Keyboard Shortcuts

Introduction to Zed Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts are at the heart of an efficient workflow in Zed. The binding system is fully customizable: rebind any action, create key sequences, and define context-specific shortcuts.

If you are used to another editor, set base_keymap in Settings or settings.json (or run zed: toggle base keymap selector). Supported base keymaps:

• Zed (default)
• VS Code
• Atom
• Emacs (Beta)
• JetBrains
• Sublime Text
• TextMate
• Cursor
• None — disables all key bindings

You can also enable vim_mode or helix_mode for modal editing on top of your base keymap. See Zed’s Vim and Helix docs for mode-specific contexts.

Shortcut Notation

Throughout this guide:

• ⌘ — Command (macOS) / often mapped as the platform modifier
• Ctrl — Control
• Alt / ⌥ — Option / Alt
• Shift — Shift

Chord sequences are written as “press A, then B” (for example CtrlG then D). In keymap.json, sequences are space-separated: "cmd-k cmd-s".

Customizing Keyboard Shortcuts

Customize shortcuts with the Keymap Editor UI or by editing keymap.json directly.

Keymap Editor

Open the Keymap Editor to browse every action and its binding, then change or add shortcuts with the pencil icon, double-click, or Enter:

You can also run zed: open keymap from the Command Palette. Changes in the editor are written to your user keymap file.

Keymap File Locations

• macOS / Linux: ~/.config/zed/keymap.json
• Windows: %APPDATA%\Zed\keymap.json

Open it with zed: open keymap file from the Command Palette.

Changing the Base Keymap

1. Open Settings

   Use the Settings shortcut, or open settings.json with zed: open settings.

2. Set base_keymap

   Choose a preset (Zed, VS Code, Atom, Emacs, JetBrains, Sublime Text, TextMate, Cursor, or None), or set "base_keymap": "VSCode" (and similar) in JSON.

3. Optional: Modal Editing

   Enable "vim_mode": true or "helix_mode": true if you want modal bindings.

Custom Bindings and Contexts

The keymap file is a JSON array of objects with a bindings map. Omit context for global bindings; set it to limit when a binding is active. Contexts form a tree (for example Workspace → Pane → Editor). Debug the active tree with dev: open key context view.

    json
    Copy

[
  {
    "bindings": {
      "ctrl-right": "editor::SelectLargerSyntaxNode",
      "ctrl-left": "editor::SelectSmallerSyntaxNode"
    }
  },
  {
    "context": "ProjectPanel && not_editing",
    "bindings": {
      "o": "project_panel::Open"
    }
  }
]

Disabling Bindings and SendKeystrokes

Set an action to null to disable a binding in a given context:

    json
    Copy

[
  {
    "context": "Workspace",
    "bindings": {
      "cmd-r": null
    }
  }
]

To replay a sequence of keys from one shortcut, use workspace::SendKeystrokes (for example map a chord to several arrow presses, or "j k" → Escape in Vim insert mode). Prefer it for short synchronous sequences; async UI (opening palettes, network) will not finish mid-sequence.

Essential Shortcuts Reference

Dual-platform reference for the shortcuts you will use most often.

Command Palette & Settings

Files & Tabs

Editing

Navigation & Search

Panels & Layout

Git

AI — Agent Panel

Terminal

Categories of Shortcuts (Deeper Dive)

Beyond the essentials, group your learning by workflow. Revisit each category until the chords feel automatic.

Editor Navigation

Multi-cursor & Selection

Quick Reference Card

A compact card of high-frequency actions:

You've Completed Zed 101

Congratulations — you’ve finished the Zed 101 tutorial series. You covered getting started, the interface, editing, navigation, collaboration, the terminal, Git, extensions, and keyboard shortcuts.

Recommended next steps:

• Practice the dual-platform shortcuts you use every day until they are muscle memory
• Set a base_keymap that matches your previous editor, then customize from there
• Install language, theme, and MCP extensions you need from the gallery
• Join the Zed Discord and read the official docs

Or return to the home page to browse the full tutorial list.