Learn Omarchy: shortcut reference

Omarchy 4.0.3 defaults. Reviewed 2026-09-11 against the versioned sources below. Reference entries cover all 16 lessons and 93 activities.

Super is the Windows-logo key, or Command on a Mac keyboard; Alt is Option on a Mac keyboard. Return means Enter. Hold chord keys together. Entries marked Press in order are separate key presses, not held chords; Workflow entries describe menu paths or procedures.

MINUS and EQUAL name the two physical keys to the left of Backspace (codes 20 and 21), regardless of their printed labels. COMMA means the comma key.

Outside the guided app, shortcuts affect your real focused window and desktop, not just lesson-created windows. Save your work, use disposable windows, and inspect notifications before invoking them. Super + K shows current bindings; Enter or clicking a result executes it. Custom bindings may differ.

Welcome to Omarchy

Workflow: COURSE: Welcome and lesson controls [18]
Replay Welcome, choose a topic, and use Practice to revisit activities. Help demonstrates; Skip leaves an activity for later.These are Learn Omarchy course controls, not default Omarchy shortcuts. Introduced content is not proof of hands-on practice.
Workflow: COURSE: Capture Keys / Release Keys [18]
Capture Keys sends input to the coach; Release Keys gives input to desktop apps. Return to Capture Keys to resume guided shortcuts.Released shortcuts affect your real desktop. Course-owned-window protections do not apply to everyday shortcuts.

Omarchy tour

Workflow: Desktop bar and Super key [3] [1]
The bar provides workspaces, clock and system controls. Super is the Windows-logo key, or Command on a Mac keyboard.
Workflow: Bar > Workspaces [3] [2]
Each workspace holds its own windows. The active marker can be an icon rather than a number; switching keeps windows open.
SUPER + 2 [12]
Switch to workspace two without moving or closing its windows.
SUPER + 1 [12]
Switch to workspace one.
Workflow: Bar > Clock [3]
Click the clock for the calendar. Hover for quick tools such as reminders and recording; weather appears when enabled.
Workflow: Bar > Status indicators [3]
Select network, Bluetooth, audio or power indicators to inspect controls. Available indicators depend on hardware and bar settings.
SUPER + SPACE [13]
Open the Omarchy menu for apps, settings and system tools.
Workflow: Bar > Omarchy icon [3]
Click the Omarchy icon to open the same menu without a keyboard shortcut.

Everyday apps

SUPER + RETURN [14]
Open a terminal for commands. Return is the Enter key on most keyboards.
SUPER + W [12]
Close the focused window.Save work and verify focus first; any focused app can close, not only a practice terminal or file manager.
SUPER + SHIFT + RETURN [14] [9]
Launch the configured browser. Browser settings determine whether a new window opens.
SUPER + SHIFT + F [14]
Open the file manager to browse folders and documents.

