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Zed’s keybinding system allows you to customize keyboard shortcuts through a JSON configuration file. You can override default bindings, create new ones, and use context-specific keymaps.

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Keymap File

Keybindings are configured in ~/.config/zed/keymap.json. To open your keymap file:
  • Command Palette: “zed: open keymap”
  • Or manually edit ~/.config/zed/keymap.json

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Base Keymaps

Zed provides several base keymaps that emulate other editors: 
// In settings.json
{
  "base_keymap": "VSCode"  // Options: "VSCode", "JetBrains", "SublimeText", "Atom", "TextMate", "Emacs", "Cursor", "None"
}
The base keymap determines the default keybindings. Your custom keybindings always take precedence.

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Keymap Structure

The keymap file is a JSON array of binding objects: 
[
  {
    "context": "Editor",
    "bindings": {
      "ctrl-/": "editor::ToggleComments",
      "cmd-k cmd-c": "editor::ToggleComments"
    }
  }
]

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Context

The context field specifies where the keybinding is active:
  • "Editor" - Active when editing text
  • "Workspace" - Active anywhere in the workspace
  • "Terminal" - Active in terminal panes
  • "ProjectPanel" - Active in the project panel
  • "BufferSearchBar" - Active in the find bar
  • "EmptyPane" - Active when no editor is open
  • "VimControl" - Active in Vim normal mode
  • "VimInsert" - Active in Vim insert mode
  • "VimVisual" - Active in Vim visual mode
Contexts can be combined with boolean logic: 
[
  {
    "context": "Editor && vim_mode == normal",
    "bindings": {
      "space f f": "file_finder::Toggle"
    }
  }
]

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Bindings Format

Each binding maps a key combination to an action: 
"key-combination": "namespace::ActionName"

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Modifier Keys

  • cmd - Command key (macOS) / Windows key (Windows) / Super key (Linux)
  • ctrl - Control key
  • alt - Alt/Option key
  • shift - Shift key
Multiple modifiers are separated by -: 
"cmd-shift-p": "command_palette::Toggle"

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Key Sequences

Multiple key combinations can create sequences, separated by spaces: 
"cmd-k cmd-b": "workspace::ToggleLeftDock"
Press cmd-k, then cmd-b to toggle the left dock.

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Special Keys

  • Function keys: f1, f2, …, f12
  • Arrow keys: up, down, left, right
  • Navigation: pageup, pagedown, home, end
  • Editing: enter, return, tab, space, backspace, delete, escape

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Action Format

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Simple Actions

"cmd-s": "workspace::Save"

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Actions with Arguments

Some actions accept parameters: 
"cmd-1": ["pane::ActivateItem", { "index": 0 }],
"cmd-2": ["pane::ActivateItem", { "index": 1 }],
"ctrl-g": ["go_to_line::Toggle", { "line": 100 }]

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Multiple Actions

Execute multiple actions with one keybinding: 
"cmd-shift-f": [
  "workspace::NewSearch",
  "search::FocusEditor"
]

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Common Keybinding Examples

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File Operations

[
  {
    "context": "Workspace",
    "bindings": {
      "cmd-o": "workspace::Open",
      "cmd-s": "workspace::Save",
      "cmd-shift-s": "workspace::SaveAs",
      "cmd-w": "pane::CloseActiveItem",
      "cmd-shift-w": "workspace::CloseWindow",
      "cmd-k cmd-w": "pane::CloseAllItems"
    }
  }
]

​
Editor Navigation

[
  {
    "context": "Editor",
    "bindings": {
      "cmd-g": "go_to_line::Toggle",
      "cmd-p": "file_finder::Toggle",
      "cmd-shift-o": "outline::Toggle",
      "f12": "editor::GoToDefinition",
      "alt-f12": "editor::GoToImplementation",
      "shift-f12": "editor::FindAllReferences",
      "f2": "editor::Rename"
    }
  }
]

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Text Editing

[
  {
    "context": "Editor",
    "bindings": {
      "cmd-/": "editor::ToggleComments",
      "cmd-d": "editor::SelectNext",
      "cmd-shift-l": "editor::SelectAllMatches",
      "alt-up": "editor::MoveLineUp",
      "alt-down": "editor::MoveLineDown",
      "cmd-shift-k": "editor::DeleteLine",
      "cmd-enter": "editor::NewlineBelow",
      "cmd-shift-enter": "editor::NewlineAbove"
    }
  }
]

