---
sidebar_position: 3
title: MotherDuck Web UI
description: A guide to the MotherDuck Web UI — write SQL with Instant SQL, use AI to fix and edit queries, and explore your data interactively.
---

import VideoPlayer from '@site/src/components/VideoPlayer';
import useBaseUrl from '@docusaurus/useBaseUrl';

## Getting started

To log in to the MotherDuck UI, go to [app.motherduck.com](https://app.motherduck.com).

:::info
You can also open the web UI directly from the DuckDB CLI:

```bash
duckdb "md:" -ui
```

:::

### Main window

The MotherDuck UI is organized around a notebook-style editor with a database browser on the left and results inspection on the right.

![UI](../img/screenshot_ui.png)

## Instant SQL: write SQL with real time feedback

**Instant SQL** gives you keystroke-fast query previews — results update as you type, with no run button needed.

Under the hood, MotherDuck uses [dual execution](/concepts/architecture-and-capabilities/#dual-execution) to parse and run your query locally first, giving you immediate feedback while full cloud results load in the background. A caching indicator in the cell header shows when results are served from local cache.

<VideoPlayer playbackId="8vxNsFjzL5UQJCOb8XbywS6kZQ2fS6kq0100mDGsuVTAw" title="Instant SQL demo" loop muted autoPlay />

{/* TODO: Replace with new "Instant SQL" video once recorded — see .context/video-outlines.md for shot list */}

### Enabling instant SQL

Toggle Instant SQL on or off per cell using:

- The **Instant SQL toggle** in the cell header
- The keyboard shortcut `Ctrl`/`⌘` + `Shift` + `.`

### What works with instant SQL

- **Filtering in real time:** Add or change a `WHERE` clause and watch results narrow instantly.
- **Multi-statement cells:** Click on any individual statement within a multi-statement cell to preview just that one.
- **Window functions:** Window functions are fully supported in Instant SQL previews.

## Fix errors and edit queries with AI

MotherDuck's AI features help you fix broken queries, rewrite SQL in plain English, and generate queries from scratch — all without leaving the editor.

### "Help me fix this broken query" — FixIt

When you run a query that has an error, **FixIt** automatically analyzes the error and suggests an inline fix. Click to accept and re-run in one step.

<VideoPlayer playbackId="XPE8QqIFIx00ueuep6P0214PTNR00OdMkMI4xh47GnhrUo" title="FixIt demo" loop muted autoPlay />

{/* TODO: Replace with new "Fix errors and edit SQL with AI" video once recorded — see .context/video-outlines.md for shot list */}

By default, FixIt auto-suggests fixes whenever an error occurs. You can turn off auto-suggest and still trigger FixIt manually by clicking **Suggest fix** at the bottom of any error message.

![FixIt manual trigger](../../key-tasks/img/fixit-manual-suggestion.png)

Toggle auto-suggest in **Settings → Preferences → Enable inline SQL error fix suggestions**.

:::tip Free for all users
FixIt is available on all plans, including the free tier.
:::

### "Modify my SQL using plain english" — edit

Select text in your query (or place your cursor anywhere) and press `Ctrl`/`⌘` + `Shift` + `E` to open the **Edit** dialog. Describe what you want to change in natural language:

![Edit prompt](../../key-tasks/img/edit-prompt.png)

Review the suggestion, then iterate with follow-up prompts if needed:

![Edit follow-up](../../key-tasks/img/edit-follow-up.png)

When you're happy with the result, click **Apply edit** to update your query.

![Edit applied](../../key-tasks/img/edit-follow-up-2.png)

### Going further with SQL assistant functions

For programmatic AI access (text-to-SQL, query explanation, schema understanding), see the [SQL Assistant functions](/sql-reference/motherduck-sql-reference/ai-functions/sql-assistant/) reference. These are available in any DuckDB client connected to MotherDuck, not just the web UI.

## Explore your results

### Interactive data grid

Query results load into an interactive data grid where you can sort, filter, and pivot without writing more SQL.

