Inkscape Keyboard Shortcuts

Cheat sheet guide

Inkscape shortcuts worth learning first

This page collects 222 searchable Inkscape keyboard shortcuts across 5 categories. Start with the shortcuts for Tools, Editing, Arrange, View, then print the cheat sheet once the important ones are worth keeping nearby.

Select toolSF1
UndoCtrlZ
Bring to topHome
Zoom in+=
NewCtrlN
Node toolNF2

Tools

92 shortcuts

Select tool

SF1

Node tool

NF2

Zoom tool

ZF5

Rectangle tool

RF4

Ellipse tool

EF5

Pen / Bezier tool

BF6

Pencil / freehand tool

P

Text tool

TF8

Fill & stroke (eyedropper)

F7

Gradient tool

GF11

F11

Pan / hand tool

Space(hold)

Space

Pen tool: Make the last segment straight

ShiftL

Shift+L

Pen tool: Make the last segment curved

ShiftU

Shift+U

Dialogs: Open text and font settings

CtrlShiftT

Ctrl+Shift+T · Cmd+Shift+T

Tools: Activate Shape Builder

X

Tools: Activate the star tool

Shift8

Shift+8

Tools: Activate the 3D box tool

ShiftF4

Shift+F4

Tools: Activate the spiral tool

I

Tools: Activate the calligraphy tool

C

Tools: Activate the paint bucket

U

Tools: Activate the tweak tool

W

Tools: Activate the spray tool

A

Tools: Activate the eraser tool

ShiftE

Shift+E

Tools: Activate the connector tool

O

Tools: Activate the measuring tool

M

Text tool: Flow text into a frame

AltW

Alt+W · Opt+W

Text tool: Remove text flow from its frame

AltShiftW

Alt+Shift+W · Opt+Shift+W

Node tool: Select the next node

Tab

Tab

Node tool: Select the previous node

ShiftTab

Shift+Tab

Node tool: Select nodes within the current subpaths

CtrlA

Ctrl+A

Node tool: Select nodes across the entire path

CtrlAltA

Ctrl+Alt+A

Node tool: Invert node selection in the current subpaths

Shift1

Shift+1

Node tool: Invert node selection across the path

AltShift1

Alt+Shift+1 · Opt+Shift+1

Node tool: Clear the node selection

Esc

Esc

Node tool: Show or hide node handles

CtrlH

Ctrl+H

Node tool: Expand the selected nodes by one scale step

.

