# Controls & shortcuts

BlinkWrite is designed to stay out of your way. Suggestions only ever appear in
a **floating popup** next to where you're writing. It's a preview, and your text
never changes until you accept it. You control everything with a few simple
gestures.

## Keyboard shortcuts

| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Accept the current suggestion | **Tab** |
| Rephrase what you've written | **Double-tap Tab** (press Tab twice quickly) |
| Request a proactive draft in an empty reply box | **Double-tap Tab** |
| Choose the **second** proactive draft (when two options are shown) | **Double-tap Tab** |
| Dismiss the current suggestion | **Esc** |
| Ignore a suggestion | Just keep typing |

**Tab** accepts a suggestion that changes your text. **Double-tap Tab** does three
different things depending on context:

- **Rephrase**: when you've already written text, double-tap Tab asks BlinkWrite
  to rewrite it.
- **Request a proactive draft**: in an empty reply box, double-tap Tab requests a
  reply from the current conversation. This works even when **Proactive drafts**
  is off in Settings, including app and website overrides.
- **Second proactive option**: when a proactive draft offers two opposite replies
  (for example accept vs decline), **Tab** picks the first and **double-tap Tab**
  picks the second.

See [Suggestion types](/docs/suggestions) for examples.

The empty-box shortcut is available by default in apps and websites, including
those outside the automatic support list. You can request another draft after
you dismiss a suggestion, without a new incoming message or a waiting period.
Each request reads the current context. BlinkWrite still needs readable conversation
context and a clear reply target. A pause stops all assistance, including this shortcut.

## Rephrase dialog shortcuts

Double-tap **Tab** to open the rephrase dialog. The following shortcuts work
while that dialog is open. You can also click a mode below the result.

| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Shorten the paragraph | **Shift + 1** |
| Improve clarity and flow | **Shift + 2** |
| Use a formal tone | **Shift + 3** |
| Use a friendly tone | **Shift + 4** |
| Open Custom instructions | **Shift + 5** |
| Submit Custom instructions | **Enter** in the Custom field, or click its arrow button |
| Apply a changed result | **Tab** |
| Close the dialog | **Esc** or **×** |

Each mode uses the original paragraph and the same available context.
Custom opens an instruction field below the modes.
After you submit Custom instructions, the cursor stays in that field for more edits.
**Tab** also applies a changed result while the Custom field has focus.

If the result matches your current text, a checkmark replaces the Tab badge.
The phrase uses the inactive text color, and Tab does not apply a replacement.
See [the rephrasing guide](/docs/suggestions#4-rephrasing) for mode descriptions and examples.

## The popup is a preview: nothing changes until you accept

Every suggestion is a preview shown in a floating popup. If you do nothing, your
text stays exactly as you wrote it. Accept with **Tab** only when a suggestion
is helpful. Otherwise keep typing and it gets out of the way.

## Pausing BlinkWrite

You can turn BlinkWrite off at any time from the **menu bar**, the strip at the
**very top of your screen**. Click **BlinkWrite's eye icon** on the **right**
(a small eye outline, same as the logo) to open the menu:

![Where to find BlinkWrite on macOS: the menu bar runs along the top of the screen. BlinkWrite's eye icon is highlighted on the right.](/docs/images/menu-bar-guide.svg)

In the menu you can:

- **Pause for the current app**: stop suggestions in just that app.
- **Pause across your whole system**: turn BlinkWrite off everywhere.
- **Resume**: turn suggestions back on.

While paused, BlinkWrite won't read context or show any suggestions until you
resume it. The same menu is also where you open **Settings** and manage your
account.

## When suggestions appear on their own

Three of the four suggestions are automatic. You don't press anything to
request them:

- **Proactive drafts** appear when a reply box is empty in a conversation.
- **Completions** appear when you pause while typing.
- **Corrections** appear when you pause at the end of a sentence.

You can request **rephrasing** or a **proactive draft** with a double-tap of Tab.
When a **proactive draft** shows two options, double-tap Tab picks the second
one. See [Suggestion types](/docs/suggestions) for the details of each.