Use keyboard shortcuts

Use the keyboard to open Search, switch company, jump to a sidebar page, and save or send from forms. This page is for company users and MSP staff. A shortcut never grants access to a page or an action your role cannot perform.

Before you start

Two modifier keys are used throughout. App means Option on Mac and Ctrl on Windows and Linux. Mod means Command on Mac (Ctrl also works there) and Ctrl on Windows and Linux.
App shortcuts do nothing while your cursor is in a text field, so they never interfere with typing.
A shortcut only works where its button exists. If the button is disabled, the shortcut is too.

See the shortcuts on a screen

Hold Option or Alt

Hold Option (Mac) or Alt (Windows and Linux) for about a second.

Read the badges

Small key badges appear next to every control on the screen that has a shortcut, including the numbered sidebar pages.

Release the key

Release Option or Alt, or press Esc, to hide the badges.

Show the numbers

On desktop, hold Option (Mac) or Alt (Windows and Linux) until the sidebar shows a number beside each page.

Type the number

While you still hold the key, type the number of the page you want. Type both digits for numbers above 9.

Release the key

Release Option or Alt. The page opens.

Inside the Settings window, hold Shift as well, so the keys are Option+Shift+number on Mac and Alt+Shift+number on Windows and Linux. Number shortcuts are not available on phones.

Portal shortcuts

Action	Windows and Linux	Mac	Where it works
Open or close Search	Ctrl+K	Option+K	Signed-in pages that show the top bar
Open the company selector and start typing	Ctrl+J	Option+J	MSP staff, and company users on a parent company
Open the filter panel	Ctrl+Shift+F	Option+Shift+F	Pages with a filter bar
Clear all active filters	Esc	Esc	Pages with a filter bar that has active filters, when no dialog is open
Start or end a voice conversation	Ctrl+Shift+Space	Option+Shift+Space	Assistant screens that show a voice button
Open or close the phone navigation sheet	Ctrl+B	Option+B	Phone layout with a hardware keyboard
Move through Search results	Up and Down	Up and Down	While Search is open
Open the selected Search result	Enter	Enter	While a result is selected
Close Search	Esc	Esc	While Search is open

On desktop, the sidebar opens when you move the pointer into it or tab into it. Use Keep sidebar expanded beside the logo to dock it, and Collapse sidebar to return to the icon rail. See Customize the sidebar. The desktop sidebar does not use Ctrl+B or Option+B. For the full Search workflow, see Find pages and records with Search.

Save and send shortcuts

Where	Windows and Linux	Mac	What happens
Any dialog with a form	Ctrl+Enter	Command+Enter	Submits the dialog’s form when saving is available.
Ticket note composer	Ctrl+Enter	Command+Enter	Adds the note when it has content and the time entry is valid.
Budget header	Ctrl+S	Command+S	Runs the budget Save action when it is enabled.
Report builder	Ctrl+S	Command+S	Saves the report when Save is enabled.
Home assistant message box	Enter	Enter	Sends the message.
Home assistant message box	Shift+Enter	Shift+Enter	Adds a new line.
Monthly Breakdown amount	Enter or Tab	Enter or Tab	Leaves the field and saves a changed amount.
Monthly Breakdown amount	Esc	Esc	Cancels the edit in progress. It does not undo an earlier save.

Calendar and review shortcuts

Where	Keys	What happens
Calendar	Left and Right arrow	Moves to the previous or next day, week, or month.
Calendar	T	Jumps to today.
Compliance review list	Down arrow or J	Selects the next item while the review pane is open.
Compliance review list	Up arrow or K	Selects the previous item.
Compliance review list	Enter	Opens the full editor for the selected item.
Compliance review list	Esc	Closes the review pane.
Survey questions page	Ctrl+G (Option+G on Mac)	Creates goals from the selected questions or answers.

Calendar and review keys work only when you are not typing in a field and no dialog is open.

Rich text editors

In editors with a formatting toolbar, hover a toolbar button to see its shortcut. The common ones are Mod+B for bold, Mod+I for italic, Mod+U for underline, and Mod+K for a link.

Troubleshooting

Problem	What to do
A shortcut does nothing	Click outside any text field first. Then check that the button it belongs to exists and is enabled on this screen, and that no dialog is open.
The browser handles the key combination instead	Use the visible button. Browser, extension, and operating system shortcuts can take precedence.
Esc did not close or clear what I expected	Esc closes the current menu or dialog. On pages with a filter bar it also clears active filters. It does not undo a saved change.
Calendar arrows move the text cursor	Click outside the text field, then use the arrows.
I pressed a save shortcut and my changes are missing	Check the screen for a validation message, then reopen the record. Use the visible Save button to confirm.
Number badges are missing in the sidebar	Number shortcuts work on desktop only, and not while the Settings window or the account menu is open.

Frequently asked questions

Can I open Search without a keyboard?

Yes. Click the Search control in the top bar.

Why is Search Option+K on Mac and not Command+K?

MSPortal uses Option on Mac for app actions, so they never take over Command shortcuts that your browser and editors use.

Does Ctrl+Enter save every form?

No. It submits forms inside dialogs and sends ticket notes. A full-page form needs its own Save button or a screen-specific shortcut from the tables above.

Can I change the shortcuts?

No. The shortcuts are fixed.

How do I write a longer message to the Home assistant?

Press Shift+Enter for a new line. Enter sends the message.

Do the shortcuts work on public or embedded pages?

Only where the same top bar, sidebar, or editor appears.

Start here

Navigation and access

MSP Setup Playbook

Your account

AI and MCP

Notifications

Before you start

See the shortcuts on a screen

Jump to a sidebar page by number

Portal shortcuts

Save and send shortcuts

Calendar and review shortcuts

Rich text editors

Troubleshooting

Frequently asked questions

Before you start

See the shortcuts on a screen

Jump to a sidebar page by number

Portal shortcuts

Save and send shortcuts

Calendar and review shortcuts

Rich text editors

Troubleshooting

Frequently asked questions

Related guides