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Focus Mode Keyboard Shortcuts
How to complete tasks, manage subtasks, extend sessions and move through your entire focus session without touching the mouse.
Written By: Niall Jawad
2 min read
What We'll Cover
The five shortcuts that cover 90 percent of Focus Mode
How to manage time, subtasks, and edits without the mouse
How to use Auto-Extend and Command A for the actions menu
Focus Mode is built to be used without a mouse. Every action you need during a work session has a keyboard shortcut. Once you know them, you can move through an entire day of focused work without your hands leaving the keyboard.
The core loop
The actions you will repeat most often are: switch to Focus Mode with Tab, complete a task with Enter, add a subtask with S, extend the session with +, and take a break with B. These five shortcuts cover about 90 percent of what you do in Focus Mode. Learn them first.
Working through subtasks
When a task has subtasks, use the arrow keys to move between them and Space to tick the current one as complete. Press S to open the input and add a new subtask. Press Escape to close the input and return to the task.
Managing time without breaking focus
Press + to add time, - to shorten, Enter to complete early. Aftertone closes the block at the actual finish time — no need to adjust the calendar manually.
Completing with precision
Command Enter completes the task and trims the time block to the exact moment you finished — useful when you finish well ahead of schedule.
Editing and actions
Press E to edit the current task without leaving Focus Mode. Press A to open the actions menu, which gives you a quick view of all available shortcuts in context. Press Backspace to delete the task if you no longer need it.
Auto-Extend and breaks
Press Command A to toggle Auto-Extend on or off. When on, Aftertone extends your session automatically rather than stopping when the block ends. Press B at any point to add a break. The break appears on your calendar and Focus Mode resumes when it ends.
Getting back after an interruption
If you leave Focus Mode to deal with something, press Tab from the calendar view to go back in. Aftertone will return you to the task you were on, or the next scheduled task if the previous block has passed.
👉 Try it now — Start a Focus Mode session right now and complete it entirely without touching your mouse. Use Tab, Enter, S, + and -. One full session keyboard-only and the habits start forming.
Focus Mode is built to be used without a mouse. Every action you need during a work session has a keyboard shortcut. Once you know them, you can move through an entire day of focused work without your hands leaving the keyboard.
The core loop
The actions you will repeat most often are: switch to Focus Mode with Tab, complete a task with Enter, add a subtask with S, extend the session with +, and take a break with B. These five shortcuts cover about 90 percent of what you do in Focus Mode. Learn them first.
Working through subtasks
When a task has subtasks, use the arrow keys to move between them and Space to tick the current one as complete. Press S to open the input and add a new subtask. Press Escape to close the input and return to the task.
Managing time without breaking focus
Press + to add time, - to shorten, Enter to complete early. Aftertone closes the block at the actual finish time — no need to adjust the calendar manually.
Completing with precision
Command Enter completes the task and trims the time block to the exact moment you finished — useful when you finish well ahead of schedule.
Editing and actions
Press E to edit the current task without leaving Focus Mode. Press A to open the actions menu, which gives you a quick view of all available shortcuts in context. Press Backspace to delete the task if you no longer need it.
Auto-Extend and breaks
Press Command A to toggle Auto-Extend on or off. When on, Aftertone extends your session automatically rather than stopping when the block ends. Press B at any point to add a break. The break appears on your calendar and Focus Mode resumes when it ends.
Getting back after an interruption
If you leave Focus Mode to deal with something, press Tab from the calendar view to go back in. Aftertone will return you to the task you were on, or the next scheduled task if the previous block has passed.
👉 Try it now — Start a Focus Mode session right now and complete it entirely without touching your mouse. Use Tab, Enter, S, + and -. One full session keyboard-only and the habits start forming.
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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.