# Command palette and quick switcher

Two fast ways to get anywhere. Search every bot, group chat, and message with the command palette, or jump to a bot, or ask it something, from any app with the quick switcher.

Canonical page: https://themachine.myapps.ai/docs/desktop/shortcuts/command-palette

## Command palette

![The command palette with a search and matching bots and messages](/images/docs/desktop/command-palette.webp)

The command palette searches **everything**: bots, group chats, and the
messages in your conversations.

### Open it

Press **Ctrl+K** (**⌘K** on Mac). Press it again, or **Esc**, to close.

### Use it

### Start typing

With nothing typed, it lists your **Bots** and **Groups**. Type to filter by
name.
### Wait a moment for messages

After a short pause, **Messages** results appear too: messages from your
conversations that match what you typed.
### Open a result

Use **↑** and **↓** to choose, and **Enter** to open it. A message result
jumps straight to that message in its thread.

### Examples

![Opening the command palette and searching](/images/docs/desktop/anim-command-palette.webp)

| Type | Finds |
|---|---|
| `scout` | The bot called Scout. |
| `launch` | A group chat called *Website launch*, and messages that mention a launch. |
| `invoice march` | Messages about March invoices. |

## Quick switcher

The quick switcher jumps to any bot or group chat **from any app**, even when
Machine Desktop is minimized or in the tray. It can also send a bot a
question straight away (see [Quick Ask](#quick-ask)).

### Open it

Press **Ctrl+Alt+Space** (**⌃⌥Space** on Mac) from anywhere. Machine Desktop
comes to the front with **Switch conversation**.

If another app already uses that shortcut, Machine Desktop uses
**Ctrl+Shift+Space** instead, or **Ctrl+Alt+K**. The switcher's footer shows
which one is active.

### Use it

- You see a grid of your bots and group chats. Each shows a **status dot** and
  its last message (or *No messages yet*).
- Type to filter (**Jump to a bot or team…**). It matches names and the last
  message.
- Use the **arrow keys** to move, **Enter** to open, and **Esc** to close.

### Quick Ask

![The quick switcher with "@Scout" and a question typed](/images/docs/desktop/quick-ask.webp)

Ask a bot something without opening it first:

### Open the quick switcher

Press **Ctrl+Alt+Space** (**⌃⌥Space** on Mac) from any app.
### Type @, the bot's name, and your question

For example: `@Scout what's on my calendar today?`

You only need the start of the name, written without spaces, and capitals
don't matter: `@scout` works.
The line under the box confirms who it goes to: **Enter sends to Scout**,
followed by your question.
### Press Enter

The question is sent to the bot's current thread, and its chat opens so you
can watch it answer.

You can also type a message, highlight a bot in the grid, and press
**Shift+Enter** to send what you typed to that bot. The grid still filters as
you type, so `@name` is usually quicker.

Quick Ask sends to bots, not group chats.

## Which one when?

| Use | When you want to |
|---|---|
| **Command palette** (**Ctrl+K**) | Find something by name or content, including old messages. You're already in Machine Desktop. |
| **Quick switcher** (**Ctrl+Alt+Space**) | Jump to a bot fast, or send it a quick question, from whatever app you're in. |
| **Find** (**Ctrl+F**) | Search inside the chat you have open. See [Find, share, and export](/docs/desktop/chat/find-share-export). |
| **Sidebar search** | Filter the sidebar. See [The sidebar](/docs/desktop/bots/sidebar). |