Keyboard shortcuts
These shortcuts work in the web app on a computer and in the desktop app. On macOS, ⌘ is the Command key; on Windows and Linux, the same shortcuts use Ctrl. On phones and tablets, Enter doesn’t send a message: tap the send button.
In the composer
Section titled “In the composer”| Action | macOS | Windows and Linux |
|---|---|---|
| Send | Enter | Enter |
| New line | Shift Enter | Shift Enter |
| Send now, stopping the current answer and skipping the queue | ⌘ Enter | Ctrl Enter |
| Bring back earlier messages, or the newest queued one (empty composer) | ↑ and ↓ | ↑ and ↓ |
| Open the tool, file, and skill picker | / at the start of a message, @ anywhere | / at the start of a message, @ anywhere |
| Remove a whole chip | Backspace | Backspace |
| Cancel editing a message | Esc | Esc |
While Bearly is still answering, Enter queues your draft instead of sending it right away. See Send while Bearly is working.
In the / and @ picker
Section titled “In the / and @ picker”| Action | Keys |
|---|---|
| Move through the list | ↑ ↓ |
| Insert the highlighted item | Enter or Tab |
| Open a browsable item, such as a folder | → |
| Go back | ← |
| Close the picker | Esc |
Typing an item’s exact label followed by a space or punctuation, such as @web-search, turns it into a chip as soon as you type the space, without choosing from the list. See Reference tools, files, and skills.
Anywhere in a chat
Section titled “Anywhere in a chat”| Action | macOS | Windows and Linux |
|---|---|---|
| Put the cursor in the composer | ⌘ L | Ctrl L |
| Open or close the command menu | ⌘ K | Ctrl K |
| Search chats and files | ⌘ F | Ctrl F |
| New chat, in the current chat’s project if it has one | ⌘ N or ⌘ ⇧ N | Ctrl N or Ctrl Shift N |
| Delete this chat, after you confirm | ⌘ D | Ctrl D |
| Delete this chat and start a new one, after you confirm | ⌘ ⇧ D | Ctrl Shift D |
| Jump to the previous prompt | ⌘ ⇧ ↑ | Ctrl Shift ↑ |
| Jump to the next prompt | ⌘ ⇧ ↓ | Ctrl Shift ↓ |
| Open Settings | ⌘ , | Ctrl , |
| Dictate while you hold the key, with Bearly focused (push to talk) | Right Shift | Right Shift |
Pressing the new-chat shortcut while you’re already on a new chat puts the cursor in the composer and shows “You’re already in a new chat”. Right Shift is the default dictation key; change it in Settings → Dictation → Keyboard shortcut. See Voice.
Web browsers keep some key combinations for themselves. If a shortcut does something in your browser instead of in Bearly, use the matching button or the command menu, or use the desktop app.
In menus and dialogs
Section titled “In menus and dialogs”| Action | Keys |
|---|---|
| Move, run, and close in the command menu | ↑ ↓, Enter, Esc |
| Save or undo a title you’re editing in the chat header | Enter to save, Esc to put the old title back |
| Submit a Prompt Template form | Shift Enter |
| Confirm in a confirmation dialog | Shift Enter |
| Close search or a side panel, or stop selecting chats | Esc |
| Move and choose in the Move to project dialog | ↑ ↓, Enter |
In the desktop app
Section titled “In the desktop app”| Action | macOS | Windows and Linux |
|---|---|---|
| Bring Bearly to the front from any app (default, changeable) | ⌘ ⇧ P | Ctrl Shift P |
| Reload the window | ⌘ R | Ctrl R |
| Force reload the window | ⌘ ⇧ R | Ctrl Shift R |
The global shortcut works system-wide, even when Bearly isn’t the active app. To change it:
- Open Settings → Desktop → Keyboard shortcut (“Global hotkey to summon Bearly.”).
- Select Set or Change — Bearly shows “Press keys…” and records the next combination you press.
- Press the new combination, then select Save, or Cancel to keep the current one.
- To turn the global shortcut off, select Disable.
With Auto-hide on in the same pane, Bearly hides when it loses focus, and the global shortcut brings it back.