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Portals is built for keyboard-first workflows. Most actions you perform regularly — switching modes, panning the canvas, invoking Portal Agent — have a dedicated shortcut so you can keep your hands off the mouse. The tables below cover every shortcut available in the app.
On macOS, shortcuts use Cmd. On Windows and Linux, replace Cmd with Ctrl unless otherwise noted.

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Canvas navigation

These shortcuts work in Brainstorming and Design modes wherever an infinite canvas is active.
ActionShortcut
Pan canvasHold Space and drag
Zoom in / outScroll wheel or pinch (trackpad)
Zoom with dragHold Z and drag left/right
Reset zoom to 100%Cmd+1
Recenter / fit canvasCmd+0
Duplicate cardHold Alt and drag a card

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Mode switching

ActionShortcut
Toggle between Brainstorming and DesignTab
Toggle Brainstorming / Storyboard viewCtrl+` (backtick, not Cmd)
The Ctrl+` shortcut uses the physical Ctrl key on all platforms, including macOS. It does not work when in Design mode.

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Portal Agent

ActionShortcut
Open Portal Agent status barCmd+/
Hold-to-talk (Dynamic AI voice)Hold Left Ctrl
Open floating chat panelCmd+E
Toggle Cursor PortalCmd+` or Cmd+Shift+`
Hold-to-talk: Press and hold the Left Ctrl key to activate voice input. The Dynamic AI notch appears after a short delay. Release the key to send your voice prompt. This shortcut uses the physical Left Ctrl key on all platforms.

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Design tools

These shortcuts are active only when Design mode is open and no text input field is focused.
ActionShortcut
Selection toolV
Copy layerCmd+C
Paste layerCmd+V
Delete selected layerDelete or Backspace

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General

ActionShortcut
Toggle light / dark theme` (backtick, no modifier)
Cancel screenshot capture modeEscape

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Tips for using shortcuts

Most canvas shortcuts are disabled when a text input or editable field has focus. Click anywhere on the canvas background to deselect the focused element, then try the shortcut again.
On a Windows keyboard connected to a Mac, the Windows key acts as Cmd for Portals shortcuts. The Alt key maps to Option.
Pressing Tab while a card or input is focused may insert a tab character or move focus within the card. Click the canvas background first to ensure the global Tab mode-switch handler is active.