Windows

SUPER + RETURN [14] [2]
Open a terminal. Tiling fits additional windows into the available workspace without overlap.
SUPER + J (optional activity) [12]
Toggle the split direction within the dwindle layout; repeat to toggle back.Needs tiled windows in dwindle. This does not switch workspace layouts or provide the same split behavior in floating, scrolling or custom layouts.
ALT + TAB [12]
Cycle focus through windows on the active workspace. Focus determines which window receives keyboard input.Includes your existing windows, not just practice windows.
SUPER + T [12]
Toggle the focused window between floating and tiling. Repeat to return it to the tiled layout.
SUPER + EQUAL [12]
Resize horizontally by a 100-pixel step using physical keycode 21, immediately left of Backspace (normally equals on US keyboards).No Shift or Plus key is needed. Physical position, window size limits and the movable tiled edge determine the result.
SUPER + MINUS [12]
Resize horizontally in the other direction by a 100-pixel step using physical keycode 20, two places left of Backspace (normally minus on US keyboards).These are physical keycodes, not character bindings. Tiled edges and size limits affect the result; reversing need not restore the exact size.
SUPER + SHIFT + EQUAL [12]
Resize height instead of width by a 100-pixel step.Use physical keycode 21, immediately left of Backspace, not a typed Plus character. Layout constraints still apply.
SUPER + SHIFT + MINUS [12]
Resize height in the other direction by a 100-pixel step.Use physical keycode 20, two places left of Backspace. Layout constraints still apply.
SUPER + ALT + EQUAL [12]
Use a finer 25-pixel horizontal resize step. Add Shift for height instead of width.Use physical keycode 21, immediately left of Backspace. Size limits and tiled edges can prevent resizing.
SUPER + ALT + MINUS [12]
Use a finer 25-pixel horizontal resize step in the other direction. Add Shift for height.Use physical keycode 20, two places left of Backspace. Size limits and tiled edges can prevent resizing.
SUPER + CTRL + EQUAL [12]
Use a larger 300-pixel horizontal resize step. Add Shift for height instead of width.Use physical keycode 21, immediately left of Backspace. Size limits and tiled edges can prevent resizing.
SUPER + CTRL + MINUS [12]
Use a larger 300-pixel horizontal resize step in the other direction. Add Shift for height.Use physical keycode 20, two places left of Backspace. Size limits and tiled edges can prevent resizing.
SUPER + F [12]
Toggle fullscreen for the focused window; repeat to leave fullscreen.
SUPER + ARROW [12]
Focus the neighboring window in the chosen direction: left, right, up or down.
SUPER + SHIFT + ARROW [12]
Swap the focused window with the adjacent window in the chosen direction.Changes both windows' positions, including existing work. Check focus and the neighbor first.
SUPER + W [12]
Close the focused window; remaining tiles reclaim its space.Save work first. The shortcut can close any focused window.

Workspaces

SUPER + 1 [12]
Switch to workspace one.
SUPER + RETURN [14] [2]
Open a terminal on the current workspace. Each workspace holds its own windows.
SUPER + 2 [12]
Switch to workspace two, leaving windows open on their own workspaces.
SUPER + CTRL + TAB [12]
Return to the last workspace you visited.
SUPER + SHIFT + 2 [12]
Move the focused window to workspace two and follow it there. Also restores a visible, focused scratchpad window to that numbered workspace.Check focus first. A hidden scratchpad window is not the target; reveal it and select it before moving.
SUPER + TAB [12]
Switch to the next workspace.
SUPER + SHIFT + TAB [12]
Switch to the previous workspace.
SUPER + ALT + S [12]
Move the focused window to the scratchpad, a hidden workspace that can appear over your desktop.Verify which window has focus before stashing it.
SUPER + S [12]
Toggle scratchpad show/hide. Hidden scratchpad windows stay open; reveal and focus the intended window before restoring it.
SUPER + W [12]
Close the focused window.Save work and check focus first; the native shortcut is not restricted to a practice terminal.

Clipboard and Compose

SUPER + C [1] [19]
Copy selected text using Omarchy's shared copy shortcut, including in supported terminals.Replaces the current clipboard. Custom bindings and app support can differ.
SUPER + V [1] [19]
Paste the clipboard into the focused destination using Omarchy's shared paste shortcut.Check the destination first, especially terminals and sensitive fields. App support can differ.
SUPER + CTRL + V [4] [15]
Open clipboard history to search recent copies. Use arrow keys to highlight an entry or select with the mouse.History may contain private information. Escape clears search text, then closes when empty.
SHIFT + ENTER [15]
In clipboard history, copy the highlighted entry without pasting. Then focus the destination and paste once.
ENTER [15]
In clipboard history, activate the highlighted entry and attempt immediate paste into the previously focused app.Mouse activation also attempts paste. Behavior depends on the target app; use Shift+Enter for copy-only rather than assuming Enter just copies.
Workflow: COURSE: Clipboard practice [19]
Select and copy the first sample, then the newer sample. Open history, highlight the first note and use Shift+Enter. Click the destination and paste once; check it matches the first note.This exercise replaces your clipboard with harmless sample text.
Press in order: CAPS LOCK → m → s [16] [19]
Compose a smile (😄): tap and release Caps Lock, then press lowercase m, then lowercase s.Separate presses, not held together; no Shift. Caps Lock is Compose by default, but custom mappings may differ.
Press in order: CAPS LOCK → m → h [16] [19]
Compose a heart (❤️): tap and release Caps Lock, then press lowercase m, then lowercase h.Separate presses, not held together; no Shift. In COURSE practice, enter smile and heart in their respective fields; skip rather than changing custom mappings.

