Use external keyboard shortcuts
On Mac or an iPad with an external keyboard, use shortcuts to switch tools, add content, and navigate the canvas. The canvas commands below apply to infinite documents, vertical documents, and paged notes. Text documents use their own editing, formatting, and insertion tools.
⌘ means Command, ⇧ means Shift, and ⌫ means Backspace. Press key combinations together. Press single letters and 1–9 without Command.
Shortcuts use fixed defaults and cannot be customized. On Mac, open Help → Shortcut. On iPad, open a note and choose More → More Settings → Shortcut. Search the reference by action name, category, or key.
Put keyboard focus in the right place
- Open the document. Enter editing mode if you want to change content.
- Finish typing in any text box, search field, or other input area so focus returns to the canvas.
- Use tool keys to switch tools. Select the relevant object before copying, deleting, or working with nodes.
- Try
P,E,V, and Space-dragging in a practice note before learning more shortcuts.
While a text field is active, letters, numbers, Space, and Backspace edit text. Typing t does not create a text box, and Backspace does not delete an entire canvas object. Mind map nodes have two dedicated insertion commands; see Edit mind map nodes.
File: Create, share, and print
| Action | Shortcut | Behavior |
|---|---|---|
| New infinite canvas | ⌘N | On the library home screen only, creates and opens one in the current folder |
| Share and export | ⇧⌘E | Opens export settings for the current document so you can choose a format and range |
⌘P | In paged notes, opens system printing after page selection; text documents use their own print flow |
⌘N is the only app-specific shortcut on the library home screen. Use the existing menus to create other document types or folders and to import files.
For infinite documents, use Print Artboards to select artboards rather than treating the entire canvas as one printed page. Share and print shortcuts open the relevant interface; you still need to choose the format, range, or destination.
Edit: Work with text or a selection
| Action | Shortcut | Behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Undo | ⌘Z | Reverses the current text or editor action |
| Redo | ⇧⌘Z | Reapplies an undone action |
| Cut | ⌘X | Cuts selected text or supported objects |
| Copy | ⌘C | Copies selected text or objects |
| Paste | ⌘V | Pastes text while typing, or supported content onto the canvas |
| Select all text | ⌘A | Selects text in the active input field |
| Duplicate object | ⌘D | Duplicates a supported canvas object after you finish typing and select it |
| Delete | ⌫ | Deletes text while typing, or the deletable canvas selection |
| Find | ⌘F | Opens the current editor’s search |
Search scope depends on document type. ⌘A does not select the entire infinite canvas. Use menus for Copy as Text, object links, saving selections as assets, and clearing pages.
Tools: Switch pens and interaction modes
The Mac Tools menu contains writing, selection, shape, and utility tools.
| Tool | Shortcut | Behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Last-used writing pen | P | Restores its type, color, and thickness |
| First nine pen box tools | 1–9 | Selects tools in their displayed order |
| Eraser | E | Restores the last eraser type and settings |
| Lasso | V | Selects handwriting or canvas objects |
| Laser pointer | L | Restores its last settings |
| Fill brush | F | Restores its last settings |
| Tape | W | Switches to tape |
| Hand tool | H | Keeps panning mode active until you choose another tool |
| Temporary pan | Hold Space and drag | Restores the previous tool when you release Space |
How number keys map to the pen box
1 selects the first item, 2 the second, and so on. The lasso, eraser, and ruler also occupy positions. For a pen box ordered black pen, eraser, lasso, red pen, 2 selects the eraser and 4 selects the red pen.
Choosing a pen restores its saved type, color, and thickness. Choosing the ruler toggles its visibility while preserving the current writing or selection tool. Reordering tools changes the number-key mapping. Numbers with no corresponding item do nothing; select the tenth and later items directly in the pen box.
Except for toggling the ruler, pressing a tool key again keeps the same tool. It does not cycle pen types or open properties. See Set up and organize the pen box.
How H differs from holding Space
Use H for extended navigation: the Hand tool stays active as you drag. Press P, E, or another tool key to switch back.
For a quick pan while writing, hold Space, then hold the left mouse button or press and drag on the trackpad. Release Space to restore the previous tool and settings. Space alone does not move the view. Finish any current stroke or object drag first.
