diff --git a/.changeset/shortcuts.md b/.changeset/shortcuts.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4812dcc3d8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/shortcuts.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"@emdash-cms/admin": patch
+---
+
+Fixes the content editor's distraction-free mode shortcut so `⌘⇧\` (or `Ctrl+Shift+\`) toggles the mode both in and out, keeps the exit button visible without hovering, and no longer treats `Escape` as an exit trigger.
diff --git a/packages/admin/src/components/ContentEditor.tsx b/packages/admin/src/components/ContentEditor.tsx
index ef1b0f1fea..44d9ba3ee1 100644
--- a/packages/admin/src/components/ContentEditor.tsx
+++ b/packages/admin/src/components/ContentEditor.tsx
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import {
 } from "@phosphor-icons/react";
 import type { Editor } from "@tiptap/react";
 import * as React from "react";
+import { useHotkeys } from "react-hotkeys-hook";
 
 import type {
 	BylineCreditInput,
@@ -884,22 +885,20 @@ export function ContentEditor({
 	// Distraction-free mode state
 	const [isDistractionFree, setIsDistractionFree] = React.useState(false);
 
-	// Escape exits distraction-free mode
-	React.useEffect(() => {
-		if (!isDistractionFree) return;
-
-		const handleKeyDown = (e: KeyboardEvent) => {
-			if (e.key === "Escape") {
-				if (scheduleDialogOpen || publishingMenuOpen) return;
-				e.preventDefault();
-				e.stopPropagation();
-				setIsDistractionFree(false);
-			}
-		};
-
-		document.addEventListener("keydown", handleKeyDown, { capture: true });
-		return () => document.removeEventListener("keydown", handleKeyDown, { capture: true });
-	}, [isDistractionFree, publishingMenuOpen, scheduleDialogOpen]);
+	// The title advertises ⌘⇧\\ as the shortcut, so register it globally.
+	// It toggles both into and out of the mode, but is disabled while a
+	// publishing menu or schedule dialog is open.
+	const canToggleDistractionFree = !scheduleDialogOpen && !publishingMenuOpen;
+	useHotkeys(
+		"mod+shift+\\",
+		(e) => {
+			if (!canToggleDistractionFree) return;
+			e.preventDefault();
+			setIsDistractionFree((prev) => !prev);
+		},
+		{ enableOnFormTags: true, useKey: true },
+		[canToggleDistractionFree],
+	);
 
 	return (
 		<form
@@ -934,12 +933,13 @@ export function ContentEditor({
 				}
 			>
 				<div className={cn(isDistractionFree ? "w-full" : "flex-1 min-w-0 overflow-y-auto p-6")}>
-					{/* In distraction-free mode the header is a hover-revealed overlay. */}
+					{/* In distraction-free mode the header is an always-visible overlay
+					    so readers can discover the exit affordance without hovering. */}
 					<div
 						className={cn(
 							"flex flex-wrap items-center justify-between gap-y-2",
 							isDistractionFree
-								? "opacity-0 hover:opacity-100 transition-opacity duration-200 fixed top-0 start-0 end-0 mx-auto w-[calc(100%-4rem)] max-w-3xl bg-kumo-elevated/95 py-4 backdrop-blur z-10"
+								? "fixed top-0 start-0 end-0 mx-auto w-[calc(100%-4rem)] max-w-3xl bg-kumo-elevated/95 py-4 backdrop-blur z-10"
 								: cn(
 										"mx-auto mb-6 max-w-3xl",
 										isBelowLg && "bg-kumo-elevated/95 py-3 backdrop-blur",
@@ -1094,6 +1094,7 @@ export function ContentEditor({
 										type="button"
 										onClick={() => setIsDistractionFree(false)}
 										aria-label={t`Exit distraction-free mode`}
+										title={t`Exit distraction-free mode (⌘⇧\\)`}
 									>
 										<ArrowsInSimple className="h-5 w-5" aria-hidden="true" />
 									</Button>
diff --git a/packages/admin/tests/components/ContentEditor.test.tsx b/packages/admin/tests/components/ContentEditor.test.tsx
index 0fe79d6f95..7c17a5a4f6 100644
--- a/packages/admin/tests/components/ContentEditor.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/admin/tests/components/ContentEditor.test.tsx
@@ -437,7 +437,7 @@ describe("ContentEditor", () => {
 				expect(backdrop?.classList.contains("pointer-events-none") ?? true).toBe(true);
 
 				// Exiting DF with the panel still active surfaces it in the sheet.
-				document.dispatchEvent(new KeyboardEvent("keydown", { key: "Escape", bubbles: true }));
+				await screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Exit distraction-free mode" }).click();
 				await expect
 					.element(screen.getByRole("navigation", { name: "Settings" }))
 					.toBeInTheDocument();
@@ -1761,6 +1761,40 @@ describe("ContentEditor", () => {
 	});
 
 	describe("distraction-free mode", () => {
+		function dispatchDistractionFreeShortcut() {
+			document.dispatchEvent(
+				new KeyboardEvent("keydown", {
+					key: "\\",
+					shiftKey: true,
+					// `mod` maps to Ctrl on Linux/Windows and Cmd on macOS; firing both
+					// modifiers keeps the test deterministic across Playwright hosts.
+					ctrlKey: true,
+					metaKey: true,
+					bubbles: true,
+				}),
+			);
+		}
+
+		function getMainForm() {
+			return document.querySelector("form");
+		}
+
+		function isDistractionFree() {
+			return getMainForm()?.classList.toString().includes("fixed") ?? false;
+		}
+
+		it("toggles in and out with the advertised keyboard shortcut", async () => {
+			await renderEditor({ isNew: true });
+
+			expect(isDistractionFree()).toBe(false);
+
+			dispatchDistractionFreeShortcut();
+			await vi.waitFor(() => expect(isDistractionFree()).toBe(true));
+
+			dispatchDistractionFreeShortcut();
+			await vi.waitFor(() => expect(isDistractionFree()).toBe(false));
+		});
+
 		it("keeps the normal editor width and field chrome", async () => {
 			const screen = await renderEditor({
 				fields: {
@@ -1861,23 +1895,23 @@ describe("ContentEditor", () => {
 			expect(form?.classList.toString()).toContain("fixed");
 		});
 
-		it("escape exits distraction-free mode", async () => {
+		it("does not exit distraction-free mode with Escape", async () => {
 			const screen = await renderEditor({ isNew: true });
 			const enterBtn = screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Enter distraction-free mode" });
 			await enterBtn.click();
 
 			// Verify we're in distraction-free mode
-			let form = document.querySelector("form");
-			expect(form?.classList.toString()).toContain("fixed");
+			expect(document.querySelector("form")?.classList.toString()).toContain("fixed");
 
 			// Press Escape
 			document.dispatchEvent(new KeyboardEvent("keydown", { key: "Escape", bubbles: true }));
 
-			// Wait for the state to update
-			await vi.waitFor(() => {
-				form = document.querySelector("form");
-				expect(form?.classList.toString()).not.toContain("fixed");
-			});
+			// Wait long enough that any errant state update would have been applied.
+			await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 100));
+
+			// Escape is reserved for other actions on the Posts page and must not
+			// leave distraction-free mode.
+			expect(document.querySelector("form")?.classList.toString()).toContain("fixed");
 		});
 
 		it("keeps Live View available in distraction-free mode", async () => {