Capture

SUPER + CTRL + C [13] [5]
Open Capture for screenshots, recordings, color picking and text extraction. This menu works on keyboards without a Print key.
PRINT [5]
Start a screenshot with the frozen-screen picker; drag over the desired region. Alternatively search Screenshot in the Omarchy menu.Inspect for private content first. Screenshots save to the configured Pictures directory and clipboard.
Press in order: TAB → ENTER [5]
In the screenshot picker, use Tab to select a window, then Enter to capture the selected window.These are sequential presses in the picker, not a held chord. Check the selected window before capturing.
CTRL + ENTER [5]
In the screenshot picker, capture the focused monitor.Includes visible private windows and notifications on that monitor; inspect before capturing.
ESCAPE [5] [19]
Cancel screenshot region selection without taking a capture.
Workflow: Screenshot notification > Edit [5]
Click the screenshot notification to open the captured image for editing.Verify it is the intended screenshot notification before invoking its action.
SUPER + ALT + COMMA [5] [13]
Invoke the latest notification's action; when it is the screenshot notification, open the screenshot editor.A different notification may launch an app or follow a link. Inspect the latest notification first.
Workflow: SUPER + CTRL + C > Screenshot [5] [19]
In COURSE practice, open Capture, choose Screenshot and drag around only the harmless card. When the preview appears, finish the exercise.The screenshot is saved to your normal Pictures location and clipboard. Nothing is uploaded.
ALT + PRINT [5] [13]
Open recording options, or stop an active recording. Choices: no audio; desktop audio; desktop + microphone audio; or desktop + microphone audio + webcam when available. Saved clips go to the configured Videos directory.Microphone includes desktop audio; webcam includes both. Review the region and recording indicator, know how to stop, and get permission before recording other people's voices or private content.
Workflow: SUPER + CTRL + C > Screenrecord > With no audio [5] [19]
In COURSE practice, use Omarchy's real recorder to select the animated card. Open Capture again and choose Stop Screenrecording, then play the saved clip.The exercise watches for a new recording but never starts or stops it. Keep microphone and webcam off. The MP4 remains in your normal Videos directory.
SUPER + CTRL + PRINT (optional activity) [6] [13]
Extract text from a selected screen region with OCR (optical character recognition).Recognition can make mistakes. Proofread against the source before using the text; avoid private regions.
Workflow: SUPER + CTRL + C > Text extraction (optional activity) [5] [6]
Open Capture and choose text extraction on a keyboard without a Print key.Recognition can make mistakes. Proofread against the source before using the text; avoid private regions.
Workflow: SUPER + CTRL + C > Text > SUPER + V (optional activity) [5] [6] [19]
In COURSE practice, use Omarchy's real Text capture on the sample card, then paste the clipboard result and compare it with the source.Recognition can make mistakes. The course verifies only the harmless sample and never reads arbitrary clipboard contents.
Workflow: Omarchy menu > QR Code (optional activity) [5] [6]
Search QR Code to select and decode a code already on screen, then inspect the decoded text.Decoding is not permission to open an unknown link.
Workflow: Prepare sample > SUPER + CTRL + C > QR Code > SUPER + V (optional activity) [5] [6] [19]
Prepare the harmless QR sample, use Omarchy's real QR Code capture, then paste the sensitive clipboard result below.The sample contains text, not a website; no link is opened. The course verifies only the known sample value.

