captains-deck.com ~/guides/shortcuts G.01.C · 4 min read ↑ updated 2026-10-10 --:--:--
Beginner G.01.C 4 min read

Eight keys, ninety percent.

Captain’s Deck is keyboard-first. Memorise this page and you’ll move at the speed of thought.

Every key below is just a default. Head to Settings → Keyboard Shortcuts to remap anything — Record a new key, Add a second one for the same action, or Remove… one you don’t want. A shortcut can even be a multi-key chord like gg. You can also switch the whole app between the Orthodox, macOS, Vim and Emacs layout presets. The complete reference lists every binding.

Captain's Deck running with keyboard shortcuts visible
Tab between panes; F-keys for the heavy lifting.

Selection

Toggle selectionSpace
Select allCmd+A
Deselect allCtrl+Cmd+A
Invert selectionCmd+Option+I / * (numpad)
Select by pattern…Cmd+S / + (numpad)
Deselect by pattern…Cmd+Shift+S / − (numpad)
Extend selectionShift+↑ / Shift+↓

File operations

Copy to other paneF5
Move to other paneF6 / Cmd+Shift+M
New directoryF7
New folder with selection…Ctrl+Cmd+N
DuplicateCmd+Shift+D
Delete (Trash)F8
RenameF2
View fileF3
Edit fileF4
Compare Files…F9
Git PanelCmd+Shift+G
Quick LookCmd+Y
Get infoCmd+I
Batch renameCmd+Shift+R

Clipboard

Copy filesCmd+C
Cut filesCmd+X
Paste filesCmd+V

Tabs

New tabCmd+T
Close tab (or open dialog / panel)Cmd+W
Next / previousShift+Cmd+] / Shift+Cmd+[

View options

Toggle hidden filesCmd+.
Toggle terminal` (backtick)
Next themeCmd+Option+T
Bigger / smaller list textCmd++ / Cmd+−
Normal list text sizeCtrl+Cmd+0
Toggle sidebarCmd+Option+S
RefreshCmd+R
Calculate folder sizesOption+Shift+Return
PreferencesCmd+,
QuitCmd+Q / F10

Using F-keys without Fn

By default macOS uses F1–F12 for system functions. To use them directly in Captain’s Deck:

  1. Open System Settings
  2. Go to Keyboard
  3. Click Keyboard Shortcuts…
  4. Select Function Keys in the sidebar
  5. Enable “Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys”

Or hold Fn while pressing any F-key.

Want everything? See the complete shortcuts reference for every binding in the app.

Tweaks

Theme
Motion