Advanced keyboard shortcuts
2026-03-17 · 3 min
Supported combos
VoxWave supports a wide variety of keyboard shortcuts, from simple keys to complex combinations:
- Function keys: F1 to F12 (F8 by default)
- Single letters: a-z (watch out for conflicts with typing)
- Modifiers: Ctrl, Shift, Alt (can be combined)
- Combos: Ctrl+Shift+V, Alt+R, Ctrl+Alt+D, etc.
Function keys (F5-F12) are the best choices: they rarely conflict with anything and are easy to reach.
Configure the shortcut
The shortcut is configured in settings with a live capture system:
- 1Open settings (tray click or hover widget > gear icon)
- 2Go to the General tab
- 3Click the 'Keyboard shortcut' field
- 4Press the desired combination (it appears in real time)
- 5The new shortcut takes effect immediately (hot-reload)
No need to restart VoxWave. Hot-reload applies the new shortcut instantly.
Avoiding conflicts
Some shortcuts are already used by the system or common applications. Avoid these:
- Ctrl+C / Ctrl+V / Ctrl+X: copy/paste/cut (essential)
- Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+Y: undo/redo
- Alt+F4: close the active application
- Alt+Tab: switch windows
- F1: help in most applications
- F5: refresh in browsers
If your VoxWave shortcut conflicts with an application, the application may not receive the shortcut. Change it in settings.
Shortcut during dictation
If you press the shortcut while a dictation is already being processed, VoxWave does not start a second one. Instead, a notification appears in the tray to let you know processing is in progress.
This behavior prevents accidental duplicates. Wait for the text to be injected before starting a new dictation.