Keys

Most buttons in desk show their key on them, so you can also learn these as you go.

Anywhere

Keys	What they do
`Esc`	Backs out of the innermost thing, one per press: the palette, the unlock dialog, the server picker, the settings, the card editor (it saves), the new-card dialog, the card menu, the snooze picker; then clears the search, leaves an answer field, goes back from a subagent or shell to the conversation, closes the rail, the session panel, the full-window session, and last the selection.
`Ctrl`+`K`	Opens the command palette. Works over the message box too, but not over a dialog.

Board

Keys	What they do
`Ctrl`+`N`	New card, in the selected card’s column (else the first).
`/` or `Ctrl`+`F`	Search the cards.
`Enter` (in the search box)	Leaves the box and selects the first match.
Arrows	Select a card. With none selected, the first one shown.
`Ctrl`+arrows	Move the selected card: up and down in its column, left and right to the next column.
`Enter`	Open the selected card’s session.
`E`	Edit the selected card’s fields.
`T`	Open the selected card’s Claude Code terminal.
`Ctrl`+`Z`	Undo an archive or a delete, while its toast shows.

Right-click a card to open it.

Keys	What they do
`Enter`	Open its session.
`T`	Its Claude Code terminal.
`E`	Edit it.
`Ctrl`+`C`	Copy its key (`DESK-12`).
`1`…`9`	Move it to that column.
`Backspace`	Archive it (stopping its session if one runs).
`Esc`	Close the menu.

New-card dialog

Keys	What they do
`Ctrl`+`Enter` or `Ctrl`+`S`	Create the card.
`Enter` (in a one-line field)	Create the card. In the organization field, an unfinished name first takes its best match.
`Shift`+`Enter` (in What to do)	A new line.
`Ctrl`+`J`	Improve with Claude; again to ask again, or to stop it while it runs.
`Ctrl`+`V`	Paste. An image on the clipboard is saved and put in as `![image](path)`.
`Esc`	Close. What you wrote is kept for the next new card, unless Improve with Claude already rewrote it. Not while Improve runs: stop it first.

The create keys do nothing while Improve with Claude is writing the fields.

Card editor

The panel E opens on an existing card.

Keys	What they do
`Ctrl`+`Enter` or `Ctrl`+`S`	Save and close.
`Enter` (in a one-line field)	Save and close.
`Ctrl`+`Backspace`	Delete the card (`Ctrl`+`Z` undoes it).
`Esc`	Close, saving.

Session

The message box, in the side panel and the full window.

Keys	What they do
`Enter`	Send the message.
`Shift`+`Enter`	A new line.
`Ctrl`+`V`	Paste. An image on the clipboard is saved and put in as `![image](path)`.
`Esc`	Back from a subagent or a shell to the conversation, then close the rail, the panel, the full window.

Selecting text in Claude’s replies copies it when you let go of the mouse.

Permission and question box

Claude’s open request, above the message box. Its letter and digit keys work while no other field has the keyboard.

A permission:

Keys	What they do
`Y` or `Enter`	Allow once.
`N`	Deny.
`S`	Allow every use of this tool on this card, until desk quits.
`E`	Edit the command first (shell commands only).
`Enter` (editing)	Allow the command as edited. `Shift`+`Enter` adds a line.

A question:

Keys	What they do
`1`…`N`	Pick (or unpick) that answer.
The next digit	Write your own answer.
`Enter`	Next question, or send after the last.
`Esc`	Leave the answer field.

Command palette

Keys	What they do
`↑` `↓`	Move.
`Tab` / `Shift`+`Tab`	Next / previous scope.
`Enter`	Run the item.
`Esc`	Close.

Dialogs

Where	Keys	What they do
Settings	`Ctrl`+`S`	Save every edited page.
Settings	`Esc`	Close (it warns first about unsaved changes).
Vault unlock	`Enter`	In the password: to the one-time code if one is needed, else unlock. In the code: unlock.
Vault unlock	`Esc`	Not now.
Server picker	`Enter`	Open the first match.
Snooze an alert	`1` `2` `3` `4`	1 hour, 4 hours, 1 day, 1 week.
Snooze an alert	`Enter` (in the field)	Snooze for the time you typed (`2h30m`).
Claude login	`Enter` (in the code)	Sign in.

Card terminal

The full Claude Code TUI (T). Every key goes to Claude Code, including Esc, Tab and Ctrl keys. Board keys don’t work here.