Apps and upkeep

SUPER + SPACE [7]
Open the Omarchy menu, search Install and press Enter. Prefer official packages; review community Arch User Repository (AUR) packages more closely.Installing can request your password and change the system. Inspect package details before confirming; no installation is needed to learn the menu.
SUPER + SPACE [7]
Open the Omarchy menu, search Remove and press Enter. Uninstall only after checking the package name and full dependency list.Removal may affect other software. Cancel if you do not understand the proposed changes.
SUPER + SPACE [9] [14]
Open the Omarchy menu, search Defaults and press Enter to see which installed apps Omarchy launches by default.Default changes affect future launches immediately. Installing an app and making it the default are separate decisions.
SUPER + SPACE [10]
Open the Omarchy menu, search Update and press Enter. Save work, review proposed changes and use the stable channel for everyday updates.Some installations create rollback snapshots before updates. Snapshots are not independent backups of personal files.
SUPER + SPACE [10] [18]
Open the Omarchy menu, search Hardware and choose the result under Update to inspect targeted hardware restarts.Network or audio restarts can interrupt calls, downloads and recordings. Back up custom settings under ~/.config before resets; do not edit packaged defaults under /usr/share/omarchy.

Setup and system

SUPER + CTRL + H [13]
Open Trigger > Hardware for available laptop display, mirror, GPU, touchpad, haptics and touchscreen actions.Selecting an action can change device behavior immediately. Keyboard settings are under Setup > Input or Keybindings; audio, Bluetooth and display have separate panels.
SUPER + CTRL + D [13] [3]
Open Display for text size, scale, supported brightness and multi-display enable/disable controls. Escape closes the panel.Changes apply immediately. Configure resolution separately under Setup > Monitors.
SUPER + ESCAPE [13]
Open System for lock, suspend, logout, reboot and shutdown.Inspect without selecting a disruptive action; save work before logging out, restarting or shutting down.
SUPER + CTRL + L (optional activity) [13] [19]
Lock the screen without suspending the computer.Optional practice: save work and know your password before locking. You need it to return.
Workflow: COURSE: Screen-lock practice (optional activity) [19]
When ready, explicitly choose the lock button, unlock with your password, then return to the course. Skip if you are not ready.Opening the exercise alone does not lock the computer.

More window controls (optional)

SUPER + RETURN [14] [18]
Open the disposable terminal used by this lesson.
SUPER + O [12] [2]
Pop a tiled window out, or restore that pop-out to tiling.Start tiled. Pop-out floats, resizes, centers, and pins the window. This lesson uses and restores only its disposable terminal.
SUPER + EQUAL [12]
Widen a floating window.Use the physical key immediately left of Backspace. This lesson targets only its disposable terminal.
SUPER + W [12]
Close the focused window.Check focus first. This lesson verifies closure of only its disposable terminal.

Notifications (optional)

SUPER + SHIFT + ALT + COMMA [13]
Open notification history.
SUPER + COMMA [13]
Dismiss the latest notification.Affects real notifications; the course uses an isolated simulation instead.
SUPER + ALT + COMMA [13]
Invoke the latest notification.May launch an app or link. The course never invokes a real notification.
SUPER + CTRL + COMMA [13]
Toggle notification silencing.Changes a real preference; the course practices with a simulation that must be turned back off.

Desktop controls (optional)

SUPER + CTRL + A [13] [3]
Open Audio: output is where sound plays; input is your microphone. Escape closes the panel.
SUPER + CTRL + W [13] [3]
Open Network to inspect connection status. Escape closes the panel.Changing networks or disconnecting interrupts network activity.
SUPER + CTRL + P [13] [3]
Open Power to inspect battery status and power profiles when a battery is present.Omarchy hides this panel on systems without a battery; skip this optional activity when the shortcut has no visible result.
SUPER + CTRL + ALT + D [13] [3]
Open the calendar. Clicking the bar clock is the mouse alternative; Escape closes it.
SUPER + CTRL + SPACE [13]
Open the Background switcher to preview choices. Escape clears search text; press again to close, or once if empty.Applying a choice changes the desktop immediately; closing the menu does not undo it. Remember your previous selection if you want to restore it.
SUPER + SHIFT + CTRL + SPACE [13]
Open the Theme menu to preview choices. Escape clears search text; press again to close, or once if empty.Applying a theme changes the desktop immediately; closing the menu does not undo it. Remember your previous selection if you want to restore it.
SUPER + CTRL + O [13]
Open Toggle for night light, idle locking, the bar and other switches.Selecting an entry changes that setting, including protections such as idle locking.

