock object	`Control` + `Shift` + `L`
Rename frame	`Enter`
Change line direction	Hold `Shift`
Full-width/height line	Hold `Control`

Docs shortcutsCopied!Link to this section

ACTION	SHORTCUT
Paragraph	`Control` + `\`
Heading 1	`#` then `Space` (at the start of a line)
Heading 2	`##` then `Space` (at the start of a line)
Heading 3	`###` then `Space` (at the start of a line)
Bulleted list	`*` or `-` then `Space` (at the start of a line) `Control` + `Shift` + `8`
Numbered list	`1.` then `Space` (at the start of a line) `Control` + `Shift` + `7`
Checklist	`_` then `Space` (at the start of a line)
Section divider	`***` (at the start of a line)
Line divider	`---` (at the start of a line)
Change block type	`/` (at the start of a new line) `Control` + `/`
Bold	`Control` + `B` `*` (at start and end of text)
Italic	`Control` + `I` `_` (at start and end of text)
Code block	``` (at start and end of text)
Open syntax highlighter (while editing code block)	`Control` + `Shift` + `K`
Inline code	`Control` + `Shift` + `K` ` (at start and end of text)
Strikethrough	`Control` + `Shift` + `X` `~` (at start and end of text)
Link	`Control` + `K`
Highlight text	`Control` + `Shift` + `H`
Quote	`Control` + `>` `>` then `Space` (at the start of a line)
Decrease indent	`Shift` + `Tab`
Increase indent	`Tab`
Workspace link	`@`
External link	`Alt` + `K`
Comment	`Control` + `Alt` + `M`
Select text	`Shift` + Arrow keys
Select all	`Control` + `A` - (Press again to expand the selection from the current line, to the current block, and once more to select the whole document)
Open nested file	`Control` + `Enter`
Go to parent file	`Control` + `Esc`
Insert table row	`Control` + `Enter`
Insert table column	`Control` + `Alt` + `Enter`
Remove table row	`Control` + `delete`
Remove table column	`Control` + `Alt` + `Delete`
Copy link to block	`Control` + `Alt` + `Shift` + `C`

AI shortcutsCopied!Link to this section

ACTION	SHORTCUT
Generate with AI	`Control` + `.` (also works with mind map nodes)
Create (after typing prompt)	`Control` + `Enter`
See example prompts	`/`
See past prompts	`Control` + `/`

Working with different keyboard layoutsCopied!Link to this section

If you're working on a non-QWERTY keyboard, some of the keyboard shortcuts will work differently for you. There are two key things to remember:

For all the keyboard shortcuts that involve letters, there are no changes.
For all the keyboard shortcuts that involve characters that aren't letters, you have to refer to the placement of the characters on the US English keyboard.

For example, if you want to add a task card using the AZERTY layout. Because the shortcut for adding a task card is a letter ( A ), you just press A:

But let's say you want to zoom out using the AZERTY layout. Because the shortcut for zooming out is not a letter ( - ), you have to use the US English keyboard as a reference and instead of pressing - on your keyboard, press whichever key is located at the same place as - on the US English keyboard:

If you have any questions or can't figure out how to make keyboard shortcuts work on your keyboard, drop us a line at help@whimsical.com, and we'll help you out!

Keyboard shortcuts for Mac

Written by:

Jack Jenkins

Summary

Keyboard shortcuts for Windows (PC)
File/Folder shortcuts
Inbox shortcuts
Split view shortcuts
Board shortcuts
General shortcuts
Diagram shortcuts
Mind map shortcuts
Sticky note shortcuts
Freehand drawing shortcuts
Task mode shortcuts
Wireframe shortcuts
Docs shortcuts
AI shortcuts
Working with different keyboard layouts

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