Keys	What they do
`Ctrl`+`V`	An image on the clipboard is saved and its path pasted. Otherwise `Ctrl`+`V` goes to Claude Code.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`V`	The same for an image; otherwise pastes the clipboard’s text.

Infra workspace

In an organization’s Servers view. These work everywhere in the workspace, terminal panes included.

Keys	What they do
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`K`	The workspace palette: runbooks, files, forwards, notes, reports, health check, audit log, recordings, sharing, broadcast.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`T`	New pane (split).
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`W`	Close the pane, or the tab with its last pane.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`1`…`9`	Go to that tab of the organization.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`J`	Show or hide the Claude panel.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`L`	Move the keyboard to the Claude message box, and back to the terminal.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Y`	Type Claude’s suggested command at the prompt.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`P`	Type the server’s password.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`S`	Pin the screen for Claude (share it), or stop.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`G`	The group view of the tab’s server group.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F`	Show or hide the files split.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`H`	Find in the pane’s scrollback.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`↑` `↓`	Pick the previous / next command block in the pane.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`C`	Copy the selection (the chat’s, else the terminal’s).
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`V`	Paste into the terminal.

Shift+click a block’s number in the gutter to copy that block’s output.

A picked command block

After Ctrl+Shift+↑ or ↓:

Keys	What they do
`Space`	Pin the block for Claude.
`Y`	Copy its output.
`↑` `↓`	Move between blocks.
`Esc` or `Enter`	Leave block mode.

Any other key leaves block mode and goes to the shell.

Find bar

Keys	What they do
Typing	Jumps to the newest match.
`Enter`	The next older match, wrapping around.
`Esc`	Close.

Workspace palette

Keys	What they do
`↑` `↓`	Move.
`Tab` / `Shift`+`Tab`	Next / previous scope.
`Enter`	Run the item.
`Esc`	Close.

Approving a change

The infra Claude’s approval box takes the keyboard when it opens.

Keys	What they do
`Y` or `Enter`	Approve.
`A`	Always allow this in this organization (not for commands that use a secret).
`E`	Edit the command first (not for commands that use a secret).
`N` or `Esc`	Deny.
`Enter` (editing)	Approve the command as edited. `Shift`+`Enter` adds a line; `Esc` stops editing.

Claude’s message box and questions

Where	Keys	What they do
Message box	`Enter`	Ask the infra Claude (queued if it’s busy). `Shift`+`Enter` for a new line.
A question or passphrase	`Enter`	Answer.
A question or passphrase	`Esc`	Not now.
Group view	`Enter`	Ask every session in the group.
Group view	`Esc`	Leave the group view.

Connection box

The box over a pane that isn’t connected. While it’s up, the pane’s keys go to the box, not the shell. Its buttons show their keys:

Button	Key	When
Close pane	`C` or `Esc`	Always. `Ctrl`+`Shift`+`W` closes it too.
Keep waiting	`W` or `Enter`	The server isn’t answering yet.
Reconnect / Retry now	`R`	It failed, or is reconnecting.
Accept new key	`A`	The server’s host key changed. See Host keys.
Fix algorithms	`F`	The server offers only algorithms your ssh turned off.

Files split

A two-pane file manager (Ctrl+Shift+F).

Keys	What they do
`↑` `↓` `PgUp` `PgDn` `Home` `End`	Move. With `Shift`, also mark what you pass.
`Tab`	The other side.
`Space`	Mark or unmark, and move down.
`Ctrl`+`A`	Mark all, or unmark all.
`Ctrl`+`H` or `Ctrl`+`.`	Show or hide hidden files.
`Ctrl`+`R`	Reload.
`Enter` or `F3`	Open.
`Backspace`	Up a folder (or delete a typed letter while jumping).
`F4`	Edit.
`F5`	Copy to the other side.
`F6`	Move to the other side.
`F2` or `Shift`+`F6`	Rename.
`F7`	New folder.
`F8` or `Delete`	Delete what’s marked (it asks first).
`F9`	Change permissions.
Letters	Jump to the first name that starts so.
`Esc`	Clear the jump, else cancel a transfer, else close the split.

Ctrl+click marks a file, Shift+click a range. In its prompts: Y or Enter confirms a delete; O overwrites; S skips a conflict; N or Esc cancels. A name or permissions field takes Enter to apply and Esc to cancel.