<VideoPlayer playbackId="7OpjiHCerjSlvuBPF1G77Tp1UEICcFw00YLFEkAuPBQI" title="Interactive data grid demo" loop muted autoPlay />

Click the **Expand** button at the top right of any cell to go full-screen on the editor and results.

![Expand cells](../img/screenshot_expand_cells.png)

### Column explorer

The Column Explorer shows statistics for every column in a table or result set — value frequencies, NULL percentages, histograms for numeric columns, and time-series charts for timestamp columns.

<VideoPlayer playbackId="O3lMUQerjXKgmFnVFUR01BX01QFDCMXnEYnHJwatIJKyo" title="Column Explorer demo" loop muted autoPlay />

{/* TODO: Replace with new "Explore your data" video once recorded — see .context/video-outlines.md for shot list */}

Toggle the Column Explorer with `Ctrl`/`⌘` + `I` or the toggle button at the top right of the results panel.

### Cell content pane

Click any cell in the results grid to see its full contents in the Cell Content Pane.

![Cell content — long text](../img/cell_content_long_text.png)

For JSON columns, you can expand and collapse nodes, copy the value, or copy the keypath to any nested field.

![Cell content — JSON](../img/cell_content_json.png)

## Write queries faster

### Autocomplete

Autocomplete suggests SQL syntax, table names, column names, and functions as you type. Turn it off in **Settings → Preferences → Enable autocomplete when typing**.

### Inline docs

Hover over any SQL function in the editor to see its description, parameter types, and return type. Click the **Docs** link in the tooltip to open the full reference.

<div style={{textAlign: 'center', margin: '20px 0'}}>
  <img src={useBaseUrl('/img/getting-started/ui-inline-docs.png')} width="50%" />
</div>

Turn off Inline Docs in **Settings → Preferences → Enable Inline Docs**.

### Format SQL

Press `Ctrl`/`⌘` + `Alt`/`⌥` + `O` to auto-format the SQL in your current cell. When text is selected, only the selection is formatted.

## Navigate the workspace

### Object explorer

Browse your databases, schemas, and tables in the left-hand panel. Toggle it with `Ctrl`/`⌘` + `B`.

<VideoPlayer playbackId="003hHBuzN3ifefRJuikY01YFamy37JY1GQC4fUzWel02qA" title="Object Explorer demo" loop muted autoPlay maxHeight="800px" />

### Command menu

Press `Ctrl`/`⌘` + `K` to open the command menu for quick access to actions, notebooks, and settings.

<VideoPlayer playbackId="Yhuyz6VMmI1cR01qIn7E2NYKmQrHgZlUUo02Ts1wcC4Ng" title="Command menu demo" loop muted autoPlay />

### Notebook and worksheet views

Toggle between notebook view (multiple cells) and worksheet view (single expanded cell) with `Ctrl`/`⌘` + `E`.

### Running queries

The Running Queries page, found under **Settings** → **Running Queries**, lets you monitor and manage long-running queries on your Duckling. For each query, you can see:

- **Query**: The SQL text of the query (click to expand the full statement).
- **Status**: Whether the query is active or has completed.
- **Start time**: When the query started executing.
- **Elapsed time**: How long the query has been running.

This is useful for identifying queries that are taking longer than expected. You can cancel a running query directly from this page.

For programmatic access to active connections and query cancellation through SQL, see [`md_active_server_connections()`](/sql-reference/motherduck-sql-reference/connection-management/monitor-connections/) and [`md_interrupt_server_connection()`](/sql-reference/motherduck-sql-reference/connection-management/interrupt-connections/). For a broader view of query activity across your organization, see the [`RECENT_QUERIES`](/sql-reference/motherduck-sql-reference/md_information_schema/recent_queries/) and [`QUERY_HISTORY`](/sql-reference/motherduck-sql-reference/md_information_schema/query_history/) views.

## Keyboard shortcuts

Use `Ctrl` for Windows/Linux and `⌘` (Command) for Mac. Use `Alt` for Windows/Linux and `⌥` (Option) for Mac.

