---
title: "Keyboard shortcuts"
url: https://storagestudio.us/wiki/keyboard-shortcuts
category: "Getting started"
tags: ["keyboard shortcuts", "apps", "junk yard", "getting started"]
summary: "Storage Studio's keyboard shortcuts in one place — the global shortcuts that work from any app (the Apps grid and the Junk Yard), plus the shortcuts inside the Storage Studio window, the Apps grid and the Advanced popover."
updated: 2026-10-01T05:35:37.000Z
---

# Keyboard shortcuts

Storage Studio's keyboard shortcuts in one place — the global shortcuts that work from any app (the Apps grid and the Junk Yard), plus the shortcuts inside the Storage Studio window, the Apps grid and the Advanced popover.

Storage Studio has a handful of **global shortcuts** that work from any app, and a few more that work inside its own windows. The global ones can be changed or switched off in **Settings…** → **Shortcuts** — see [Changing keyboard shortcuts](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/shortcuts-pane). The **Hot Keys** chip on the Home screen shows your current set at any time.

## Global shortcuts (work from any app)

| Shortcut (default) | What it does |
|---|---|
| ⌃Space | Open the Apps grid |
| ⌃⇧J | Open the Junk Yard |
| ⌃⇧C | Save what's on the clipboard to the Junk Yard |
| ⌃⇧N | Start a new note in the Junk Yard |
| ⌃⇧D | Move the Junk Yard strip between the top and the right of the screen |

The four Junk Yard shortcuts only do something while the Junk Yard is switched on. macOS uses ⌃Space for switching keyboard input sources on some Macs; if the Apps grid doesn't open, pick another combination.

## In the Storage Studio window

| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| ⌘1 | Home tab |
| ⌘2 | Apps tab |
| ⌘3 | Junk Yard tab, when it's switched on |
| ⌘4 | Delta Drive tab |
| ⌘] | Next tab |
| ⌘, | Settings |
| Escape | Close the window |

## In the Apps grid

| Key | What it does |
|---|---|
| Arrow keys | Move the selection between apps |
| Return | Open the selected app |
| Return in the search box | Open the top match |
| Escape | Close the window |

More about the grid: [The All Apps grid and its shortcut](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/the-all-apps-grid).

## In the Advanced popover

| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| ⌘L | Open the log |
| ⌘I | Inspect your external drive |
| ⌘? | Open Help |
| ⌘R | Refresh the status |
| ⌘W | Close the popover |
| ⌘Q | Quit Storage Studio |

## In the Junk Yard

The Junk Yard has its own keys and gestures for copying, previewing and deleting scraps, and for formatting notes. They're listed in [Junk Yard shortcuts](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/junk-yard-shortcuts).

```mermaid
%% caption: Where each kind of shortcut works
mindmap
  root((Shortcuts))
    Anywhere on your Mac
      Apps grid
      Junk Yard
    Storage Studio window
      Switch tabs
      Settings
      Close
    Apps grid
      Arrows
      Return
    Advanced popover
      Log and Inspect
      Help and Quit
```

*Mind map — Where each kind of shortcut works. Outline:*

- Shortcuts
  - Anywhere on your Mac
    - Apps grid
    - Junk Yard
  - Storage Studio window
    - Switch tabs
    - Settings
    - Close
  - Apps grid
    - Arrows
    - Return
  - Advanced popover
    - Log and Inspect
    - Help and Quit

See also: [The Home screen](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/the-home-screen), [The menu bar icon and popover](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/the-menu-bar-icon-and-popover).

## What links here

- [Changing keyboard shortcuts](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/shortcuts-pane)
- [Junk Yard shortcuts](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/junk-yard-shortcuts)
- [Paste or Select All doesn't work in a text box](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/paste-doesnt-work-in-a-text-box)
- [Starting Storage Studio at login](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/start-at-login)
- [The All Apps grid and its shortcut](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/the-all-apps-grid)
- [The Home screen](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/the-home-screen)
- [The Junk Yard](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/junk-yard)
- [The menu bar icon and popover](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/the-menu-bar-icon-and-popover)