Keyboard Shortcuts Reference - AssisT Docs

Overview

AssisT registers 18 keyboard shortcuts that work on the pages you read, and 12 more inside the mind map editor. They can all be changed in the popup under Advanced options, Keyboard, which groups them under headings and warns you about a clash with Chrome or with another AssisT shortcut. A change takes effect straight away.

If you saved a custom shortcut set before version 1.0.0, it picks up new default keys rather than ignoring them, so the new keys are already there without you rebuilding the set. A shortcut you cleared stays off.

Modifier key required: Every shortcut needs at least one modifier (Ctrl, Alt, or Shift), except Escape and the function keys F1 to F12, which type no character and so work alone.

Every toggle and button in the AssisT popup shows a shortcut badge directly next to its label — so you can learn shortcuts without opening this page. Badges display the platform-correct modifier: Alt on Windows/Linux, ⌥ on Mac.

Text-to-Speech (TTS)

Shortcut	Action	Description
`Ctrl+Shift+Space`	Play/Pause	Pause or resume reading
`Ctrl+Shift+S`	Stop	Stop TTS completely

While Read Aloud is speaking, three more keys work on the page. They stand back when you are typing in a field, and Space stands back when a button or link has focus:

Key	Action
`Space`	Pause or resume
`Escape`	Stop reading
`+` / `-`	Read faster or slower

Reading & Accessibility

Shortcut	Action	Description
`Alt+O`	OCR Screenshot	Capture screen area to extract text
`Alt+R`	Reading Mode	Enter/exit distraction-free reading
`Escape`	Exit Reading Mode	Also closes modals and overlays
`Alt+Shift+D`	Dictionary Lookup	Get definition for selected text
`Ctrl+Shift+W`	Text Statistics	Open the detailed text statistics
`Ctrl+Shift+H`	Quick Actions Menu	Turn the Quick Actions Menu (the menu that appears when you select text) on or off

Writing Tools

Shortcut	Action	Description
`Alt+N`	New Sticky Note	Create note on current page
`Alt+T`	Translation	Translate selected text
`Alt+C`	Save Citation	Save the selected text as a citation
`Alt+Shift+U`	Saved Tray	Move focus to the save tray, with its Undo button, after you save something
`Alt+Shift+V`	Dictation	Start or stop dictation from anywhere on the page

Study Tools

Shortcut	Action	Description
`Alt+Shift+M`	Open Mind Maps	Open your mind map library in a new tab

The mind map editor has its own set of keys for building and moving around an outline. These twelve can be changed in Advanced options, Keyboard, like every other AssisT shortcut:

Shortcut	Action
`Ctrl+Z`	Undo the last change
`Ctrl+Y`	Redo
`Ctrl+S`	Save now
`Ctrl+Shift+S`	Save a copy under a new name
`Ctrl+O`	Open another map
`Ctrl+F`	Search this map
`Alt+Shift+F`	Show just the branch you are on
`Alt+M`	Move this node somewhere else
`Alt+R`	Read the map aloud
`Ctrl+/`	Open the keyboard shortcuts list
`Ctrl+A`	Select this node and its siblings
`F2`	Edit the node text

The rest of the editor’s keys, such as the arrow keys, Enter and Tab in the outline, are listed in the Mind Map guide and in the editor’s own Keyboard shortcuts list.

Display Modes

Shortcut	Action	Description
`Alt+F`	Focus Mode	Dim surroundings, highlight focus
`Alt+G`	Reading Guide	Show/hide horizontal ruler
`Alt+Shift+O`	Screen Overlay	Toggle colour overlay
`Alt+Y`	Dyslexia Mode	Toggle dyslexia-friendly styling

Reading Mode Shortcuts

When Reading Mode is active:

Shortcut	Action
`Escape`	Exit Reading Mode

Space and the arrow keys scroll as on any page.

When viewing extracted text:

Shortcut	Action
`Escape`	Close modal
`Tab`	Move between the buttons, such as Copy and Read

When viewing definitions:

Shortcut	Action
`Escape`	Close popup
`Tab`	Navigate elements
`Enter`	Activate focused item

When viewing translations:

Shortcut	Action
`Escape`	Close modal
`Tab`	Move between the controls, such as Copy and Read

Customising Shortcuts

How to Change a Shortcut

Click the AssisT icon in Chrome toolbar
Click Advanced options (gear icon)
Go to the Keyboard tab
Click the pencil next to the shortcut
Press your desired key combination
Click Save (Clear starts the recording again, Cancel keeps the old shortcut)

Shortcut Requirements

Shortcuts must include at least one modifier key (Ctrl, Alt, or Shift)
Escape and the function keys F1 to F12 are the exceptions and work alone, because they type no character. The mind map editor’s F2 is one of them
System validates for conflicts automatically
Cannot override Chrome’s reserved shortcuts

Reset to Defaults

To change a shortcut back, set it to its default key, listed on this page. The ✕ next to a shortcut clears just that one, and Clear All clears every shortcut. Reset all settings, in the More options menu in the popup header, restores every original shortcut along with the rest of your settings.

Reserved Chrome Shortcuts

These cannot be used by AssisT. (The mind map editor, a page of its own inside the extension, uses some of these keys itself, as listed above.)

Tab Management

Ctrl+T — New tab
Ctrl+W — Close tab
Ctrl+Tab — Next tab
Ctrl+Shift+T — Reopen closed tab

Navigation

Ctrl+L / Alt+D — Focus address bar
Alt+Left/Right — Back/Forward

Page Actions

Ctrl+R / F5 — Refresh
Ctrl+P — Print
Ctrl+S — Save page
Ctrl+F — Find

Text Editing

Ctrl+A/C/V/X/Z/Y — Select/Copy/Paste/Cut/Undo/Redo

Developer

F12 — DevTools
Ctrl+Shift+I — Open DevTools

Voice Commands Alternative

For hands-free control, AssisT recognises 80 spoken command forms through Speech-to-Text:

Common voice commands:

“delete last word”
“new paragraph”
“bold that”
“undo”

See Writing Help for the full voice command reference.

Troubleshooting

Shortcut Not Working?

Check feature is enabled — Shortcuts only work when the feature is on
Check for conflicts — Another extension may use the same shortcut
Refresh the page — Shortcuts register when page loads
Check modal state — Some shortcuts only work when modals are open

Shortcut Seems Unresponsive?

Make sure the browser window is focused (click inside the page)
Check if a text input field is selected (some shortcuts don’t work in forms)
Try pressing the keys more deliberately (modifier first, then letter)

For Educators & Parents

Teaching shortcuts to students:

Start with 3-4 most useful shortcuts based on their needs
Print this reference or bookmark for easy access
Practice together — have students use shortcuts while you observe
Consider voice commands for students who find keyboard shortcuts difficult

Recommended first shortcuts:

Need	Start With
Reading support	`Ctrl+Shift+Space` (pause or resume reading), `Alt+R` (Reading Mode)
Visual comfort	`Alt+F` (Focus Mode), `Alt+G` (Reading Guide)
Writing support	`Alt+N` (Notes), `Alt+T` (Translation)