Keyboard shortcuts

Diffractor is built for speed, and the keyboard is the fastest way to drive it. Press Ctrl+F1 inside the app for the live, authoritative list — shortcuts can be customized, so the in‑app reference always reflects your current keymap.

Browsing the grid

`←` `→`	Previous / next item
`↑` `↓`	Move between rows, or pan a zoomed image
`Home` `End`	First / last item
`Page Up` `Page Down`	Previous / next group
`Enter`	Open the focused item
`Alt`+`↑`	Go to parent folder
`Alt`+`←` `Alt`+`→`	Back / forward through recent folders
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`O`	Open containing folder
`Ctrl`+mouse wheel	Change thumbnail size

Selection & comparison

`Ctrl`+`A`	Select all
`Ctrl`+`U`	Select nothing
`Ctrl`+click	Add / remove an item from the selection
`Shift`+click	Extend the selection
`Ctrl`+`←` `Ctrl`+`→`	Extend selection for side‑by‑side compare
`A`	Pin a selected item so it stays in the comparison while you browse

Viewing & playback

`Enter`	Open the focused item in Fullscreen
`F11`	Toggle Fullscreen
`Esc`	Return zoom to Fit, leave Fullscreen, or close a dialog
`Space`	Play / pause video and audio, and stop a running slideshow
`Shift`+`Space`	Start / stop a slideshow
`K`	Toggle the details pane
`Ctrl`+`Space`	Enter zoom mode at the last working scale or 100%
`+` `-`	Step through zoom scales (zoom mode)
`0`	Toggle Fit and the last zoom scale (zoom mode)
`Page Up` `Page Down`	Previous / next item in zoom mode
`Tab`	Switch comparison panes
`F7`	Mute / unmute
`Ctrl`+`F7`	Toggle autoplay
`Ctrl`+`L`	Cycle repeat mode (none / all / one)

Rating & labels

`1`–`5`	Set star rating
`0`	Clear rating
`M` / `Alt`+`Delete`	Reject
`6`–`9`	Apply labels (Select, Second, Approved, Review)
`P`	Apply the To Do label

Editing & metadata

`[` `]`	Rotate image
`L`	Add a location to the selected items
`T`	Add tags quickly
`E`	Edit the selected photo
`Ctrl`+`E`	Edit metadata for all selected items
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`D`	Adjust capture date
`F2`	Rename
`Delete`	Delete the selected items

Searching

`Ctrl`+`F` / `F3`	Focus the search box
`Ctrl`+`F3`	Focus the Items filter box
`R`	Search for related files

For the full search syntax see the search reference.

Importing & organizing

`F9`	Import files to a reviewed destination
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F9`	Synchronize to a NAS or network drive
`Ctrl`+`F6`	Collection options

Application & help

`F1`	Open help
`Ctrl`+`F1`	Keyboard shortcuts reference (always available)

New to Diffractor? Start with the how‑to guide or the documentation.