Node tool: Contract the selected nodes by one scale step

,

Node tool: Flip the selected nodes horizontally

H

Node tool: Flip the selected nodes vertically

V

Node tool: Straighten the selected segments

ShiftL

Shift+L

Node tool: Curve the selected segments

ShiftU

Shift+U

Node tool: Make selected nodes corners

ShiftC

Shift+C

Node tool: Make selected nodes smooth

ShiftS

Shift+S

Node tool: Make selected nodes symmetric

ShiftY

Shift+Y

Node tool: Automatically smooth selected nodes

ShiftA

Shift+A

Node tool: Join the selected end nodes

ShiftJ

Shift+J

Node tool: Connect end nodes with a new segment

AltJ

Alt+J · Opt+J

Node tool: Break the path at selected nodes

ShiftB

Shift+B

Node tool: Delete the selected segment

AltBackspace

Alt+Backspace

Node tool: Insert nodes into selected segments

ShiftI

Shift+I

Node tool: Duplicate the selected nodes

ShiftD

Shift+D

Node tool: Copy the selected nodes

CtrlC

Ctrl+C

Node tool: Insert nodes from the clipboard

CtrlV

Ctrl+V

Node tool: Reverse the path direction

ShiftR

Shift+R

Pen tool: Finish the current path

Enter

Enter

Pen tool: Finish and close the current path

ShiftEnter

Shift+Enter

Pen tool: Cancel the path being drawn

Esc

Esc

Pen tool: Remove the last segment being drawn

Backspace

Backspace

Text tool: Start a new text line or paragraph

Enter

Enter

Text tool: Switch Unicode character entry

CtrlU

Ctrl+U

Text tool: Insert a nonbreaking space

CtrlSpace

Ctrl+Space

Text tool: Select all text in the current object

CtrlA

Ctrl+A

Text tool: Apply bold to selected text

CtrlB

Ctrl+B

Text tool: Apply italics to selected text

CtrlI

Ctrl+I

Gradient tool: Select the next gradient handle

Tab

Tab

Gradient tool: Select the previous gradient handle

ShiftTab

Shift+Tab

Gradient tool: Select all gradient handles

CtrlA

Ctrl+A

Gradient tool: Clear the gradient handle selection

Esc

Esc

Gradient tool: Insert gradient stops

ShiftI

Shift+I

Gradient tool: Delete selected gradient stops

Delete

Delete

Gradient tool: Simplify the selected gradient stops

CtrlL

Ctrl+L

Gradient tool: Reverse the gradient

ShiftR

Shift+R

Mesh tool: Select all mesh corners

CtrlA

Ctrl+A

Mesh tool: Switch selected sides between curves and lines

AltB

Alt+B · Opt+B

Mesh tool: Shape the selected sides into ellipses

AltC

Alt+C · Opt+C

Mesh tool: Subdivide between selected mesh corners

ShiftI

Shift+I

Mesh tool: Show or hide tensor points for selected patches

AltG

Alt+G · Opt+G

Mesh tool: Sample underlying colors at selected corners

AltK

Alt+K · Opt+K

Tweak tool: Choose object movement mode

ShiftM

Shift+M

Tweak tool: Choose movement toward or away from the cursor

ShiftI

Shift+I

Tweak tool: Choose randomized object movement

ShiftZ

Shift+Z

Tweak tool: Choose object duplication or deletion mode

ShiftD

Shift+D

Tweak tool: Choose path pushing mode

ShiftP

Shift+P

Tweak tool: Choose path shrinking or growing mode

ShiftS

Shift+S

Tweak tool: Choose path attraction or repulsion mode

ShiftA

Shift+A

Tweak tool: Choose path roughening mode

ShiftR

Shift+R

Tweak tool: Choose color painting mode

ShiftC

Shift+C

Tweak tool: Choose randomized color mode

ShiftJ

Shift+J

Tweak tool: Choose object blurring mode

ShiftB

Shift+B

Spray tool: Spray independent object copies

ShiftJ

Shift+J

Spray tool: Spray linked object clones

ShiftK

Shift+K

Spray tool: Spray into a single path

ShiftL

Shift+L

Editing

59 shortcuts

Undo

CtrlZ

Ctrl+Z · Cmd+Z

Redo

CtrlY

Ctrl+Y · Cmd+Y

Cut

CtrlX

Ctrl+X · Cmd+X

Copy

CtrlC

Ctrl+C · Cmd+C

Paste

CtrlV

Ctrl+V · Cmd+V

Paste in place

CtrlAltV

Ctrl+Alt+V · Cmd+Opt+V

Duplicate

CtrlD

Ctrl+D · Cmd+D

Clone object

AltD

Alt+D · Opt+D

Delete

Delete

Delete

Select all

CtrlA

Ctrl+A · Cmd+A

Group

CtrlG

Ctrl+G · Cmd+G

Ungroup

CtrlShiftG

Ctrl+Shift+G · Cmd+Shift+G

Dialogs: Find or replace content

CtrlF

Ctrl+F · Cmd+F

Dialogs: Open path effects

CtrlShift7

Ctrl+Shift+7 · Cmd+Shift+7

Dialogs: Open object properties

CtrlShiftO

Ctrl+Shift+O · Cmd+Shift+O

Dialogs: Open selectors and CSS

CtrlShiftQ

Ctrl+Shift+Q · Cmd+Shift+Q

Dialogs: Check the spelling

CtrlAltK

Ctrl+Alt+K · Cmd+Opt+K

Dialogs: Open color swatches

CtrlShiftW

Ctrl+Shift+W · Cmd+Shift+W

