What is this page for?

This page lists 282 keyboard shortcuts for Inkscape, the free and open-source vector graphics editor. The shortcuts span 11 categories covering Tools, Canvas, Layers, Object, Dialogs, File operations, and the XML editor.

Which categories are most useful to learn first?

The Tools and Canvas categories are the foundation for almost everything in Inkscape. Object and Layers are close behind if you work with multi-element illustrations. The XML editor and Tweak tool sections are more specialized and can wait until you need them.

Are there shortcut differences between the Mac and Windows versions?

Yes. The main difference is the usual Command versus Ctrl and Option versus Alt swap. Inkscape on macOS can also behave slightly differently from the Linux and Windows builds in certain edge cases, so some shortcuts may not map identically.

Which sections are everyday tools and which are just for reference?

Tools, Canvas, Object, and File are the ones most people use daily. Dialogs and Window shortcuts are handy but not critical to memorize. Sections like XML editor and Tweak tool are purpose-specific, useful when you're doing that particular task but rarely otherwise.

Inkscape Hotkeys and Keyboard Shortcuts

Canvas

Action	Hotkey
Zoom to page	`5`
Scroll canvas	`⌘`+`↑⌘`+`↓⌘`+`→⌘`+`←`
Toggle guides and snapping to guides	`⇧`+`\`
Zoom to selection	`3`
Zoom to drawing	`4`
Toggle snapping on and off	`%`
Zoom 1:1	`1`
Next zoom	`⇧`+`'`
Zoom to page width	`⌘`+`E6`
Zoom out	`-`
Zoom 1:2	`2`
Activate zoon field	`⌥`+`Z`
Previous zoom	`
Zoom in	`Plus`
Toggle grids and snapping to grids	`⇧`+`3`

Controls bar

Action	Hotkey
Jump to the first editable filed	`⌥`+`X`
Change value by 5.0	`PageupPagedown`
Accept the new value	`↩`
Jump to next field	`⇥`
Cancel changes	`⌘`+`Z`
Cancel changes, return to canvas	`⎋`
Change value by 0.1	`↑↓`
Jump to previous field	`⇧`+`⇥`

Dialogs

Action	Hotkey
Jump to the next widget	`⇥`
Close the dialog	`⌘`+`F4⌘`+`W`
Transform	`⇧`+`⌘`+`M`
Undo history	`⇧`+`⌘`+`H`
Trace bitmap	`⌥`+`⇧`+`B`
Document preferences	`⇧`+`⌘`+`D`
In a multi-tab dialog, switch tabs	`⌘`+`Pageup⌘`+`Pagedown`
Jump to previous widget	`⇧`+`⇥`
Set the new value	`↩`
Check Spelling	`⌥`+`⌘`+`K`
XML editor	`⇧`+`⌘`+`X`
Layers	`⇧`+`⌘`+`L`
Text and font	`⇧`+`⌘`+`T`
Fill and Stroke	`⇧`+`⌘`+`F`
Find	`⌘`+`F`
Open a search field in a dialog with a list	`⌘`+`F`
Activate current button or list	`Space↩`
Swatches	`⇧`+`⌘`+`W`
Return to the canvas	`⎋`
Export to PNG	`⇧`+`⌘`+`E`
Inkscape preferences	`⇧`+`⌘`+`P`
Toggle dialogs	`F12`
Align and Distribute	`⇧`+`⌘`+`A`
Path Effects	`⇧`+`⌘`+`7`
Object Properties	`⇧`+`⌘`+`O`

Document

Action	Hotkey
resize page to current selection, or to the drawing if nothing is selected	`⇧`+`⌘`+`R`

File

Action	Hotkey
Print document	`⌘`+`P`
Open an SVG document	`⌘`+`O`
Export to PNG	`⇧`+`⌘`+`E`
Save document	`⌘`+`S`
Save a copy	`⌥`+`⇧`+`⌘`+`S`
Import bitmap or SVG	`⌘`+`I`
Exit inkscape	`⌘`+`Q`
Create new document	`⌘`+`N`
Save under a new name	`⇧`+`⌘`+`S`

Layers

Action	Hotkey
Lower layer to bottom	`⇧`+`⌘`+`End`
Lower layer	`⇧`+`⌘`+`Pagedown`
Raise layer	`⇧`+`⌘`+`Pageup`
Create new layer	`⇧`+`⌘`+`N`
Move to layer above	`⇧`+`Pageup`
Raise layer to top	`⇧`+`⌘`+`Home`
Move to layer below	`⇧`+`Pagedown`

