Keyboard shortcuts
Press ⌘/ in the app for the shortcuts window. This page also lists the shortcuts that window leaves out.
Applies to Web · Mac app · on Windows use Ctrl instead of ⌘
CommonNote’s shortcuts follow the same layout as UpNote. Press ⌘/ in the app, or click the question-mark icon in the top bar (Shortcuts (⌘/)), to open the Keyboard shortcuts window. This page collects everything in that window plus the shortcuts it doesn’t list.
- On Windows and Linux, press Ctrl instead of ⌘, Alt instead of ⌥, and Shift for ⇧. For example, ⇧⌘K becomes Ctrl+Shift+K.
- Browsers claim keys such as ⌘N, ⇧⌘N, ⌘T and ⌘1–⌘3 for windows and tabs. In a browser, use ⌥N for a new note, ⇧⌥N for a new notebook and ⌃1–⌃3 for headings. The original keys work in the Mac app. To insert a table in a browser, use
/tableor the toolbar. - ⌘K opens the Command palette. To add a link, press ⇧⌘K.
- Formatting and insert shortcuts work when the cursor is in the body of a note.
Notes and app
| Keys | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ⌘N | New note | Browser: ⌥N |
| ⇧⌘N | New notebook | Browser: ⇧⌥N |
| ⌘K | Command palette — jump to a note or run a command | |
| ⌘G | Open Global search | |
| ⇧⌘P | Pin or unpin the note (pinned notes lead the list, or their date group when grouped by date) | Your own notes only |
| ⇧⌘S | Add or remove a favorite | |
| ⌘L | Open the note lock panel | Outside text fields |
| ⌘⌫ | Move the open note to the Trash | When not editing text; no confirmation. Your own notes only |
| ⇧⌘\ | Show or hide the sidebar | |
| ⇧⌘. | Turn focus mode on or off | Esc also exits |
| ⇧⌘Y | Calendar peek (calendar beside the note) | |
| ⌘E | Export as Markdown | With the cursor in the note |
| ⌘P | Export as PDF (choose “Save as PDF” in the print dialog; browser only) | With the cursor in the note |
| ⌘F | Find in this note — ↩ next, ⇧↩ previous, Esc close | Find only; there is no replace |
| ⌥← / ⌥→ | Move a note tab left or right | With the tab focused |
| ⌘/ | Shortcuts help |
Formatting
| Keys | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ⌘B / ⌘I / ⌘U | Bold / italic / underline | |
| ⇧⌘X | Strikethrough | |
| ⌘1 · ⌘2 · ⌘3 | Heading 1 · 2 · 3 | Browser: ⌃1–⌃3 |
| ⌘7 / ⌘8 / ⌘9 | Bulleted list / numbered list / checklist | |
| ⇧⌘9 | Toggle a checklist item done; on bulleted or numbered items, add or remove a standalone checkbox | |
| ⇧⌥⌘E | Mark done — complete the line without a checkbox | |
| ⇧⌘U | Quote | |
| ⇧⌘C / ⇧⌥⌘C | Inline code / code block | |
| ⇧⌘H | Divider | |
| ⌥⌘1–⌥⌘9 | Text color | ⌥⌘0 or ⌥⌘X removes it |
| ⇧⌥⌘1–⇧⌥⌘9 | Highlight | ⇧⌥⌘0 or ⇧⌥⌘X removes it |
| ⇧⌘L · ⇧⌘E · ⇧⌘R · ⇧⌘J | Align left · center · right · justify | |
| ⇧⌘; / ⇧⌘' | Subscript / superscript | |
| ⌘\ | Clear formatting | |
| Tab / ⇧Tab | Indent / outdent a list item | Outside lists and tables, Tab inserts one wide space |
| ⌘] / ⌘[ | Indent / outdent a list item |
Choose which color each number applies in View options → Shortcut color palette.
Insert and edit
| Keys | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ⇧⌘K | Add or edit a link — clear the address to remove the link | |
| ⌘T | Insert a table (3×3 with a header row) | In a browser, use /table |
| ⇧⌘O | Attach an image or file | |
| ⌘D | Insert today’s date with the weekday | |
| ⇧⌘D | Insert the current time (hh:mm) | |
| ⇧⌥⌘D | Insert the date and time | |
| ⌘. | Add or remove a collapsible block | |
| ⌥⌘↑ / ⌥⌘↓ | Move the current block (line) up or down | |
| ⌥⌘C | Copy the whole note to the clipboard as Markdown | |
| ⇧⌘A | Show or hide the format bar | |
| ⌘Z / ⇧⌘Z | Undo / redo | |
[[ | Note link autocomplete | Typed |
/ | Open the block menu | At the start of a line or after a space |
Syntax that formats as you type (#, - [ ], **bold** and more) is in the Input syntax reference.
Tables
These work with the cursor inside a table.
| Keys | Action |
|---|---|
| Tab / ⇧Tab | Next cell / previous cell. Tab in the last cell adds a new row. |
| ↑ / ↓ | Move to the row above or below, spreadsheet-style |
| ⇧↑ / ⇧↓ | Extend the cell selection up or down |
| Delete | Clear the selected cells |
| ⌘A | Select the cell, then the whole table |
| ⌘↩ | Add a row below and move into it |
| ⇧⌘↩ | Add a row above |
| ⌥⌘↩ / ⇧⌥⌘↩ | Add a column to the right / left |
| Alt+Shift+W | Open the Table settings panel |
| Tab / ⇧Tab with the whole table selected | Shift the table right / left (Space / ⇧Space do the same); Esc clears the selection |
| ← / → on a column boundary | Resize the column by 8px |
| Shift+F10 on the table edge + button | Add several rows at once (same as right-click) |
Review mode
| Keys | Action |
|---|---|
| ⌥⌘M | Turn review mode on or off. Turning it on with the cursor in the note opens a comment right there; while it’s on, pressing it with the cursor in the note adds a comment at that spot. (Windows: Ctrl+Alt+M) |
| ⌥↓ / ⌥↑ | Next / previous comment waiting for you |
| ↩ / ⇧↩ / Esc | In a margin comment card (wide screens): post / new line / cancel |
| ⌘↩ in a reply | Also check ✓ when sending |
| ⌥-click the check | Check with a note |
For review mode itself, see Review mode and comments.
Mac app
These are in the View menu of the Mac app’s menu bar. All the original keys above (⌘N, ⌘T and so on) also work in the app.
| Keys | Action |
|---|---|
| ⌘R | Reload. In the app downloaded from commonnote.app, this picks up newly released screens; the App Store version needs an app update |
| ⌘+ / ⌘= | Zoom In |
| ⌘− | Zoom Out |
| ⌘0 | Actual Size |
| ⌥⌘T | Today’s Tasks Summary |
The Mac app has no system-wide global shortcut. To start a note quickly with the window closed, choose New Note from the menu bar icon. See Use the Mac app for more.