Dialogs: Open the symbols library

CtrlShiftY

Ctrl+Shift+Y · Cmd+Shift+Y

Dialogs: Open bitmap tracing

AltShiftB

Alt+Shift+B · Opt+Shift+B

Dialogs: Inspect the undo history

CtrlShiftH

Ctrl+Shift+H · Cmd+Shift+H

Object: Paste only the copied style

CtrlShiftV

Ctrl+Shift+V · Cmd+Shift+V

Object: Duplicate and apply the previous transform

CtrlAltD

Ctrl+Alt+D · Cmd+Opt+D

Object: Detach a clone from its original

AltShiftD

Alt+Shift+D · Opt+Shift+D

Object: Select the original of a clone

ShiftD

Shift+D

Object: Create a bitmap copy of the selection

AltB

Alt+B · Opt+B

Object: Exchange fill and stroke styles

ShiftX

Shift+X

Selection: Select objects across all layers

CtrlAltA

Ctrl+Alt+A · Cmd+Opt+A

Selection: Select matching object types across layers

AltShiftA

Alt+Shift+A · Opt+Shift+A

Selection: Invert selection within the current layer

Shift1

Shift+1

Selection: Invert selection across visible unlocked layers

AltShift1

Alt+Shift+1 · Opt+Shift+1

Selection: Clear the object selection

Esc

Esc

Object: Apply a clipping path

CtrlM

Ctrl+M · Cmd+M

Object: Release the clipping path

AltM

Alt+M · Opt+M

Object: Turn objects into a pattern

AltI

Alt+I · Opt+I

Object: Extract objects from a pattern

AltShiftI

Alt+Shift+I · Opt+Shift+I

Object: Turn objects into guides

ShiftG

Shift+G

Path: Convert selected objects to paths

CtrlShiftC

Ctrl+Shift+C · Cmd+Shift+C

Path: Convert the stroke outline to a path

CtrlAltC

Ctrl+Alt+C · Cmd+Opt+C

Path: Unite the selected paths

CtrlShift=

Ctrl+Shift+= · Cmd+Shift+=

Path: Subtract the upper path from the lower

Ctrl-

Ctrl+- · Cmd+-

Path: Keep the intersection of selected paths

CtrlShift8

Ctrl+Shift+8 · Cmd+Shift+8

Path: Combine paths into one object

CtrlK

Ctrl+K · Cmd+K

Path: Separate the combined subpaths

CtrlShiftK

Ctrl+Shift+K · Cmd+Shift+K

Path: Split paths while keeping holes with their objects

CtrlAltShiftK

Ctrl+Alt+Shift+K · Cmd+Opt+Shift+K

Path: Fracture paths into intersecting pieces

AltShiftF

Alt+Shift+F · Opt+Shift+F

Path: Keep only visible parts of overlapping objects

ShiftF

Shift+F

Path: Inset the path by the configured step

CtrlShift9

Ctrl+Shift+9 · Cmd+Shift+9

Path: Outset the path by the configured step

CtrlShift0

Ctrl+Shift+0 · Cmd+Shift+0

Path: Create a dynamic offset

CtrlJ

Ctrl+J · Cmd+J

Path: Create a linked offset

CtrlAltJ

Ctrl+Alt+J · Cmd+Opt+J

Path: Simplify the selected paths

CtrlL

Ctrl+L · Cmd+L

Path: Select the next editable effect parameter

7

Extensions: Repeat the last extension

AltQ

Alt+Q · Opt+Q

Extensions: Reopen the last extension's settings

AltShiftQ

Alt+Shift+Q · Opt+Shift+Q

Selector tool: Select the next object in stacking order

Tab

Tab

Selector tool: Select the previous object in stacking order

ShiftTab

Shift+Tab

Selector tool: Enter the selected group

CtrlEnter

Ctrl+Enter

Selector tool: Return to the parent group or layer

CtrlBackspace

Ctrl+Backspace

Arrange

26 shortcuts

Bring to top

Home

Home

Send to bottom

End

End

Raise one step

PageUp

PageUp

Lower one step

PageDown

PageDown

Flip horizontal

CtrlShiftM(thenflip)

Ctrl+Shift+M · Cmd+Shift+M

Align and distribute

CtrlShiftA

Ctrl+Shift+A · Cmd+Shift+A

Dialogs: Open layers and objects

CtrlShiftL

Ctrl+Shift+L · Cmd+Shift+L

Layers: Create a layer

CtrlShiftN

Ctrl+Shift+N · Cmd+Shift+N

Layers: Select the previous layer

CtrlPageUp

Ctrl+PageUp · Cmd+PageUp

Layers: Select the next layer

CtrlPageDown

Ctrl+PageDown · Cmd+PageDown

Layers: Move selected objects to the layer above

ShiftPageUp

Shift+PageUp

Layers: Move selected objects to the layer below

ShiftPageDown

Shift+PageDown

Layers: Raise the layer to the top

CtrlShiftHome

Ctrl+Shift+Home · Cmd+Shift+Home

Layers: Raise the layer one position

CtrlShiftPageUp

Ctrl+Shift+PageUp · Cmd+Shift+PageUp

Layers: Lower the layer one position

CtrlShiftPageDown

Ctrl+Shift+PageDown · Cmd+Shift+PageDown

Layers: Lower the layer to the bottom

CtrlShiftEnd

Ctrl+Shift+End · Cmd+Shift+End

Object: Flip the selection vertically

V

Object: Remove the selected object's transforms

AltShiftT

Alt+Shift+T · Opt+Shift+T

Object: Apply the previous transform again

CtrlAltT

Ctrl+Alt+T · Cmd+Opt+T

Selector tool: Double the selection's size

Ctrl.

