# I discovered a work-around trick to bypass a bug that prevents you from assigning a shortcut key

**URL:** <https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/i-discovered-a-work-around-trick-to-bypass-a-bug-that-prevents-you-from-assigning-a-shortcut-key/50445>\
**Category:** Lounge\
**Created:** [19 July 2026 01:46 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/i-discovered-a-work-around-trick-to-bypass-a-bug-that-prevents-you-from-assigning-a-shortcut-key/50445 "2026-07-19T01:46:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![wind0204](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/wind0204/32/24005_2.png) [@wind0204](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/wind0204)\
**Post date:** [19 July 2026 01:46 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/i-discovered-a-work-around-trick-to-bypass-a-bug-that-prevents-you-from-assigning-a-shortcut-key/50445/1 "2026-07-19T01:46:53Z")

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Hi, I just found a trick that lets you bypass [a bug that prevents you from assigning a shortcut key](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/keyboard-shortcuts-issues-on-macos/43143) by luck.

Unlike the author of the bug report linked above, I use Ubuntu 24.04, but I experience the same bug.  
The version of Joplin-Desktop is `3.6.15`

The way I assigned the key goes like this:

1. At `Keyboard Shortcuts` screen, assign the key combination you want to the desired function, after pressing `Restore` button when the triangular icon for the warning that reads an unrelated shortcut key combination is used by some other functions is shown around the right edge. (You won't be able to assign the desired key when the warning is shown, without pressing the `Restore` button)
2. Press `Export` button and save the file.
3. Restart `joplin-desktop`, and go back to `Keyboard Shortcuts` screen again.
4. Press `Import` button, and import the file you have just saved, but you will find out your desired shortcut key is still not yet assigned, and that the order of the shortcut key table is different.
5. Assign the desired shortcut key again, and now it will get assigned to the function without a problem.

I hope it would help @gsr, and some other `joplin-desktop` users.

Best Wishes.

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**Author:** ![wind0204](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/wind0204/32/24005_2.png) [@wind0204](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/wind0204)\
**Post date:** [19 July 2026 01:57 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/i-discovered-a-work-around-trick-to-bypass-a-bug-that-prevents-you-from-assigning-a-shortcut-key/50445/2 "2026-07-19T01:57:54Z")

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By the way, I find it very useful to have `Alt+→`assigned to `Forward`, and `Alt+←` to `Back`