Software basics · Beginner

Operator search (F3)

Press F3 in Blender, type a command’s name and run it without hunting through menus

Also called Search menu, F3 search, Menu search

What is operator search (F3) in Blender?

Operator search (F3) is Blender’s search box for finding and running a command by name, so you do not need to know which menu it lives in. Press F3 over an editor, type part of the name, such as subdivide, and press Enter. Each result shows its menu path, which teaches you where things are.

Think of it like this

It is like the search bar in a big online shop: skip the aisles and categories, type what you want, and go straight to it.

Where it fits in a 3D project

  1. Create
  2. Surface
  3. Rig
  4. Animate
  5. Render
  6. Export

Create: Building the shape: modeling, sculpting, scanning or generating it.

How operator search works

  1. 01Hover over the editor where the command should run, such as the 3D viewport.
  2. 02Press F3 and start typing part of the command’s name.
  3. 03Pick a result with the arrow keys and press Enter to run it.
  4. 04Results only include commands that fit the editor and mode under your mouse.

Where operator search is used

  • Finding a command when you do not know its menu
  • Running a tool a tutorial mentions by name
  • Learning menu locations as you go

Beginner tip

If a search finds nothing, check the mode. Mesh tools such as Subdivide only appear in Edit Mode, and the search lists only what fits the editor under your mouse.

Terms related to operator search

Operator search (F3) FAQ

What does F3 do in Blender?
It opens the search menu, where you type a command’s name and run it. It searches the menus of the editor under your mouse, so the same key finds modeling tools in the 3D viewport and node commands in a node editor.
How do I search for a command in Blender?
Hover over the right editor, press F3 and type. In recent versions you can also open any menu and start typing to search inside it. Press Enter to run the highlighted result.
Why is F3 search not working in Blender?
On many laptops F3 controls brightness or another hardware feature, so try Fn+F3 or change your keyboard’s function-key setting. Also keep the mouse over an editor, because the search runs in the area under the cursor.
Can I search with the spacebar in Blender?
Yes. By default the spacebar plays the animation, but in Preferences > Keymap you can set the spacebar action to Search. F3 keeps working either way.
What is the difference between menu search and operator search?
Menu search, the default on F3, finds commands that appear in menus. Operator search also finds commands with no menu entry. In current Blender it appears once you turn on Developer Extras in Preferences > Interface.

Updated October 29, 2026 · Browse all 3D terms