Ctrl+. · Cmd+.

Selector tool: Halve the selection's size

Ctrl,

Ctrl+, · Cmd+,

Selector tool: Increase size by the configured step

.

Selector tool: Decrease size by the configured step

,

Selector tool: Rotate the selection 90 degrees clockwise

Ctrl]

Ctrl+] · Cmd+]

Selector tool: Rotate the selection 90 degrees counterclockwise

Ctrl[

Ctrl+[ · Cmd+[

Selector tool: Switch between scaling and rotation handles

ShiftS

Shift+S

View

32 shortcuts

Zoom in

+=

Zoom out

-

Zoom to fit page

3

Zoom to fit drawing

5

Zoom 1:1

1

Toggle grid

#

Toggle guides

|

Toggle XML editor

CtrlShiftX

Ctrl+Shift+X · Cmd+Shift+X

Open fill & stroke

CtrlShiftF

Ctrl+Shift+F · Cmd+Shift+F

Canvas: Preview the drawing

F

Canvas: Use quick zoom

Q

Dialogs: Open application preferences

CtrlShiftP

Ctrl+Shift+P · Cmd+Shift+P

Dialogs: Show or hide the dialogs

F12

F12

Canvas: Enable or disable snapping

Shift5

Shift+5

Canvas: Set zoom to one half

2

Canvas: Fit the page width in view

6

Canvas: Center the page without changing zoom

Ctrl4

Ctrl+4 · Cmd+4

Canvas: Return to the previous zoom

Canvas: Advance to the next zoom

Shift`

Shift+`

Canvas: Cycle the display mode

Ctrl5

Ctrl+5 · Cmd+5

Canvas: Switch the split view

Ctrl6

Ctrl+6 · Cmd+6

Canvas: Switch the X-ray view

Alt6

Alt+6 · Opt+6

Canvas: Switch the grayscale preview

Alt5

Alt+5 · Opt+5

Window: Show or hide rulers

CtrlR

Ctrl+R · Cmd+R

Window: Show or hide scrollbars

CtrlB

Ctrl+B · Cmd+B

Window: Show or hide the palette

AltShiftP

Alt+Shift+P · Opt+Shift+P

Canvas: Open the command palette

Shift/

Shift+/

Window: Switch to the next document window

CtrlTab

Ctrl+Tab

Window: Use fullscreen with hidden interface panels

CtrlF11

Ctrl+F11 · Cmd+F11

Window: Show or hide interface panels

ShiftF11

Shift+F11

Tool controls bar: Focus the first editable tool field

AltX

Alt+X · Opt+X

Canvas: Focus the zoom entry field

AltZ

Alt+Z · Opt+Z

File

13 shortcuts

New

CtrlN

Ctrl+N · Cmd+N

Open

CtrlO

Ctrl+O · Cmd+O

Save

CtrlS

Ctrl+S · Cmd+S

Save as

CtrlShiftS

Ctrl+Shift+S · Cmd+Shift+S

Export PNG

CtrlShiftE

Ctrl+Shift+E · Cmd+Shift+E

CtrlP

Ctrl+P · Cmd+P

Dialogs: Open document properties

CtrlShiftD

Ctrl+Shift+D · Cmd+Shift+D

File: Create a document from a template

CtrlAltN

Ctrl+Alt+N · Cmd+Opt+N

File: Save a separate document copy

CtrlAltShiftS

Ctrl+Alt+Shift+S · Cmd+Opt+Shift+S

File: Import a bitmap or vector file

CtrlI

Ctrl+I · Cmd+I

File: Close the document window

CtrlW

Ctrl+W · Cmd+W

File: Exit the application

CtrlQ

Ctrl+Q · Cmd+Q

Document: Fit the page to the selection or drawing

CtrlShiftR

Ctrl+Shift+R · Cmd+Shift+R

Official reference check for these additions

178 additional actions were checked against official references, including default keymap definitions, on 2026-11-03. Existing actions were retained. This is a reference check, not a test in an installed application. A dash means this batch does not provide a verified binding for that system. The editor or mode named in an action is part of its context.

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