Keyboard Shortcuts

Most features in novelWriter are available as keyboard shortcuts.

Main Shortcuts

The main shorcuts are as follows:

Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut	Description
Alt1	Switch focus to the project tree. On Windows, use CtrlAlt1.
Alt2	Switch focus to document editor. On Windows, use CtrlAlt2.
Alt3	Switch focus to document viewer. On Windows, use CtrlAlt3.
Alt4	Switch focus to outline view. On Windows, use CtrlAlt4.
AltLeft	Move backward in the view history of the document viewer.
AltRight	Move forward in the view history of the document viewer.
Ctrl.	Open the context menu in the project tree or the document editor.
Ctrl,	Open the Preferences dialog.
Ctrl/	Toggle block format as comment.
Ctrl0	Remove block formatting for block under cursor.
Ctrl1	Change block format to header level 1.
Ctrl2	Change block format to header level 2.
Ctrl3	Change block format to header level 3.
Ctrl4	Change block format to header level 4.
Ctrl5	Change block alignment to left-aligned.
Ctrl6	Change block alignment to centred.
Ctrl7	Change block alignment to right-aligned.
Ctrl8	Add a left margin to the block.
Ctrl9	Add a right margin to the block.
CtrlA	Select all text in the document.
CtrlB	Format selected text, or word under cursor, with strong emphasis (bold).
CtrlC	Copy selected text to clipboard.
CtrlD	Strikethrough selected text, or word under cursor.
CtrlF	Open the search bar and search for the selected word, if any is selected.
CtrlG	Find next occurrence of search word in current document.
CtrlH	Open the search and replace bar and search for the selected word, if any is selected. (On Mac, this is Cmd=.)
CtrlI	Format selected text, or word under cursor, with emphasis (italic).
CtrlK	Activate the insert commands. The commands are listed in Insert Shortcuts.
CtrlN	Create new project item.
CtrlO	Open selected document.
CtrlQ	Exit novelWriter.
CtrlR	If in the project tree, open a document for viewing. If the editor has focus, open current document for viewing.
CtrlS	Save the current document in the document editor.
CtrlV	Paste text from clipboard to cursor position.
CtrlW	Close the current document in the document editor.
CtrlX	Cut selected text to clipboard.
CtrlY	Redo latest undo.
CtrlZ	Undo latest changes.
CtrlF7	Toggle spell checking.
CtrlUp	Move item one step up in the project tree.
CtrlDown	Move item one step down in the project tree.
CtrlDel	Delete next word in editor.
CtrlBackspace	Delete previous word in editor.
Ctrl'	Wrap selected text, or word under cursor, in single quotes.
Ctrl"	Wrap selected text, or word under cursor, in double quotes.
CtrlRetrun	Open the tag or reference under the cursor in the Viewer.
CtrlShift,	Open the Project Settings dialog.
CtrlShift/	Remove block formatting for block under cursor.
CtrlShift1	Replace occurrence of search word in current document, and search for next occurrence.
CtrlShiftA	Select all text in current paragraph.
CtrlShiftG	Find previous occurrence of search word in current document.
CtrlShiftI	Import text to the current document from a text file.
CtrlShiftO	Open a project.
CtrlShiftR	Close the document viewer.
CtrlShiftS	Save the current project.
CtrlShiftW	Close the current project.
CtrlShiftZ	Undo move of project tree item.
CtrlShiftDel	If in the project tree, move a document to trash, or delete a folder.
F1	Open the online user manual.
F2	If in the project tree, edit a document or folder settings.
F3	Find next occurrence of search word in current document.
F5	Open the Build Novel Project dialog.
F6	Open the Writing Statistics dialog.
F7	Re-run spell checker.
F8	Activate Focus Mode, hiding the project tree and document viewer.
F9	Re-build the project index.
F11	Activate full screen mode.
ShiftF1	Open the local user manual (PDF) if it is available.
ShiftF3	Find previous occurrence of search word in current document.
ShiftF6	Open the Project Details dialog.
Return	If in the project tree, open a document for editing.

Note

On macOS, replace Ctrl with Cmd.

Insert Shortcuts

A set of insert features are also available through shortcuts, but they require a double combination of key sequences. The insert feature is activated with CtrlK, followed by a key or key combination for the inserted content.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut	Description
CtrlK, −	Insert a short dash (en dash).
CtrlK, _	Insert a long dash (em dash).
CtrlK, Ctrl_	Insert a horizontal bar (quotation dash).
CtrlK, ~	Insert a figure dash (same width as a number).
CtrlK, 1	Insert a left single quote.
CtrlK, 2	Insert a right single quote.
CtrlK, 3	Insert a left double quote.
CtrlK, 4	Insert a right double quote.
CtrlK, '	Insert a modifier apostrophe.
CtrlK, .	Insert an ellipsis.
CtrlK, Ctrl'	Insert a prime.
CtrlK, Ctrl"	Insert a double prime.
CtrlK, Space	Insert a non-breaking space.
CtrlK, ShiftSpace	Insert a thin space.
CtrlK, CtrlSpace	Insert a thin non-breaking space.
CtrlK, *	Insert a list bullet.
CtrlK, Ctrl−	Insert a hyphen bullet (alternative bullet).
CtrlK, Ctrl*	Insert a flower mark (alternative bullet).
CtrlK, %	Insert a per mille symbol.
CtrlK, CtrlO	Insert a degree symbol.
CtrlK, CtrlX	Insert a times sign.
CtrlK, CtrlD	Insert a division sign.
CtrlK, G	Insert a @tag keyword.
CtrlK, V	Insert a @pov keyword.
CtrlK, F	Insert a @focus keyword.
CtrlK, C	Insert a @char keyword.
CtrlK, P	Insert a @plot keyword.
CtrlK, T	Insert a @time keyword.
CtrlK, L	Insert a @location keyword.
CtrlK, O	Insert an @object keyword.
CtrlK, E	Insert an @entity keyword.
CtrlK, X	Insert a @custom keyword.