All keyboard shortcuts for – Notes

100 keyboard shortcuts for note-taking: OneNote, Notion, Obsidian, Evernote, and Apple Notes

With keyboard shortcuts in note-taking apps, you can take notes faster, organize information, and find previous notes more easily. This reference guide contains 100 practical keyboard shortcuts: 20 for Microsoft OneNote, 20 for Notion, 20 for Obsidian, 20 for Evernote, and 20 for Apple Notes.

What keyboard shortcuts are useful for taking notes?

The most useful keyboard shortcuts for note-taking help you with three things: capturing information, organizing your notes, and finding what you’re looking for. Think of opening a brand new note, adding a to-do item, creating a heading, or searching through your collection. The specific shortcuts vary by program.

For example, Ctrl+N creates a brand new page within a section in OneNote. In Evernote, it creates a brand new note. In Notion, it’s a command for the desktop app; the same keys may be used by the browser itself when using Notion in a browser.

That’s why the 100 entries below are grouped by application. The same combination may appear in different programs, with different functions. Each entry describes the command within the specified application.

Note-taking software	Environment in this overview	Numbers
Microsoft OneNote	The current desktop version for Windows	1–20
Notion	The desktop app for Windows	21–40
Obsidian	The desktop app for Windows, with default settings	41–60
Evernote	The desktop app for Windows	61–80
Apple Notes	The Notes app on macos	81–100

A plus sign means you press the keys at the same time. For Ctrl+N, hold down the Ctrl key and briefly press N. On a Mac, you’ll use keys such as Command (⌘), Option (⌥), and Control (⌃). Combinations involving punctuation marks may vary depending on the keyboard layout.

Check the cursor position. A command may work differently in the note text, the navigation column, or a search window. The descriptions specify the context when it is important.

1. Microsoft OneNote: 20 keyboard shortcuts for organized notes

These shortcuts apply to the current OneNote desktop app for Windows. OneNote organizes information into notebooks, sections, and pages. The keyboard shortcuts align with this structure and help you maintain organization while writing.

Brand New pages, searches, and bookmarks

No.	Shortcut	What does this combination do in OneNote?
1	Ctrl+N	Adds a brand new page at the end of the current section. Handy for starting a separate note page for every meeting, class, or individual thought.
2	Ctrl+Shift+M	Jot down a quick note. This lets you capture a random thought without first having to navigate through your notebooks or search for an existing page.
3	Ctrl+T	Creates a brand new section in the current notebook. For example, use sections to keep notes organized by project, topic, or course.
4	Ctrl+E	Enable the search function for your notebooks. Search for a specific term and adjust the search scope when you want to find information across multiple notebooks.
5	Ctrl+F	Search within the current page. This is useful for long meeting minutes where you want to find a name, appointment, or specific topic without having to reread the entire document.
6	Ctrl+1	Apply the task marker and cycle through the corresponding statuses, including checking it off. This turns a line into a recognizable action item within your regular notes.
7	Ctrl+2	Applies or removes the “Important” label to the default order. Use this, for example, for a decision or appointment that deserves extra attention later on.
8	Ctrl+3	Apply or remove the question mark according to the standard convention. This helps you distinguish open questions from information that is already clear or confirmed.
9	Alt+Shift+D	Inserts the current date at the cursor position. This is useful for dating an addition when multiple notes end up on the same page.
10	Alt+Shift+F	Inserts the current date and time. This allows you to record when an observation, phone call, or brand new appointment was added to your notes.

The number combinations for tags follow the predefined tag list. If you’ve customized that order yourself, the corresponding tags may differ.

Organizing content and navigating between pages

No.	Shortcut	What does this combination do in OneNote?
11	Ctrl+Alt+1	Apply the “Heading 1” style to the current paragraph. Use this for main sections within a page so that different topics remain recognizable when scanning the text.
12	Ctrl+Alt+2	Apply the “Heading 2” style. This allows you to create a subdivision within a main topic, such as separate agenda items under a meeting heading.
13	Ctrl+Period (.)	Turns a bulleted list on or off. Useful for individual ideas, points to consider, or requirements where the order has no specific meaning.
14	Ctrl+Slash (/)	Turns a numbered list on or off. Use this when steps, priorities, or items need to be read or carried out in a clear order.
15	Ctrl+K	Opens the option to add a hyperlink. For example, link selected text to a web page or a previously copied reference to other notes.
16	Ctrl+Shift+V	Pastes text without the genuine source formatting. This prevents copied information from websites or documents from bringing unexpected fonts and colors into your note.
17	Ctrl+Alt+M	Opens the command to move or copy the current page. This allows you, for example, to place a separate note in the correct project section.
18	Ctrl+Page Down	Goes to the next page within the section. This allows you to view consecutive lecture notes or reports without having to click on each page individually.
19	Ctrl+Page Up	Goes to the previous page within the section. This is helpful if you want to refer to a previous appointment or the notes from a previous meeting while writing.
20	Ctrl+Alt+L	Locks all sections that are already password-protected. The combination itself does not set a password and therefore does not automatically secure your entire notepad.

