Before you begin
To access your preferences, click your name towards the bottom of the left navigation sidebar, then select Preferences.
Global Navigation
Global Navigation adds a persistent top bar across every screen in Instinct, so you never lose access to Search (formerly Lookup), Ask (formerly Assistant), and system tools while navigating the app.
In Preferences, under Global Navigation, toggle the setting On or Off.
When On, the top bar includes:
Back: adds the word Back to the back arrow (<) on individual page headers
Search: opens Universal Search
Ask: opens Assistant from any page within Instinct
Notifications 🔔
Help❓: access to the Instinct support chat or email and view keyboard shortcuts
Admin ⚙️: visible only if you have admin permissions
Log out 🔒
Your user menu, which contains: Preferences, Connection Status, Refresh Instinct, Pawn ‘n’ Play, and shows your version of Instinct
Notifications, Look Up, Assistant, Help, Admin, Profile, and Log Out will no longer appear in the left navigation sidebar—they move to the top bar instead.
Note: Enabling Global Navigation makes Universal Search your default search. Global Navigation is not available on whiteboard or TV views.
Universal Search
Universal Search is a single search box that finds patients, chart documents, invoices, accounts, and Practice Library files across your practice—without navigating to a specific screen first. Visit our Universal Search articles to learn more about this feature.
Note: When Global Navigation is on, Universal Search is your default search.
In Preferences, under Universal Search, toggle the setting On or Off.
With Global Navigation on, open Universal Search by selecting Search in the top navigation bar or pressing Cmd+K (Mac) / Ctrl+K (Windows) from anywhere in Instinct.
With Global Navigation off, open Universal Search by selecting Lookup in the left navigation panel or pressing Cmd+K (Mac) / Ctrl+K (Windows) from anywhere in Instinct.
Frequently asked questions
Do my preferences affect other staff members?
No. These settings are personal—changes to your preferences do not affect anyone else at your practice.
Where did Notifications, Look Up, and Assistant go when Global Navigation is on?
These tools move to the top bar and are accessible from any screen.
Can I use Universal Search without turning on Global Navigation?
Yes. Without Global Navigation on, you can open Universal Search from anywhere in Instinct by pressing Cmd+K (Mac) or Ctrl+K (Windows), or select Look Up in the left navigation sidebar, then choose Try Universal Search at the top right of the search window.
Submit feedback
Feel free to give us feedback on User Preferences by submitting a feature request. In the in-app chat, select Ask a Question → Submit a Ticket → New Feature Idea. All feedback is submitted to the Product and Engineering teams.
Still need help?
Contact support via live chat or email [email protected].