Keyboard Shortcuts

Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.mcp-use.com/llms.txt

Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

The MCP Inspector includes comprehensive keyboard shortcuts for rapid navigation and efficient workflow. All shortcuts work when no input field is focused.

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Quick Reference

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Global Shortcuts

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Command Palette

Cmd/Ctrl + K Open the command palette for quick search and navigation. Available actions:

• Connect to new servers
• Search and execute tools
• Navigate to saved requests
• Switch between servers
• Access documentation links
• Jump to tabs

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New Chat

Cmd/Ctrl + O Start a new chat session in the Chat tab. Use cases:

• Quick chat initiation
• Reset conversation context
• Start fresh debugging session

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Close/Blur

Esc Close modals, overlays, and blur focused elements. Actions:

• Close command palette
• Close dialogs
• Blur search inputs
• Exit fullscreen widgets

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Tab Navigation

Navigate between inspector tabs without using the mouse:

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Tools Tab

t Switch to the Tools tab. When to use:

• Quick tool execution
• Testing tool functionality
• Viewing tool results

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Prompts Tab

p Switch to the Prompts tab. When to use:

• Testing prompts
• Viewing prompt templates
• Executing prompts with arguments

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Resources Tab

r Switch to the Resources tab. When to use:

• Browsing available resources
• Reading resource content
• Testing resource access

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Chat Tab

c Switch to the Chat tab. When to use:

• Starting conversations
• Testing conversational flows
• LLM integration testing

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Home/Dashboard

h Navigate back to the dashboard/home view. When to use:

• Return to connection management
• Add new servers
• View all connections

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Search Shortcuts

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Focus Search

f Focus the search bar in the current tab (Tools, Prompts, or Resources). Behavior:

• Tools tab: Focus tool search
• Prompts tab: Focus prompt search
• Resources tab: Focus resource search
• Other tabs: No effect

Use cases:

• Quick tool lookup
• Filtering long lists
• Finding specific items

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Shortcut Behavior

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Input Field Detection

Shortcuts are automatically disabled when you’re typing in:

• Text inputs
• Textareas
• Content-editable elements

Exception: Cmd/Ctrl + K always works, even in input fields.

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Modifier Keys

Most shortcuts don’t require modifier keys, but some do:

• Cmd/Ctrl + K: Requires modifier
• Cmd/Ctrl + O: Requires modifier
• Esc: No modifier needed
• Single letters (t, p, r, c, h, f): No modifier needed

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Browser Conflicts

Some shortcuts may conflict with browser defaults:

• Cmd/Ctrl + R: Browser refresh (not overridden)
• Cmd/Ctrl + W: Browser close tab (not overridden)
• Cmd/Ctrl + T: Browser new tab (not overridden)

The inspector only handles shortcuts when they don’t conflict with browser functionality.

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Usage Tips

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Efficient Workflow

1. Quick Navigation: Use t, p, r, c to jump between tabs
2. Search First: Press Cmd/Ctrl + K to search before navigating
3. Focus Search: Press f to quickly filter in current tab
4. Escape to Close: Use Esc to dismiss any overlay

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Command Palette Workflow

1. Press Cmd/Ctrl + K
2. Type to search:
   • Tool names
   • Server names
   • Saved request names
   • Commands
3. Use arrow keys to navigate
4. Press Enter to select
5. Press Esc to close

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Tab Switching Workflow

1. Use single-letter shortcuts (t, p, r, c) for quick tab access
2. Press h to return to dashboard
3. Use f to focus search in current tab
4. Combine with Cmd/Ctrl + K for advanced navigation

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Shortcut Reference Table

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Related Documentation

• Command Palette - Detailed command palette guide
• Overview - Features that use keyboard shortcuts