Keyboard Shortcuts

All the features in Mu can be accessed via keyboard shortcuts. Windows and Linux users should use the Control key as shown below. macOS users should replace Control with Command.

Here’s how they work!

Common Buttons

CTRL SHIFT M: Change mode (the same as clicking "Modes").
CTRL N: Create a new empty tab (the same as clicking "New").
CTRL O: Open a new file (the same as clicking "Open").
CTRL S: Save a file (the same as clicking "Save").
CTRL +: Zoom in (the same as clicking "Zoom In").
CTRL -: Zoom out (the same as clicking "Zoom Out").
F1: Toggle themes (the same as clicking "Theme").
F2: Check code (the same as clicking "Check").
CTRL H: Display help (the same as clicking "Help").
CTRL Q: Quit Mu (the same as clicking "Quit").

Python 3

F5: Run / Stop your code (the same as clicking "Run" or "Stop").
F6: Debug your code (the same as clicking "Debug").
CTRL SHIFT I: Toggle the REPL (the same as clicking "REPL").
CTRL SHIFT P: Toggle the Plotter (the same as clicking "Plotter").

Debugger

SHIFT F5: Stop debugger (the same as clicking "Stop").
F5: Continue running code (the same as clicking "Continue").
F10: Step over a line of code (the same as clicking "Step Over").
F11: Step into a block of code (the same as clicking "Step In").
SHIFT F11: Step out of a block of code (the same as clicking "Step Out").

PyGame Zero

F5: Play or stop your game (the same as clicking "Play" or "Stop").
CTRL SHIFT I: Show image asset directory (the same as clicking "Images").
CTRL SHIFT F: Show font asset directory (the same as clicking "Fonts").
CTRL SHIFT N: Show the sound/noise asset directory (the same as clicking "Sounds").
CTRL SHIFT M: Show the music asset directory (the same as clicking "Music").

Adafruit

CTRL SHIFT U: Toggle the USB serial connection (the same as clicking "Serial").
CTRL SHIFT P: Toggle the Plotter (the same as clicking "Plotter").

The following key combinations work in the serial pane:

CTRL SHIFT C: Copy highlighted text into the clipboard.
CTRL SHIFT V: Paste text into the REPL from the clipboard.

Microbit

F3: Flash code onto device (the same as clicking "Flash").
F4: Toggle the filesystem (the same as clicking "Files").
CTRL SHIFT I: Toggle the REPL (the same as clicking "REPL").
CTRL SHIFT P: Toggle the Plotter (the same as clicking "Plotter").

The micro:bit’s REPL pane understands the following key combinations:

CTRL SHIFT C: Copy highlighted text into the clipboard.
CTRL SHIFT V: Paste text into the REPL from the clipboard.

Text Editing

CTRL F: Show the find and replace dialog.
CTRL K: Toggle comments for the current or selected lines of code.
TAB: Indent the current or selected lines by four spaces.
SHIFT TAB: Unindent the current or selected lines by four spaces.
CTRL Z: Undo (keep pressing to keep undoing).
CTRL Y: Redo (keep pressing to keep redoing).
CTRL A: Select all
CTRL X: Cut selected text into the clipboard.
CTRL C: Copy selected text into the clipboard.
CTRL V: Paste text from the clipboard.
UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT (arrows): Move the cursor one character in the specified direction.
CTRL LEFT / CTRL RIGHT: Move the cursor one word in the specified direction.
SHIFT UP / SHIFT DOWN / SHIFT LEFT / SHIFT RIGHT: Select text in the specified direction.
CTRL SHIFT LEFT / CTRL SHIFT RIGHT: Select text one word in the specified direction.

Miscellaneous Others

CTRL SHIFT S: Save the current tab with a new name (the same as double clicking the tab's name).
CTRL SHIFT D: Show the admin dialog (the same as clicking the cog in the bottom right of Mu's window).
CTRL ALT S: Take a screenshot of the current source code file (great for embedding pictures of code in presentations, websites or educational resources).