#2459·helium

[Bug]: Custom "Inspect Element" shortcut triggers DevTools-on-DevTools window; Helium's own default (Ctrl+Shift+E) does not

Author: renzoupwardCreated Sep 6, 2026Updated Sep 17, 2026
Labelsbug

Operating system

Windows

Version

Version 0.16.5.1 (Official Build, Chromium 152.0.7977.82) (64-bit)

Have you tested that this is not an upstream issue or an issue with your configuration?

  • I have tried reproducing this issue in Chrome and it could not be reproduced there
  • I have tried reproducing this issue in ungoogled-chromium and it could not be reproduced there
  • I have tried reproducing this issue in Helium with a new and empty profile using --user-data-dir command line argument and it could not be reproduced there

Description

Using a custom keyboard shortcut for "Inspect Element" triggers a nested instance of DevTools while Helium's default (Ctrl+Shift+E) for the same action does not.

Crash ID

No response

How to Reproduce?

  1. Undock DevTools into a separate window; click into it so it's focused.
  2. Press Ctrl+Shift+E (Helium's default Inspect Element shortcut) — no new window opens as expected.
  3. In Settings (helium://settings/system/shortcuts), bind a custom shortcut to Inspect Element (e.g., Ctrl+Shift+C).
  4. With DevTools still focused, press the custom shortcut.

Actual behavior

Custom shortcut opens a nested DevTools window.

Expected behavior

It should behave the same way as the default (Ctrl+Shift+E) since they are assigned to the same action.

Additional context

Copy URL's default shortcut (Ctrl+Shift+C) was disabled first to free it up for the custom Inspect Element binding