Navigate the Entire App by Keyboard

MinkNote treats navigation as part of writing, not separate from it.

One of MinkNote’s core design goals is simple: you should never have to reach for the mouse just to move around.

From editing a note to switching notes to changing journals, it can all be done in seconds using the keyboard.

Move Between Panes

MinkNote has three main areas:

  • Journals
  • Notes
  • Editor

Use these shortcuts to move focus between panes:

  • ⌃⌥→ moves focus to the next pane
  • ⌃⌥← moves focus to the previous pane

Focus order cycles like this:

  • Normal cycle: Journals → Notes → Editor → Journals
  • If no note is selected yet, focus moves to Notes first. Once a note is selected, Editor joins the cycle.

Journals Pane

  • ↑ / ↓ moves through journals, folders, and tags
  • → expands the selected journal or folder
  • ← collapses the selected journal or folder

Notes Pane

While the Notes list is focused:

  • ↑ / ↓ selects notes
  • The selected note appears in the Editor automatically

Notes Filter

From anywhere in the main window:

  • ⌘⌥F shows the notes filter field
  • ↓ in the filter field moves focus to the notes list
  • Esc hides the filter field

A Typical Workflow

Imagine you’re writing in a note:

  1. Press ⌃⌥← to move from the Editor to the Notes pane.
  2. Use ↑ / ↓ to select a different note.
  3. Press ⌃⌥→ to move back to the Editor.
  4. Continue typing.

All in a few keystrokes.

No context switching. No trackpad. No hunting for focus.

MinkNote treats navigation as part of writing, not separate from it. Unlike many note apps, you can move between journals, notes, and the editor entirely from the keyboard.