2. Notion: 20 keyboard shortcuts for pages and notebooks

These combinations are intended for Notion at Windows, using the desktop app as a starting point. In Notion, a paragraph, heading, list, or image is a block. Some commands therefore apply to an entire block rather than just the text.

Open pages and rearrange content

No.	Shortcut	What does this combination do in Notion?
21	Ctrl+N	Creates a brand new page in the desktop app. You can start taking notes right away and then give the page a suitable title and location.
22	Ctrl+P	Opens the search and navigation function. Search for a note page by name or jump to a recently viewed page without scrolling through the entire sidebar.
23	Ctrl+F	Search within the current page. This is useful when a lengthy note covers multiple topics and you want to quickly jump to a specific word or phrase.
24	Ctrl+D	Duplicates selected blocks. Use this, for example, to reuse a fixed structure for an agenda item, daily notes, or a recurring checklist within the same page.
25	Ctrl+Shift+Up Arrow	Moves a selected block up. This allows you to reorder your notes without having to first cut and paste the entire content.
26	Ctrl+Shift+Down Arrow	Moves a selected block down. This is useful when, after a meeting, you decide to reorder action items, conclusions, or background information.
27	Ctrl+Shift+1	Makes the current block a Level 1 heading. Use this for the most important sections within a note page, so the content is clearly organized.
28	Ctrl+Shift+2	Makes the current block a level 2 heading. This allows you to break down a main topic into smaller sections without giving all headings equal weight.
29	Ctrl+Shift+3	Makes the current block a level 3 heading. This aligns with further subdivisions on longer pages covering multiple related topics.
30	Ctrl+Shift+4	Creates a task block with a checkbox. This allows you to add a to-do item directly to your notes and mark it as completed later.

Using lists, references, and comments

No.	Shortcut	What does this combination do in Notion?
31	Ctrl+Shift+5	Converts the current block into a bulleted list. This works well for ideas, observations, and other notes that don’t require a specific order.
32	Ctrl+Shift+6	Converts the current block into a numbered list. Use this for a step-by-step guide, discussion outline, or a sequence of offers you want to perform later in the same order.
33	Ctrl+Shift+7	Creates a collapsible list pane. You can collapse the underlying information so that detailed background notes remain available without constantly taking up the entire page.
34	Ctrl+Shift+8	Creates a code block. This is useful for technical notes where commands or code need to be clearly separated from the surrounding explanatory text.
35	Ctrl+Enter	Performs the action associated with the active block: for example, checking off a task, opening or closing a collapsible block, or opening a linked page.
36	Ctrl+Shift+M	Adds a comment to the selected content. Use this for a question, addition, or feedback that you want to keep separate from the actual note text.
37	Ctrl+K	Adds a link to selected text. Without text selection, the same combination may open the search function; so first select the words you want to make clickable.
38	Ctrl+E	Applies inline code formatting to selected text. This allows you to highlight, for example, a filename, a short command, or a technical term within a regular sentence.
39	Ctrl+Slash (/)	Opens the context menu for selected blocks. From there, you can, among other things, change the block type or choose an appropriate operation for the selection.
40	Shift+Enter	Adds a brand new line within the same text block. This is useful when an explanation needs to continue without creating a separate brand new block.

3. Obsidian: 20 keyboard shortcuts for searching, writing, and revising

These combinations are based on Obsidian for Windows with default settings. Obsidian stores notes in a vault: a collection of local files. The built-in features mentioned must be enabled; custom keyboard shortcuts and plugins may alter their functionality.

Open, search, and format notes

No.	Shortcut	What does this combination do in Obsidian?
41	Ctrl+N	Creates a brand new note. The storage location follows your settings for brand new notes, such as the current folder or a separate folder for brand new notes.
42	Ctrl+O	Opens the Quick Switcher. Search for a note by name or alias and open the desired result, so you can quickly switch between related notes.
43	Ctrl+P	Opens the command palette. Search for an available command by name, for example, for a note-taking action for which you don’t know the keyboard shortcut or haven’t set it up yet.
44	Ctrl+Shift+F	Opens the search function for the vault. You can use it to search through multiple notes and find where a term, name, or topic was previously mentioned.
45	Ctrl+F	Search within the active note. This is useful for long notes where you want to go directly to a specific passage without having to search through other files.
46	Ctrl+E	Toggle between reading and editing the active note. The editing view follows your settings, such as Live Preview or a view with visible Markdown syntax.
47	Ctrl+B	Toggles bold formatting for the selected text on or off. Obsidian uses Markdown markers for this, which may be visible depending on the display.
48	Ctrl+I	Turns italic formatting for the selected text on or off. Use this, for example, for a title, a quoted term, or subtle emphasis within a note.
49	Ctrl+K	Adds the structure for an external Markdown link around selected text. Enter the destination URL to, for example, link a source you used to your note.
50	Ctrl+Shift+V	Pastes text without source formatting. This is helpful when you copy information from another application and want to process the content as plain text.

