• Rebind a key: Cmd + Key in the Shortcuts array.
• Disable a built-in shortcut: bind the key to CmdNone.
• Command with an argument (ver 3.6+): e.g. CmdCreateAnnotHighlight #00ff00.
• Command Palette entry (ver 3.6+): add Name.
• Global shortcut (ver 3.7+): prefix Key with Global to work when SumatraPDF isn’t focused.
• Toolbar button: add ToolbarText, see Customize toolbar.

Add or change a shortcut #

1. Open the settings file:
   • Menu: Settings → Open Advanced Settings File…
   • Command Palette: Ctrl + K, then Open Advanced Settings File...
2. It opens in your default text editor. Find the Shortcuts array and add definitions.
3. Save. Changes apply immediately, no restart needed.

Shortcuts [
    [
        Cmd = CmdOpenFile
        Key = Alt + o
    ]
    [
        Cmd = CmdNone
        Key = q
    ]
    [
        Name = Create green highlight
        Cmd = CmdCreateAnnotHighlight #00ff00
        Key = a
    ]
    [
        Cmd = CmdNextTab
        ToolbarText = Next Tab
    ]
]

• by default, Ctrl + O runs CmdOpenFile (open a file). This changes it to Alt + O
• by default, q closes the document. Binding it to CmdNone disables that built-in shortcut
• ver 3.6+: CmdCreateAnnotHighlight takes a color argument (#00ff00 is green). This reassigns a to create a green highlight annotation (instead of the default yellow)
• ver 3.6+: Name is optional. If provided, the command appears in the command palette (Ctrl + K)

Add a global shortcut #

Shortcuts [
    [
        Cmd = CmdGoToNextPage
        Key = Global PageDown
    ]
    [
        Cmd = CmdScreenshot
        Key = Global Alt+PrtSc
    ]
]

• To avoid hotkey conflicts, global shortcuts are only registered by the first running SumatraPDF instance.
• Commands that need a window or document go to the most recently activated open window. If it’s closed, the previously active open window is used. The shortcut does not steal focus or bring background windows to the foreground.
• If registering fails (e.g. another program already registered it), a warning notification is shown.

Restore pre-3.6 Ctrl+Tab (no Smart Tab Switch popup) #

Shortcuts [
    [
        Cmd = CmdNextTab
        Key = Ctrl + Tab
    ]
    [
        Cmd = CmdPrevTab
        Key = Ctrl + Shift + Tab
    ]
]

Tips #

• Test changes without restarting: they apply as soon as you save the settings file.
• If a shortcut doesn’t work, check the command name and arguments; parse failures are logged, so check the logs.
• Use CmdNone to free a key before reusing it elsewhere.
• Bind CmdCommandPaletteFavorites / CmdCommandPaletteTOC, not CmdCommandPalette $ / CmdCommandPalette % (see escaping below).

Format of the Key value #

• just a key (such as a, Z, or 5), i.e. the letters a to z and A to Z, and the numbers 0 to 9
• modifiers + key. Modifiers are Shift, Alt, Ctrl, and AltGr (also RAlt / RightAlt), e.g. Alt + F1, Ctrl + Shift + Y, or AltGr + Return. On Windows, AltGr is the same as Ctrl + Alt
• special keys (e.g. Alt + F3):
  • F1 - F24
  • numpad0 - numpad9 : 0 to 9 on a numerical keyboard
  • Delete, Backspace, Insert, Home, End, Escape
  • Left, Right, Up, Down for arrow keys
  • full list of special keys
• without modifiers, case matters, i.e. a and A are different
• with modifiers, use Shift to select uppercase, i.e. Alt + a is the same as Alt + A; use Alt + Shift + A for uppercase A

Escaping in settings values #

Commands #

See also #

• Commands — command ids to bind
• Customize toolbar — buttons via ToolbarText / ToolbarSvgIcon
• Command Palette — where Named shortcuts show up
• Tabs and windows — tab switching keys
• Advanced settings — all settings