How do I change the keyboard shortcut?
The default global hotkey is `Ctrl+Space` on Windows. Don't like it? Change it in 30 seconds.
**The setting:**
1. Open VoicePad → Settings → **Hotkeys**
2. Find **Record**
3. Click **Capture**
4. Press any key combination you want
5. Confirm — the new hotkey is saved
**Good alternative hotkeys:**
| Hotkey | Pros | Cons |
|--------|------|------|
| `Alt+R` | Easy reach, rarely used elsewhere | None major |
| `F9` | Single key, fastest | Some apps use F-keys |
| `Ctrl+Shift+D` | Mnemonic ("D" for dictation) | 3 keys, slower |
| `Win+Shift+Space` | Out of the way | Long reach |
| `Pause/Break` | Almost never used otherwise | Some keyboards don't have it |
**AVOID these hotkeys:**
- `Ctrl+C` / `Ctrl+V` / `Ctrl+Z` — these are universal copy/paste/undo
- `Win+D` — Windows uses this to show desktop
- `Alt+F4` — close window
- `Ctrl+Alt+Del` — system reserved
- Any hotkey already used by your most-used apps (check your IDE, browser shortcuts)
**Hotkey conflicts — how to detect:**
If your new hotkey "does nothing" after setting it, another app probably claimed it. Try:
1. Close apps one at a time
2. Test the hotkey after each close
3. The one that "frees up" the hotkey was claiming it
**Other VoicePad hotkeys (always available):**
| Hotkey | Function |
|--------|----------|
| `Escape` | Cancel recording (no save) |
| `Ctrl+Shift+L` | Clean (remove fillers) |
| `Ctrl+Shift+I` | Improve (AI rewrite) |
| `Ctrl+Shift+U` | Summarize |
| `Ctrl+Shift+F` | AI Prompt |
| `Ctrl+Shift+S` | Toggle SubPad |
| `Ctrl+Shift+R` | SubPad start/stop |
| `F11` | Toggle fullscreen |
For the full keyboard shortcut reference, see [Help Center → Keyboard Shortcuts](https://voicepad.tech/help/#keyboard-shortcuts).