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GitHub Desktop keyboard shortcuts

Repositories, branches, commits, and sync in the GitHub Desktop app.

37 shortcuts Mac and Windows checked September 14, 2026

Print all 37 shortcuts One sheet with every shortcut in this app, ready for the printer or a PDF.

Every system Mac Windows
Everything Blocks and structure Editing Files and printing Formulas and data Navigation Paragraphs and lists System View and zoom
Matching shortcuts
Action Keys Row actions
Open the options window Anywhere Mac Cmd, 1 more variant Source
Toggle full screen view Anywhere Mac CtrlCmdF 1 more variant Source
Reset the zoom Anywhere Mac Cmd0 1 more variant Source
Zoom in Anywhere Mac Cmd= 1 more variant Source
Zoom out Anywhere Mac Cmd- 1 more variant Source
Make the active pane narrower Anywhere Mac Cmd8 1 more variant Source
Make the active pane wider Anywhere Mac Cmd9 1 more variant Source
Toggle the developer tools Anywhere Mac OptionCmdI 1 more variant Source
Add a new repository Repositories Mac CmdN 1 more variant Source
Add a local repository Repositories Mac CmdO 1 more variant Source
Clone a repository from GitHub Repositories Mac ShiftCmdO 1 more variant Source
Show your repository list Repositories Mac CmdT 1 more variant Source
Push your latest commits Repositories Mac CmdP 1 more variant Source
Pull the latest changes Repositories Mac ShiftCmdP 1 more variant Source
Remove a repository Repositories Mac CmdDelete 1 more variant Source
View the repository on GitHub Repositories Mac ShiftCmdG 1 more variant Source
Open the repository in a terminal Repositories Mac Ctrl` 1 more variant Source
Show the repository files Repositories Mac ShiftCmdF 1 more variant Source
Open the repository in your editor Repositories Mac ShiftCmdA 1 more variant Source
Create an issue on GitHub Repositories Mac CmdI 1 more variant Source
Show your uncommitted changes Branches Mac Cmd1 1 more variant Source
Show the commit history Branches Mac Cmd2 1 more variant Source
Show every branch Branches Mac CmdB 1 more variant Source
Go to the commit summary Branches Mac CmdG 1 more variant Source
Commit the changes Commit field active Mac CmdEnter 1 more variant Source
Create a new branch Branches Mac ShiftCmdN 1 more variant Source
Rename the current branch Branches Mac ShiftCmdR 1 more variant Source
Delete the current branch Branches Mac ShiftCmdD 1 more variant Source
Update from the default branch Branches Mac ShiftCmdU 1 more variant Source
Compare to another branch Branches Mac ShiftCmdB 1 more variant Source

About GitHub Desktop and its shortcuts

GitHub Desktop exists to make the everyday Git loop safe for people who do not want a terminal, and its shortcuts match that loop: switching repositories and branches, committing, pushing, pulling and opening the current repository in an editor or a shell.

The command set is small and changes with the application rather than with Git, so an outdated installation can differ. Some commands only make sense, and only work, when a repository is open and has changes.

Where the GitHub Desktop keys came from

Read from 1 documentation page published by the makers of GitHub Desktop. Report a key that is wrong

To see how one action is done in other apps as well as GitHub Desktop, browse the shortcuts by task. Shortcuts by task