# External keyboard shortcuts

*Applies to: Pearl-2, Pearl Mini, Pearl Nexus, Pearl Nano*

You can use keyboard shortcuts with an external USB keyboard that is connected to your device.

**Keyboard shortcuts available for the different screens**

| **Item** | **Description** |
| --- | --- |
| **Channel View** |
| Left arrow | Show the previous channel on screen. |
| Right arrow | Show the next channel on screen. |
| 1 to 9 | Enter the channel's index number to show that channel on screen. |
| shift+F | Enter full screen and toggle show/hide on-screen items like the status bar. |
| shift+G | Open the Grid view. |
| shift+S | Open the live switcher. |
| shift+E | Open the Content Management System (CMS) events screen. |
| shift+C | Create a new ad hoc event. |
| shift+P | Open the settings. |
| shift+R | Start recording the channel and toggle start/stop recording. |
| shift+T | Start streaming the channel and toggle start/stop streaming. |
| shift+I | Open the system information screen. |
| **Grid View** |
| 1 to 9 | Enter the channel's index number to show that channel on screen. |
| shift+E | Open the Content Management System (CMS) events screen. |
| shift+C | Create a new ad hoc event. |
| shift+P | Open the settings. |
| shift+I | Open the system information screen. |
| **Events screen** |
| shift+C | Create a new ad hoc event. |
| shift+S | Start/stop the current event. |
| Enter | When it is the last text field on a screen, press Enter to move to next screen (if available) or start an action on the current screen. |
| Space bar | Initiate a button action, accept text entered into a text field, and toggle a switch or check box. Select and initiate a control button action when only one button appears on screen. When the last text field on a screen is highlighted, press Space bar to move to the next screen (if available) or start an action on the current screen. |
| **Live switcher** |
| Left arrow | Select the previous layout in the carousel and load it into the preview panel. |
| Right arrow | Select the next layout in the carousel and load it into the preview panel. |
| 1 to 9 | Enter the layout's index number to select that layout in the carousel and load it into the preview panel. |
| CTRL+1 to 9 | Select and apply the layout. |
| Space bar | Make the layout that's in the preview panel go Live. |
| **Common to most screens** |
| Tab | Move to the next input field or control. |
| shift+Tab | Move to the previous input field or control. |
| Space bar | Initiate a button action, accept text entered into a text field, and toggle a switch or check box. Select and initiate a control button action when only one button appears on screen. When the last text field on a screen is highlighted, press Space bar to move to the next screen (if available) or start an action on the current screen. |
| Esc | Cancel unapplied changes on the current screen and return to the previous screen. |

**Device differences**
- **Pearl Nexus, Pearl Nano:** These devices have no Grid View or Live switcher screen, so the Grid View section and Live switcher section (and the Left arrow / Right arrow / 1 to 9 channel-switching rows in Channel View) do not apply — only the Channel View rows shift+F, shift+E, shift+C, shift+P, shift+R, shift+T, shift+I, plus the Events screen and Common-to-most-screens rows apply.

> product: pearl-family · topic: other · source: pearl-family-common.md · updated: Oct 13, 2026