Help:VisualEditor/Keyboard shortcuts

This page outlines the various mouse and keyboard commands supported by the VisualEditor. If you have ideas for new useful commands, or have noticed problems with the existing ones, please let us know on the Feedback page.

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Documentation:
Development:
- Roadmap up to 2017
- Updates (2013-2023)
- Weekly status reports (2015-2016)

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Research

Main research page

Other

Why are the developers building this? (2013)
- User Test Data (2013)
Customization
Known problems
Requests for Comments (RfCs): Jul 2013 a, Jul 2013 b, Jul 2015, Sep 2015

You can also see a list of shortcuts while using the VisualEditor by pressing Ctrl+/ or ⌘ Cmd+/.

Feature	Keyboard action	Mouse action
Move text cursor	Direction keys (`↑`, `↓`, `←`, `→`, `Home`, `End`, `PageUp` and `PageDown`)	Clicking
Select content	`⇧ Shift` + (Direction keys)	Dragging
Select word		Double click word
Select paragraph		Triple click paragraph
Adjust selection	`⇧ Shift` + (Direction keys)	`⇧ Shift` + Click
Load insertion formatting from content^{[clarification needed]}	Move cursor
Insert text	Character and number keys
Insert special characters	Multiple character or number keys using an Input method editor
Delete text	`← Backspace` and `Delete` keys
Delete to beginning of word	(`⌥ Option` or `Ctrl`) + `← Backspace`
Delete to end of word	(`⌥ Option` or `Ctrl`) + `Delete`
Delete line^{[clarification needed]}	`⌘ Cmd` + (`← Backspace` or `Delete`)
Undo	(`⌘ Cmd` or `Ctrl`) + `Z`
Redo	(`⌘ Cmd` or `Ctrl`) + `⇧ Shift` + `Z`
Copy selection	(`⌘ Cmd` or `Ctrl`) + `C`	"Copy" in context or browser menu
Cut selection	(`⌘ Cmd` or `Ctrl`) + `X`	"Cut" in context or browser menu
Paste selection	(`⌘ Cmd` or `Ctrl`) + `V`	"Paste" in context or browser menu
Add a link to selection or current word	(`⌘ Cmd` or `Ctrl`) + `K`
Highlight object		Click the object
Toggle bold on selected content and in insertion formatting	(`⌘ Cmd` or `Ctrl`) + `B`	Click bold tool in toolbar
Toggle italic on selected content and in insertion formatting	(`⌘ Cmd` or `Ctrl`) + `I`	Click italic tool in toolbar
Split paragraph	`↵ Enter`
Merge paragraphs	`← Backspace` at beginning of paragraph or `Delete` at end of paragraph
Format as heading	Two or more `=` in beginning of paragraph
Start a bulleted list	`*` followed by `Space` in beginning of paragraph
Start a numbered list	`#` followed by `Space` in beginning of paragraph
Indent item in list	`Tab ↹`
Unindent item in list	`⇧ Shift`+`Tab ↹`
Format as block quote	`:` in beginning of paragraph
Open the "Add a link" dialog	Type `[[`
Open the "Add a template" (transclusion) dialog	Type `{{`
Open the "Preformatted text" dialog	Type `<pre`
Open the "Reference" dialog	(`⌘ Cmd`/`Ctrl`)+`⇧ Shift`+`K` or type `<ref`
Search toolbar functions	(`⌘ Cmd`/`Ctrl`)+`⇧ Shift`+`P` or type `\`

Help:VisualEditor/Keyboard shortcuts

Commonly used shortcuts

General shortcuts

Editor shortcuts

Fuller list of mouse and keyboard interactions

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