Zotero Keyboard Shortcuts#

Zotero Desktop App#

Note that the Shortcuts pane of the Zotero preferences allows you to change some of these keyboard shortcuts.

Adding Items to your Zotero Library#

Function	Windows/Linux	Mac OS
Save to Zotero	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+S	`Cmd`+`Shift`+S
Create a New Item by Hand	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+N	`Cmd`+`Shift`+N
Create a New Note	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+O	`Cmd`+`Shift`+O
Import	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+I	`Cmd`+`Shift`+I
Import from Clipboard	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Alt`+I	`Cmd`+`Option`+`Shift`+I

Editing Items (Info Tab)#

Add Another Author/Creator when Editing Creator	`Shift`+`Enter`	`Shift`+`Enter`
Save Abstract or Extra field	`Shift`+`Enter`	`Shift`+`Enter`

Removing or Deleting Items and Collections#

Function	from My Library	from a Collection
Move to Trash	`Del`	`Shift`+`Del` / `Cmd`+`Delete`
Move to Trash without Confirmation Dialog	`Shift`+`Del` / `Cmd`+`Delete`	Not Available
Remove from Collection	Not Applicable	`Del` (Only for top-level items)

Function	Key
Delete Collection (and Keep Items in Library and Others Collections, if any)	`Del`
Delete Collection and Move Items to Trash	`Shift`+`Del` / `Cmd`+`Delete`

Creating Citations and Bibliographies (Quick Copy)#

Function	Windows/Linux Defaults	Mac OS Defaults
Copy Selected Item Citations to Clipboard	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+A	`Cmd`+`Shift`+A
Copy Selected Items to Clipboard	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+C	`Cmd`+`Shift`+C

Navigating between Zotero Panes#

Function	Windows/Linux	Mac OS
Focus Libraries (Left) Pane	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+L	`Cmd`+`Shift`+L
Move through Panes and Fields	`Tab`/`Shift`+`Tab`	`Tab`
Move through Info/Notes/Tags/Related Tabs	`->` and `<-` (or `Ctrl`+`Tab`/`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Tab` or `Ctrl`+`PgUp`/`Ctrl`+`PgDn`)	`Ctrl`+`PgUp`/`Ctrl`+`PgDn`[1]
Quick Search	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+K	`Cmd`+`Shift`+K
Quick Search	`Ctrl`+F	`Cmd`+F

Moving Between Tabs#

Zotero supports most standard shortcuts for switching between tabs:

Ctrl+PageDown/PageUp (Control+Fn+Up/Down on most Mac keyboards)
Ctrl+Tab / Ctrl+Shift-Tab
Cmd+Shift+[/] (macOS only)
Cmd+Option+←/→ (macOS only)
Cmd/Ctrl+1 through 9
Cmd/Ctrl+; (opens the list all tabs menu)

Searching#

Function	Windows/Linux	Mac OS
Quick Search	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+K	`Cmd`+`Shift`+K
Quick Search	`Ctrl`+F	`Cmd`+F
Find/Highlight Collection(s) an Item belongs to	Hold down `Ctrl` (Windows) or `Alt` (Linux)	Hold down `Option`

Tags#

Function	Windows/Linux	Mac OS
Toggle Tag Selector	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+T	`Cmd`+`Shift`+T
Assign Colored Tag to an Item	1 to 6 keys	1 to 6 keys

Feeds#

Function	Windows/Linux	Mac OS
Mark All Feed Items as Read/Unread	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+R	`Cmd`+`Shift`+R
Mark Feed as Read/Unread	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`	`Cmd`+`Shift`+`

Other Shortcuts#

Function	Windows/Linux	Mac OS
Expand/Collapse Collections or Items List	`+`/`-`	`+`/`-`
Highlight All Collections an Item is in	Hold down `Ctrl` (Windows) or `Alt` (Linux)	Hold down `Option`
Count Items (Result Appears in Right-Hand Pane)	`Ctrl`+A	`Cmd`+A
Edit Collection Names (Left Pane)	`F2`	`Return`

Reader#

These shortcuts apply in Zotero’s built-in PDF, EPUB, and snapshot reader. Some are specific to a particular document type, as noted.

Annotation Tools#

Function	Windows/Linux	macOS
Toggle highlight tool	`Alt`+`1`	`Option`+`1`
Toggle underline tool	`Alt`+`2`	`Option`+`2`
Toggle note tool	`Alt`+`3`	`Option`+`3`
Toggle text tool (PDF)	`Alt`+`4`	`Option`+`4`
Toggle area (image) selection tool (PDF)	`Alt`+`5`	`Option`+`5`
Toggle draw (ink) tool (PDF)	`Alt`+`6`	`Option`+`6`
Toggle eraser tool (PDF)	`Alt`+`7`	`Option`+`7`
Select (pointer) tool (PDF)	`S`	`S`
Hand (pan) tool (PDF)	`H`	`H`
Cycle to next annotation color	`Alt`+`8` (PDF), `Alt`+`4` (EPUB/snapshot)	`Option`+`8` (PDF), `Option`+`4` (EPUB/snapshot)
Choose annotation color (while a tool is active)	`1`–`8`	`1`–`8`

