Zed keyboard shortcuts
Zed's default keymap is built around moving through a fast editor, opening the right panel, and keeping the terminal or agent close. These groups cover that path across macOS, Linux, and Windows.
Zed's useful path is short: move through the file, open the right panel, and keep the terminal or agent close. Start there, then add editor, window, and platform controls as they become part of your routine.
Panels and workspace
Open or focus the project panel, outline, diagnostics, and editor groups around the file.
| Action | Windows | macOS | Linux |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toggle project panel | CtrlShiftE | CmdShiftE | CtrlShiftE |
| Toggle terminal panel | Ctrl` | Ctrl` | Ctrl` |
| Open a new terminal | Ctrl~ | Ctrl~ | Ctrl~ |
| Open a folder | CtrlO | CmdO | CtrlO |
| Open settings editor | Ctrl, | Cmd, | Ctrl, |
| Open theme selectorTwo-stroke chord. | CtrlKCtrlT | CmdKCmdT | CtrlKCtrlT |
| Open extensions | CtrlShiftX | CmdShiftX | CtrlShiftX |
AI agent
Open the agent panel, start an inline assistant request, and change the model or context around it.
| Action | Windows | macOS | Linux |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open agent panel | CtrlShiftA | CmdShiftA | CtrlShiftA |
| Open inline assistantWorks in editors and in the terminal. | CtrlEnter | CmdEnter | CtrlEnter |
| New agent threadFocused in the agent panel. | CtrlN | CmdN | CtrlN |
| Toggle threads sidebar | CtrlAltJ | CmdOptionJ | CtrlAltJ |
| Review agent changesmacOS uses Shift+Ctrl+R, not Cmd. | CtrlShiftR | ShiftCtrlR | CtrlShiftR |
| Toggle model selector | CtrlAlt/ | CmdAlt/ | CtrlAlt/ |
| Add selection to agent thread | Ctrl> | Cmd> | Ctrl> |
Terminal
Clipboard and input modes inside the integrated terminal.
| Action | Windows | macOS | Linux |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copy in terminal | CtrlShiftC | CmdC | CtrlShiftC |
| Paste in terminal | CtrlShiftV | CmdV | CtrlShiftV |
| Clear terminal screen | CtrlShiftL | CmdK | CtrlShiftL |
| Toggle vi-style navigation in terminal | CtrlShiftSpace | CtrlShiftSpace | CtrlShiftSpace |
Editing
Change text, select ranges, format code, and move through edits without leaving the editor.
| Action | Windows | macOS | Linux |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rename symbolListed without platform qualifiers in the official VS Code migration guide. | F2 | F2 | F2 |
Make the useful keys stick
Zed's speed comes from staying close to the code and opening only what the task needs. Learn the editor movement and panel controls first, then let the agent and terminal keys join the routine when they earn their place.
You do not need this whole page in your head. Pick two shortcuts that remove a repeated hand movement, use them until they feel ordinary, and come back for the next pair.