---
title: How to set up the custom hotkeys
description: Learn how to set up and customize keyboard shortcuts for VoxWrite extension. Step-by-step guide to configure hotkeys for faster voice-to-text workflow.
canonical: https://voxwrite.app/docs/hotkeys
locale: en
---

# How to set up the custom hotkeys

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Learn how to set up and customize keyboard shortcuts for VoxWrite extension. Step-by-step guide to configure hotkeys for faster voice-to-text workflow.

## Keyboard Shortcuts

Control VoxWrite faster with customizable keyboard shortcuts. Work hands-free and boost your productivity without touching your mouse.

---

## Default Keyboard Shortcuts

VoxWrite comes with pre-configured shortcuts that work out of the box:

  <table>
    <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Action</th>
      <th>Windows/Linux</th>
      <th>Mac</th>
      <th>What It Does</th>
    </tr>
    </thead>
    <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td><strong>Start Recording</strong></td>
      <td>Ctrl + R</td>
      <td>⌃ + R</td>
      <td>
        - Begins voice recording immediately
        - Works from any webpage
        - No need to click the microphone icon
        - Recording starts in the currently focused text field (if any)

        **Pro tip:** If no text field is focused, recording opens in the side panel.

      </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td><strong>Stop Recording</strong></td>
      <td>Ctrl + Shift + S</td>
      <td>⌃ + ⇧ + S</td>
      <td>
        - Stops current recording
        - Processes the audio immediately
        - Applies your custom rules (if set)
        - Inserts text into the field (if applicable)
      </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td><strong>Open Recordings</strong></td>
      <td>Ctrl + Shift + R</td>
      <td>⌃ + ⇧ + R</td>
      <td>
        - Opens your recording list in Side Panel
        - Shows all past transcriptions
        - Access previous recordings for copy/paste/download/delete
        - Review and manage saved recordings
      </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td><strong>Copy & Paste Latest Recording</strong></td>
      <td>Ctrl + V</td>
      <td>⌃ + V</td>
      <td>
        - Quick insertion of last recording
        - Moving text to different application
      </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td><strong>Copy Recent Recording Text</strong></td>
      <td>Ctrl + C</td>
      <td>⌃ + C</td>
      <td>Copy last recording to clipboard (without pasting)</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td><strong>Open Settings</strong></td>
      <td>Ctrl + O</td>
      <td>⌃ + O</td>
      <td>
        - Opens VoxWrite settings panel
        - Quick access to all configuration
        - Faster than clicking icon → settings
      </td>
    </tr>
    </tbody>
  </table>

**Note:** Mac users see `⌃` (Control), `⌘` (Command), `⇧` (Shift), `⌥` (Option) symbols.

---

## How to Customize Shortcuts

### Step 1: Open Keyboard Shortcuts Settings

**Three ways to access:**

1. **From Chrome toolbar:**
- Click the VoxWrite icon
- Go to "Settings". To do this, click the VoxWrite extension icon in your browser toolbar, then click the gear icon in the top-right corner.
  ![Open VoxWrite settings](https://voxwrite.app/assets/images/docs/microphone-access-image-1.webp)
- Select "Keyboard Shortcuts" from the sidebar

  ![Hotkeys Settings](https://voxwrite.app/assets/images/docs/hotkeys-image-1.webp)

2. **Using default shortcut:**
- Press `Ctrl + O` (Windows/Linux) or `⌃ + O` (Mac)
- Navigate to "Keyboard Shortcuts"

3. **From extension settings:**
- Right-click VoxWrite icon
- Navigate "VoxWrite" => "Settings"

  ![Hotkeys Settings](https://voxwrite.app/assets/images/docs/hotkeys-image-2.webp)

- Choose "Keyboard Shortcuts" tab

---

### Step 2: Click the Shortcut You Want to Change

You'll see the Keyboard Shortcuts interface:

  ![Hotkeys Settings](https://voxwrite.app/assets/images/docs/hotkeys-image-3.webp)

Each shortcut has:
- **Action name** (left side) - What the shortcut does
- **Current shortcut** (center) - The key combination currently assigned
- **Delete button** (🗑️) - Remove the shortcut
- **Reset button** (↻) - Restore default shortcut

---

### Step 3: Press Your New Key Combination

1. **Click on the shortcut button** you want to change (e.g., the button showing `⌃ + R`)
2. The button will show **"Press keys..."**
3. **Press the key combination** you want to use (e.g., `Ctrl + Shift + M`)
4. Your new shortcut is **saved automatically**

**That's it!** Your custom shortcut is now active.

---

## Creating Custom Shortcuts

### Best Practices for Choosing Shortcuts

#### ✅ Do:

- **Use modifier keys** - Combine `Ctrl`, `Shift`, `Alt` to avoid conflicts
- **Keep it memorable** - Choose combinations that make sense to you
- **Test immediately** - Try your new shortcut right after setting it
- **Use similar patterns** - Group related actions (e.g., all recording shortcuts use `R`)
- **Consider one-handed use** - Shortcuts you can press with left hand while using mouse

#### ❌ Don't:

- **Override browser shortcuts** - Avoid `Ctrl + T`, `Ctrl + W`, `Ctrl + N` (browser uses these)
- **Use single keys** - Always include at least one modifier (`Ctrl`, `Shift`, `Alt`)
- **Make it too complex** - `Ctrl + Alt + Shift + F12` is hard to remember and press
- **Conflict with other extensions** - Check your other extensions' shortcuts
- **Use function keys alone** - Some keyboards require `Fn` key, making it awkward

---

## Troubleshooting Shortcuts

### Problem: "My shortcut doesn't work"

**Solutions:**

1. **Check for conflicts:**
- Go to `chrome://extensions/shortcuts`
- Look for duplicate shortcuts
- Change conflicting ones

2. **Verify shortcut is set:**
- Open VoxWrite Settings → Keyboard Shortcuts
- Confirm the shortcut shows correctly
- Try resetting to default

3. **Test in different context:**
- Try on different websites
- Test in a text field vs. empty page
- Check if extension is enabled

4. **Restart browser:**
- Close all Chrome windows
- Reopen and test again

---

### Problem: "Shortcut works sometimes but not always"

**Possible causes:**

- **Text field not focused** - Some shortcuts require active text field
- **Website blocks shortcuts** - Some sites capture keyboard events
- **Extension permissions** - Check if VoxWrite has access to current site
- **Conflicting page shortcuts** - Website's own shortcuts override VoxWrite

**Solutions:**
- Click into a text field first
- Try a different shortcut combination
- Check extension permissions for that site

---

### Problem: "I accidentally removed a shortcut"

**Solution:**
1. Click the empty shortcut field
2. Press your desired key combination
3. Or click the reset button (↻) to restore default

---

### Problem: "Shortcut triggers wrong action"

**Solution:**
1. Go to Settings → Keyboard Shortcuts
2. Check which action is assigned to that shortcut
3. Delete or reassign the conflicting shortcut
4. Set your intended shortcut correctly

---

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## Related

- HTML version of this page: https://voxwrite.app/docs/hotkeys
- Site map for agents: https://voxwrite.app/llms.txt