Note · From the Notebook
Obsidian Hotkeys
My curated Obsidian keyboard reference (Linux + Vim mode): essential defaults, my customizations, and a recommended-to-adopt set.
Started June 8, 2026 obsidianhotkeysproductivitylinuxvim
Obsidian Hotkeys
My working keymap for Obsidian on Linux with Vim mode on. The modifier
is Ctrl (never Cmd), and most in-editor movement and editing is Vim, not
Obsidian commands — so mastering this setup means learning both. Keys are
changed in Settings → Hotkeys (Ctrl+,); the bindings live in
.obsidian/hotkeys.json and sync across my machines via obsidian-git.
My customizations
These are the non-default binds I actually run.
| Action | Key |
|---|
| Toggle left sidebar | Ctrl+L |
| Toggle right sidebar | Ctrl+R |
| Close pane / tab | Ctrl+W |
| Copy full file path | Ctrl+Shift+C |
Navigation & search
| Action | Key |
|---|
| Quick switcher (open file) | Ctrl+O |
| Command palette | Ctrl+P |
| Search all files | Ctrl+Shift+F |
| Search current file | Ctrl+F |
| Open graph view | Ctrl+G |
| Open settings | Ctrl+, |
| Follow link under cursor | Ctrl+click |
| Navigate back / forward | Alt+← / Alt+→ (set in Hotkeys if unbound) |
Files, tabs & panes
| Action | Key |
|---|
| New note | Ctrl+N |
| New tab | Ctrl+T |
| Next / previous tab | Ctrl+Tab / Ctrl+Shift+Tab |
| Close pane / tab | Ctrl+W (custom) |
| Toggle left / right sidebar | Ctrl+L / Ctrl+R (custom) |
| Copy full file path | Ctrl+Shift+C (custom) |
Editing (Obsidian commands)
These fire even in Vim normal mode, so they layer on top of Vim.
| Action | Key |
|---|
| Toggle reading / edit view | Ctrl+E |
| Bold | Ctrl+B |
| Italic | Ctrl+I |
| Insert / edit Markdown link | Ctrl+K |
| Toggle checkbox status | Ctrl+Enter |
| Fold / unfold under cursor | Ctrl+click on the gutter |
I run Source mode (Live Preview off), so Ctrl+E to jump to Reading view
for a clean read is the toggle I lean on most.
Vim mode (in-editor)
This is the real keyboard-mastery layer. Esc (or Ctrl+[) leaves insert
mode; everything below is normal mode.
Motion
| Keys | Move |
|---|
h j k l | left / down / up / right |
w b e | word forward / back / end |
0 ^ $ | line start / first non-blank / line end |
gg G | top / bottom of note |
{ } | previous / next paragraph |
Ctrl+d Ctrl+u | half page down / up |
f<char> t<char> | jump to / before next char on line |
Editing
| Keys | Action |
|---|
i a o | insert before / after cursor / open line below |
I A O | insert at line start / end / open line above |
dd yy p | delete line / yank line / paste |
ciw diw | change / delete inner word |
caw daw | change / delete a word (with surrounding space) |
cc S | change whole line |
r<char> | replace single char |
u Ctrl+r | undo / redo |
. | repeat last change |
Visual & search
| Keys | Action |
|---|
v V Ctrl+v | character / line / block selection |
y d c | yank / delete / change selection |
/ ? | search forward / backward |
n N | next / previous match |
* | search word under cursor |
:%s/old/new/g | substitute in whole note |
:noh | clear search highlight |
Recommended to adopt ⭐
Mnemonic, mostly on Alt+letter (Obsidian leaves those open) so they won’t
fight defaults. These are the binds I’m standardizing on.
| Action | Suggested key | Why |
|---|
| Open today’s daily note | Alt+D | one-key jump into today |
| Insert template | Alt+I | fast scaffolding for new notes |
| Toggle backlinks pane | Alt+B | see what links here without the mouse |
| Toggle outline | Alt+O | jump around long notes by heading |
| Split right | Ctrl+\ | side-by-side editing |
| Commit & sync (obsidian-git) | Ctrl+Shift+G | save + push the vault in one keystroke |
How to change a hotkey
Ctrl+, → Hotkeys.- Search the command, click the
+, press the key combo. A conflict warning
appears if it’s already taken.
- Bindings persist to
.obsidian/hotkeys.json, which syncs across machines via
obsidian-git — so set it once, get it everywhere.