Keyboard navigation is a first-class part of Sambee.
Keyboard-First Principles
- Focus matters: Shortcuts act on the item that currently has focus.
- The active pane matters: In dual-pane mode, many file browser commands target the currently active pane.
- Important actions stay discoverable: The same actions are also available through visible controls and the in-app shortcuts help.
- Safety still wins: Shortcuts that would be unsafe in text fields, dialogs, or incompatible states are intentionally blocked.
If you want the live in-app list, press ? while using Sambee.
File List and Main UI
Use these shortcuts when the main file list or browser shell has focus.
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Up / Down | Move to the previous or next row in the current file list |
| Home / End | Jump to the first or last visible item |
| Page Up / Page Down | Move up or down by a page in the current list |
| Enter | Open the focused file or enter the focused directory |
| Backspace | Go up to the parent directory |
| Ctrl + Down | Open the connection selector |
| Ctrl + K | Open smart navigation |
| Ctrl + Alt + F | Filter the current directory in the active pane |
| Ctrl + P / F1 | Open commands |
| Ctrl + , | Open settings |
| ? | Show keyboard shortcuts help |
| Ctrl + R | Refresh the current file list |
| F2 | Rename the focused item |
| Del | Delete the focused item |
| F7 | Create a new directory |
| Shift + F7 | Create a new file |
| Ctrl + Enter | Open the focused file in the companion app |
Selection and Dual-Pane Workflows
These shortcuts matter most when you are working keyboard-first across one or two panes.
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Ins or Space | Toggle selection on the focused item and move down |
| Shift + Up / Shift + Down | Extend selection upward or downward |
| Ctrl + A | Select all items in the current list |
| Ctrl + B | Toggle dual-pane mode |
| Ctrl + 1 / Ctrl + 2 | Focus the left or right pane |
| Tab | Move focus to the other pane |
| F5 / F6 | Copy or move selected items to the other pane |
Viewers
Viewers share a common keyboard model for closing, searching, paging, and visual controls.
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Esc | Close the viewer |
| D | Download the current file |
| Ctrl + F | Search inside supported viewers |
| F3 / Shift + F3 | Jump to the next or previous search result |
| Home / End | Jump to the first or last page or item |
| Page Up / Page Down | Move to the previous or next page |
| Left / Right | Move to the previous or next page or item |
| + / - | Zoom in or out |
| 0 | Reset zoom |
| R / Shift + R | Rotate right or left |
| F | Toggle fullscreen |
Some viewer shortcuts depend on the file type. For example, search applies to searchable viewers, and page navigation applies to paged or gallery-style viewers.
Markdown Editor
Markdown files build on the shared viewer shortcuts and add editor-specific formatting actions.
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| E | Switch a Markdown file from viewing to editing |
| Ctrl + S | Save the current Markdown file |
| Ctrl + F | Search in the current Markdown content |
| F3 / Shift + F3 | Jump to the next or previous search result |
| Ctrl + K | Create a link |
| Ctrl + Alt + T | Insert a table |
| Ctrl + Alt + H | Insert a thematic break |
| Ctrl + E | Apply inline code |
| Ctrl + Shift + E | Insert a code block |
| F | Toggle fullscreen in the Markdown viewer |
| Esc | Close the Markdown viewer |
When to Use the Built-In Shortcut Help
This page summarizes the most useful keyboard shortcuts by UI area.
Use the built-in shortcuts help when you want the live in-app list for your current screen, or when you want a quick reminder without leaving the file browser.