Keyboard Shortcuts¶

This is a comprehensive reference of keyboard shortcuts available in Quicksilver.

From macOS¶

Key combination	What it does
`⌃Space`	Invoke Quicksilver (default)
`⌘⎋`	Invoke Quicksilver with Finder or frontmost app selection

Within Quicksilver¶

Key combination	What it does
`↩` or `⌃O`	Execute current command
`⌃↩`	Collapse current command into first pane as a single item
`⇥`	Move focus to next pane
`⇧⌘Letter`	Execute command for action associated with `⇧Letter`
`⌫`	Clear entered keystrokes in current pane
`⌫`	Clear selection in current pane if no entered keystrokes
`⌘↩`	Run the alternate for the current action
`⌃⌘D`	Set as default item for current search
`⌘K`	Show task viewer
`⌘L`	Show Clipboard History (requires Clipboard Plugin)
`⌃⌘Q`	Restart Quicksilver
`⌘R`	Rescan catalog
`⌥⌘S`	Show Shelf (requires Shelf Plugin)
`⌘T`	Open Fonts
`⇟` or `⌃V`	Next page in list
`⇞` or `⌥V`	Previous page in list
`↓` or `⌃N` or `⌃J`	Next item in list
`↑` or `⌃P` or `⌃K`	Previous item in list
`⇲`	End of list
`⇱`	Start of list
`⌘,`	Preferences
`⌘?`	Guide
`⌘\u2019` or `⌃⌘:`	Triggers
`⌘;`	Catalog
`⌘\u201d` or `⇧⌘\u2019`	Plug-ins
`⎋` or `F5`	Dismiss list if visible
`⎋` or `F5`	Dismiss Quicksilver if no list visible

Within the First Pane¶

Key combination	What it does
`⎋` or `F5`	Reset search to top level of Catalog if list visible
Hold letter	Execute default command for object associated with letter
`~` or ` or `⌥⌘N`	Home folder
`⌘A`	Select all in list
`⌘G`	Grab Finder or frontmost app selection
`⌥⌘G`	Grab \u2019n Drop
`⌘[`	Go back to the previously selected object (browse history back)
`⌘]`	Go forward to next selected object (browse history forward)
`→` or `/` or `⌃L`	Move down into folder/item
`←` or `⇧/` or `⌃H`	Move up out of folder/item
`⌥→` or `⌥/`	Show hidden files
`,`	Collect items (Comma Trick)
`⌥,`	Uncollect items (Comma Trick)
`.`	Enter text mode
`=`	Calculate mathematical expression (requires Calculator Plugin)

Within the Second Pane¶

Key combination	What it does
Hold letter	Execute command using action associated with letter

Spacebar Behavior¶

The behavior of the spacebar is determined in Preferences \u2192 Preferences \u2192 Command. The table below describes the effect of each option.

Option	What it does
Normal	Returns items with space(s) in the name
Select Next Result	Next item in list
Jump to Argument Field	Moves focus to pane 3 and subsequently selects the next action that requires pane 3
Switch to Text Mode	Also adds a space to the typed text (pane 1 only)
Show Item\u2019s Contents	Drill down into object (pane 1 only)

Emacs-Style Keybindings in Text Entry Mode¶

Key combination	What it does
`⌃A`	Start of line
`⌃E`	End of line
`⌃B`	Back one character
`⌃F`	Forward one character
`⌃D`	Forward delete
`⌃H`	Delete
`⌃K`	Forward delete line
`⌃N`	Down one line
`⌃O`	Line break
`⌃P`	Up one line
`⌃V`	Last character
`⌃Y`	Paste forward deleted line

Standard macOS Shortcuts¶

Standard macOS shortcuts also work in Quicksilver: ⌘H Hide, ⌘W Close, ⌘Q Quit, ⌘X Cut, ⌘C Copy, ⌘V Paste, ⌘B Bold, ⌘U Underline, ⌥⌘T Show Character Palette.

Some shortcuts, such as the main invocation hotkey, can be modified in Preferences, and others can be added with Triggers.

Note that system-wide shortcuts (such as ⌘⎋ to enter Front Row) might supersede application shortcuts\u2014you may have to disable these in System Preferences to expose the Quicksilver key combination.