Apps & Session

Summary

This note is a quick reference for Sway shortcuts related to launching apps, screenshots, clipboard, screen lock, and session management.

Terminal and launcher

Shortcut	Purpose
`Mod + Enter`	open a new Foot terminal
`Mod + D`	open the app launcher (rofi)
`Mod + C`	open clipboard picker (clipman)

Screenshots and lock

Shortcut	Purpose
`Print`	screenshot of the full screen (saved to ~/Pictures)
`Mod + Print`	screenshot of a selected area (drag to select)
`Mod + Shift + Escape`	lock the screen

Voice typing

Shortcut	Purpose
`Mod + T` (hold)	start recording voice
`Mod + T` (release)	stop recording and type the result
`Alt + Shift + D` (hold)	start Whispering Open push-to-talk
`Alt + Shift + D` (release)	stop and transcribe

Window management

Shortcut	Purpose
`Mod + Q`	close the focused window (keeps app running if it has other windows)
`Mod + Shift + Q`	close the focused app completely (sends SIGTERM to the process)
`Mod + Shift + W`	hide window to scratchpad (close but not fully — bring back with Mod + −)
`Mod + Shift + −`	move focused window to scratchpad
`Mod + −`	show the next scratchpad window (cycles through hidden windows)

Session

Shortcut	Purpose
`Mod + Shift + C`	reload Sway config
`Mod + Shift + E`	exit Sway (shows a confirmation dialog before logging out)
`Mod + Shift + S`	re-run autostart script

Notes

Mod = Super / Windows key
Mod + Q closes just one window (useful for Vivaldi pop-ups). Mod + Shift + Q kills the whole app
Mod + E is not a terminal — it toggles split direction (see Tiling)
Mod + Shift + E shows a confirmation dialog so you won’t log out by accident