Keyboard Shortcuts
Return is designed to keep your hands on the keyboard. This is the complete list of every shortcut available.
Most app shortcuts are customizable in Settings → Keyboard — the table below lists the defaults. (Cmd is Ctrl on Windows/Linux.)
Global
These work from anywhere in the application.
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Cmd+N | New document |
Cmd+O | Open document |
Cmd+S | Save document |
Cmd+W | Close current tab |
Cmd+Shift+W | Reopen last closed tab |
Cmd+Q | Quit (closes the window) |
Cmd+, | Open Settings |
Cmd+K | Focus Omnibox |
Cmd+Shift+F | Focus workspace search |
Cmd+Shift+P | Fill placeholders |
Cmd+B | Toggle Explorer panel (outside the editor) |
Cmd+Shift+B | Toggle Chat panel |
Cmd+Shift+/ | Open Documentation |
Escape | Dismiss active dialog or panel |
Formatting
Select text first, then press:
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Cmd+B | Toggle bold |
Cmd+I | Toggle italic |
Cmd+E | Toggle inline code |
Cmd+Shift+K | Insert / edit link |
These toggle - press once to apply, press again on formatted text to remove.
Zoom
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Cmd+= / Cmd++ | Zoom in (editor font size) |
Cmd+- | Zoom out |
Cmd+0 | Reset zoom |
Zoom is per-session - it resets when you restart Return.
Editing
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Cmd+Z | Undo |
Cmd+Shift+Z | Redo |
Cmd+Shift+L | Cycle list type (bullet → numbered → letter) |
Backspace | At start of empty formatted block: revert to plain text |
Navigation
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Cmd+F | Find in document (opens search bar) |
Cmd+G | Go to line number |
Escape | Exit edit mode on formatted text |
Lists
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Enter | Continue list (new item) |
Backspace | On empty list item: exit list |
Tab | Indent list item (where supported) |
Shift+Tab | Outdent list item |
Tables
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Tab | Move to next cell |
Shift+Tab | Move to previous cell |
Omnibox
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Cmd+K | Focus Omnibox |
Enter | Send message or run command |
Up/Down | Navigate command suggestions |
Escape | Close suggestions |
Documentation
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Shift+click | Open article in new tab |
Tips
Cmd+B has two roles. When your cursor is in the editor with text selected, it toggles bold. When nothing is selected or you’re outside the editor, it toggles the Explorer panel.
Escape is universal. It closes modals, dismisses search, exits edit mode on formatted text, and closes suggestion menus. When in doubt, press Escape.
The Omnibox is always one shortcut away. Cmd+K focuses it from anywhere. Type a question for AI, or start with / for commands.