In short
Press Alt+1 in any Windows app. Zack KI opens on top of your work with the selected text or files attached; if nothing is selected, you first drag out an area of the screen. Alt+2 opens an empty chat, Alt+Shift+1 brings back your last chat, and every shortcut can be changed.
- Ask with context
- Alt+1 (“New chat with selection”)
- Empty chat
- Alt+2 (“New chat”)
- Last chat
- Alt+Shift+1 (“Reopen last chat”)
- Rework selected text
- Alt+3 Improve, Alt+4 Fix errors
- System
- Windows 10 and Windows 11
Ask a question from any app
- Zack KI has to be running. It waits in the notification area next to the clock and can start with Windows, see Install and set up Zack KI.
- Select what your question is about, for example a clause in a contract or a line in an error log.
- Press Alt+1. Zack KI opens in the middle of the screen your mouse pointer is on, with the selection attached.
- Type your question and press Enter. Shift+Enter starts a new line.
- Press Esc to hide the window. Zack KI keeps running, and Alt+Shift+1 brings the chat back.
What does each shortcut do?
| Shortcut | Name in the settings | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Alt+1 | New chat with selection | Opens a new chat with the selected text or the files selected in Explorer. If nothing is selected, you drag out an area of the screen instead. |
| Alt+2 | New chat | Opens a new chat without reading a selection or taking a screenshot. |
| Alt+Shift+1 | Reopen last chat | Shows the chat you used most recently. If there is none yet, it opens a new chat. |
| Alt+3 | Improve | Rewrites the selected text more clearly and replaces it, without opening the window. |
| Alt+4 | Fix errors | Corrects spelling, grammar and punctuation in the selection and replaces it. |
Alt+3 and Alt+4 are covered in Fix text with AI. “Summarize” and “Explain” have no shortcut at first. You can give them one under “Chip shortcuts”, but then their answer replaces your selection as well.
How do I change a shortcut?
Click “Settings” (the gear icon) in the title bar of the Zack KI window and open “Shortcuts”. Click the combination you want to change, for example “Alt+1”, and press the new keys. Esc cancels the recording. The switch next to each shortcut turns it off and keeps the combination for later.
A shortcut needs Ctrl, Alt or the Windows key together with another key, or a single function key such as F9. Shift with a letter is not accepted, because that types a capital letter. The introduction at the first start already shows the rows for Alt+1 and Alt+2, so you can change them there too.
What if a shortcut is already taken?
If another Zack KI shortcut already uses the combination, the settings show “Already used by …” and keep the old one. If another program has claimed it, the row shows “This key combination is already in use by another program.” Pick a different combination, or free it in the other program.
The defaults use Alt with a number because Ctrl+1 to Ctrl+4 switch tabs in browsers, and Ctrl+Alt acts as AltGr on many European keyboards (Ctrl+Alt+2 types ² there). If one of your apps needs Alt+1 itself, move Zack KI to another key.
Does the shortcut work in every app?
Yes, the shortcuts are global. They work in Word, Outlook, your browser and other Windows apps as long as Zack KI is running. To have them ready after every restart, leave “Start with Windows” and “Keep running in tray” on under “Settings” → “Advanced” → “System and startup”.
One exception: Zack KI cannot read apps that run as administrator unless it runs as administrator too. It then says “This app can't be read. Use a screenshot or paste the content here.”
The window stays above other windows by default, so your document stays in view while you read the answer. Turn this off with “Always on top” in the same place.
Related questions
Does the Zack KI window have to be open for Alt+1 to work?
No, Zack KI only has to be running. After Esc or closing the window, it keeps running in the notification area and reacts to the shortcuts.
What happens if I press Alt+1 with nothing selected?
The Windows snipping tool opens and you drag out an area, for example an error message. See Ask AI about your screen. If you turn off “Capture screen if nothing is selected” under “General”, Alt+1 opens an empty chat instead.
Can I open Zack KI with the mouse?
Yes. Left-click the Zack KI icon in the notification area; it works like Alt+1. Right-click it for “Open”, “Settings” and “Quit”.