---
title: What keyboard shortcuts does PhotoStructure have?
url: https://photostructure.com/getting-started/keyboard-shortcuts/
description: Navigate like a pro around PhotoStructure
date: 2020-05-03
---


If you're on a desktop or laptop, knowing a few keyboard shortcuts will help you navigate your library faster.

Hover over any button to see a description, and if there is a keyboard shortcut,
it will be in the tooltip as well.

## In all windows

- <key>esc</key> will dismiss any open dropdown, close the navigation menu, if
  open, then close any open info panel, then navigate to a "parent" tag, in
  succession, until you've navigated to the home page. While on the home page,
  tapping <key>esc</key> picks a new random seed to show a new set of asset
  samples.

- <key>h</key> is equivalent to clicking the PhotoStructure icon in the middle of
  the top of the page, which goes to the **h**ome page, with a new random
  sample of thumbnails. While on the home page, tapping <key>h</key> picks a new
  random seed to show a new set of asset samples, just like tapping
  <key>esc</key>.

- <key>m</key> toggles the navigation **m**enu open and closed.

## When viewing a photo or video

- <key>left</key> and <key>right</key> cursor keys will take you to the previous
  or next photo, ordered by time.

- <key>s</key> scrolls into view the "**s**treams" panel, which shows "nearby"
  photos and videos for all tags associated to the current photo or video.

- <key>i</key> toggles the **i**nformation panel for the current photo or video,
  which includes download links for the current photo or video.

- <key>w</key> navigates to the **w**hen tag for the current photo and video.

- <key>z</key> toggles **z**oom. <key>-</key> zooms out, and <key>+</key> zooms
  in. If you have a mousewheel, hold down <key>shift</key> while rolling up and
  down to fine-adjust the current zoom level.

- <key>p</key> or <key>pause</key> toggles "paused panning" mode while zoomed into an image.

  Once paused, you can navigate to different images but remain zoomed into the
  same relative location. Tap the left or right cursor key to compare next and
  previous assets, or open the asset info panel, and compare image variants of
  the same image to compare duplicates.

  Use this mode to compare a set of similar images (and, as an example, find the
  best smile, or best focus).

- <key>r</key> **r**otates the current photo or video counter-clockwise 90
  degrees. You can hit it several times in a row to rotate to a different
  orientation. The final rotation will be saved non-destructively (as sidecar
  metadata) for your photo or video after you pause for a moment or navigate to
  a different photo or video.

## See also

Check out our [#protips for new PhotoStructure
users](/getting-started/post-install-protips/).

