Balsamiq Wireframes keyboard shortcuts
Balsamiq Wireframes combines direct-selection keys, drawing letters, and context-sensitive editing commands. Browser and operating-system shortcuts can take precedence in the web editor, so this reference keeps Balsamiq's published platform limits visible.
Windows, macOS · 100 shortcutsSelect, move, and resize
Modifier keys in this group are held while clicking, dragging, or resizing. Arrow-key amounts are one pixel normally and ten pixels with Shift.
| Action | Windows | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Edit the selected control's text | EnterorF2 | EnterorF2 |
| Add a control to the selection | ShiftClick | ShiftClick |
| Toggle a control in the selection | CtrlClick | Not documented |
| Select all controls | CtrlA | Not documented |
| Deselect all controls | CtrlShiftA | Not documented |
| Ignore the control under the pointer while selecting | AltHold | AltHold |
| Keep the aspect ratio while resizing | ShiftResize | ShiftResize |
| Move only horizontally or vertically while dragging | ShiftDrag | ShiftDrag |
| Disable snapping while moving or resizing | CtrlDrag | Not documented |
| Move the selection by one pixel | Arrow keys | Arrow keys |
| Move the selection by ten pixels | ShiftArrow keys | ShiftArrow keys |
| Resize the selection by one pixel | CtrlAltArrow keys | Not documented |
| Resize the selection by ten pixels | CtrlAltShiftArrow keys | Not documented |
| Restore the selection's automatic size | CtrlAlt0 | Not documented |
| Pan the canvas | SpaceDrag | SpaceDrag |
| Grow the selected control | Ctrl] | Not documented |
| Shrink the selected control | Ctrl[ | Not documented |
Arrange and edit controls
Layer commands change the selected control's stacking order. Paste in place retains the copied control's original canvas coordinates.
| Action | Windows | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Bring the selection to the front | CtrlShiftUp | Not documented |
| Send the selection to the back | CtrlShiftDown | Not documented |
| Bring the selection forward one layer | CtrlUp | Not documented |
| Send the selection backward one layer | CtrlDown | Not documented |
| Duplicate while dragging | AltDrag | AltDrag |
| Undo | CtrlZ | Not documented |
| Redo | CtrlYorCtrlShiftZ | Not documented |
| Cut | CtrlXorShiftDelete | Not documented |
| Copy | CtrlCorCtrlInsert | Not documented |
| Paste | CtrlVorShiftInsert | Not documented |
| Paste in place | CtrlShiftV | Not documented |
| Delete the selection | DeleteorBackspace | DeleteorBackspace |
| Duplicate the selection | CtrlD | CmdD |
| Lock the selection | Ctrl2 | Not documented |
| Unlock the selection | Ctrl3 | Not documented |
| Transform the selected control | CtrlAltT | Not documented |
| Find controls | CtrlF | Not documented |
| Find the next matching control | CtrlAltF | Not documented |
Group and align
Alignment number keys act on a multi-control selection. Group and ungroup include the explicit Control/Command equivalents published by Balsamiq.
| Action | Windows | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Group selected controls | CtrlG | CmdG |
| Ungroup selected controls | CtrlShiftG | CmdShiftG |
| Align selected controls left | CtrlAlt1 | Not documented |
| Align selected controls horizontally | CtrlAlt2 | Not documented |
| Align selected controls right | CtrlAlt3 | Not documented |
| Align selected controls to the top | CtrlAlt4 | Not documented |
| Align selected controls vertically | CtrlAlt5 | Not documented |
| Align selected controls to the bottom | CtrlAlt6 | Not documented |
Text, icons, and drawing
Drawing letters create a control when held while dragging. Text-entry completion differs between single-line and multiline controls.
| Action | Windows | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Select the previous icon | Left | Left |
| Select the next icon | Right | Right |
| Choose the highlighted icon | Enter | Enter |
| Close the icon selector | Esc | Esc |
| Make the icon smaller | Ctrl[ | Not documented |
| Make the icon larger | Ctrl] | Not documented |
| Finish editing a single-line control | Enter | Enter |
| Finish editing a multiline control | CtrlEnter | Not documented |
| Cancel text editing | Esc | Esc |
| Open Quick Add | /or+ | /or+ |
| Move through Quick Add results | Arrow keys | Arrow keys |
| Close Quick Add | Esc | Esc |
| Add a control at the pointer | ShiftEnter | ShiftEnter |
| Draw a rectangle | RDrag | RDrag |
| Draw text | TDrag | TDrag |
| Draw a link | YDrag | YDrag |
| Draw an image | IDrag | IDrag |
| Draw an icon | ADrag | ADrag |
Projects and boards
Project commands create, open, export, rename, or close files. Board navigation has different native Windows and macOS bindings.
| Action | Windows | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Create a new board | CtrlN | Not documented |
| Duplicate the current board | CtrlShiftN | Not documented |
| Create a new project | CtrlAltN | Not documented |
| Open a project | CtrlO | Not documented |
| Save the project as | CtrlShiftS | Not documented |
| Rename the current board | F2orCtrlAltR | Not documented |
| Close the current project or tab | CtrlWorCtrlF4 | Not documented |
| Export the project | CtrlE | Not documented |
| Export as PDF | CtrlP | Not documented |
| Export as PNG | CtrlR | Not documented |
| Create a snapshot | CtrlShiftC | Not documented |
| Quit Balsamiq Wireframes | CtrlQ | Not documented |
| Go to the next board | CtrlTab | CmdPage DownorFnCmdDown |
| Go to the previous board | CtrlShiftTab | CmdPage UporFnCmdUp |
| Go to the first board | Home | FnShiftUp |
| Go to the last board | End | FnShiftDown |
Views and presentation mode
Panel commands use the documented Control/Command pairs. Single-key presentation commands work only after presentation mode is active.
| Action | Windows | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Toggle the UI Library | CtrlLorCtrlF1 | CmdL |
| Toggle the Comments panel | Ctrl. | Not documented |
| Toggle the Boards panel | CtrlJ | CmdJ |
| Zoom in | Ctrl+orCtrlScroll Up | Not documented |
| Zoom out | Ctrl-orCtrlScroll Down | Not documented |
| Zoom to fit | Ctrl0or0 | 0 |
| Zoom to the selection | Ctrl8or8 | 8 |
| Zoom to board width | Ctrl9or9 | 9 |
| Use actual size | Ctrl1or1 | 1 |
| Enter presentation mode | CtrlShiftForF5 | Not documented |
| Exit presentation mode | Esc | Esc |
| Edit the current board | E | E |
| Show symbols | S | S |
| Show comments | J | J |
| Show notes | N | N |
| Center the current board | C | C |
| Show links | L | L |
| Open the browser | B | B |
| Toggle zoom | Z | Z |
| Go to the next board in presentation mode | Page Down | OptionDown |
| Go to the previous board in presentation mode | Page Up | OptionUp |
| Go back in presentation history | Left | Left |
| Go forward in presentation history | Right | Right |