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Keyboard Shortcuts

ZestSSH’s desktop app (Windows, macOS, Linux) provides extensive keyboard shortcuts for efficient server management. On macOS, Ctrl is replaced by Cmd for most shortcuts.

Shortcut (Win/Linux)Shortcut (macOS)Action
Ctrl+Shift+PCmd+Shift+POpen Command Palette
Ctrl+TCmd+TQuick Connect
Ctrl+Shift+NCmd+Shift+NNew Connection
Ctrl+,Cmd+,Open Settings
F11F11Toggle Fullscreen
Ctrl+BCmd+BToggle Sidebar Collapse
Shortcut (Win/Linux)Shortcut (macOS)Action
Ctrl+WCmd+WClose Current Tab
Ctrl+Shift+TCmd+Shift+TReopen Last Closed Tab
Ctrl+TabCmd+TabNext Tab
Ctrl+Shift+TabCmd+Shift+TabPrevious Tab
Ctrl+1Cmd+1Jump to Tab 1
Ctrl+2Cmd+2Jump to Tab 2
Ctrl+3Cmd+3Jump to Tab 3
Ctrl+4Cmd+4Jump to Tab 4
Ctrl+5Cmd+5Jump to Tab 5
Ctrl+6Cmd+6Jump to Tab 6
Ctrl+7Cmd+7Jump to Tab 7
Ctrl+8Cmd+8Jump to Tab 8
Ctrl+9Cmd+9Jump to Tab 9
Shortcut (Win/Linux)Shortcut (macOS)Action
Ctrl+Shift+FCmd+Shift+FFind in Terminal
Ctrl+Shift+CCmd+Shift+CCopy Selection
Ctrl+Shift+VCmd+Shift+VPaste
Ctrl++ (Ctrl+Equal)Cmd++Zoom In (Increase Font Size)
Ctrl+- (Ctrl+Minus)Cmd+-Zoom Out (Decrease Font Size)
Ctrl+0Cmd+0Reset Zoom (14px default)
Ctrl+Scroll UpCmd+Scroll UpIncrease Font Size
Ctrl+Scroll DownCmd+Scroll DownDecrease Font Size
EscapeEscapeClose Search Bar
Shortcut (Win/Linux)Shortcut (macOS)Action
Ctrl+Shift+DCmd+Shift+DSplit Right (Horizontal)
Ctrl+Shift+ECmd+Shift+ESplit Down (Vertical)
Ctrl+\Cmd+\Close Current Split
Ctrl+Shift+MCmd+Shift+MMaximize / Restore Focused Pane
Alt+Left ArrowAlt+Left ArrowFocus Pane to the Left
Alt+Right ArrowAlt+Right ArrowFocus Pane to the Right
Alt+Up ArrowAlt+Up ArrowFocus Pane Above
Alt+Down ArrowAlt+Down ArrowFocus Pane Below
Ctrl+Shift+BCmd+Shift+BToggle Broadcast Mode
Ctrl+Shift+SCmd+Shift+SToggle SFTP Panel
Shortcut (Win/Linux)Shortcut (macOS)Action
Ctrl+Alt+1Cmd+Alt+1Side-by-Side (2 Columns)
Ctrl+Alt+2Cmd+Alt+2Stacked (2 Rows)
Ctrl+Alt+3Cmd+Alt+3Three Columns
Ctrl+Alt+4Cmd+Alt+42x2 Grid
Ctrl+Alt+5Cmd+Alt+5Reset to Single Pane
Ctrl+Alt+6Cmd+Alt+61 + 2 (Large Left, Two Right)
Ctrl+Alt+7Cmd+Alt+72 + 1 (Two Left, Large Right)
Ctrl+Alt+8Cmd+Alt+8Three Rows

On macOS, ZestSSH provides a native menu bar with the following additional items accessible via menu:

MenuItem
FileImport SSH Config
EditFind in Terminal (Cmd+Shift+F)
ViewToggle Always on Top
TerminalToggle Broadcast Mode
HelpKeyboard Shortcuts
HelpDiscord Community
HelpAbout ZestSSH
ActionEffect
Select textCopies to clipboard automatically (Copy on Select, default on)
Right-clickPaste from clipboard (default on, configurable)
Middle-clickPaste from clipboard (default on, configurable)
Ctrl+ScrollZoom in/out
Drag tabReorder tabs

While not keyboard shortcuts, these touch gestures complement the desktop experience on mobile:

GestureAction
Two-finger tapSend Ctrl+C
Three-finger tapPaste from clipboard
Two-finger horizontal swipeSwitch between sessions

Desktop mouse behaviors can be configured in Settings:

  • Copy on Select: Automatically copy selected text to clipboard (default: on)
  • Right-click Paste: Paste on right-click (default: on)
  • Middle-click Paste: Paste on middle-click (default: on)