Productivity extras (optional)

SUPER + CTRL + E [13]
Open the emoji picker, type a search word and press Enter to insert the selection into the previously focused text field.Check the intended destination before choosing an emoji.
SUPER + CTRL + R [13] [3]
Open reminders; enter minutes first, then the reminder message.Before scheduling, Escape clears typed text; press again to close, or once if empty.
SUPER + CTRL + X [17] [6] [19]
Toggle local dictation on/off when Voxtype is installed. Focus the destination, start, speak, stop and proofread.You control the microphone. Installed software does not guarantee a configured microphone or running service; skip if unavailable.
Mouse gesture: F9 HOLD → RELEASE [17] [6]
With Voxtype installed, hold F9 while speaking and release it to finish push-to-talk dictation.Review the resulting text; do not leave recording active. The toggle shortcut is an alternative if your keyboard lacks F9.
Workflow: COURSE: Dictation practice [19]
Check availability, enable the practice field when ready, use the dictation shortcut for 'Omarchy practice', stop and review the words.The exercise does not start your microphone. It checks the entered sample and your review, not whether speech produced the text.
Workflow: COURSE: Dictation corrections [6] [18] [19]
Inspect whether the Voxtype config documents replacements, then apply a specific correction to a harmless simulated transcript.The course reads only replacement metadata and never displays or edits the real config. A bundled sample is used when Voxtype or its config is unavailable.

Useful tools (optional)

SUPER + CTRL + T [14] [11]
Open the activity monitor to inspect processor, memory, storage and running programs.Inspect resource use without stopping programs; ending a process can lose work or interrupt services.
SUPER + W [12]
Close the focused window.Check focus and save work first. Guided close activities verify only lesson-owned windows.
SUPER + CTRL + Q [14] [11]
Open the calculator. Enter a simple calculation such as 5 + 5 and inspect the result.
Workflow: COURSE: Open Disk Usage [11] [18]
Launch the installed dua TUI through Omarchy's terminal launcher and inspect folder sizes from /.Navigate and inspect only. Do not use deletion actions; large folders may be important work.

Create and share (optional)

Workflow: Install > Web App / Remove > Web App [8] [9]
Install Web App asks for a name and website URL to create a launcher. Remove Web App removes that launcher, not your website account.A real web app opens its URL in a browser window; check the address before installing or opening it.
Workflow: COURSE: Web-app demo [19]
Explicitly create the isolated demo entry, open its local preview, then remove it.This is not an installed app: it only uses the exercise folder, does not change Apps, and the local preview makes no network request.
Workflow: Transcode > Keep original > Compare output [5] [19]
Convert a separate media copy at a sensible resolution. Compare file size and playback quality before sharing. MP4 suits longer clips; GIF suits short silent loops.Keep the original. Neither format nor conversion guarantees a smaller file; GIF can be larger than MP4.
Workflow: COURSE: Transcode practice [19]
Generate the harmless silent sample, play the original, choose a lower resolution and create a separate MP4 copy. Play the output and compare size and quality.Requires ffmpeg and ffprobe. The course keeps the original; evaluate output rather than assuming lower resolution always means acceptable quality.
SUPER + CTRL + S [13]
Open Share; opening the menu alone sends nothing.Verify content and recipient before sending. Escape clears typed text; press again to close, or once if empty.
Workflow: LocalSend > File > Recipient [11] [19]
For a real transfer, use LocalSend on both devices with a network connection between them. Inspect the file and verify the intended recipient before sending; confirm receipt.Never send private files or secrets merely to test sharing. A nearby device is not necessarily the intended recipient.
Workflow: COURSE: Sharing rehearsal [19]
Prepare and read the sample file, choose 'My test phone (demo)', then confirm you checked the file and demo recipient.Simulation only: it does not discover real devices, send files or confirm delivery.