greptileai · everettbu · Feb 23, 2026 · Feb 23, 2026 · Feb 23, 2026 · Feb 23, 2026
diff --git a/packages/frontend/@n8n/i18n/src/locales/en.json b/packages/frontend/@n8n/i18n/src/locales/en.json
@@ -360,6 +360,9 @@
 	"aiAssistant.coachmark.title": "Ask mode enabled",
 	"aiAssistant.coachmark.body": "Ask questions about n8n, get help with errors, or learn about automation. Switch to Build anytime to create workflows.",
 	"aiAssistant.coachmark.gotIt": "Got it",
+	"nodeCreator.shortcutCoachmark.title": "Press N to browse nodes",
+	"nodeCreator.shortcutCoachmark.body": "We changed the shortcut to improve keyboard navigation",
+	"nodeCreator.shortcutCoachmark.gotIt": "Got it",
 	"aiAssistant.askMode.emptyState.title": "Ask n8n AI",
 	"aiAssistant.askMode.emptyState.body1": "Ask anything about n8n, your workflow, or how to accomplish a task. This won't use any of your AI credits.",
 	"aiAssistant.askMode.emptyState.body2": "Look for the",

diff --git a/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/Interface.ts b/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/Interface.ts
@@ -678,7 +678,7 @@ export type NodeCreatorOpenSource =
 	| 'plus_endpoint'
 	| 'add_input_endpoint'
 	| 'trigger_placeholder_button'
-	| 'tab'
+	| 'node_shortcut'
 	| 'replace_node_action'
 	| 'node_connection_action'
 	| 'node_connection_drop'

diff --git a/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/app/constants/nodeCreator.ts b/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/app/constants/nodeCreator.ts
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ export const NODE_CREATOR_OPEN_SOURCES: Record<
 	ADD_INPUT_ENDPOINT: 'add_input_endpoint',
 	TRIGGER_PLACEHOLDER_BUTTON: 'trigger_placeholder_button',
 	ADD_NODE_BUTTON: 'add_node_button',
-	TAB: 'tab',
+	NODE_SHORTCUT: 'node_shortcut',
 	NODE_CONNECTION_ACTION: 'node_connection_action',
 	REPLACE_NODE_ACTION: 'replace_node_action',
 	NODE_CONNECTION_DROP: 'node_connection_drop',

diff --git a/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/app/views/NodeView.vue b/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/app/views/NodeView.vue
@@ -1439,7 +1439,7 @@ function registerCustomActions() {
 			ndvStore.unsetActiveNodeName();
 
 			void nextTick(() => {
-				void onOpenNodeCreatorForTriggerNodes(NODE_CREATOR_OPEN_SOURCES.TAB);
+				void onOpenNodeCreatorForTriggerNodes(NODE_CREATOR_OPEN_SOURCES.NODE_SHORTCUT);
 			});
 		},
 	});

diff --git a/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/shared/commandBar/composables/useNodeCommands.ts b/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/shared/commandBar/composables/useNodeCommands.ts
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ export function useNodeCommands(options: {
 								props: {
 									title: i18n.baseText('commandBar.nodes.addNode'),
 									shortcut: {
-										keys: ['tab'],
+										keys: ['n'],
 									},
 								},
 							},

diff --git a/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/shared/nodeCreator/components/NodeCreator.vue b/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/shared/nodeCreator/components/NodeCreator.vue
@@ -135,10 +135,6 @@ registerKeyHook('NodeCreatorCloseEscape', {
 	keyboardKeys: ['Escape'],
 	handler: () => emit('closeNodeCreator'),
 });
-registerKeyHook('NodeCreatorCloseTab', {
-	keyboardKeys: ['Tab'],
-	handler: () => emit('closeNodeCreator'),
-});
 
