Gmail keyboard shortcuts
Gmail is Google's email service, used in the browser for personal and work mail. Turn on keyboard shortcuts in Settings to use the single-key inbox actions; the rest jump between views, move through threads, and help you write and format a message.
Windows, macOS, Linux · 85 shortcutsCompose and chat
Move focus through compose or chat, send a message, add recipients, and use the compose editor's formatting controls.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Move to the previous message in an open conversation | Windows / macOS / Linuxp |
| Move to the next message in an open conversation | Windows / macOS / Linuxn |
| Focus the main window | Windows / macOS / LinuxShift + Esc |
| Focus the latest chat or compose window | Windows / macOS / LinuxEsc |
| Advance to the next chat or compose window | Windows / LinuxCtrl + . macOSCmd + . |
| Advance to the previous chat or compose window | Windows / LinuxCtrl + , macOSCmd + , |
| Send the message | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Enter macOSCmd + Enter |
| Add Cc recipients | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + C macOSCmd + Shift + C |
| Add Bcc recipients | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + B macOSCmd + Shift + B |
| Access the custom From field | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + F macOSCmd + Shift + F |
| Insert a link | Windows / LinuxCtrl + K macOSCmd + K |
| Go to the next misspelled wordGoogle documents this binding for Mac only. | Windows / LinuxNot documented macOSCmd + ; |
| Open spelling suggestions | Windows / LinuxCtrl + M macOSCmd + M |
Formatting text
Format the message body, change text size or font, align text, and remove formatting while composing.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Choose the previous font | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + 5 macOSCmd + Shift + 5 |
| Choose the next font | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + 6 macOSCmd + Shift + 6 |
| Decrease text size | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + - macOSCmd + Shift + - |
| Increase text size | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + + macOSCmd + Shift + + |
| Bold | Windows / LinuxCtrl + B macOSCmd + B |
| Italic | Windows / LinuxCtrl + I macOSCmd + I |
| Underline | Windows / LinuxCtrl + U macOSCmd + U |
| Numbered list | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + 7 macOSCmd + Shift + 7 |
| Bulleted list | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + 8 macOSCmd + Shift + 8 |
| Quote | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + 9 macOSCmd + Shift + 9 |
| Indent less | Windows / LinuxCtrl + [ macOSCmd + [ |
| Indent more | Windows / LinuxCtrl + ] macOSCmd + ] |
| Align left | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + L macOSCmd + Shift + L |
| Align center | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + E macOSCmd + Shift + E |
| Align right | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + R macOSCmd + Shift + R |
| Remove formatting | Windows / LinuxCtrl + \ macOSCmd + \ |
Inbox actions
These single-key actions apply to the selected conversation and only work after Gmail keyboard shortcuts are enabled.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Move focus to the toolbar | Windows / macOS / Linux, |
| Select or deselect a conversation | Windows / macOS / Linuxx |
| Toggle or rotate the star | Windows / macOS / Linuxs |
| Archive the conversation | Windows / macOS / Linuxe |
| Mute the conversation | Windows / macOS / Linuxm |
| Report the conversation as spam | Windows / macOS / Linux! |
| Delete the conversation | Windows / macOS / Linux# |
| Reply | Windows / macOS / Linuxr |
| Forward | Windows / macOS / Linuxf |
| Forward in a new window | Windows / macOS / LinuxShift + f |
| Update the conversation | Windows / macOS / LinuxShift + n |
| Archive and go to the next conversation[ archives and goes to the previous conversation. | Windows / macOS / Linux] |
| Undo the last action | Windows / macOS / Linuxz |
| Mark as read | Windows / macOS / LinuxShift + i |
| Mark as unread | Windows / macOS / LinuxShift + u |
| Mark unread from the selected message | Windows / macOS / Linux_ |
| Mark as important= is also documented. | Windows / macOS / Linux+ |
| Mark as not important | Windows / macOS / Linux- |
| Snooze the conversationNot available in classic Gmail. | Windows / macOS / Linuxb |
| Expand the entire conversation | Windows / macOS / Linux; |
| Collapse the entire conversation | Windows / macOS / Linux: |
| Add the conversation to Tasks | Windows / macOS / LinuxShift + t |
Jumping
Type g followed by the second key to jump directly to a Gmail view, or use the application navigation shortcuts.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Go to Inbox | Windows / macOS / Linuxg then i |
| Go to Starred | Windows / macOS / Linuxg then s |
| Go to Snoozed | Windows / macOS / Linuxg then b |
| Go to Sent | Windows / macOS / Linuxg then t |
| Go to Drafts | Windows / macOS / Linuxg then d |
| Go to All Mail | Windows / macOS / Linuxg then a |
| Go to Tasks | Windows / macOS / Linuxg then k |
| Go to a label | Windows / macOS / Linuxg then l |
| Move between the side panel and inboxThe comma variant moves in the other direction. | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Alt + . macOSCmd + Alt + . |
Application shortcuts
Open compose, search, menus, labels, and keyboard shortcut help from anywhere in Gmail.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Compose a new message | Windows / macOS / Linuxc |
| Compose in a new tab | Windows / macOS / Linuxd |
| Search mail | Windows / macOS / Linux/ |
| Search chat contacts | Windows / macOS / Linuxq |
| Open the More actions menu | Windows / macOS / Linux. |
| Open the Move to menu | Windows / macOS / Linuxv |
| Open the Label as menu | Windows / macOS / Linuxl |
| Open keyboard shortcut help | Windows / macOS / Linux? |
Source
official Gmail keyboard shortcuts · Checked
Google's official Gmail Help page checked in August 2026. Gmail keyboard shortcuts must be turned on in Settings, and Google notes that language and keyboard layout can affect support. Gmail also lets users customize the single-key actions after enabling custom shortcuts.