- The most used MySQL Workbench shortcuts: Ctrl+Enter is Execute statement, Ctrl+Shift+Enter is Execute statements, Ctrl+B beautifies SQL and Ctrl+Space opens auto-complete. On macOS use Cmd instead of Ctrl.
- Oracle's manual writes shortcuts with "Modifier", which means Command on macOS and Control on Windows and Linux; Alt is Option on macOS.
- The documented list belongs to Workbench 8.0. Workbench 26.7 is a rebuilt application, and Oracle has not published its shortcuts, so some keys may differ.
MySQL Workbench shortcuts for running and editing SQL
These are the MySQL Workbench shortcuts you use most in the SQL editor. "Where" is the context the manual gives: SQL Editor, Model, EER Diagram or All.
| Action | Windows / Linux | macOS | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execute statement | Ctrl+Enter | Cmd+Return | SQL Editor |
| Execute statements | Ctrl+Shift+Enter | Cmd+Shift+Return | SQL Editor |
| New query tab | Ctrl+T | Cmd+T | SQL Editor |
| Beautify query | Ctrl+B | Cmd+B | SQL Editor |
| Comment or uncomment lines of SQL | Ctrl+/ | Cmd+/ | SQL Editor |
| Auto-complete SQL | Ctrl+Space | Cmd+Space | SQL Editor |
| Open SQL script | Ctrl+Shift+O | Cmd+Shift+O | SQL Editor |
| Save script | Ctrl+S | Cmd+S | SQL Editor |
| Save script as | Ctrl+Shift+S | Cmd+Shift+S | SQL Editor |
| Query database (open a connection) | Ctrl+U | Cmd+U | All |
Edit, find and replace
The manual lists Redo as Modifier+Y, with Modifier+Shift+Z for macOS. Undo and Redo are documented for the model and diagram views; the SQL editor's own undo is not listed in the appendix.
| Action | Windows / Linux | macOS | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undo | Ctrl+Z | Cmd+Z | Model, EER Diagram |
| Redo | Ctrl+Y | Cmd+Shift+Z | Model, EER Diagram |
| Cut | Ctrl+X | Cmd+X | All |
| Copy | Ctrl+C | Cmd+C | All |
| Paste | Ctrl+V | Cmd+V | All |
| Delete | Ctrl+Delete | Cmd+Backspace | All |
| Select all | Ctrl+A | Cmd+A | EER Diagram |
| Find | Ctrl+F | Cmd+F | All |
| Find advanced | Ctrl+Alt+F | Cmd+Option+F | All |
| Find next | F3 | F3 | All |
| Find previous | Shift+F3 | Shift+F3 | All |
| Search and replace | Ctrl+Shift+F | Cmd+Shift+F | All |
| Edit selected object | Ctrl+E | Cmd+E | Model, EER Diagram |
| Edit selected in new window | Ctrl+Shift+E | Cmd+Shift+E | Model, EER Diagram |
Files, tabs, panels and help
| Action | Windows / Linux | macOS | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| New model | Ctrl+N | Cmd+N | All |
| Open model | Ctrl+O | Cmd+O | All |
| Save model | Ctrl+S | Cmd+S | Model |
| Save model as | Ctrl+Shift+S | Cmd+Shift+S | Model |
| Close tab | Ctrl+W (also Ctrl+F4 on Windows) | Cmd+W | All |
| Ctrl+P | Cmd+P | EER Diagram only | |
| Exit | Ctrl+Q | Cmd+Q | All |
| Output window | Ctrl+F2 | Cmd+Option+2 | All |
| Scripting shell | Ctrl+F3 | Cmd+Option+3 | All |
| Run Workbench script file | Ctrl+Shift+R | Cmd+Shift+R | All |
| Help index | F1 | Cmd+Option+? | All |
Modelling, forward and reverse engineering
Some keys are reused in different contexts: Ctrl+T is New Tab in the SQL editor and Add Diagram in a model, and Ctrl+Shift+F is Search and Replace in general but Bring to Front on a diagram. The manual marks catalog validation as a Commercial-edition feature, so the Validate shortcuts may do nothing in the Community edition. Synchronize Model (Ctrl+Y) and Redo share a key in the manual's tables.
