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Quick reference

Bear Keyboard Shortcuts Cheatsheet

A comprehensive reference guide for Bear Markdown notes on macOS and iOS: text formatting, note organization, navigation, search, and export shortcuts.

Compiled by Cheat Sheets · PublishedOctober 24, 2026

Bear is a focused, flexible Markdown writing and note-taking application for macOS, iOS, and iPadOS.

Views & Panels

Shortcut	Description
`Cmd` + `0`	Show All Notes
`Cmd` + `1`	Focus Notes list
`Cmd` + `2`	Focus Sidebar (Tags list)
`Cmd` + `Option` + `S`	Toggle Sidebar visibility
`Cmd` + `Option` + `F`	Toggle Information Panel (Word count, stats, outline)
`Cmd` + `Shift` + `T`	Toggle Tag Bar
`Cmd` + `Return`	Finish editing / defocus editor

Note Management

Shortcut	Description
`Cmd` + `N`	Create new note
`Cmd` + `Shift` + `N`	Open new note in separate window
`Cmd` + `Option` + `P`	Pin / unpin selected note
`Cmd` + `Option` + `D`	Duplicate note
`Cmd` + `Delete`	Move note to Trash
`Cmd` + `Shift` + `S`	Export current note
`Cmd` + `Shift` + `C`	Copy link to current note
`Cmd` + `Shift` + `F`	Global search across all notes
`Cmd` + `F`	Find inside current note
`Cmd` + `G`	Find next match
`Cmd` + `Shift` + `G`	Find previous match

Text Formatting & Markdown

Typography & Styles

Shortcut	Description	Markdown Syntax
`Cmd` + `B`	Bold	`bold`
`Cmd` + `I`	Italic	`italic`
`Cmd` + `U`	Underline	`~underline~`
`Cmd` + `Shift` + `X`	Strikethrough	`~~strikethrough~~`
`Cmd` + `Shift` + `H`	Highlight	`::highlight::`
`Cmd` + `K`	Insert Hyperlink	`[Title](url)`
`Cmd` + `Shift` + `C`	Inline Code	`code`
`Cmd` + `Option` + `C`	Code Block	```language
`Cmd` + `Shift` + `D`	Insert current Date & Time	`YYYY-MM-DD`

Headings

Shortcut	Description	Markdown Syntax
`Cmd` + `Option` + `1`	Heading 1	`# Heading 1`
`Cmd` + `Option` + `2`	Heading 2	`## Heading 2`
`Cmd` + `Option` + `3`	Heading 3	`### Heading 3`
`Cmd` + `Option` + `4`	Heading 4	`#### Heading 4`
`Cmd` + `Option` + `5`	Heading 5	`##### Heading 5`
`Cmd` + `Option` + `6`	Heading 6	`###### Heading 6`

Lists & Structure

Shortcut	Description	Markdown Syntax
`Cmd` + `Option` + `U`	Unordered / Bullet list	`- item`
`Cmd` + `Option` + `O`	Numbered / Ordered list	`1. item`
`Cmd` + `Option` + `T`	Todo checkbox	`- [ ] todo`
`Cmd` + `Option` + `Q`	Blockquote	`> quote`
`Cmd` + `Option` + `-`	Horizontal divider	`---`
`Tab`	Indent list item	(shifts right)
`Shift` + `Tab`	Outdent list item	(shifts left)
`Cmd` + `Option` + `Up`	Move line / list item up	—
`Cmd` + `Option` + `Down`	Move line / list item down	—

References

Related topics

#notes #markdown #bear #keyboard-shortcuts #cheatsheet