Sketch Keyboard Shortcuts

Mac The full Sketch design environment — the only place where creating and editing designs is possible. Command (⌘) as the modifier. Single-key tool shortcuts for all design tools.

Web on Mac The Sketch web viewer in a Mac browser. Command as the modifier. Covers navigation, inspection, and commenting — not design editing.

Web on Windows The Sketch web viewer in a Windows browser. Ctrl as the modifier. Same view-only functionality as the Mac browser.

Web on Linux The Sketch web viewer in a Linux browser. Ctrl as the modifier. Same view-only functionality.

The native Mac app and the web viewer are fundamentally different experiences:

Native Mac app — Full design creation and editing. All Sketch tools (selection, pen, shapes, text, prototyping), layer management, symbol editing, and artboard navigation. This is where designers work.

Web viewer — View-only access to Sketch files shared via Sketch Cloud. Developers and stakeholders can navigate between screens, inspect layer properties (dimensions, colors, fonts, CSS values), leave comments, and export assets. They cannot create or edit design content.

The shortcut sets for the two contexts are completely different — the Mac app has dozens of design shortcuts; the web viewer has a smaller set focused on navigation and inspection.

Printable PDFs of Sketch shortcuts are available for each platform. The Mac platform page is the primary reference for designers; the web viewer pages are useful for developers and reviewers learning the inspection shortcuts.

Zeplin, Overflow, Principle, and Proto.io sit near Sketch because product design work often connects UI design, handoff, user flow diagrams, motion prototypes, and interactive prototypes. Zeplin supports inspection and developer handoff, Overflow documents user journeys, Principle focuses on motion, and Proto.io supports interactive prototype flows. These apps are related by workflow and audience, not because every Sketch project uses all of them.

Is Sketch available on Windows?

No. The native Sketch application is macOS-only. Windows users can view Sketch files through the Sketch web viewer at sketch.cloud in a browser, but they cannot create or edit designs in Sketch on Windows.

What is the Sketch web viewer?

The Sketch web viewer is Sketch Cloud's browser-based interface for viewing and inspecting Sketch design files. It's used by developers, project managers, and stakeholders to review designs, inspect layer properties (sizes, colors, spacing, CSS values), and leave comments — without installing Sketch. The web viewer is not a design editor.

Are Sketch shortcuts similar to Figma's?

The native Mac app shortcuts are similar. Both use single-key tool shortcuts (V for select, R for rectangle, T for text, P for pen), and both use Command for object management operations. The similarities reflect Figma's early design taking inspiration from Sketch's conventions.

This section lists official sources and documentation for Sketch. Use these references to verify shortcut behavior instead of relying on old notes, screenshots, or someone else’s keyboard. They are especially helpful when comparing the macOS app with web use, where platform differences and browser behavior can change what actually works.

Official references are useful for checking platform differences, keyboard layout issues, browser conflicts, operating system shortcut conflicts, and app-version differences. A shortcut can be correct in one context and still feel broken in another because the browser or OS gets there first. When you update your own notes, a team cheat sheet, or a training guide, verify the behavior against the official source before treating it as a stable habit.