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10 Shortcuts to Start With
If you learn nothing else from the shortcut reference, learn these 10. They cover the actions you will do dozens of times a day.
Written By: Niall Jawad
2 min read
What We'll Cover
The 10 shortcuts that cover most of what you do in Aftertone
Ordered from most to least impactful
Each one explained with exactly when to use it
The full shortcut list has everything. This page has the 10 that will make the biggest difference to how fast you move through Aftertone each day. Learn these first and the rest can come later.
1. Option Space: Quick Capture
Works from anywhere on your Mac without Aftertone open. Opens in under a second, captures the task, and gets you back to what you were doing.
2. Tab: Switch to Focus Mode
From the Calendar view, press Tab to switch to Focus Mode. Press Tab again to return. You go straight to the task scheduled for right now.
💡 Tip — Press P on any task to open a planning menu (today, tomorrow, in 2 days, or custom date). Press Shift P to open the full Planning view.
3. Enter: Complete task
In Focus Mode, press Enter when you finish a task. Aftertone marks it done and surfaces the next one immediately.
4. N: New task
On the calendar or inbox, press N to create a new task. Faster than finding the button, especially when you have something to capture quickly while in the middle of planning.
5. +: Extend session
In Focus Mode, press + to add time to your current session. Press it again for more. Your calendar updates automatically.
6. S: Add subtask
In Focus Mode, press S to add a subtask to the current task without leaving the screen. Type the subtask title and press Enter. Press Escape when you are done adding.
7. B: Take a break
In Focus Mode, press B to start a break. Set the duration and Aftertone adds a break block to your calendar. When it ends, Focus Mode opens again automatically.
8. T: Jump to today
On the calendar or inbox, press T to snap the view back to today. Useful when you have been scrolling forward to plan future days and need to get back to now quickly.
9. A: Actions menu
In Focus Mode, press A to open the actions menu — a quick reference for all available shortcuts without leaving the screen.
10. Command Enter: Complete and cut to current time
In Focus Mode, press Command Enter to complete the task and trim the time block to the exact moment you finished. Keeps your calendar accurate without any manual adjustment.
👉 Try it now — Press Tab to enter Focus Mode, complete a task with Enter, and extend the session with +. Those three shortcuts cover most of what you do in a working day.
The full shortcut list has everything. This page has the 10 that will make the biggest difference to how fast you move through Aftertone each day. Learn these first and the rest can come later.
1. Option Space: Quick Capture
Works from anywhere on your Mac without Aftertone open. Opens in under a second, captures the task, and gets you back to what you were doing.
2. Tab: Switch to Focus Mode
From the Calendar view, press Tab to switch to Focus Mode. Press Tab again to return. You go straight to the task scheduled for right now.
💡 Tip — Press P on any task to open a planning menu (today, tomorrow, in 2 days, or custom date). Press Shift P to open the full Planning view.
3. Enter: Complete task
In Focus Mode, press Enter when you finish a task. Aftertone marks it done and surfaces the next one immediately.
4. N: New task
On the calendar or inbox, press N to create a new task. Faster than finding the button, especially when you have something to capture quickly while in the middle of planning.
5. +: Extend session
In Focus Mode, press + to add time to your current session. Press it again for more. Your calendar updates automatically.
6. S: Add subtask
In Focus Mode, press S to add a subtask to the current task without leaving the screen. Type the subtask title and press Enter. Press Escape when you are done adding.
7. B: Take a break
In Focus Mode, press B to start a break. Set the duration and Aftertone adds a break block to your calendar. When it ends, Focus Mode opens again automatically.
8. T: Jump to today
On the calendar or inbox, press T to snap the view back to today. Useful when you have been scrolling forward to plan future days and need to get back to now quickly.
9. A: Actions menu
In Focus Mode, press A to open the actions menu — a quick reference for all available shortcuts without leaving the screen.
10. Command Enter: Complete and cut to current time
In Focus Mode, press Command Enter to complete the task and trim the time block to the exact moment you finished. Keeps your calendar accurate without any manual adjustment.
👉 Try it now — Press Tab to enter Focus Mode, complete a task with Enter, and extend the session with +. Those three shortcuts cover most of what you do in a working day.
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Trusted by founders, developers, and independent operators
Your best work is waiting.
Try Aftertone free. See what you're capable of when nothing gets in your way.
Trusted by founders, developers, and independent operators
Your best work is waiting.
Try Aftertone free. See what you're capable of when nothing gets in your way.