| Action | Windows / Linux | macOS | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reverse engineer | Ctrl+R | Cmd+R | Model, EER Diagram |
| Forward engineer | Ctrl+G | Cmd+G | Model, EER Diagram |
| Synchronize model | Ctrl+Y | Cmd+Y | Model, EER Diagram |
| Forward engineer SQL CREATE script | Ctrl+Shift+G | Cmd+Shift+G | Model |
| Forward engineer SQL ALTER script | Ctrl+Alt+Y | Cmd+Option+Y | Model |
| Synchronize with SQL CREATE script | Ctrl+Shift+Y | Cmd+Shift+Y | Model |
| Add diagram | Ctrl+T | Cmd+T | Model, EER Diagram |
| Validate all | Ctrl+Alt+V | Cmd+Option+V | Model, EER Diagram |
| Validate all (MySQL) | Ctrl+Alt+B | Cmd+Option+B | Model, EER Diagram |
| Model options | Not listed | Cmd+Option+, | Model, EER Diagram |
| Bring to front | Ctrl+Shift+F | Cmd+Shift+F | EER Diagram |
| Send to back | Ctrl+Shift+B | Cmd+Shift+B | EER Diagram |
| Set marker 1 to 9 | Ctrl+Shift+1 ... 9 | Cmd+Shift+1 ... 9 | EER Diagram |
| Go to marker 1 to 9 | Ctrl+1 ... 9 | Cmd+1 ... 9 | EER Diagram |
EER diagram tool keys
In the EER diagram view, single keys pick a tool from the vertical toolbar. They are the same on every platform.
| Tool | Key |
|---|---|
| Selection tool | Escape |
| Hand tool | H |
| Delete tool | D |
| Layer tool | L |
| Note tool | N |
| Image tool | I |
| Table tool | T |
| View tool | V |
| Routine group tool | G |
| Non-identifying relationship 1:1 | 1 |
| Non-identifying relationship 1:n | 2 |
| Identifying relationship 1:1 | 3 |
| Identifying relationship 1:n | 4 |
| Identifying relationship n:m | 5 |
| Relationship using existing columns | 6 |
Shortcuts in MySQL Workbench 26.7
MySQL Workbench 26.7 is a new application built on MySQL Shell with an Electron interface, and Oracle's product page says it replaces the earlier releases. The manual and its shortcut appendix still describe the 8.0 series, and Oracle had not published a 26.7 shortcut list on 8 October 2026. The modelling and EER shortcuts above apply only if your version has those features; see our MySQL Workbench review for what 26.7 includes. In 26.7, Oracle's blog points to the + button at the top of the editor for creating a new SQL Script or Notebook.
Frequently asked questions
What is the shortcut to run a query in MySQL Workbench?
The manual lists Execute statement as Ctrl+Enter (Cmd+Return on macOS) and Execute statements as Ctrl+Shift+Enter (Cmd+Shift+Return on macOS).
How do I format SQL in MySQL Workbench?
Beautify Query is Ctrl+B (Cmd+B on macOS) in the SQL editor of Workbench 8.0. Workbench 26.7 has an SQL Formatter, according to Oracle; its shortcut is not documented.
How do I comment out lines in MySQL Workbench?
Select the lines and press Ctrl+/ (Cmd+/ on macOS) to comment or uncomment them.
What does "Modifier" mean in the MySQL Workbench shortcut list?
Oracle's manual uses Modifier for the platform key: Command on macOS and Control on Windows and Linux. On macOS, Alt means Option.
Can I change MySQL Workbench keyboard shortcuts?
The manual's shortcut appendix does not describe a way to remap keys, and Oracle has not documented one for 26.7.
Sources
- MySQL Workbench Manual: Appendix B Keyboard Shortcuts
- MySQL Workbench Manual (8.0 through 8.0.47)
- MySQL Workbench Manual: Forward Engineering to a Live Server
- MySQL Workbench product page (Oracle)
- Introducing MySQL Workbench 26 (Oracle MySQL blog)
- Five Things to Try in MySQL Workbench 26.7 (Oracle MySQL blog)
Checked 8 October 2026.
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