# Settings: Hotkeys

> Scalpel's Hotkeys tab: every trading action and its default key, how to rebind one by pressing a new chord, and the fixed keys such as Esc and Enter.

Source: https://scalpeltrade.com/guides/settings-hotkeys
Guide 11.8, Settings reference. Intermediate, 4 min read.
Checked with Scalpel 1.12.8 on 2026-10-15. By Scalpel Team.

**In short:**

The Hotkeys tab lists Scalpel's 13 rebindable trading actions with their keys: `Shift`+`1` to `4` buy, `Ctrl`+`Z` sells the whole position at the bid, `B` moves the stop to breakeven, and so on. To rebind one, click its key, press the new combination and click **Apply**. `Esc` (flatten everything) and `Enter` are fixed and cannot be rebound.

Trading keys only fire when no text field has focus, so typing a symbol never places an order. Open **Settings** (`Ctrl`+`,`) and pick **Hotkeys**.

*Screenshot: The Hotkeys tab at its defaults: every rebindable action in two columns, its key on the right.*

## Every action and its default key

| Action | Default key | What it does for your trading |
|---|---|---|
| **Buy preset 1** | `Shift`+`1` | Buys with preset 1 from the [Sizing tab](https://scalpeltrade.com/guides/settings-sizing), as a marketable limit. |
| **Buy preset 2** | `Shift`+`2` | Buys with preset 2. |
| **Buy preset 3** | `Shift`+`3` | Buys with preset 3. |
| **Buy preset 4** | `Shift`+`4` | Buys with preset 4. |
| **Sell full (bid)** | `Ctrl`+`Z` | Sells the whole position at the bid, less your sell offset. |
| **Sell half (bid)** | `Ctrl`+`X` | Sells half at the bid. |
| **Sell quarter (bid)** | `Ctrl`+`C` | Sells a quarter at the bid. |
| **Sell half (ask)** | `Ctrl`+`A` | Offers half at the ask and waits for a buyer. |
| **Sell half (mid)** | `Ctrl`+`S` | Offers half at the mid. |
| **Stop to breakeven** | `B` | Moves the working stop to your entry. |
| **Toggle trailing stop** | `Shift`+`T` | Turns trailing on or off for the position ([Stops tab](https://scalpeltrade.com/guides/settings-stops) sets how it trails). |
| **Cancel all orders** | `Ctrl`+`Q` (`Shift`+`Q` on a Mac) | Cancels working orders on the focused desk. |
| **Toggle cheatsheet** | `?` (`Shift`+`/`) | Shows every key on screen. |

Every trading key acts on the focused desk. On a Mac, Ctrl is Cmd throughout, except **Cancel all orders**, which is `Shift`+`Q` because `Cmd`+`Q` quits a Mac app; a Cmd+Q binding from an older version moves to Shift+Q by itself. Entries and exits are blocked while the market is closed (overnight, weekends and holidays); breakeven, trailing, cancel and **Flatten All** (`Esc`) still work. Buys are also blocked while the stock is halted. Working through a whole trade from the keyboard is in [guide 14: trade without touching the mouse](https://scalpeltrade.com/guides/keyboard-only-workflow).

## Rebind a key

### 1. Click the key you want to change

Its button lights up and reads **Press a key**. Click it again to back out.

*Screenshot: Buy preset 2 waiting for its new key.*

### 2. Press the new combination

A letter, digit or punctuation key, on its own or with `Ctrl` (`Cmd` on a Mac), `Shift` or both. The button shows it, for example **Ctrl+Shift+B**. If another action had that combination, it loses it and shows **Unbound**: give it a new key too.

### 3. Click Apply

Or press `Enter`. The new keys work at once and are saved. **Cancel** or `Esc` throws the changes away.

## Keys you cannot rebind

| Key | What it does |
|---|---|
| `Esc` | Closes whatever is open first: the cheatsheet, Settings, a panel's settings, or the symbol suggestion list. With nothing open, it **flattens every position on every desk**, like the header's Flatten All. |
| `Enter` | Applies Settings when it is open, exactly like **Apply**; otherwise loads the highlighted symbol. |
| `Ctrl`+`,` | Opens and closes Settings. |
| `Ctrl`+`-`, `Ctrl`+`=`, `Ctrl`+`0` | Zoom out, zoom in, back to 100%. |
| `Left`, `Right`, `Tab` | Move the focus between desks. |
| `Up`, `Down` | Move through the symbol suggestions. |

Arrow keys, function keys, Space and Alt combinations cannot be bound: a hotkey is always a character key, with Ctrl and Shift as the only modifiers.

**This can cost you money.**

`Esc` flattens every position on every desk when nothing is open. Do not bind a trading action to a key you might reach for when you mean to close a menu, and know that a second `Esc` after closing a window is a flatten.

## What can go wrong

- **A key does nothing.** A text field has focus (click a chart or press `Tab`; after you pick a symbol the cursor leaves the box by itself), the market is closed, the stock is halted (buys only), or the action shows **Unbound** here.
- **A key does the wrong thing.** Another action took it when you rebound. Check this tab for **Unbound** rows.
- **Ctrl+C sells instead of copying.** It is the default for Sell quarter. Rebind it if you copy and paste a lot while trading.

## Questions

**How do I change a hotkey in Scalpel?**

Open Settings > Hotkeys, click the key next to the action, press the new combination, and click Apply.

**Can I use a single letter as a hotkey?**

Yes. Stop to breakeven is B by default. Trading keys never fire while a text field has focus, so typing a symbol is safe.

**What does Esc do in Scalpel?**

It closes whatever is open first. With nothing open, it flattens every position on every desk. It cannot be rebound.

**Can I bind the same key to two actions?**

No. Binding a key takes it away from the action that had it, which then shows Unbound.

**Do Mac hotkeys use Ctrl or Cmd?**

Cmd. Every Ctrl shortcut in Scalpel is Cmd on a Mac, except Cancel all orders, which is Shift+Q because Cmd+Q quits the app.