Keyboard Shortcuts

The secretctl desktop app supports keyboard shortcuts for power users who want to work efficiently without reaching for the mouse.

Prerequisites

• Desktop app installed
• Vault unlocked

Quick Reference

Essential Shortcuts

Shortcut	Action	Context
Cmd/Ctrl + K	Command Palette	Anywhere
Cmd/Ctrl + N	New secret	Anywhere
Cmd/Ctrl + F	Focus search	Anywhere
Cmd/Ctrl + ,	Settings	Anywhere
Cmd/Ctrl + C	Copy value	Secret selected
Cmd/Ctrl + S	Save changes	Editing
Cmd/Ctrl + L	Lock vault	Anywhere
Cmd/Ctrl + /	Show shortcuts	Anywhere
Escape	Cancel	Editing/Creating

note

On macOS, use Cmd. On Windows/Linux, use Ctrl.

Command Palette

Shortcut: Cmd/Ctrl + K

The Command Palette provides quick access to all common actions:

1. Press Cmd/Ctrl + K to open
2. Type to filter commands
3. Press Enter to execute, or click a command
4. Press Escape to close

Available Commands

Command	Shortcut	Description
New Secret	Cmd/Ctrl + N	Create a new secret
Search Secrets	Cmd/Ctrl + F	Focus the search bar
Settings	Cmd/Ctrl + ,	Open settings page
Lock Vault	Cmd/Ctrl + L	Lock the vault
Keyboard Shortcuts	Cmd/Ctrl + /	Show shortcut help

The Command Palette is searchable, so you can type partial command names to filter.

Navigation Shortcuts

Focus Search

Shortcut: Cmd/Ctrl + F

Quickly jump to the search bar to filter secrets:

1. Press Cmd/Ctrl + F
2. Start typing to filter
3. Press Escape to clear focus

The search field highlights and accepts input immediately.

Lock Vault

Shortcut: Cmd/Ctrl + L

Immediately lock the vault for security:

1. Press Cmd/Ctrl + L
2. Vault locks instantly
3. Returns to unlock screen

Use this when stepping away from your computer.

Secret Management Shortcuts

Create New Secret

Shortcut: Cmd/Ctrl + N

Start creating a new secret:

1. Press Cmd/Ctrl + N
2. Form opens with Key field focused
3. Fill in details and save

Works from any screen in the app.

Copy Secret Value

Shortcut: Cmd/Ctrl + C

Copy the selected secret's value to clipboard:

Requirements:

• A secret must be selected
• Not currently editing text
• No text selection in the app

Behavior:

1. Press Cmd/Ctrl + C
2. Value copies to clipboard
3. Toast confirms: "Copied! Auto-clears in 30s"

tip

If you have text selected in the app, Cmd/Ctrl + C copies the selected text instead. To copy the secret value, deselect any text first.

Save Changes

Shortcut: Cmd/Ctrl + S

Save when creating or editing a secret:

1. Make your changes
2. Press Cmd/Ctrl + S
3. Changes are saved

Only active when in edit or create mode.

Cancel Editing

Shortcut: Escape

Discard changes and exit edit mode:

1. Press Escape
2. Changes are discarded
3. Returns to view mode

Also closes dialogs and modals.

Workflow Examples

Quick Secret Lookup

Find and copy a secret in seconds:

1. Cmd/Ctrl + F - Focus search
2. Type secret name
3. ↓ or click to select
4. Cmd/Ctrl + C - Copy value

Create Secret Workflow

Efficiently create a new secret:

1. Cmd/Ctrl + N - Open new form
2. Type key name
3. Tab - Move to value
4. Type value
5. Cmd/Ctrl + S - Save

Security Lock Pattern

Before leaving your desk:

1. Cmd/Ctrl + L - Lock vault
2. Walk away safely

The vault requires your password to unlock again.

Platform Differences

macOS

• Uses Cmd (⌘) key
• Native keyboard behavior
• Touch Bar support (if available)

Windows

• Uses Ctrl key
• Standard Windows shortcuts
• Alt key alternatives not yet supported

Linux

• Uses Ctrl key
• Follows GTK conventions
• Works with most desktop environments

Accessibility

Keyboard-Only Navigation

The app is designed to be fully usable with keyboard only:

1. Tab moves between focusable elements
2. Enter activates buttons
3. Space toggles checkboxes
4. Escape closes dialogs

Screen Reader Support

The app includes accessibility labels for:

• All buttons and icons
• Form fields
• Status messages
• Navigation elements

Customization

Currently, keyboard shortcuts cannot be customized. The default shortcuts are designed to be familiar to users of similar applications.

Future plans:

• Custom shortcut mapping
• Additional shortcuts for power users
• Vim-style navigation (optional)

Troubleshooting

Shortcut Not Working

Check these common issues:

1. Focus: Is the app in focus? Click the window first.
2. Context: Some shortcuts only work in specific contexts (e.g., save requires edit mode).
3. Selection: Text selection may override some shortcuts.
4. System conflicts: Other apps may capture global shortcuts.

System Shortcut Conflicts

Some system shortcuts may conflict:

System	Conflicting Shortcuts
macOS Spotlight	Cmd + Space (not used)
Windows Search	Ctrl + F (app captures when focused)
Linux Launchers	Varies by DE

The app only captures shortcuts when it has focus.

Text vs Value Copy

Cmd/Ctrl + C behavior:

• With text selected: Copies selected text (standard behavior)
• Without selection: Copies secret value (app shortcut)

To ensure you copy the secret value:

1. Click somewhere that deselects text
2. Ensure a secret is selected
3. Press Cmd/Ctrl + C

Complete Shortcut Table

Shortcut	Action	Works When
Cmd/Ctrl + K	Open Command Palette	Always
Cmd/Ctrl + N	New secret	Always
Cmd/Ctrl + F	Focus search	Always
Cmd/Ctrl + ,	Open settings	Always
Cmd/Ctrl + C	Copy secret value	Secret selected, no text selection
Cmd/Ctrl + S	Save	Editing or creating
Cmd/Ctrl + L	Lock vault	Always
Cmd/Ctrl + /	Show shortcuts help	Always
Escape	Cancel/Close	Editing, creating, or dialog open
Tab	Next field	Form navigation
Shift + Tab	Previous field	Form navigation
Enter	Activate button	Button focused

Next Steps

• Managing Secrets - Complete secret operations
• Audit Logs - View activity history
• Desktop App Overview - Full feature guide