Atom Keyboard Shortcuts

August 6, 2020 · View on GitHub

This page lists keyboard shortcuts for the Atom text editor that I find valuable and use a lot. Feel free to fork the page and add your own favorites. Pull Requests welcome!

This list is by no means meant to be a complete listing of every available shortcut. It simply lists the shortcuts that I use on a regular basis. For a complete listing of all available shortcuts, consult the Settings > Keybindings page in Atom.

Since I'm using a Mac, I have mainly listed the keyboard shortcuts macOS. Please feel free to add the Windows or Linux shortcuts.

Where the shortcut is provided by a package, I have added a link to the package.

General

Some general keyboard shortcuts that I use frequently.

CommandmacOSWindowsLinuxDescription
Preferences/Settingscmd,ctrl,ctrl,Opens the Preferences/Settings view
Command PaletteshiftcmdpshiftctrlpctrlshiftpOpens & closes the command palette
Open File (Fuzzy)cmdp
or
cmdt
ctrlp
or
ctrlt
ctrlp
or
ctrlt
Opens the Fuzzy Finder palette in which you can search and open files
Browse Open FilescmdbctrlbctrlbBrowse tabs within the window
Previous TabaltcmdleftctrlpageupctrlpageupCycles left through open tabs (in the active pane)
Next TabaltcmdrightctrlpagedownctrlpagedownCycles right through open tabs (in the active page)
Grammar SelectorctrlshiftlctrlshiftlctrlshiftlSelects the language the file is in
Markdown PreviewctrlshiftmctrlshiftmctrlshiftmPreviews the file in the Markdown format
Key Binding Resolvercmd.ctrl.ctrl.Shows what keybindings the pressed key combination resolves to
Toggle Tree Viewcmdk cmdb
or
cmd\
ctrlk ctrlb
or
ctrl\
ctrlk ctrlb
or
ctrl\
Toggles Atom's file Tree View
Reload AtomctrlaltcmdlaltctrlraltctrlrReloads the Editor
Open LinkctrlshiftoOpens up a HTTP or HTTPS link
Toggle Developer ToolsaltcmdictrlaltictrlshiftiOpens up the Chrome Developer Tools/Console
Show Available SnippetsaltshiftsaltshiftsaltshiftsShows the snippets available to Atom

Window Management

CommandmacOSWindowsLinuxDescription
New FilecmdnctrlnctrlnOpens an empty file in a new tab
New WindowshiftcmdnctrlshiftnctrlshiftnOpens a new editor window
OpencmdoctrloctrloShows the Open File dialog, which lets you select a file to open in the editor
Open FoldercmdshiftoctrlshiftoctrlshiftoShows the Open Folder dialog, which lets you select a folder to add to the editor's Tree View
SavecmdsctrlsctrlsSaves the currently active file
Save AsshiftcmdsctrlshiftsctrlshiftsSaves the currently active file under a different name
Save AllaltcmdsSaves all changed files
Close TabcmdwctrlwctrlwCloses the currently active tab
Close WindowshiftcmdwctrlshiftwctrlshiftwCloses the currently active editor window
Split Windowcmdk ///ctrlk ///ctrlk ///Split the currently active tab in one of the four directions
Focus Panecmdk cmd///ctrlk ctrl///ctrlk ctrl///Move the focus to the pane in one of the four directions
Toggle full screenctrlcmdfF11F11Toggle full screen window

Editing

CommandmacOSWindowsLinuxDescription
Duplicate LinesshiftcmddctrlshiftdctrlshiftdDuplicates the line of the current cursor position and creates a new line under it with the same contents
Delete LinectrlshiftkctrlshiftkctrlshiftkDeletes the current line
Move Line UpctrlcmdupctrlupctrlupMoves the contents of the current cursor position up one line. If there is a line above with content, the current lines content will swap with the one above it.
Move Line DownctrlcmddownctrldownctrldownMoves the contents of the current cursor position down one line. If there is a line below with content, the line's content will swap with the one below it.
Find/ReplacecmdfctrlfctrlfOpens up the Find/Replace panel
Find NextcmdgF3F3Toggles forward through the results of the current buffer in the file while the Find/Replace panel is active
Find PreviousshiftcmdgshiftF3shiftF3Toggles backward through the results of the current buffer in the file while the Find/Replace panel is active
Find in ProjectshiftcmdfctrlshiftfctrlshiftfOpens the Find in Project Panel
Go To LinectrlgctrlgctrlgOpens the Go To Line panel
Go To Matching BracketctrlmctrlmctrlmThe cursor goes to the matching top bracket that the cursor is ecapsulated in
Select LinecmdlctrllctrllSelects the entire line the cursor's current position is in
Toggle Commentcmd/ctrl/ctrl/Toggles the selected text into a comment of the current grammar
Column Selectionctrlshift/ctrlalt/shiftalt/Allows to select multiple rows, where the same edit will be applied
Select Same WordscmddctrldctrldIf you select a word, and then hit the key combo for this command, Atom will select the next same word for you. Then you can either type directly (which will replace the old words) or use left or right arrow to append things.
Undo SelectioncmductrluctrluThis undoes the previous selection, like from Select Same Words.
Select All The Same Words At Oncecmdctrlgaltf3altf3This shortcut is similar to cmdd/ctrld but it selects all the matching words at once.
Show Symbols PalettecmdrctrlrctrlrThis shortcuts opens a palette that lists all the symbols (or functions) in your current file allowing you to fuzzy search and jump lines.
Show auto-completionsctrlspacectrlspacectrlspaceShow available auto-completions
Fold/Unfold sections of codeoptioncmd[ and optioncmd]ctrlalt[ and ctrlalt]ctrlalt[ and ctrlalt]Fold and Unfold sections of code
Fold/Unfold at a specific indentation levelcmdk then cmd(0-9)ctrlk then ctrl(0-9)ctrlk then ctrl(0-9)Fold/Unfold at a specific indentation level where the number is the indentation depth

Various Packages

These are some packages I find useful, and their most useful key bindings. A list of my favorite packages can be found here.

CommandmacOSWindowsLinuxPackage
Block Travel up/downalt, altBlock Travel
BeautifyctrlaltbBeautify
Build ProjectcmdaltbctrlaltbctrlaltbBuild
Expand AbbreviationshiftcmdectrlectrleEmmet
Git Plus MenushiftcmdhctrlshifthctrlshifthGit Plus
JumpyshiftenterJumpy
Minimap Togglectrlk ctrlmMinimap
Open File in BrowserctrlaltmOpen in Browser
Open ProjectctrlcmdpaltshiftpctrlaltshiftpProject Manager
Sublime Style Column SelectionaltmouseSublime Style Column Selection

apm

apm is Atom's package manager, based on Node's npm tool.

CommandDescription
apm upgradeUpdates all locally installed packages
apm upgrade --no-confirmUpdates all locally installed packages without asking any questions
apm stars --install Installs/updates all packages that you have marked as a favorite (starred) in your Atom.io profile
apm publish minorIf you're developing your own package, run this in the package's directory to publish a new version of the package, increasing the minor version number by one.