Keyboard shortcuts – macOS and iOS

Whether you’re creating new entries, navigating between views, or formatting text, these shortcuts help you stay focused and efficient. Below, you’ll find a complete list of Day One Mac keyboard shortcuts, along with their functions. Use these commands to streamline your journaling experience and make the most of Day One’s powerful features.

Looking for iOS shortcuts? We’ve got those too—scroll down for a quick guide to keyboard shortcuts on iPad when using an external keyboard.

Day One Mac Keyboard Shortcuts

Legend: control: ⌃ option: ⌥ command: ⌘ shift: ⇧

Command	Function
Cmd-N ⌘N	New Entry
Cmd-Shift-N ⌘⇧N	New Entry in Window
Cmd-1 ⌘1	Timeline View
Cmd-2 ⌘2	Photos View
Cmd-3 ⌘3	Map View
Cmd-4 ⌘4	Calendar View
Cmd-B ⌘B	Bold selected text
Cmd-I ⌘I	Italicize selected text
Cmd-U ⌘U	Underline selected text
Cmd-Shift-X ⌘⇧X	Strike through selected text
Ctrl-Shift-D ⌃⇧D	Menu bar entry (customizable in Settings)
Left/Right Arrows ← / →	Previous/Next pane
Up/Down Arrows ↑ / ↓	Previous/Next Item in a List
Cmd-E (or Cmd-Return) ⌘E (⌘↩)	Toggle Entry Edit Mode (Save/Sync)
Cmd-F ⌘F	While in an entry this will search text
Cmd-Shift-F ⌘⇧F	Search all data in Day One
Cmd-J ⌘J	Open Journal Picker
Cmd-T ⌘T	Open Tag Menu
Cmd-comma ⌘,	Preferences
Cmd-Shift-L ⌘⇧L	Lock Journal
Cmd-Control-F ⌃⌘F	Toggles Full Screen
Cmd-K ⌘K	Create Link (from selected text)
Cmd-Shift-T ⌘⇧T	Insert Checklist
Cmd-Shift-J ⌘⇧J	Toggle Journal Sidebar

Day One for Mac doesn’t currently have a keyboard shortcut for bullet or numbered lists. To apply list formatting, use the Format menu in the entry editor (or the format toolbar).

Focus and Window Management

To write in a distraction-free environment on macOS, you can open an entry in its own window:

• Double-click an entry in the timeline to open it in a separate window.
• Alternatively, right-click an entry and select Open In > New Window.

You can also use macOS full-screen mode by clicking the green traffic light button in the top-left corner of any Day One window (or using the Cmd+Ctrl+F keyboard shortcut). This hides the Dock and menu bar.

The Day One macOS app does not have a built-in “focus mode” or a keyboard shortcut to hide the sidebar. To minimize distractions, open an entry in a new window and then use macOS full-screen mode.

Search commands

Below are screenshots to show how the different search shortcuts will appear in the app.

Cmd-F ⌘F                                                While in an entry this will search text

Cmd-Shift-F ⌘⇧F                                        Search all data in Day One

Day One iOS Keyboard Shortcuts

You can use these keyboard shortcuts for Day One iOS when using an external keyboard (note: some shortcuts will only work when editing an entry).

To view all available keyboard shortcuts, open the Help menu by moving your cursor to the top of the screen (or swiping down from the top of the screen) and clicking Help > More Keyboard Shortcuts:

Command	Function
Shift-Cmd-X ⇧⌘X	Strikethrough Text
Cmd-K ⌘K	Insert Link
Option-Cmd-K ⌥⌘K	Apply Code Block
Shift-Cmd-K ⇧⌘K	Apply Inline Style
Control-` ⌃`	Toggle Through Current Style
Shift-Cmd-L ⇧⌘L	Apply List Style
Option-Cmd-1 ⌥⌘1	Apply Header 1
Option-Cmd-2 ⌥⌘2	Apply Header 2
Option-Cmd-3 ⌥⌘3	Apply Header 3
Option-Cmd-0 ⌥⌘0	Clear Formatting
Cmd-I ⌘I	Italicize Text
Cmd-B ⌘B	Bold Text
Cmd-U ⌘U	Underline Text
Cmd-T ⌘T	Open Tag Picker
Shift-Tab ⇧⇥	Outdent Text
Cmd-= ⌘=	Increase Font Size
Cmd– ⌘-	Decrease Font Size
Cmd-J ⌘J	Open Journal Picker
Cmd-F ⌘F	Open Search
Cmd-comma ⌘,	Open Settings
Cmd-S ⌘S	Sync Now
Cmd-N ⌘N	New Entry
Cmd-Shift-N ⌘⇧N	New Entry with Default Template
Cmd-Alt ⌘⌥	New Entry with Template
Control-Cmd ^⌘	New Entry in New Window
Cmd-Alt-Control ^⌘⌥	New Entry in New Window with Template
Option-Cmd-P ⌥⌘P	New Photo Entry
Option-Cmd-V ⌥⌘V	New Video Entry
Option-Cmd-C ⌥⌘C	New Camera Entry
Cmd-Enter ⌘↩	Toggle Edit Mode
Cmd-E ⌘E	Toggle Edit Mode
Cmd-Z ⌘Z	Undo Typing
Cmd-V ⌘V	Paste
Option-Shift-Cmd-V ⌥⇧⌘V	Paste and Match Style
Cmd-A ⌘A	Select All
Fn-D Globe-D	Dictation
Fn-E Globe-E	Emoji
Cmd-+ ⌘+	Bigger
Control-Cmd-S ⌃⌘S	Show Sidebar
Up/Down Arrows ↑ / ↓	Previous/Next Item in a List

See More: Mac Keyboard Shortcuts

 

Day One Keyboard Shortcuts on Web and Windows App

Currently, keyboard shortcuts are not supported on web and windows apps. Please be on the lookout for future updates!