 watch(
 	() => ({

diff --git a/...end/editor-ui/src/features/shared/nodeCreator/components/NodeCreatorShortcutCoachmark.vue b/...end/editor-ui/src/features/shared/nodeCreator/components/NodeCreatorShortcutCoachmark.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+<script setup lang="ts">
+import { useI18n } from '@n8n/i18n';
+import { N8nButton, N8nPopover } from '@n8n/design-system';
+
+defineProps<{
+	visible: boolean;
+}>();
+
+const emit = defineEmits<{
+	dismiss: [];
+}>();
+
+const i18n = useI18n();
+</script>
+
+<template>
+	<N8nPopover
+		:open="visible"
+		:show-arrow="true"
+		:enable-scrolling="false"
+		:suppress-auto-focus="true"
+		side="left"
+		align="center"
+		:side-offset="8"
+		:z-index="2200"
+		content-class="node-creator-shortcut-coachmark"
+	>
+		<template #trigger>
+			<slot />
+		</template>
+		<template #content>
+			<div class="node-creator-shortcut-coachmark__header">
+				<span class="node-creator-shortcut-coachmark__title">{{
+					i18n.baseText('nodeCreator.shortcutCoachmark.title')
+				}}</span>
+			</div>
+			<p class="node-creator-shortcut-coachmark__body">
+				{{ i18n.baseText('nodeCreator.shortcutCoachmark.body') }}
+			</p>
+			<div class="node-creator-shortcut-coachmark__footer">
+				<N8nButton
+					size="small"
+					:label="i18n.baseText('nodeCreator.shortcutCoachmark.gotIt')"
+					class="node-creator-shortcut-coachmark__button"
+					@click="emit('dismiss')"
+				/>
+			</div>
+		</template>
+	</N8nPopover>
+</template>
+
+<style lang="scss">
+.node-creator-shortcut-coachmark {
+	width: 250px;
+	padding: var(--spacing--xs);
+	background: var(--color--background--shade-2);
+	color: var(--color--foreground--tint-2);
+
+	svg {
+		fill: var(--color--background--shade-2);
+		stroke: var(--color--background--shade-2);
+	}
+
+	&__header {
+		display: flex;
+		align-items: center;
+		justify-content: space-between;
+		padding-bottom: var(--spacing--4xs);
+	}
+
+	&__title {
+		font-size: var(--font-size--sm);
+		font-weight: var(--font-weight--bold);
+		line-height: 1.45;
+	}
+
+	&__body {
+		font-size: var(--font-size--sm);
+		line-height: var(--line-height--xl);
+		margin: 0;
+	}
+
+	&__footer {
+		padding-top: var(--spacing--2xs);
+	}
+
+	&__button {
+		background-color: var(--color--primary);
+
+		&:hover {
+			background-color: var(--color--primary--shade-1);
+		}
+	}
+}
+</style>
diff --git a/...s/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/shared/nodeCreator/composables/useKeyboardNavigation.ts b/...s/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/shared/nodeCreator/composables/useKeyboardNavigation.ts
@@ -9,15 +9,7 @@ interface KeyHook {
 }
 
 export const KEYBOARD_ID_ATTR = 'data-keyboard-nav-id';
-export const WATCHED_KEYS = [
-	'ArrowUp',
-	'ArrowDown',
-	'ArrowLeft',
-	'ArrowRight',
-	'Enter',
-	'Escape',
-	'Tab',
-];
+export const WATCHED_KEYS = ['ArrowUp', 'ArrowDown', 'ArrowLeft', 'ArrowRight', 'Enter', 'Escape'];
 
 export const useKeyboardNavigation = defineStore('nodeCreatorKeyboardNavigation', () => {
 	const selectableItems = ref<Array<WeakRef<Element>>>([]);

diff --git a/.../editor-ui/src/features/shared/nodeCreator/composables/useNodeCreatorShortcutCoachmark.ts b/.../editor-ui/src/features/shared/nodeCreator/composables/useNodeCreatorShortcutCoachmark.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+import { computed, onScopeDispose, ref } from 'vue';
+import { useCalloutHelpers } from '@/app/composables/useCalloutHelpers';
+import { canvasEventBus } from '@/features/workflows/canvas/canvas.eventBus';
+
+export const NODE_CREATOR_SHORTCUT_COACHMARK_KEY = 'node-creator-shortcut-coachmark';
+
+export function useNodeCreatorShortcutCoachmark() {
+	const { isCalloutDismissed, dismissCallout } = useCalloutHelpers();
+
+	const isTabPressed = ref(false);
+
+	const shouldShowCoachmark = computed(() => {
+		return isTabPressed.value && !isCalloutDismissed(NODE_CREATOR_SHORTCUT_COACHMARK_KEY);
+	});
+
+	function onDeprecatedTabShortcut() {
+		isTabPressed.value = true;
+	}
+
+	canvasEventBus.on('deprecated:tab-shortcut', onDeprecatedTabShortcut);
+
+	onScopeDispose(() => {
+		canvasEventBus.off('deprecated:tab-shortcut', onDeprecatedTabShortcut);
+	});
+
+	async function onDismissCoachmark() {
+		isTabPressed.value = false;
+		await dismissCallout(NODE_CREATOR_SHORTCUT_COACHMARK_KEY);
+	}
+
+	return {
+		shouldShowCoachmark,
+		onDismissCoachmark,
+	};
+}
diff --git a/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/shared/nodeCreator/views/NodeCreation.vue b/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/shared/nodeCreator/views/NodeCreation.vue
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ import type {
 } from '@/Interface';
 import { useActions } from '../composables/useActions';
 import KeyboardShortcutTooltip from '@/app/components/KeyboardShortcutTooltip.vue';
+import NodeCreatorShortcutCoachmark from '../components/NodeCreatorShortcutCoachmark.vue';
+import { useNodeCreatorShortcutCoachmark } from '../composables/useNodeCreatorShortcutCoachmark';
 import { useI18n } from '@n8n/i18n';
 import { useTelemetry } from '@/app/composables/useTelemetry';
 import { useAssistantStore } from '@/features/ai/assistant/assistant.store';
@@ -57,6 +59,7 @@ const builderStore = useBuilderStore();
 const chatPanelStore = useChatPanelStore();
 