Editing long notes and selecting text

No.	Shortcut	What does this combination do in Obsidian?
51	Ctrl+Z	Undoes a previous text edit. For example, this allows you to restore a deleted passage or incorrectly inserted text while editing the active note.
52	Ctrl+Shift+Z	Reapplies a text edit that was previously undone. This is useful when, after undoing a change, you decide that the previous change was better after all.
53	Ctrl+Shift+K	Deletes the current line when no text is selected. Handy for quickly removing an unnecessary note line without having to select it first.
54	Ctrl+Home	Moves the text cursor to the beginning of the note. This allows you to quickly reach the title or opening passage, even in a lengthy document.
55	Ctrl+End	Moves the text cursor to the end of the note. Use this to immediately add a brand new addition, conclusion, or source citation at the bottom.
56	Ctrl+Shift+Home	Selects from the cursor to the beginning of the note. Check the selection before replacing or deleting, as text outside the visible area is also included.
57	Ctrl+Shift+End	Selects from the cursor to the end of the note. This helps you move or edit a large block of text in one go.
58	Ctrl+Backspace	Deletes text back to the previous word boundary. While writing, this allows you to remove a wrong word more quickly than by deleting each character individually.
59	Ctrl+Delete	Deletes text forward until the next word boundary. Exactly what is deleted depends on the cursor position—for example, in the middle of a word or between two words.
60	Ctrl+A	Selects all text in the active note editor. You can then copy the content, for example; this does not automatically select all files within your vault.

4. Evernote: 20 keyboard shortcuts for collecting and organizing

These shortcuts apply to the Evernote desktop app for Windows. Some shortcuts work outside the Evernote window as long as the application is running. Others work only in the note list or while editing a note.

Create, search for, and move notes

No.	Shortcut	What does this combination do in Evernote?
61	Ctrl+N	Creates a brand new note when Evernote is running. You can immediately add a title and content, and then place the note in an appropriate notebook.
62	Alt+Shift+N	Creates a brand new notebook. Use this to create a separate collection, for example, for a project, course, or topic that generates a lot of notes.
63	Ctrl+Alt+N	Opens a brand new note window, even from another application when Evernote is running and the global shortcut key is active. Handy for jotting down a sudden idea.
64	Ctrl+Alt+V	Pastes clipboard content into Evernote using the global command. Evernote must be running and the keyboard shortcut must be available; the result depends on the copied content.
65	Ctrl+K	Opens the search function from the main Evernote interface. If the cursor is in the note editor, the same key combination instead triggers the hyperlink command.
66	Ctrl+F	Search within the current note. Use this to find an appointment, name, or amount without having to search through all the other notes in your account.
67	Ctrl+H	Opens the "Find and Replace" dialog box while editing. This allows you to edit recurring text within the note, such as a project name that has since been changed.
68	Alt+Shift+M	Opens the command to move the current note. Choose a different notebook if a note belongs to a different topic or project.
69	Ctrl+Alt+L	Copies a link to the current note. You can use this link elsewhere; access to the content remains subject to the applicable sharing settings.
70	Ctrl+Alt+Shift+C	Copies an internal note link. This allows you to link notes within Evernote—for example, a project overview to the individual meeting minutes associated with it.

Add lists, dates, and references

No.	Shortcut	What does this combination do in Evernote?
71	Ctrl+Shift+I	Displays information about the current note. Here you can view available note details, for example, if you want to check what information Evernote stores about that note.
72	Ctrl+Shift+B	Creates a bulleted list as you write. This is ideal for loose ideas, observations, and points to note that you want to be able to scan easily.
73	Ctrl+Shift+O	Creates a numbered list. Use this for steps, a discussion order, or instructions where the order of the items is important to the reader.
74	Ctrl+Shift+C	Create a checklist. This lets you add checkable items to your note, such as for preparation, a shopping list, or a recurring task.
75	Ctrl+Shift+H	Highlights selected text with a background colour. This lets you draw attention to an important appointment or conclusion without having to move that passage to a separate note.
76	Alt+Shift+D	Inserts the current date into the note text. This is useful when you’re compiling additions made on different days within a single ongoing note.
77	Ctrl+Shift+D	Inserts the current time into the note text. Use this, for example, to record the time of an event during a conversation or observation.
78	Ctrl+Alt+K	Adds a reference to another note while editing. This allows you to link related information without having to copy entire sections of text to multiple notes.
79	Ctrl+Shift+V	Paste content while adapting it to the destination’s style. This prevents copied text from causing the note to display unnecessary variations in fonts or text sizes.
80	Ctrl+Slash (/)	Opens the overview of Evernote keyboard shortcuts. There, you can view available combinations and, where supported, check, change, or disable custom keyboard shortcuts.