Creating and Editing Annotations#

Function	Windows/Linux	macOS
Create annotation from selected text (PDF)	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`1`/`2`/`3`/`4`/`5`(highlight/underline/note/text/area)	`Control`+`Option`+`1`/`2`/`3`/`4`/`5` (highlight/underline/note/text/area)
Create annotation from selected text (EPUB/snapshot)	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`1`/`2`/`3` (highlight/underline/note)	`Control`+`Option`+`1`/`2`/`3` (highlight/underline/note)
Select all annotations	`Ctrl`+`A`	`Cmd`+`A`
Move selected annotation (PDF)	`←`/`→`/`↑`/`↓`	`←`/`→`/`↑`/`↓`
Resize selected highlight/underline (PDF)	`Alt`+`Shift`+`←`/`→`/`↑`/`↓`	`Cmd`+`Shift`+`←`/`→`/`↑`/`↓`
Resize selected image/text/ink annotation (PDF)	`Shift`+`←`/`→`/`↑`/`↓`	`Shift`+`←`/`→`/`↑`/`↓`
Resize/extend selected annotation (EPUB/snapshot)	`Shift`+`←`/`→` (add `Alt` for word, `Ctrl`+`Shift` to adjust start)	`Shift`+`←`/`→` (add `Option` for word, `Cmd`+`Shift` to adjust start)
Delete selected annotation	`Del` / `Backspace`	`Del` / `Backspace`
Undo annotation change	`Ctrl`+`Z`	`Cmd`+`Z`
Redo annotation change	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Z`	`Cmd`+`Shift`+`Z`
Deselect annotation/tool, close popup	`Escape`	`Escape`

Function	Windows/Linux	macOS
Scroll down / go to next page	`Space`, `PgDn`; `Alt`+`↓` (PDF); `↓`/`→` (EPUB)	`Space`, `PgDn`; `Option`+`↓` (PDF); `↓`/`→` (EPUB)
Scroll up / go to previous page	`Shift`+`Space`, `PgUp`; `Alt`+`↑` (PDF); `↑`/`←` (EPUB)	`Shift`+`Space`, `PgUp`; `Option`+`↑` (PDF); `↑`/`←` (EPUB)
Go to beginning / end of document	`Home` / `End`	`Home` / `End`
Move focus to the “go to page” box	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`G`	`Cmd`+`Alt`+`G`
Go back (after following a link)	`Alt`+`←`, `Ctrl`+`[` (Linux)	`Cmd`+`←`, `Cmd`+`[`
Go forward	`Alt`+`→`, `Ctrl`+`]` (Linux)	`Cmd`+`→`, `Cmd`+`]`

Zoom and Display#

Function	Windows/Linux	macOS
Zoom in / increase font size	`Ctrl`+`+` / `Ctrl`+`=`	`Cmd`+`+` / `Cmd`+`=`
Zoom out / decrease font size	`Ctrl`+`-`	`Cmd`+`-`
Reset zoom	`Ctrl`+`0`	`Cmd`+`0`

Finding Text#

Function	Windows/Linux	macOS
Find text in the document	`Ctrl`+`F`	`Cmd`+`F`
Find next	`Ctrl`+`G`	`Cmd`+`G`
Find previous	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`G`	`Cmd`+`Shift`+`G`

Miscellaneous#

Function	Windows/Linux	macOS
Print the document	`Ctrl`+`P`	`Cmd`+`P`

Read Aloud#

Zotero’s reader can read your documents aloud using natural-sounding voices. Press R or L to start reading from the current location or text selection; the shortcuts below apply while Read Aloud is active.

Function	Windows/Linux	macOS
Start Read Aloud	`R` or `L`	`R` or `L`
Play / pause	`Space`	`Space`
Skip to previous / next sentence	`←` / `→`	`←` / `→`
Skip to previous / next paragraph	`Alt`+`←` / `Alt`+`→`	`Option`+`←` / `Option`+`→`
Highlight / underline the current passage	`H` / `U`	`H` / `U`

After annotating a passage:

Function	Windows/Linux	macOS
Dismiss	`Enter` or `Escape`	`Enter` or `Escape`
Delete annotation	`Del` / `Backspace`	`Del` / `Backspace`
Move annotation	`←` / `→`	`←` / `→`
Extend annotation by sentence	`Ctrl`+`←`/`→`	`Cmd`+`←`/`→`
Switch to highlight / underline	`H` / `U`	`H` / `U`
Set annotation color	`1`–`8`	`1`–`8`

The annotation is saved immediately, and the popup will close on its own after a short time.

Notes#

This section hasn't been fully updated for the new note editor in Zotero 6.

Function	Windows/Linux	Mac OS
Bold	`Ctrl`+B	`Cmd`+B
Italic	`Ctrl`+I	`Cmd`+I
Underline	`Ctrl`+U	`Cmd`+U
Select All	`Ctrl`+A	`Cmd`+A
Undo	`Ctrl`+Z	`Cmd`+Z
Redo	`Ctrl`+Y or `Ctrl`+`Shift`+Z	`Cmd`+Y or `Cmd`+`Shift`+Z
Cut	`Ctrl`+X	`Cmd`+X
Copy	`Ctrl`+C	`Cmd`+C
Paste	`Ctrl`+V	`Cmd`+V
Paste without formatting	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+V	`Cmd`+`Shift`+V
Format Heading 1 to 6	`Shift`+`Alt`+1/6	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+1/6
Format as Paragraph	`Shift`+`Alt`+7	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+7
Format as Div	`Shift`+`Alt`+8	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+8
Format as Address	`Shift`+`Alt`+9	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+9
Find and Replace	`Ctrl`+F	`Cmd`+F
Insert Link	`Ctrl`+K	`Cmd`+K
Focus/jump to toolbar	`Alt`+F10	`Alt`+`F10`

Zotero Connector#

Chrome, Firefox, and Edge all provide a way to assign a keyboard shortcut to the Save to Zotero button. Consult your browser documentation for more information.

Word Processor Plugins#

Customize your Shortcuts#

The third-party Zutilo plugin adds various functions not available in Zotero itself through extra menu items and keyboard shortcuts.

[1] MacBooks and the Apple Wireless Keyboard don’t have dedicated Page-Up/Page-Down keys, so you have to use Fn+Up/Down-arrow on those to simulate the Page-Up/Page-Down keys.