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

Controls bar

Action	Hotkey
Jump to the first editable filed	`Alt`+`X`
Cancel changes	`Ctrl`+`Z`
Cancel changes, return to canvas	`Esc`
Jump to next field	`Tab`
Jump to previous field	`Shift`+`Tab`
Change value by 5.0	`PageupPagedown`
Accept the new value	`Enter`
Change value by 0.1	`↑↓`

Dialogs

Action	Hotkey
Activate current button or list	`SpaceEnter`
Fill and Stroke	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F`
XML editor	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`X`
Align and Distribute	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`A`
Close the dialog	`Ctrl`+`F4Ctrl`+`W`
Jump to previous widget	`Shift`+`Tab`
Text and font	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`T`
Set the new value	`Enter`
Path Effects	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`7`
Return to the canvas	`Esc`
Toggle dialogs	`F12`
Layers	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`L`
In a multi-tab dialog, switch tabs	`Ctrl`+`PageupCtrl`+`Pagedown`
Check Spelling	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`K`
Trace bitmap	`Alt`+`Shift`+`B`
Transform	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`M`
Swatches	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`W`
Find	`Ctrl`+`F`
Object Properties	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`O`
Undo history	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`H`
Export to PNG	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`E`
Jump to the next widget	`Tab`
Inkscape preferences	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`P`
Open a search field in a dialog with a list	`Ctrl`+`F`
Document preferences	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`D`

Document

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

File

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

Layers

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

Object

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

Tools

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

Tweak tool

Action	Hotkey
shrink/grow path mode	`Shift`+`SShift`+`7`
blur mode	`Shift`+`B`
roughen mode	`Shift`+`RShift`+`9`
color paint mode	`Shift`+`C`
Adjust brush width by	`←→`
rotate mode	`Shift`+`[Shift`+`]Shift`+`4`
duplicate/delete mode	`Shift`+`DShift`+`5`
color jitter mode	`Shift`+`J`
move jitter mode	`Shift`+`ZShift`+`2`
Set brush width to its minimum or maximum	`HomeEnd`
move mode	`Shift`+`MShift`+`0`
move in/out mode	`Shift`+`IShift`+`1`
push path mode	`Shift`+`PShift`+`6`
Adjust tweaking force	`↑↓`
scale mode	`Shift`+`<Shift`+`>Shift`+`3`
attract/repel path mode	`Shift`+`AShift`+`8`

Window

Action	Hotkey
Toggle toolbars and fullscreen	`Ctrl`+`F11`
Toggle toolbars	`Shift`+`F11`
Next document window	`Ctrl`+`Tab`
Previous document window	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Tab`
toggle palette	`Alt`+`Shift`+`P`
Close document window	`Ctrl`+`F4Ctrl`+`W`
Main menu	`F10`
Toggle scrollbars	`Ctrl`+`B`
Drop-down menu	`Shift`+`F10`
Toggle fullscreen	`F11`
Toggle rulers	`Ctrl`+`R`

XML editor

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

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