Zed Editor Tips (Sublime Keys)

October 2026 · Missing Semester

Researched and drafted with AI assistance, then reviewed by me. ← Back to Knowledge Base

Zed is a fast, modern code editor. It opens instantly, has AI built in, and lets you keep your old habits: switch it to Sublime Text keys and most of your muscle memory still works. These are the shortcuts and habits that make the biggest difference. Keys are for macOS (on Windows/Linux, read cmd as ctrl).

First: turn on Sublime keys

Open the command palette with cmd-shift-p, type “toggle base keymap selector”, and pick Sublime Text. Or add this to your settings file (cmd-alt-,):

{
  "base_keymap": "SublimeText",
  "format_on_save": "on",
  "autosave": "on_focus_change",
  "soft_wrap": "editor_width"
}

Zed keeps its own defaults and lays Sublime’s keys on top, so you get both.

1. Find anything, fast

Keys	What it does
`cmd-shift-p`	Command palette: every action by name. If you remember one shortcut, make it this.
`cmd-p` or `cmd-t`	Go to a file by typing part of its name
`cmd-r`	Go to a function or heading in this file
`cmd-shift-r`	Go to a function or class anywhere in the project
`ctrl-g`	Go to line number
`alt-cmd-o`	Open a recent project
`cmd-shift-t`	Reopen the tab you just closed

2. Multiple cursors (the Sublime superpower)

Keys	What it does
`cmd-d`	Select the word, press again to add the next match
`cmd-k cmd-d`	Skip this match, go to the next one
`cmd-u`	Undo the last cursor you added
`ctrl-cmd-g` or `cmd-shift-l` with a word selected	Select every match at once
`cmd-shift-l` with lines selected	Put one cursor at the end of each line
`ctrl-shift-up` / `ctrl-shift-down`	Add a cursor on the line above or below
`alt-click`	Add a cursor where you click
`escape`	Back to one cursor

Example: rename price in five places. Put the cursor on it, press cmd-d five times, type the new name.

3. Edit lines without the mouse

Keys	What it does
`cmd-l`	Select the whole line (press again to grow)
`cmd-shift-k`	Delete the line
`cmd-shift-d`	Duplicate the line or selection
`ctrl-cmd-up` / `ctrl-cmd-down`	Move the line up or down
`cmd-enter` / `cmd-shift-enter`	New line below / above, from anywhere in the line
`cmd-shift-j`	Join the next line onto this one
`cmd-/`	Comment or uncomment
`cmd-]` / `cmd-[`	Indent / outdent
`cmd-shift-a` or `ctrl-shift-m`	Grow the selection to the surrounding block (press again to keep growing)
`cmd-k cmd-u` / `cmd-k cmd-l`	UPPER / lower case
`f5`	Sort the selected lines

4. Search and replace

Keys	What it does
`cmd-f`	Find in this file (`cmd-g` / `cmd-shift-g` for next / previous)
`cmd-e`	Use the selection as the search text
`cmd-shift-f`	Find in the whole project
`cmd-shift-h`	Show replace in project search
`alt-cmd-x` / `alt-cmd-c` / `alt-cmd-w`	Toggle regex / match case / whole word

Zed’s project search shows results as one editable page (a multibuffer): fix every match right there and save once. Press alt-enter on any selection to open those spots as a multibuffer too.

5. Understand code

Keys	What it does
`f12` or `alt-cmd-down`	Go to definition
`shift-f12`	Find all references
`ctrl--` / `ctrl-_`	Go back / forward (after jumping around)
`f2`	Rename a symbol everywhere, safely
`cmd-.`	Quick fixes and code actions
`cmd-k cmd-i`	Show the type or docs under the cursor
`cmd-shift-m`	All errors and warnings in the project
`cmd-shift-i`	Format the file
`alt-cmd-[` / `alt-cmd-]`	Fold / unfold a block

6. Panels, panes and terminal

Keys	What it does
`cmd-k cmd-b` or `cmd-b`	Show or hide the file sidebar
ctrl-`	Show or hide the terminal
`cmd-j`	Show or hide the bottom panel
`cmd-\`	Split the editor to the right
`cmd-1` … `cmd-9`	Jump to tab 1 … 9 (`cmd-9` = last tab)
`cmd-{` / `cmd-}`	Previous / next tab
`shift-escape`	Zoom the current pane to full size, and back

7. Git, AI and Markdown

Keys	What it does
`ctrl-shift-g`	Git panel: stage, commit, push (see my Git post)
`cmd-alt-g b`	Git blame: who changed each line
`ctrl-.` / `ctrl-,`	Jump to next / previous changed block
`cmd-k cmd-z`	Undo your changes to this block (restore from Git)
`cmd-?`	Open the AI agent panel
`shift-alt-m`	Markdown preview beside the file

Habits that pay off

Use the palette, then learn the key. The palette shows each command’s shortcut next to its name. Use it twice and you will remember it.
Open projects from the terminal. Run “cli: install cli binary” from the palette once, then zed . opens the current folder (see my Terminal post).
Make your own keys. cmd-k cmd-s opens the keymap editor: search an action, click, press the keys you want.
Let the editor format and save. With format_on_save and autosave on, you stop thinking about either.
Check, don’t guess. Zed changes quickly. If a key does nothing, search for the action in cmd-k cmd-s to see its current binding.

Sources: Zed docs: Key bindings · Zed default macOS keymap · Zed Sublime Text keymap (macOS)