--- title: Keybinds description: Every default keybind in Verde, plus how to remap or disable each binding in verde.json. section: Workspace order: 6 slug: keybinds --- ## Default keybinds These are the defaults, read from `packages/desktop/src/app/keybinds.zig`. Override any of them under `keybinds` in your Verde config — see [Remapping](#remapping) below. ### App | Combo | Action | | -------------------------- | ------------------------------------- | | `Ctrl+Shift+P` / `Cmd+Shift+P` | Command palette | | unbound | Open Settings (`keybinds.settings`) | | `Ctrl+Shift+Space` | Toggle the experimental Companion (when enabled in Settings) | | `Ctrl+Shift+R` / `Cmd+Shift+R`, `F5` | Refresh / reload app | | `Alt+O` | Open the default project | | `Ctrl+Shift+O` | Open in external editor | Close pane and close workspace have no direct default chords. With prefix mode enabled, `x` closes the focused pane and `Shift+X` closes the current workspace. After the last pane is gone, prefix `x` again closes the empty workspace the same way tmux and herdr do. Reopen a closed workspace from the command palette. Bind `workspace.close` / `workspace.close_current` in `verde.json` if you want a direct shortcut back. ### Sidebar & panes | Combo | Action | | -------------------------- | ------------------------------------- | | `Ctrl+S` / `Cmd+S` | Toggle the sidebar (visible ↔ icon) | | `Ctrl+Shift+S` | Toggle the sidebar's hidden mode | | `Ctrl+Shift+B` | Toggle the embedded browser pane | | `Ctrl+R` / `Cmd+R` | Reload the active browser tab (browser pane only) | | `Tab` | Inside a chat pane, focus the prompt box | | `Ctrl+Tab` | Focus the next pane in sidebar order | | `Ctrl+Shift+Tab` | Focus the previous pane in sidebar order | | `Ctrl+1 … Ctrl+9, Ctrl+0` | Focus a pane in the current workspace by sidebar order | | `Ctrl+Shift+1 … Ctrl+Shift+9, Ctrl+Shift+0` | Jump to a row in the global Active section by displayed order | | `Ctrl+Shift+←` / `Ctrl+Shift+→` | Previous / next row in the global Active section | | `Alt+1 … Alt+9, Alt+0` | Jump between workspaces by sidebar order | | `Alt+↑` / `Alt+↓` | Cycle to the previous / next workspace | Pane cycling wraps at either end. When a pane is zoomed, cycling switches the zoomed pane without restoring the split layout. ### Focus | Combo | Action | | ------------ | ------------------------------------------------ | | `Ctrl+Left` | Focus the pane or horizontal strip item to the left | | `Ctrl+Right` | Focus the pane or horizontal strip item to the right | | `Ctrl+Up` | Focus the pane or vertical strip item above | | `Ctrl+Down` | Focus the pane or vertical strip item below | `Ctrl+H/J/K/L` are intentionally unbound by default. Set the corresponding `keybinds.workspace.focus_left/down/up/right` values in `verde.json` to opt in. `Alt+arrow` combos are no longer focus aliases — `Alt+↑` / `Alt+↓` now cycle between workspaces (see the sidebar table above). ### Swap (rearrange the tiling) | Combo | Action | | ------------------ | ------------------------------------- | | `Ctrl+Shift+H` | Swap focused pane with the left one | | `Ctrl+Shift+L` | Swap focused pane with the right one | | `Ctrl+Shift+K` | Swap focused pane with the one above | | `Ctrl+Shift+J` | Swap focused pane with the one below | ### Resize (grow) | Combo | Action | | ------------------ | ---------------------------- | | `Alt+Shift+←` | Grow the focused pane left | | `Alt+Shift+→` | Grow the focused pane right | | `Alt+Shift+↑` | Grow the focused pane up | | `Alt+Shift+↓` | Grow the focused pane down | ### Zoom | Combo | Action | | ------- | --------------------------------------------------- | | `Alt+Z` | Zoom the focused pane to fill the workspace; toggle again to restore | ### Workspace splits Workspace splits have no direct default keybinds. With prefix mode enabled, `Ctrl+B`, then `c` adds a new tab (chat by default) and `Ctrl+B`, then `t` adds a terminal tab in the same place. `Ctrl+B`, then `Shift+T` creates a separate top-level terminal pane. The `v` and `-` prefix chords create tiled splits of the configured default pane type (chat or terminal); `Shift+V` and `Shift+-` create the other type. You can also use the pane header buttons: `C|` / `C-` for chat vertical / horizontal and `T|` / `T-` for terminal vertical / horizontal, or bind any split action directly under `keybinds.workspace`. ### Terminal (inside a focused terminal pane) | Combo | Action | | ---------------------------------- | ------------------------------- | | `Ctrl+Alt+T` / `Cmd+Alt+T` | New terminal tab | | `Ctrl+Shift+R` / `Cmd+Shift+R` | Rename the active terminal tab | | `Ctrl+Shift+PageUp` | Previous terminal tab | | `Ctrl+Shift+PageDown` | Next terminal tab | | `Ctrl+Alt+↑` / `Cmd+Alt+↑` | Focus the terminal split above | | `Ctrl+Alt+↓` / `Cmd+Alt+↓` | Focus the terminal split below | | `Ctrl+Alt+←` / `Cmd+Alt+←` | Focus the terminal split left | | `Ctrl+Alt+→` / `Cmd+Alt+→` | Focus the terminal split right | | `Ctrl+-` / `Ctrl+=` | Per-terminal zoom out / in | ### Chat transcript scrolling | Combo | Action | | ----------- | ------------------------------- | | `↑` | Scroll up one line | | `↓` | Scroll down one line | | `PageUp` | Scroll up one page | | `PageDown` | Scroll down one page | Transcript scrolling is **direct** — no inertia or velocity decay. When input stops, the view stops. Do not expect a multi-frame glide. ## Prefix mode (tmux-style) Prefix mode is **on by default**. Pressing the prefix chord (`Ctrl+B` by default) arms Verde for one keypress: the next key resolves against the prefix table below instead of reaching the focused pane. While armed, a one-line status bar appears along the bottom (`PREFIX esc cancel Ctrl+B send prefix w workspace nav ? keybinds`); press `?` to open the full cheat sheet of every second key — including your own `command` scripts — without dropping the chord. `Esc` cancels, an unbound key is swallowed, and pressing the prefix twice sends the literal chord to the focused terminal (tmux `send-prefix`). Every built-in command has a default seat in the prefix table, with no configuration required. To disable prefix mode: ```json { "keybinds": { "prefix": false } } ``` Change the prefix chord with a string (which also enables prefix mode), or use the object form for full control: ```json { "keybinds": { "prefix": { "enabled": true, "key": ["Ctrl+A", "Ctrl+B"], "defaults": true, "bindings": { "c": "new_thread", "g": { "command": "lazygit", "in": "pane" }, "Shift+3": { "action": "workspace.select.3" }, "z": null } } } } ``` - `key` — one accelerator or an array. Any of them arms the prefix. - `defaults` — set to `false` to drop the built-in table and start empty. - `bindings` — keyed by the second key's accelerator (`"x"`, `"Shift+X"`, `"Ctrl+Left"`, `"Comma"`). A string value is an action name; `null` removes a default; `{ "command": "..." }` runs a shell script. Add `in` (or `open`) to choose where it runs: | `in` | What happens | | ---- | ------------ | | omitted / `background` | Detached `sh -lc` in the project directory, with the project path as `$1` (same as custom `open.default` actions). TUIs like lazygit will not show a pane. | | `terminal` | Types the command into the focused terminal. Falls back to `pane` if a terminal is not focused. | | `pane` | Opens a new terminal pane whose process is the command. | | `horizontal` / `split_horizontal` | Horizontal tiled split of the focused pane, then runs the command there. | | `vertical` / `split_vertical` | Vertical tiled split, then runs the command there. | | `floating` | Opens a floating quick terminal running the command. | | `tab` | New tab in the focused terminal dock. Falls back to `pane` if a terminal is not focused. | Aliases: `new_pane` / `new` → `pane`; `split` / `horizontal` → `split_horizontal`; `float` / `quick` → `floating`; `current` / `focused` → `terminal`; `detached` → `background`. Configured direct shortcuts work alongside prefix mode. Modifier state is exact: `Ctrl+B` then `x` is different from `Ctrl+B` then `Ctrl+X`, so release `Ctrl` before the second key unless the binding uses it. ### Workspace menu `prefix w` opens the herdr-style **NAVIGATE** workspace menu. The status bar switches to `» NAVIGATE esc back Up Prev workspace Down Next workspace Tab Next pane …`. Running any bound action closes the menu immediately; an unbound key leaves it open so you can choose again. Press `Esc` to close it without running anything. Defaults: `Up`/`Down` previous/next workspace, `Tab`/`Shift+Tab` next/previous pane, `h j k l` focus, `c` new thread, `v` / `-` split the configured default pane type, `Shift+V` / `Shift+-` split the other type, `x` close, `z` zoom, `p` command palette, `1`–`0` select workspace, `?