Overleaf Tips and Tricks: Work Faster in 2026

Overleaf is the most widely used online LaTeX editor, but many users only scratch the surface of what it can do. These tips cover keyboard shortcuts, collaboration features, project organization, and extensions that can significantly speed up your workflow.

Essential Keyboard Shortcuts

Overleaf uses the same shortcuts as most code editors. Learning a few key ones can save significant time:

You can also switch to Vim or Emacs keybindings in Overleaf's settings under Editor → Keybindings.

Collaboration Features

• Share with link — Generate a view-only or edit link to share with collaborators without requiring Overleaf accounts.
• Track changes — Enable track changes to see who changed what. Useful when your advisor reviews your draft.
• Comments — Select text and add a comment (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + C). Comments appear in the margin like Word's review mode.
• Version history — Overleaf automatically saves versions. You can label important milestones (e.g., "v1 submitted") and compare or restore any previous version.
• Git integration — On premium plans, you can clone your Overleaf project as a Git repository and sync changes both ways.

Project Organization

For anything beyond a short paper, organize your project into folders:

Use \input{sections/introduction} to include each section. This keeps your main file clean and makes it easier to navigate. In Overleaf, you can click on any \input or \include command to jump directly to that file.

Speed Up Compilation

• Use draft mode — Add [draft] to your documentclass options. Images render as placeholder boxes, cutting compile time significantly.
• Switch to LuaLaTeX only when needed — pdfLaTeX compiles faster than LuaLaTeX or XeLaTeX. Only switch when you need Unicode fonts or advanced features.
• Reduce image sizes — Large PNG files slow compilation. Convert to PDF for vector graphics or compress PNGs before uploading.
• Use Auto Compile wisely — Turn off auto-compile when making many edits in rapid succession. Compile manually with Cmd/Ctrl + Enter when ready.

Rich Text Mode

Overleaf's rich text mode renders your LaTeX as formatted text — headings appear as headings, bold appears as bold, and figures display inline. This is helpful for collaborators who aren't comfortable reading raw LaTeX. Toggle it with the editor mode switch at the top of the editor.

Useful Overleaf Features You Might Not Know About

• Word count — Click the Overleaf menu (top-left) → Word Count. It counts words in the compiled output, excluding LaTeX commands.
• Spell check language — Set the spell check language in the menu. Overleaf supports dozens of languages.
• SyncTeX — Double-click in the PDF preview to jump to the corresponding line in your source. Double-click in source to jump to the PDF location.
• Template gallery — Browse thousands of templates at overleaf.com/gallery — journals, conference formats, CVs, posters, and more.
• Upload from Dropbox/GitHub — Sync your project with Dropbox or GitHub for external backups (on premium plans).