In a text field or during input-method composition, Space continues to enter text or select a candidate.
Shape tools
| Shape | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Rectangle | R |
| Circle or ellipse | O |
| Line | / |
| Connector | X |
After switching, place or draw the shape as usual. Choose rounded rectangles and other shapes from Tools → Shape; they have no default shortcut. The ruler, compass, current tool settings, calculator, countdown, and stopwatch also use their menus or toolbar actions.
Insert: Add text, mind maps, and artboards
| Content | Shortcut | Behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Text | T | Prepares a text box; click the canvas to place it and type |
| Mind map | M | Inserts a template so you can edit its central topic and branches |
| Child node | ⌘Return | Adds a child to a selected native mind map node or one whose text you are editing |
| Sibling node | ⇧⌘Return | Adds a sibling to a selected or edited non-root node |
| Artboard | G | Opens artboard creation in supported documents |
After T, click the canvas to choose the text box’s position, or press Esc to cancel. See Add text boxes to the canvas.
Images and videos, Camera, stickers, tables, formulas, links, recordings, scanning, attachments, and pages have no default shortcuts. Use Insert or the existing add menu. Availability depends on the document type, device, and current state; dimmed items are unavailable.
Edit mind map nodes
Select a node or place the cursor in its text, then press ⌘Return for a child. For a non-root node, use ⇧⌘Return for a sibling. Current text is saved. A new text node becomes ready for typing, so you can continue adding nodes. Image or shape nodes may create another node of the same type when the duplicate-node setting is enabled.
Return alone still inserts a line break, and the root node cannot have a new sibling. If an input method is composing text, confirm its candidate before using either insertion command.
These commands apply only to the active native mind map node. They do not add nodes while you type in a regular text box, table cell, search field, or formula field, even if the mind map still appears selected. A formula field handles ⌘Return according to its own controls.
See Create mind maps and add nodes for the full flow.
Format and arrange content
| Text style | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Bold | ⌘B |
| Italic | ⌘I |
| Underline | ⌘U |
These apply in text fields that support the style. Use Format or the formatting panel for font, size, color, paragraph, and object styles.
Arrange offers front/back order, locking, unlocking, and supported scaling constraints. These have no default shortcuts and become available according to the selected object’s capabilities.
View: Zoom, sidebar, and immersive mode
| Action | Shortcut | Behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Zoom in | ⌘+ or ⌘= | Enlarges the canvas or page view |
| Zoom out | ⌘− | Reduces the view |
| Return to 100% | ⌘1 | Restores 100% zoom where supported |
| Show or hide the document sidebar | ⌘0 | Toggles the sidebar; unavailable in immersive mode |
| Enter or leave immersive mode | ⇧⌘F | Toggles immersive mode in supported editors |
1 selects the first pen box item; ⌘1 changes zoom. Zooming does not change pen thickness, and 100% does not return the canvas to its origin.
Use View or the relevant toolbar for Fit to Screen, Fit to Width, preset zoom levels, location navigation, page thumbnails, outlines, artboard lists, and presentations. Zoom shortcuts do not affect the background canvas while you are typing.
Esc: Leave the current action
On the canvas, Esc cancels pending text placement or ends the current selection or temporary action. If no closer action needs dismissing, it can leave immersive mode. Each press handles the current layer rather than clearing several states at once.
An active input area, input-method composition, or dialog handles Esc first.
If a shortcut does not work
- T, P, or numbers type text: Finish typing and return focus to the canvas.
- Copy, Delete, or Duplicate is unavailable: Select a supported object. A locked object may disable editing actions.
- A mind map node is not added: Check that a native node is active and any input-method composition is confirmed. Root nodes cannot have siblings.
- A menu item is dimmed: Check document support, editing mode, and whether a dialog or password lock is active.
- The wrong document responds: Activate the intended window. Shortcuts act on the active window and focused content.
Mac system shortcuts for windows, hiding, and quitting remain available through system menus. The system Shortcuts app is a separate feature; see Use the Shortcuts app.
Related guides: Pen box setup · Text boxes · Mind map nodes · Multiple windows and split screen
This article is current as of October 14, 2026. Available actions vary by device and app version; check the in-app shortcut reference and current menus.