Bear keyboard shortcuts
Bear for Mac has native commands for Markdown-style formatting, note structure, tables, navigation, and windows. Many bindings depend on whether focus is in the editor, note list, sidebar, or a table cell, so they are grouped by working context.
macOS · 80 shortcutsText formatting
Heading number keys set levels 1 through 6. These commands apply to selected text or at the editor insertion point.
| Action | macOS |
|---|---|
| Apply heading level 1 through 6 | Cmd1-6 |
| Insert a separator | OptionCmdS |
| Toggle bold | CmdB |
| Toggle italic | CmdI |
| Toggle underline | CmdU |
| Toggle strikethrough | ShiftCmdU |
| Insert a link | CmdK |
| Insert a Wiki link | CmdD |
| Create an unordered list | CmdL |
| Create an ordered list | ShiftCmdL |
| Create a quote | ShiftCmdT |
| Toggle inline code | OptionCmdC |
| Create a code block | CtrlCmdC |
| Toggle marker highlighting | ShiftCmdM |
| Insert a footnote | ShiftCmdE |
| Attach a file | ShiftCmdV |
Tables and to-dos
Table row and column commands require the insertion point to be inside a table. To-do commands create an item or toggle its completion state.
| Action | macOS |
|---|---|
| Insert a table | OptionCmdT |
| Add a table row | CtrlCmdDown |
| Add a table column | CtrlCmdRight |
| Delete the current table row | CtrlCmdDelete |
| Delete the current table column | CtrlShiftCmdDelete |
| Create a to-do | CmdT |
| Toggle the current to-do | Cmd. |
Lines and lists
Shift-line commands change indentation or order for the current line. Tab commands change the nesting level of a list item.
| Action | macOS |
|---|---|
| Shift the current line right | OptionCmdRight |
| Shift the current line left | OptionCmdLeft |
| Move the current line up | CmdOptionUp |
| Move the current line down | CmdOptionDown |
| Indent the current list item | Tab |
| Outdent the current list item | ShiftTab |
Dates and editor control
Date commands insert Bear's four published relative-date values. Editor control includes selection, printing, folding, links, search, and zoom.
| Action | macOS |
|---|---|
| Insert today's date | ShiftCmd7 |
| Insert tomorrow's date | ShiftCmd8 |
| Insert yesterday's date | ShiftCmd9 |
| Insert the current date and time | ShiftCmd0 |
| Select all text | CmdA |
| End editing | CmdReturn |
| Print the note | CmdP |
| Open the link under the insertion point | ShiftCmdK |
| Toggle folding for the current section | Cmd' |
| Copy the note link | OptionShiftCmdL |
| Copy the note identifier | OptionShiftCmdI |
| Zoom in | Cmd+ |
| Zoom out | Cmd- |
| Return to actual size | Cmd0 |
| Toggle note statistics | ShiftCmdI |
| Toggle the table of contents | ShiftCmdA |
| Toggle backlinks | ShiftCmdB |
| Find in the current note | CmdF |
| Find and replace in the current note | OptionCmdF |
| Search the note list | ShiftCmdF |
Files and windows
Import and export act on notes. Window commands switch Bear's column layout or control the main application window.
| Action | macOS |
|---|---|
| Export notes | ShiftCmdS |
| Import notes | ShiftCmdO |
| Use the single-column layout | Ctrl1 |
| Use the two-column layout | Ctrl2 |
| Use the three-column layout | Ctrl3 |
| Open Bear settings | Cmd, |
| Toggle full-screen mode | CtrlCmdF |
| Show or hide the main Bear window | Cmd\ |