Some features do not look major. Not a new module, not an integration, not a “wow” moment at a presentation. Just a key. But if a person repeats the same action twenty, fifty, or a hundred times a day, the difference between “moving the mouse to the left menu” and “pressing two keys” quickly becomes a significant time-saving feature.
On-premise messenger MyChat is one of those programs: it runs all day, sitting in the system tray. It receives private messages, handles conference meetings, displays notifications, sends files, images, tasks, and pings from teammates. That’s why hotkeys play an important role here. These are short paths through the interface, like a “desire path” in a park:
4 main combinations: Ctrl+1, Ctrl+2, Ctrl+3, Ctrl+4
The simplest habit you should start with:
| Keys | What they open |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+1 | dialogues |
| Ctrl+2 | conferences |
| Ctrl+3 | contacts |
| Ctrl+4 | important notifications |
It’s helpful in the office bustle. For example, you reply privately to your teammate, and then you need to check a department group conference, and then find a person in contacts. Without a mouse, this is a chain of Ctrl+2, Ctrl+3, Ctrl+1. After one day, muscle memory does it in automatic mode:
Such small things are noticeable to people who put MyChat next to their working tool set: CAD, IDE, CRM, FAR, Total Commander, RDP-windows. These are nerds people with huge experience 🙂 Less mouse aiming, less distraction from work.
Dialogue navigation: Ctrl+PageUp, Ctrl+PageDown, and Ctrl+Tab/Ctrl+Shift+Tab
When there are a lot of dialogues, it is easier to scroll through them by using the keyboard:
- Ctrl+PageUp — move to the previous dialogue, contact, conference, or notification in the current section.
- Ctrl+PageDown — move to the next.
- Ctrl+Tab — also moves forward through the current list.
Everyday scenario: after lunch, you notice a bunch of unread private messages. Instead of clicking on every line, you can simply press Ctrl+PageDown or Ctrl+Tab, and reply to all one by one. This is not productivity magic, but certainly fewer hand movements.
No endless scrolling in history: Ctrl+Home, Ctrl+End, Alt+Up, Alt+Down
Chat history is a whole different story. Sometimes you need to scroll up in a live dialogue to find a file, link, old solution, or a phrase “I already sent it”. You can click the “Up” and “Down” buttons on a scrollbar, or use a mouse wheel. There is an easier combination for that:
- Alt+Up — load older history content.
- Alt+Down — move back down.
And when the history window is open, Ctrl+Home and Ctrl+End instantly jump to the beginning and end of the history. It’s especially useful in large conferences (group chats): first, you go to old messages, and then quickly return to the most recent ones without mouse-scrolling.
Judging from MyChat statistics, viewing MyChat history is one of the most used features: it shows dozens of millions of history opens. It is a normal work habit.
Last message: arrow up
If the input field is empty, the Up button opens editing for your last sent message. It’s a small but very helpful feature.
For example, if you write in a group chat:
Guys, a group call is at 3pm, connect by usung the old link.
Then, you instantly realise that the link is outdated. You do not have to click on a message, rush to open a context menu, and aim for the option “Change”. In the same input field, use the button Up to edit a phrase, and then Enter. That’s all. 3 seconds.
Quick open, quick hide: Win+F12 and Esc
MyChat is often located in the tray. And that is OK: your chat is always near but does not take your screen place.
- Win+F12 — show MyChat main window from the tray.
- Esc — hide the window back to the tray.
These combinations are useful for people who work in full-screen mode or on small laptops. Quick reply — Win+F12. After sending reply — Esc. No need to search for a window or aim for the program icon.
Service buttons you should know about
There are more combinations that you don’t need every day, but they are still helpful in the right moment.
| Keys | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+/ | open a private dialogue with the built-in bot Elisa |
| Ctrl+` | open MyChat Client console (yes, like in shooter games) |
| Alt+` | open a private dialogue with built-in bot Elisa |
| Ctrl+F1 | open Kanban project management |
| Ctrl+F7 | open built-in forum, internal knowledge base |
| Ctrl+F10 | open Admin panel |
| Ctrl+F5 | set status “Free” |
| Ctrl+F8 | set status “Do not disturb” |
| Ctrl+F4 or Ctrl+W | close current window (like in a browser) |
The connection with web services is especially interesting. When you press Ctrl+F1, Ctrl+F7, or Ctrl+F10, MyChat does not require you to enter your login and password again in a browser. A client requests a one-time token from the server, the server checks rights, and the web service opens already authorized. It looks simple for a regular user — press a couple of buttons and open Kanban, Forum, or Admin panel.
This feature lowers the number of “password-required” small issues. It reduces the number of lost tabs, incorrect logins, and questions, “what is my password for Kanban?”.
Why it’s important for all, not just “geeks”
People often talk about keyboard shortcuts as if they’re reserved for people who avoid using a mouse. In practice, it’s simpler: keyboard shortcuts reduce the number of times you switch attention.
Researchers Gloria Mark, Daniela Gudith, and Ulrich Klocke, in their work about interruptions, showed that after distractions, people often start working faster, but pay for it with stress and a feeling of pressure. Microsoft in Work Trend Index 2023 also specifically addressed the lack of uninterrupted time for focused work. Keyboard shortcuts don’t eliminate interruptions, but they do remove some of the minor friction within an already open workflow.
To put it simply: when chat helps you rather than making you aim for buttons, it’s less annoying.
Small training for one day
You don’t have to learn everything at once. Try living one day with these four habits:
- Ctrl+1..4 — switch sections.
- Ctrl+PageUp/PageDown — move through the list of dialogues.
- Up — edit last message.
- Win+F12 и Esc — get MyChat from the tray and hide it back.
Usually, this is enough for the person to feel: “Oh, it’s faster this way.”