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Two launchers, two jobs
Obsidian gives you two different launchers and they are not interchangeable. Ctrl + O is the quick switcher: type part of a note's name and jump to it. Ctrl + P is the command palette: every command in the app — core features and community plugins alike — is searchable there, and the palette shows the current hotkey next to each command, which makes it the best way to learn the shortcuts you do not know yet.
Writing in Obsidian is link-first. Ctrl + K wraps the selection in a Markdown link, and typing [[ opens wiki-link suggestions as you type. The payoff arrives later: Ctrl + Shift + B opens the backlinks pane to show every note that points at the current one, Ctrl + G draws the local graph around the note you are in, and Ctrl + Shift + G zooms out to the graph of the whole vault.
Panes, tabs, and a browser-like history
Ctrl + \ splits the workspace so a source note can sit beside the one you are writing, Ctrl + T and Ctrl + W open and close tabs, and Alt + Left / Alt + Right move through your navigation history exactly like a browser. Ctrl + E flips a note between editing and reading view. For structured writing, Tab and Shift + Tab indent and outdent list items, Ctrl + L toggles a checkbox — handy for task lists — and Ctrl + Shift + K, Ctrl + Shift + H, and Ctrl + Shift + S insert a code block, highlight, and strikethrough respectively.
Frequently asked questions
Can I change any of these hotkeys?
All of them. Open Settings → Hotkeys and rebind any command, including plugin commands. The command palette on Ctrl + P always displays the current binding next to each command, so it stays accurate even after you customise.
Do I actually need to press Ctrl + S?
Obsidian saves continuously as you type, so Ctrl + S exists mostly for muscle memory — and as a bindable hook that some plugins (linters and formatters, for example) use to trigger an action on demand.
What is the difference between Graph View and Global Graph?
Ctrl + G opens the graph centred on your current note and its connections — useful for seeing a topic's neighbourhood. Ctrl + Shift + G opens the vault-wide graph of every note and link, which is better for spotting orphaned notes and large clusters.
How do I see what links to the current note?
Press Ctrl + Shift + B to open the backlinks pane. It lists linked mentions (real [[links]]) and can also surface unlinked mentions — places where the note's name appears as plain text you may want to turn into a link.
Do these shortcuts work on macOS?
Yes — use Cmd wherever this page says Ctrl, and Option for Alt: Cmd + O for the quick switcher, Cmd + P for the palette, Option + Left to go back.
🤖 Ask AI about Obsidian shortcuts
Open your assistant with this page preloaded as the source — great for follow-up questions like "which of these work in other apps?"