 const { getAddedNodesAndConnections } = useActions();
+const { shouldShowCoachmark, onDismissCoachmark } = useNodeCreatorShortcutCoachmark();
 
 const sidePanelTooltip = computed(() => {
 	if (setupPanelStore.isFeatureEnabled) {
@@ -144,19 +147,21 @@ function openCommandBar(event: MouseEvent) {
 
 <template>
 	<div v-if="!createNodeActive" :class="$style.nodeButtonsWrapper">
-		<KeyboardShortcutTooltip
-			:label="i18n.baseText('nodeView.openNodesPanel')"
-			:shortcut="{ keys: ['Tab'] }"
-			placement="left"
-		>
-			<N8nIconButton
-				variant="subtle"
-				size="large"
-				icon="plus"
-				data-test-id="node-creator-plus-button"
-				@click="openNodeCreator"
-			/>
-		</KeyboardShortcutTooltip>
+		<NodeCreatorShortcutCoachmark :visible="shouldShowCoachmark" @dismiss="onDismissCoachmark">
+			<KeyboardShortcutTooltip
+				:label="i18n.baseText('nodeView.openNodesPanel')"
+				:shortcut="{ keys: ['N'] }"
+				placement="left"
+			>
+				<N8nIconButton
+					variant="subtle"
+					size="large"
+					icon="plus"
+					data-test-id="node-creator-plus-button"
+					@click="openNodeCreator"
+				/>
+			</KeyboardShortcutTooltip>
+		</NodeCreatorShortcutCoachmark>
 		<KeyboardShortcutTooltip
 			:label="i18n.baseText('nodeView.openCommandBar')"
 			:shortcut="{ keys: ['k'], metaKey: true }"

diff --git a/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/workflows/canvas/canvas.types.ts b/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/workflows/canvas/canvas.types.ts
@@ -194,6 +194,7 @@ export type CanvasEventBusEvents = {
 		trackBulk?: boolean;
 	};
 	'create:sticky': never;
+	'deprecated:tab-shortcut': never;
 };
 
 export interface CanvasNodeInjectionData {

diff --git a/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/workflows/canvas/components/Canvas.vue b/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/workflows/canvas/components/Canvas.vue
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ import { useCanvasTraversal } from '../composables/useCanvasTraversal';
 import { type KeyMap, useKeybindings } from '@/app/composables/useKeybindings';
 import type { PinDataSource } from '@/app/composables/usePinnedData';
 import { CanvasKey } from '@/app/constants';
+import { useUsersStore } from '@/features/settings/users/users.store';
+import { NODE_CREATOR_SHORTCUT_COACHMARK_KEY } from '@/features/shared/nodeCreator/composables/useNodeCreatorShortcutCoachmark';
 import type { NodeCreatorOpenSource } from '@/Interface';
 import type {
 	CanvasConnection,
@@ -161,6 +163,7 @@ const props = withDefaults(
 );
 
 const { isMobileDevice, controlKeyCode } = useDeviceSupport();
+const usersStore = useUsersStore();
 const experimentalNdvStore = useExperimentalNdvStore();
 const focusedNodesStore = useFocusedNodesStore();
 const chatPanelStore = useChatPanelStore();
@@ -366,7 +369,13 @@ const keyMap = computed(() => {
 		d: emitWithSelectedNodes((ids) => emit('update:nodes:enabled', ids)),
 		p: emitWithSelectedNodes((ids) => emit('update:nodes:pin', ids, 'keyboard-shortcut')),
 		f2: emitWithLastSelectedNode((id) => emit('update:node:name', id)),
-		tab: () => emit('create:node', 'tab'),
+		n: () => emit('create:node', 'node_shortcut'),
+		tab: {
+			disabled: () => usersStore.isCalloutDismissed(NODE_CREATOR_SHORTCUT_COACHMARK_KEY),
+			run: () => {
+				props.eventBus.emit('deprecated:tab-shortcut');
+			},
+		},
 		shift_s: () => emit('create:sticky'),
 		shift_f: () => emit('toggle:focus-panel'),
 		ctrl_alt_n: () => emit('create:workflow'),