Understanding the Interface

Zed’s minimalist interface is designed for maximum productivity with minimal distractions. Understanding the layout and panels will help you navigate efficiently.

Main Interface Components

Editor Area

The central workspace where you write code:

Tabs at the top show open files
Gutter on the left shows line numbers and Git changes
Minimap on the right provides file overview (optional)
Status bar at the bottom shows file info

Cmd + 1, 2, 3...
# Switch between editor panes
 
Cmd + W
# Close current tab
 
Cmd + Shift + T
# Reopen closed tab

File Explorer

Cmd + B
# Toggle sidebar
 
Shows:
- Project files
- Search results
- Git status
- Extensions

Cmd + Shift + E
# Focus file explorer
 
Cmd + Shift + F
# Focus search
 
Cmd + Shift + G
# Focus Git panel

Panel Areas

Bottom Panel

Cmd + J
# Toggle terminal/panel
 
Contains:
- Integrated terminal
- Problems/diagnostics
- Output logs
- Debug console

Panel Management

Cmd + Shift + Y
# Toggle problems panel
 
Cmd + Shift + U
# Toggle output panel

Workspace Layouts

Split Editors

Cmd + \
# Split editor vertically
 
Cmd + K, Cmd + \
# Split editor horizontally

Adjust Split Sizes

Drag the divider between splits
Or use keyboard shortcuts in settings

Customizing the Interface

Hide/Show Elements

{
  "ui": {
    "show_line_numbers": true,
    "show_git_diff_gutter": true,
    "show_breadcrumbs": true,
    "show_minimap": false
  }
}

Compact Mode

Maximize code space:

{
  "ui": {
    "density": "compact",
    "tabs": {
      "file_icons": true,
      "git_status": true
    }
  }
}

Breadcrumbs

Navigate file structure:

Shown at the top of editor
Click to jump to sections
Shows current symbol/function

Using Breadcrumbs

Click on any breadcrumb item
→ See dropdown with siblings
→ Quick navigation within file

Status Bar

Information Displayed

Current line and column
File encoding
Line ending type (LF/CRLF)
Language mode
Git branch

Clickable Items

Click language mode
→ Change language/syntax
 
Click line ending
→ Change LF/CRLF
 
Click encoding
→ Change file encoding

Command Palette

Your gateway to all features:

Cmd + Shift + P
# Open command palette
 
Type to search:
- Commands
- Settings
- Actions
- Files

Common Commands

> theme: select
> view: toggle...
> git: ...
> format: document

Zen Mode

Distraction-free coding:

Cmd + K, Z
# Toggle Zen Mode
 
Hides:
- Sidebar
- Panels
- Tabs (optional)
- Status bar (optional)

Customize Zen Mode

{
  "zen_mode": {
    "hide_tabs": true,
    "hide_status_bar": false,
    "hide_line_numbers": false,
    "center_layout": true
  }
}

Quick Access

Jump to File

Cmd + P
# Quick file picker

Jump to Symbol

Cmd + Shift + O
# Symbol picker (current file)
 
Cmd + T
# Workspace symbol search

Jump to Line

Ctrl + G
# Go to line number
 
Type line:column (e.g., "42:10")

Pro Tips

Master keyboard shortcuts to avoid using mouse
Customize your layout based on task (coding vs debugging)
Use Zen mode for deep focus sessions
Pin frequently used files in tabs
Arrange splits for comparing files side-by-side
Collapse folders in file tree to reduce clutter
Use breadcrumbs for quick navigation within large files
Customize status bar items to show what matters to you