Object

Action	Hotkey
Cut selection	`⌘`+`X`
Raise selection to top	`Home`
Raise selection one step	`Pageup`
Pattern to objects	`⌥`+`⇧`+`I`
Trace bitmap	`⌥`+`⇧`+`B`
Redo	`⇧`+`⌘`+`Z⌘`+`Y`
Copy selection	`⌘`+`C`
Undo	`⇧`+`⌘`+`Y⌘`+`Z`
Clone object	`⌥`+`D`
Select original	`⇧`+`D`
Lower selection to bottom	`End`
Paste clipboard	`⌘`+`V`
Group selected objects	`⇧`+`⌘`+`U⌘`+`G`
Lower selection one step	`Pagedown`
Paste path effect	`⌘`+`7`
Duplicate selection	`⌘`+`D`
Paste style	`⇧`+`⌘`+`V`
Ungroup selected objects	`⇧`+`⌘`+`G⌘`+`U`
Create a bitmap copy	`⌥`+`B`
Paste in place	`⌥`+`⌘`+`V`
Unlink clone	`⌥`+`⇧`+`D`
Object to pattern	`⌥`+`I`

Tools

Action	Hotkey
Zoom tool	`F3Z`
Calligraphic tool	`⌘`+`F6C`
Connector tool	`⌘`+`F2O`
3D box tool	`⇧`+`F4X`
Text tool	`F8T`
Ellipse/arc tool	`F5E`
Spray tool	`⇧`+`F3A`
Eraser tool	`⇧`+`E`
Spiral tool	`F9I`
Pen (Bezier) tool	`⇧`+`F6B`
Gradient tool	`⌘`+`F1G`
Pencil (Freehand) tool	`F6P`
Ractangle tool	`F4R`
Star tool	`⇧`+`F9*`
Paint bucket tool	`⇧`+`F7U`
Dropper tool	`F7D`
Selector	`F1S`
Measure tool	`M`
Node tool	`F2N`
Selector (temporary)	`Space`

Tweak tool

Action	Hotkey
color jitter mode	`⇧`+`J`
move jitter mode	`⇧`+`Z⇧`+`2`
duplicate/delete mode	`⇧`+`D⇧`+`5`
Set brush width to its minimum or maximum	`HomeEnd`
Adjust tweaking force	`↑↓`
color paint mode	`⇧`+`C`
push path mode	`⇧`+`P⇧`+`6`
rotate mode	`⇧`+`[⇧`+`]⇧`+`4`
roughen mode	`⇧`+`R⇧`+`9`
attract/repel path mode	`⇧`+`A⇧`+`8`
blur mode	`⇧`+`B`
move in/out mode	`⇧`+`I⇧`+`1`
Adjust brush width by	`←→`
move mode	`⇧`+`M⇧`+`0`
scale mode	`⇧`+`<⇧`+`>⇧`+`3`
shrink/grow path mode	`⇧`+`S⇧`+`7`

Window

Action	Hotkey
Next document window	`⌘`+`⇥`
Toggle toolbars	`⇧`+`F11`
Toggle rulers	`⌘`+`R`
Toggle scrollbars	`⌘`+`B`
Toggle toolbars and fullscreen	`⌃`+`F11`
Main menu	`F10`
toggle palette	`⌥`+`⇧`+`P`
Drop-down menu	`⇧`+`F10`
Close document window	`⌘`+`F4⌘`+`W`
Previous document window	`⇧`+`⌘`+`⇥`
Toggle fullscreen	`F11`

XML editor

Action	Hotkey
set the attribute is value	`⌘`+`↩`
select element on previous/next page of list	`PageupPagedown`
expand all children and subchildren of the currently selected element	`*`
select the previous/next visible element in the list	`↑↓`
expand direct children of the currently selected element	`Plus`
collapse the currently selected element	`-`
select the topmost/lowermost visible element in the list	`HomeEnd`

Canvas

Controls bar

Dialogs

Document

File

Layers

Object

Tools

Tweak tool

Window

XML editor

Canvas

Controls bar

Dialogs

Document

File

Layers

Object

Tools

Tweak tool

Window

XML editor

Inkscape Hotkeys

Frequently Asked Questions

PhotoShop

Illustrator

AutoCAD

InDesign

Affinity Photo

PureRef

Canvas15

Controls bar8

Dialogs25

Document1

File9

Layers7

Object22

Tools20

Tweak tool16

Window11

XML editor7

Canvas15

Controls bar8

Dialogs25

Document1

File9

Layers7

Object22

Tools20

Tweak tool16

Window11

XML editor7

Inkscape Hotkeys

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this page for?

Which categories are most useful to learn first?

Are there shortcut differences between the Mac and Windows versions?

Which sections are everyday tools and which are just for reference?

Related Apps

PhotoShop

Illustrator

AutoCAD

InDesign

Affinity Photo

PureRef

Canvas

Controls bar

Dialogs

Document

File

Layers

Object

Tools

Tweak tool

Window

XML editor

Canvas

Controls bar

Dialogs

Document

File

Layers

Object

Tools

Tweak tool

Window

XML editor