` cheat sheet. The table is overridable exactly like `bindings`, under `"navigate"`: ```json { "keybinds": { "prefix": { "navigate": { "Up": null, "g": { "command": "lazygit" } } } } } ``` ### Default prefix table | After `Ctrl+B` | Action | | -------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | | `?` | `prefix.keybinds` (cheat sheet, stays armed) | | `w` | `prefix.navigate` (one-shot workspace menu) | | `p` | `command_palette` | | `t` / `Shift+T` | `workspace.add_tab_terminal` / `new_terminal` | | `r` | `refresh` | | `o` / `e` | `open` / `open_editor` | | `Space` | `companion` | | `s` / `Shift+S` | `sidebar` / `sidebar_hidden` | | `b` | `browser` | | `` ` `` | `terminal.toggle` | | `q` | `workspace.toggle_quick_pane` | | `x` / `Shift+X` | `workspace.close` / `workspace.close_current` | | `z` | `workspace.toggle_maximize` | | `i` | `workspace.focus_prompt` | | `c` | `workspace.add_tab` (new tab at the end of the strip; chat by default) | | `a` | `workspace.add` (new workspace) | | `Shift+C` | `workspace.split_chat_horizontal` | | `v` / `-` | Default pane split, vertical / horizontal | | `Shift+V` / `Shift+-` | Alternate pane split, vertical / horizontal | | `h` `j` `k` `l`, arrows | `workspace.focus_*` | | `Shift+H/J/K/L` | `workspace.move_*` | | `Ctrl+H/J/K/L`, `Ctrl+arrows` | `workspace.grow_*` | | `n` / `Shift+N` | `workspace.pane_next` / `pane_previous` | | `[` / `]` | `workspace.previous` / `next` | | `Shift+[` / `Shift+]` | `workspace.active_previous` / `active_next` | | `1 … 9`, `0` | `workspace.pane_select.1 … 10` | | `Shift+1 … Shift+0` | `workspace.active_select.1 … 10` | | `Shift+Up` / `Shift+Down` | `chat_up` / `chat_down` | | `PageUp` / `PageDown` | `chat_page_up` / `chat_page_down` | | `m` / `Shift+M` | `chat.model_picker` / `chat.run_config` | | `d` | `chat.directory_picker` | | `Ctrl+T` / `Shift+W` | `terminal.new_tab` / `terminal.close` | | `,` | `terminal.rename_tab` | | `Ctrl+PageUp` / `Ctrl+PageDown` | `terminal.tab_previous` / `tab_next` | | `Alt+arrows` | `terminal.split_*` | | `Alt+Shift+arrows` | `terminal.focus_*` | Terminal and chat actions only apply while a pane of that kind is focused, exactly like their direct shortcuts. ### Prefix action names Action names mirror the remapping keys below, joined with `.` for nested groups: `refresh`, `open`, `open_editor`, `new_thread`, `new_terminal`, `workspace.add`, `workspace.add_tab`, `workspace.add_tab_terminal`, `command_palette`, `companion`, `sidebar`, `sidebar_hidden`, `browser`, `chat_up`, `chat_down`, `chat_page_up`, `chat_page_down`, `chat.model_picker`, `chat.run_config`, `chat.directory_picker`, `terminal.toggle`, `prefix.keybinds`, `prefix.navigate`, and `terminal.` for every terminal binding. The dynamic split names are `workspace.split_default_*` and `workspace.split_alternate_*`, alongside every `workspace.` including `workspace.add_tab_terminal`. Positional actions take a 1-based ordinal: `workspace.select.N`, `workspace.pane_select.N`, `workspace.active_select.N`. ## Remapping Override any binding under `keybinds` in your `verde.json`. On Unix it is under `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/verde` or `~/.config/verde`; on Windows it is under `%APPDATA%\Verde`. Add `"$schema": "https://verdeai.dev/config.schema.json"` at the root of that file for editor autocomplete of every keybind and prefix action. Use a string for one shortcut, or a string array for multiple shortcuts on the same action: `Ctrl+T` and `Ctrl+Shift+T` are unbound by default. To opt back into those direct shortcuts, use `new_thread` and `workspace.split_terminal_horizontal` as shown below. Settings has no default chord; bind `settings` to add one. ```json { "keybinds": { "new_thread": "CommandOrControl+T", "settings": "Ctrl+Comma", "browser": "Ctrl+Shift+B", "companion": "Ctrl+Shift+Space", "workspace": { "split_terminal_horizontal": "CommandOrControl+Shift+T", "focus_up": "Ctrl+K", "focus_down": "Ctrl+J", "focus_left": "Ctrl+H", "focus_right": "Ctrl+L", "pane_previous": "Ctrl+Shift+Tab", "pane_next": "Ctrl+Tab", "active_select": ["Ctrl+Shift+1", "Ctrl+Shift+2", "Ctrl+Shift+3", "Ctrl+Shift+4", "Ctrl+Shift+5", "Ctrl+Shift+6", "Ctrl+Shift+7", "Ctrl+Shift+8", "Ctrl+Shift+9", "Ctrl+Shift+0"], "active_previous": "Alt+Left", "active_next": "Alt+Right", "pane_select": ["Ctrl+1", "Ctrl+2", "Ctrl+3", "Ctrl+4", "Ctrl+5", "Ctrl+6", "Ctrl+7", "Ctrl+8", "Ctrl+9", "Ctrl+0"], "previous": "Alt+Up", "next": "Alt+Down", "move_left": "Ctrl+Shift+H", "move_right": "Ctrl+Shift+L", "move_up": "Ctrl+Shift+K", "move_down": "Ctrl+Shift+J", "toggle_maximize": "Alt+Z", "select": ["Alt+1", "Alt+2", "Alt+3", "Alt+4", "Alt+5", "Alt+6", "Alt+7", "Alt+8", "Alt+9", "Alt+0"] }, "terminal": { "new_tab": "CommandOrControl+Alt+T", "close": "CommandOrControl+Shift+W", "rename_tab": "CommandOrControl+Shift+R", "tab_previous": "CommandOrControl+Shift+PageUp", "tab_next": "CommandOrControl+Shift+PageDown", "focus_up": "CommandOrControl+Alt+Up", "focus_down": "CommandOrControl+Alt+Down", "focus_left": "CommandOrControl+Alt+Left", "focus_right": "CommandOrControl+Alt+Right" } } } ``` `workspace.pane_select` is positional: the first shortcut focuses the first pane shown under the current workspace in the sidebar, the second shortcut focuses the second pane, and so on. `workspace.active_select` follows the sorted order currently shown in the sidebar's global Active section, including rows from other workspaces. `workspace.active_previous` / `workspace.active_next` cycle that same list; the defaults are `Ctrl+Shift+Left` / `Ctrl+Shift+Right`. Bind `Alt+Left` / `Alt+Right` (or any other chord) if you want a different cycle shortcut. `workspace.close` and `workspace.close_current` are unbound by default. Prefix `x` / `Shift+X` close a pane or workspace when prefix mode is on. To restore the old direct chords: ```json { "keybinds": { "workspace": { "close": ["CommandOrControl+W", "Alt+X"], "close_current": "CommandOrControl+Shift+W" } } } ``` ## Disabling a binding Set the binding to `null`, an empty string, or an empty array to disable it: ```json { "keybinds": { "terminal": { "toggle": null, "split_up": null, "split_down": null, "split_left": null, "split_right": null } } } ``` ## Binding keys reference The keybinds config uses the same accelerator grammar as the desktop defaults. The top-level keys group actions by surface; the inner values are one shortcut or an array of shortcuts. | Group | Keys (subset) | | ----------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | top | `refresh`, `open_default`, `open_editor`, `new_thread`, `command_palette`, `settings`, `companion`, `toggle_sidebar`, `toggle_sidebar_hidden`, `toggle_browser`, `toggle_terminal` | | chat | `chat_up`, `chat_down`, `chat_page_up`, `chat_page_down` | | `workspace` | `split_chat_vertical`, `split_chat_horizontal`, `split_terminal_vertical`, `split_terminal_horizontal`, `toggle_maximize`, `close`, `close_current`, `focus_left`, `focus_right`, `focus_up`, `focus_down`, `focus_prompt`, `pane_previous`, `pane_next`, `active_select`, `active_previous`, `active_next`, `pane_select`, `move_*`, `grow_*`, `select`, `previous`, `next` | | `terminal` | `new_tab`, `close`, `rename_tab`, `tab_previous`, `tab_next`, `split_up`, `split_down`, `split_left`, `split_right`, `focus_up`, `focus_down`, `focus_left`, `focus_right` | | `prefix` | `enabled`, `key`, `defaults`, `bindings`, `navigate` — see [Prefix mode](#prefix-mode-tmux-style) | Keybinds are loaded on startup, on app refresh (`F5`, `Ctrl+Shift+R`, or prefix then `r`), and whenever `verde.json` changes on disk. Refresh is app-owned even when a terminal TUI is focused. See [Configuration & state](/docs/config) for the hosted `verde.json` JSON Schema (`https://verdeai.dev/config.schema.json`) and where state lives.