Shortcuts and settings
Every keyboard shortcut on Mac, Windows and Linux, Simple view, text size, every Settings tab, notifications and sound, starting at login, and the sidebar.
Keyboard shortcuts
The keys are the same in the main window and in quick ask. On Windows and Linux, read ⌘ as Ctrl. The menu bar lists them too.
Chats
| Does | Mac | Windows and Linux |
|---|---|---|
| Quick ask, from any app | ⌃⇧Space | Ctrl+Shift+Space |
| New chat | ⌘N | Ctrl+N |
| New off-the-record chat | ⇧⌘N | Ctrl+Shift+N |
| Send | ↵ | Enter |
| New line in the message box | ⇧↵ | Shift+Enter |
| Stop answering | ⌘. | Ctrl+. |
| Copy the newest answer | ⇧⌘C | Ctrl+Shift+C |
| Copy the chat as Markdown | ⇧⌘E | Ctrl+Shift+E |
| Choose the model | ⌘/ | Ctrl+/ |
| Pin or unpin the chat | ⌘P | Ctrl+P |
| Go to the top or bottom of a chat | ⌘↑ / ⌘↓ | Ctrl+↑ / Ctrl+↓ |
| Continue a quick ask in the window | ⌘↵ | Ctrl+Enter |
Finding things
| Does | Mac | Windows and Linux |
|---|---|---|
| Action panel | ⌘K | Ctrl+K |
| Search your chats | ⌘L | Ctrl+L |
| Open one of the first nine chats | ⌘1 to ⌘9 | Ctrl+1 to Ctrl+9 |
| Delete the chosen chat in the list | ⌘⌫ | Ctrl+Backspace |
| Memory | ⇧⌘M | Ctrl+Shift+M |
| Memory in this chat | ⌥⌘M | Ctrl+Alt+M |
| Routines | ⇧⌘R | Ctrl+Shift+R |
| Needs you | ⌘J | Ctrl+J |
| Activity | ⇧⌘Y | Ctrl+Shift+Y |
| Playbooks | ⇧⌘P | Ctrl+Shift+P |
| Switch account or memory | ⇧⌘A | Ctrl+Shift+A |
| Hide or show the sidebar | ⌘B | Ctrl+B |
| Settings | ⌘, | Ctrl+, |
| Reload the window | ⌘R | Ctrl+R |
Text size
| Does | Mac | Windows and Linux |
|---|---|---|
| Bigger text | ⌘+ | Ctrl and + |
| Smaller text | ⌘− | Ctrl and − |
| Default text size | ⌘0 | Ctrl+0 |
Approvals
These work only while the message box is empty, so a key meant for what you're typing never decides.
| Does | Mac | Windows and Linux |
|---|---|---|
| Do it (the card's main button) | ↵ | Enter |
| Always allow, where it's offered | ⌘↵ | Ctrl+Enter |
| Don't allow | Esc | Esc |
An action that can't be undone takes no key to allow it: choose its button yourself. In quick ask, such an action offers Review in window (⌘↵) or Don't allow (Esc).
Good to know:
- Esc goes back one step at a time: it clears what you typed, closes a menu, or closes quick ask.
- Hold ⌘ (Ctrl) to see which chat each of ⌘1 to ⌘9 opens.
- ↑ in an empty box, in quick ask, brings back your last question.
- Change the quick ask shortcut under Settings › Quick ask: click the shortcut, then press the keys you want, with Ctrl, Alt or ⌘. Alexein tells you if another app already uses them.
Simple view
Alexein starts in Simple view. It shows just chat, memory and your day:
- Model names and prices are hidden: no cost under answers or on a chat.
- No model switches: no model chip, and ⌘/ does nothing. Each chat keeps its model: Auto on a new install.
- Settings are plainer. The Models tab is hidden, and your key, other accounts and account details are put away under Settings › Account › Details.
Turn it off any time under Settings › General › Simple view, and turn it on again there.
Text size
Settings › General › Text size makes everything bigger or smaller, in every window: Small, Default, Large or Larger. ⌘+ and ⌘− (Ctrl and + or −) change it from anywhere, and ⌘0 (Ctrl+0) goes back. The View menu has them too.
Notifications and sound
- Answers. Settings › General › Notify me when an answer is ready while Alexein is in the background tells you when a long answer finishes while you're in another app. Never for off-the-record chats.
- Routines. A reminder, a brief or an alert comes as a notification when Alexein isn't in front. When it is, it shows as a banner in the window instead.
- Sound. Settings › Routines › Play a sound with routine notifications plays a soft chime for reminders, alerts and your brief. Never in quiet hours.
Your computer's own settings decide whether Alexein may show notifications. On a Mac, open System Settings › Notifications › Alexein; on Windows, Settings › System › Notifications.
Start at login
Settings › General › Start when you turn on your computer opens Alexein when you turn on your computer, so nothing waits for you to open it. On a Mac, macOS shows a note about this the first time.
If it's off, nothing breaks: your routines still run on Alexein's servers, and still come by email if you turned email on.
Keep running when the window is closed, also under General, keeps Alexein in the menu bar and Dock on a Mac, or in the system tray on Windows and Linux, so quick ask and notifications keep working.
The sidebar
The sidebar holds Needs you, your projects and chats, today's row from your routines, Memory, Routines, Activity, Playbooks and your account. ⌘B (Ctrl+B) hides it and shows it again; so does the button at the top left. On a narrow window it starts hidden and opens over the chat.
The menu bar or tray icon
Its menu has Quick Ask, New Chat, Needs You (with a count), Routines, Open Alexein and Quit Alexein.
Settings
Settings (⌘, or Ctrl+,) has these tabs. Done or Esc closes it.
| Tab | What's in it |
|---|---|
| General | Appearance (System, Light or Dark), Text size, Simple view, Keep running when the window is closed, answer notifications, Show the bird, how long quick ask keeps its chat, and Start when you turn on your computer. |
| Account | Your name, your memory, your credits or limit, other accounts on this computer, Add an account, links to My memory, and Sign out of this account. Details holds your key and the API address, and in Simple view your other accounts too. |
| Apps | Your connected apps. For each: Ask before changes, and what you Always allowed, with Revoke. What your organisation sets is shown at the top. Advanced adds other MCP servers. |
| Files | The folders Alexein can read, each with Can edit, Ask me before reading files here and Never save from here to memory. See Web and files. |
| Routines | Pause all, quiet hours, email, sound, suggestions and your time zone. See Routine settings. Shown with your personal memory. |
| Models | The model quick ask uses, more models to list, and your credits: your seat's this month, your organisation's, and when your seat's start again. Hidden in Simple view. |
| Quick ask | The shortcut that opens quick ask, and the key that continues a quick ask in the main window. |
| Who can see | The apps and keys that can read your memory, each with Remove, and the apps this desktop uses for you. |
| Privacy | What is kept where, where the app connects to, and Delete all chats on this computer. Alexein sends no usage analytics. |
| About | The app's version, and a link to these docs. |
Related
- Chat and memory: quick ask and the action panel.
- Routines: quiet hours and where routines reach you.
- Troubleshooting: notifications that don't show.