How to use Highlite keyboard shortcuts
Updated
Using the shortcuts
- Click the Highlite icon to open the toolbar. Shortcuts only work while the toolbar is open on the page.
- Press a tool key from the table below. Each tool has a letter and a number, and either one works.
- Press the same key again, or press Esc, to put the tool down.
- Press ? to open the Keyboard shortcuts panel on the page. Press ? or Esc to close it.
| Action | Windows, Linux, ChromeOS | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Sticky note | N or 1 | N or 1 |
| Highlight | H or 2 | H or 2 |
| Text box | T or 3 | T or 3 |
| Drawing (pen) | P or 4 | P or 4 |
| Arrow | A or 5 | A or 5 |
| Rectangle | R or 6 | R or 6 |
| Ellipse | O or 7 | O or 7 |
| Laser pointer | L or 8 | L or 8 |
| Select | V or 9 | V or 9 |
| Eraser | E or 0 | E or 0 |
| Undo | Ctrl+Z | Cmd+Z |
| Redo | Ctrl+Shift+Z | Cmd+Shift+Z |
| Open the Export panel | Ctrl+Shift+E | Cmd+Shift+E |
| Exit the current tool | Esc | Esc |
| Show or hide the shortcut list | ? | ? |
Keys that work inside a tool
Hold Shift while drawing a rectangle to get a square, or an ellipse to get a circle. In a sticky note or a text box, Enter finishes editing and Shift+Enter starts a new line. With the Select tool, Delete or Backspace removes the selected annotation.
Undo and redo
Undo history belongs to the page and is saved with it, so you can still undo after a reload. Making a new change after an undo discards the steps you undid. Reset all cannot be undone.
Limitations
- There is no keyboard shortcut to open Highlite. Click the icon in the browser toolbar.
- Shortcuts cannot be changed.
- Single-key shortcuts are ignored while you type in a form field, a text box or a sticky note, and while Alt is held down.
- Redo is Ctrl+Shift+Z (Cmd+Shift+Z on Mac). Ctrl+Y does nothing.
Frequently asked questions
Why do Highlite shortcuts not work on some pages?
The toolbar has to be open on the page: click the Highlite icon first. Shortcuts are also paused while the cursor is in a text field, so click outside the field and try again.
Can I change Highlite keyboard shortcuts?
No. The keys are fixed: a letter and a number for each of the ten tools, plus undo, redo and the Export panel.
Is there a shortcut to open the Highlite toolbar?
No. Click the Highlite icon in the browser toolbar. Once it is open, every tool has a key.