> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.alterhq.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# QuickHub Mode

> Alter's default conversation interface — floating QuickHub vs the legacy notch

**QuickHub Mode** is Alter's primary conversation interface. When enabled, every chat opens in **QuickHub** — a floating panel you can move, attach to app windows, or summon from the screen edge. New installs default to QuickHub Mode on (`useQuickHub = true` as of **2.0.0-beta100**).

Turn QuickHub Mode off to return to the **notch**-centric experience: hover the camera notch to open the compact quick menu instead of QuickHub.

## QuickHub vs the notch

|                            | **QuickHub Mode on** (default)         | **QuickHub Mode off**    |
| -------------------------- | -------------------------------------- | ------------------------ |
| Primary UI                 | Floating **QuickHub** panel            | **Notch** hover menu     |
| Global open shortcut label | **Open QuickHub**                      | **Open notch**           |
| Edge Bar                   | Available                              | Disabled                 |
| Attach to apps             | Yes — dock beside any window           | Limited notch layout     |
| Best for                   | Daily chat, attach workflows, Edge Bar | Minimal notch-only setup |

QuickHub is not a separate product from the Hub — it is the **lightweight conversation surface**. Open any QuickHub chat in the full **Hub** window with **Open in Hub** (default **⌘O**) when you need tabs, sidebar, and workspace management.

<Tip>
  Most new users should leave **QuickHub Mode** enabled. The notch remains available in **Settings → Appearance → Display Notch** for status indication; it is no longer the only way to chat.
</Tip>

## Enable or disable QuickHub Mode

1. Open **Settings** (⌘,)
2. Go to **General**
3. Toggle **QuickHub Mode** — *Use QuickHub for all conversations instead of the notch*

When you disable QuickHub Mode, **Edge Bar** settings gray out and the screen-edge launcher stops appearing.

## Opening QuickHub

**From anywhere (global)**

* **⌘⇧Space** — **Open QuickHub** (default; configurable in **Settings → Shortcuts → Global**)
* **Open QuickHub and Attach** — opens QuickHub and attaches to a chosen side using your configured trigger (see below)
* **Edge Bar** — move to an enabled screen edge and click **Open QuickHub** or **New Chat** — see [Edge Bar](/getting-started/edge-bar)

**From the Hub**

* **New Hub Chat** — **⌥Space** (default) starts a fresh Hub conversation; QuickHub conversations share the same shortcut categories under **Hub & QuickHub**

## Attach, detach, and pin

QuickHub can **dock beside** the frontmost app window so you chat while working in Mail, Safari, Xcode, or any other app.

### Attach shortcuts

Configure under **Settings → Shortcuts → QuickHub**:

| Shortcut          | Default | Action                                                |
| ----------------- | ------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| **Attach Left**   | **⌃⌘←** | Dock QuickHub to the left side of the active app      |
| **Attach Right**  | **⌃⌘→** | Dock QuickHub to the right side of the active app     |
| **Detach Window** | **⌃⌘↓** | Return QuickHub to its floating position              |
| **Pin Window**    | **⌘⌥P** | Pin or unpin QuickHub so it stays above other windows |

You can also click **Attach** from the **Edge Bar** launcher when QuickHub Mode is on.

### Open QuickHub and Attach

Under **Settings → Shortcuts → Global**, **Open QuickHub and Attach** combines open + attach in one gesture:

* **Attach behavior** picker — **Attach Left** or **Attach Right** (default **Attach Right**)
* **Shortcut** picker — choose the double-tap modifier that triggers attach-on-open:
  * **Double tap ⌘** (default)
  * **Double tap ⌥**
  * **Double tap ⌃**
  * **Double tap ⇧**
  * **None** — disables the double-tap trigger; use the recorded shortcut only

Double-tap the chosen modifier quickly to open QuickHub and attach to the selected side without pressing **⌃⌘←** or **⌃⌘→** separately.

## Edge Bar dependency

**Edge Bar** — the screen-edge launcher for meetings, chats, attach, and Computer Use session cards — **requires QuickHub Mode**. Edge hotspots summon QuickHub surfaces; they are not wired to the notch layout.

If you rely on Edge Bar, keep QuickHub Mode enabled and configure edges under **Settings → General → Edge Bar**.

## Impact on shortcut labels

Several shortcuts change their **display name** when QuickHub Mode is toggled:

* **Settings → Shortcuts → Global → Open QuickHub** vs **Open notch** — same shortcut slot (**⌘⇧Space** default), different label and description
* **Hub & QuickHub** category shortcuts apply to whichever surface is active (Hub tab or QuickHub conversation)

Search shortcuts in **Settings → Shortcuts** with **⌘F** while the Shortcuts tab is focused, or type in the **Search shortcuts** field at the top of the tab.

## Typical workflows

**Quick question while coding**

Press **⌘⇧Space**, ask, press **Esc** or click away — QuickHub closes without opening the full Hub.

**Side-by-side with an app**

Press **⌃⌘→** (**Attach Right**) or use **Attach** from Edge Bar. QuickHub docks beside your editor or browser.

**Long session → full Hub**

Press **⌘O** (**Open in Hub**) to move the current QuickHub chat into a Hub tab with sidebar and history.

**Background Computer Use**

Start a Computer Use goal from QuickHub or the Hub. The agent runs in the background; session status appears in **Edge Bar** while you keep working. See [Background Computer Use](/apps-tools/computer-use-background).

## Troubleshooting

**⌘⇧Space opens the notch instead of QuickHub**

* Enable **QuickHub Mode** under **Settings → General**
* Confirm **Settings → Shortcuts → Global** shows **Open QuickHub**, not **Open notch**

**Attach shortcuts do nothing**

* QuickHub must be open or opening; attach targets the **frontmost** app window
* Some full-screen or elevated-security apps block window docking — try **Detach Window** (**⌃⌘↓**) and use floating QuickHub instead

**Edge Bar missing**

* Edge Bar requires QuickHub Mode and at least one enabled edge — see [Edge Bar](/getting-started/edge-bar)

**Double-tap ⌘ opens QuickHub attached when I only wanted Command**

* Change **Open QuickHub and Attach → Shortcut** to **None**, or pick a modifier you rarely double-tap
* Or disable **Open QuickHub and Attach** by clearing its recorded shortcut

## Related docs

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Edge Bar" icon="sidebar.right" href="/getting-started/edge-bar">
    Screen-edge launcher and Computer Use sessions
  </Card>

  <Card title="Window types" icon="layout" href="/getting-started/window-types-notch-hub-panels">
    QuickHub, Hub, and panels overview
  </Card>

  <Card title="Shortcuts settings" icon="keyboard" href="/how-to/settings-guide#shortcuts">
    Full shortcut editor walkthrough
  </Card>

  <Card title="Shortcuts reference" icon="list" href="/references/shortcuts">
    Complete default shortcut inventory
  </Card>
</CardGroup>