​
Split and Pane Management

[
  {
    "context": "Workspace",
    "bindings": {
      "cmd-k left": "workspace::ActivatePaneInDirection(Left)",
      "cmd-k right": "workspace::ActivatePaneInDirection(Right)",
      "cmd-k up": "workspace::ActivatePaneInDirection(Up)",
      "cmd-k down": "workspace::ActivatePaneInDirection(Down)",
      "cmd-k cmd-left": "pane::SplitLeft",
      "cmd-k cmd-right": "pane::SplitRight",
      "cmd-k cmd-up": "pane::SplitUp",
      "cmd-k cmd-down": "pane::SplitDown"
    }
  }
]

​
Panel Toggles

[
  {
    "context": "Workspace",
    "bindings": {
      "cmd-b": "workspace::ToggleLeftDock",
      "cmd-j": "workspace::ToggleBottomDock",
      "cmd-k cmd-b": "project_panel::ToggleFocus",
      "cmd-shift-e": "project_panel::ToggleFocus",
      "cmd-shift-f": "workspace::NewSearch",
      "cmd-shift-g": "git_panel::ToggleFocus"
    }
  }
]

​
Terminal

[
  {
    "context": "Workspace",
    "bindings": {
      "ctrl-`": "terminal_panel::ToggleFocus",
      "cmd-shift-c": "terminal::Copy",
      "cmd-shift-v": "terminal::Paste"
    }
  },
  {
    "context": "Terminal",
    "bindings": {
      "cmd-k": "terminal::Clear"
    }
  }
]

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Debugging

[
  {
    "context": "Workspace",
    "bindings": {
      "f5": "debugger::Start",
      "shift-f5": "debugger::Stop",
      "ctrl-shift-f5": "debugger::Restart",
      "f9": "debugger::ToggleBreakpoint",
      "f10": "debugger::StepOver",
      "f11": "debugger::StepInto",
      "shift-f11": "debugger::StepOut"
    }
  }
]

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Vim Mode Keybindings

When Vim mode is enabled, you can customize Vim-specific keybindings: 
[
  {
    "context": "VimControl",
    "bindings": {
      "space f f": "file_finder::Toggle",
      "space b": "tab_switcher::Toggle",
      "g d": "editor::GoToDefinition",
      "g r": "editor::FindAllReferences",
      "space c a": "editor::ToggleCodeActions"
    }
  },
  {
    "context": "VimInsert",
    "bindings": {
      "j k": "vim::NormalBefore"
    }
  }
]

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Disabling Keybindings

To disable a default keybinding, set it to null: 
[
  {
    "context": "Editor",
    "bindings": {
      "cmd-k cmd-c": null
    }
  }
]

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Discovering Actions

To find available actions:
  1. Open the Command Palette (cmd-shift-p)
  2. Search for an action
  3. The action identifier is shown in the list
You can also check:
  • The default keymaps in Zed’s source: assets/keymaps/
  • The Zed documentation for action references

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Key Equivalents

Some contexts support system-level key equivalents (menu accelerators): 
[
  {
    "context": "Workspace",
    "use_key_equivalents": true,
    "bindings": {
      "cmd-q": "zed::Quit"
    }
  }
]

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Platform-Specific Keybindings

Keymap files are platform-specific by default. Zed uses:
  • keymap.json on Linux and Windows
  • keymap.json on macOS
The cmd modifier automatically maps to the appropriate key on each platform:
  • macOS: Command key
  • Windows: Windows key
  • Linux: Super key
For platform-specific customization, use separate keymap files or conditional contexts.

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Troubleshooting

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Keybinding Not Working

  1. Check if another keybinding overrides it (user bindings take precedence)
  2. Verify the context matches your current focus
  3. Ensure the action name is correct
  4. Check for JSON syntax errors in your keymap file

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Finding Key Conflicts

Zed will show a warning if multiple keybindings conflict. Check the logs:
  • Command Palette: “zed: open logs”

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Resetting to Defaults

To reset keybindings to default:
  1. Delete or rename ~/.config/zed/keymap.json
  2. Restart Zed
The default keybindings will be restored based on your selected base_keymap.