5. Apple Notes: 20 Keyboard Shortcuts for the Mac

These combinations are intended for the Notes app on macos. The available features depend in part on your macos version and the note-taking account you’re using. iCloud Notes typically offers more formatting and organizational features than some other accounts.

Take notes and find them again

No.	Shortcut	What does this combination do in Apple Notes?
81	Command+N	Create a brand new note. You start with a blank text area where you can immediately jot down a thought, report, or list within your chosen note-taking environment.
82	Fn+Q	Opens a quick note on supported Macs. This lets you jot down information while you’re working on something else, without having to navigate through Notes first.
83	Command+D	Duplicates the selected note. This is useful when you want to reuse an existing template, for example, for a standard meeting report or recurring preparation.
84	Command+Shift+N	Creates a brand new folder for notes. Use folders to keep notes on different projects, topics, or activities neatly organized and separate from one another.
85	Command+Option+F	Enables searching within your notes. For example, search for a name or topic when you can’t remember which folder a particular note is in.
86	Command+1	Displays notes in a list view. This is useful when you mainly want to search by titles and text snippets and want to be able to view many notes one below the other.
87	Command+2	Displays notes in gallery view. Visual examples help you find a note more quickly—for example, one with an image, sketch, or recognizable attachment.
88	Command+3	Displays the overview of attachments. This allows you to find attached files without having to open each note individually to search for the file.
89	Command+Shift+A	Opens the option to add a file. For example, add a document or image to your note so that the background information stays with your notes.
90	Command+K	Opens the option to add or edit a link. For example, associate a descriptive text with a website that serves as the source for your note.

Using Headings, Tables, and Checklists

No.	Shortcut	What does this combination do in Apple Notes?
91	Command+Option+T	Inserts a table. Use it to list brief information side by side, such as names with action items or different options with their features.
92	Command+Shift+T	Apply the heading style to the current paragraph. This creates a clear introduction to the note or adds extra emphasis to an important section.
93	Command+Shift+H	Apply the “Heading” formatting. This breaks longer notes into recognizable sections, so you can find the right topic more quickly when reviewing them.
94	Command+Shift+J	Apply the “Subheading” formatting. Use this to create a subdivision within a larger topic, such as separate agenda items under a meeting heading.
95	Command+Shift+B	Apply the “Main Text” formatting. This reverts the text to standard note text when a paragraph does not require a title, heading, or other special formatting.
96	Command+Shift+L	Turns the current text into a checklist. This allows you to check off action items or necessities without having to open a separate to-do app.
97	Command+Shift+U	Check or uncheck the current checklist item. This changes the completion status, while the text of the item remains in the note.
98	Command+Control+Up Arrow	Moves a list or checklist item up. This allows you to adjust the order when an action item needs to come earlier or a list can be organized more logically.
99	Command+Control+Down Arrow	Moves a list or checklist item down. This is useful when reorganizing a schedule, preparation, or a list of items you still want to discuss.
100	Command+Shift+9	Applies a numbered list. Use this for sequential steps or items where you want to clearly indicate the order within your note.

Which keyboard shortcuts for note-taking should you learn first?

Start by combining a brand new note, a search function, and a checklist. This will help you handle many daily tasks. Then add headings and navigation as your notes get longer or your collection grows.

If you work with multiple note-taking programs, learn the shortcut combinations for each application. In particular, Ctrl+K, Ctrl+T, and various number combinations do not have the same meaning across all programs. A small, fixed set of shortcuts that you actually use will become second nature more quickly than a long list that you try to memorize all at once.

Key points to remember

• Refer to the table for your specific application: the same key combination may perform slightly different functions depending on the note-taking program.
• Record information right away: a brand new or quick note prevents unnecessary searching before you start writing.
• Organize your notes: using headings, lists, and checklists makes your notes easier to use later.
• Distinguish between local and broad searches: searching within a single note is different from searching your entire collection.
• Check for custom keyboard shortcuts: settings and plugins in Obsidian, in particular, can alter the default combinations.