### Running queries

| Command | Action |
|---------|--------|
| `Ctrl`/`⌘` + `Enter` | Run the current cell. |
| `Ctrl`/`⌘` + `Shift` + `Enter` | Run selected text in the current cell. If no text is selected, run the whole cell. |
| `Shift` + `Enter` or `Alt`/`⌥` + `Enter` | Run the current cell, then advance to the next cell (creates a new one if needed). |

### Editing

| Command | Action |
|---------|--------|
| `Ctrl`/`⌘` + `z` | Undo within current cell. |
| `Ctrl`/`⌘` + `Shift` + `z` | Redo within current cell. |
| `Ctrl`/`⌘` + `Alt`/`⌥` + `o` | Format SQL in the current cell (or selection). |
| `Ctrl`/`⌘` + `/` | Toggle line comments (`--`). |
| `Tab` | Indent current line (in editor). |
| `Shift` + `Tab` | De-indent current line (in editor). |

### AI features

| Command | Action |
|---------|--------|
| `Ctrl`/`⌘` + `Shift` + `.` | Toggle [Instant SQL](#instant-sql-write-sql-with-real-time-feedback) on/off for the active cell. |
| `Ctrl`/`⌘` + `Shift` + `e` | Open [Edit](#modify-my-sql-using-plain-english--edit) for your current cell or selected text. |

### Navigation and layout

| Command | Action |
|---------|--------|
| `Ctrl`/`⌘` + `k` | Open the command menu. |
| `Ctrl`/`⌘` + `/` | Search notebooks, databases and more. |
| `Ctrl`/`⌘` + `b` | Toggle the Object Explorer (left panel). |
| `Ctrl`/`⌘` + `i` | Toggle the Column Explorer (right panel). |
| `Ctrl`/`⌘` + `e` | Toggle notebook/worksheet view for the active cell. |
| `Ctrl`/`⌘` + `↑` | Move current cell up. |
| `Ctrl`/`⌘` + `↓` | Move current cell down. |
| `Esc` | Switch `Tab` to UI navigation mode (reverts on next cell selection). |

## Settings

Settings are found by clicking your profile at the top-left.

| Section | Setting | Description |
|---------|---------|-------------|
| **Organization** | Details | Change the display name of the organization. Enable all users in your email domain to join. See [Managing Organizations](/key-tasks/managing-organizations). |
| | Plans | View your current plan (Free, Standard) and switch plans. |
| | Members | View and invite members to your organization. Members include human users and [service accounts](/key-tasks/service-accounts-guide/). |
| **My Account** | Preferences | Enable [autocomplete](#autocomplete), inline [SQL error fix suggestions](#help-me-fix-this-broken-query--fixit) (FixIt), and [Inline Docs](#inline-docs). |
| | Notifications | Configure notification preferences. |
| | Ducklings | Manage [Duckling sizes](/about-motherduck/billing/duckling-sizes/#duckling-sizes), [Read Scaling](/key-tasks/authenticating-and-connecting-to-motherduck/read-scaling/) pool size, version information, and Duckling reset for troubleshooting. |
| **Integrations** | Access Tokens | Create tokens for programmatically [authenticating to MotherDuck](/key-tasks/authenticating-and-connecting-to-motherduck/authenticating-to-motherduck). Tokens can have expiry dates. |
| | Secrets | Store credentials for [AWS S3](/integrations/cloud-storage/amazon-s3), [Azure Blob Storage](/integrations/cloud-storage/azure-blob-storage), [Google Cloud Storage](/integrations/cloud-storage/google-cloud-storage), Cloudflare R2, and Hugging Face. |
| **Monitor** | Running Queries | View and manage active queries. |
| **Data** | Databases | Browse and manage your databases. |
| | Shares | View and manage [shared databases](/key-tasks/sharing-data/). |
| **Content** | Dives | Manage your saved [Dives](/key-tasks/ai-and-motherduck/dives/). |