Global Shortcuts
Global shortcuts work even when Zeal is not the active window.Global shortcuts may not be supported on all platforms. If unavailable, you’ll see a note in the Preferences dialog.
Show/Hide Zeal Window
You can configure a global hotkey to quickly show or hide the Zeal window:Set global shortcut
In the Global Hotkey section, click the key capture field and press your desired key combination
Application Shortcuts
These shortcuts work when Zeal is the active window.Search and Navigation
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+K | Focus search box |
| Ctrl+L | Focus search box (alternative) |
| Ctrl+F | Find in current page |
| Ctrl+B | Toggle sidebar visibility |
| Esc | Clear search field |
Why two shortcuts for search?
Why two shortcuts for search?
Both Ctrl+K and Ctrl+L focus the search box to provide flexibility. Ctrl+K is common in modern applications, while Ctrl+L matches browser address bar conventions.
File and Tab Management
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+T | New tab |
| Ctrl+W | Close current tab |
| Ctrl+Tab | Next tab |
| Ctrl+Shift+Tab | Previous tab |
| Ctrl+Page Down | Next tab (alternative) |
| Ctrl+Page Up | Previous tab (alternative) |
| Ctrl+Alt+T | Duplicate current tab |
| Ctrl+Q | Quit Zeal |
On macOS, Command (⌘) typically replaces Ctrl in these shortcuts.
Tab Switching by Number
Quickly jump to a specific tab:| Shortcut (Linux) | Shortcut (Windows/macOS) | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Alt+1 through Alt+8 | Ctrl+1 through Ctrl+8 | Switch to tab 1-8 |
| Alt+9 | Ctrl+9 | Switch to last tab |
Browser Navigation
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Alt+Left | Navigate back |
| Alt+Right | Navigate forward |
| Ctrl+Plus (+) | Zoom in |
| Ctrl+Equals (=) | Zoom in (alternative) |
| Ctrl+Minus (-) | Zoom out |
| Ctrl+0 | Reset zoom to default |
Menu and Dialogs
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+, | Open Preferences |
| F10 | Show and focus menu bar (Linux/Windows) |
| Ctrl+M | Toggle menu bar visibility (Linux/Windows) |
On macOS, the menu bar is always visible and cannot be hidden, following the platform’s Human Interface Guidelines.
Customizing Shortcuts
Currently, most keyboard shortcuts in Zeal are fixed and cannot be customized. The only customizable shortcut is the global hotkey for showing/hiding the window.Global Hotkey Customization
Platform-Specific Shortcuts
macOS
- Menu bar shortcuts follow macOS conventions (⌘ instead of Ctrl)
- ⌘+, opens Preferences
- ⌘+Q quits the application
- ⌘+W closes tabs
- ⌘+T creates new tabs
Linux
- Alt+1 through Alt+9 for tab switching
- F10 to access the menu bar
- Ctrl+M to toggle menu bar visibility
Windows
- Ctrl+1 through Ctrl+9 for tab switching
- Alt+F4 closes the application (standard Windows behavior)
- Menu bar is accessible via Alt key
Tips for Efficient Keyboard Usage
Learn the basics first
Master Ctrl+K (search), Ctrl+T (new tab), and Ctrl+W (close tab) before learning advanced shortcuts.
Use the global hotkey
Set up a global shortcut to instantly access Zeal from any application.
Tab switching is fast
Use Ctrl+Tab or number shortcuts to switch tabs without reaching for the mouse.
Browser shortcuts work
Familiar browser shortcuts like Alt+Left/Right for navigation and Ctrl+F for find work as expected.
Accessibility
All functionality in Zeal is accessible via keyboard:- Navigate menus with Alt + underlined letter (Windows/Linux)
- Use Tab to move between interface elements
- Use Space or Enter to activate buttons
- Use arrow keys to navigate lists and trees
If you rely on screen readers or assistive technologies, ensure you’re using the latest version of Zeal for the best accessibility support.