Slack keyboard shortcuts
Slack is chat for work, organized into channels, direct messages, and threads. Its shortcuts jump between unread conversations, switch workspaces and tabs, edit and format messages, and work inside canvases.
Windows, macOS, Linux · 94 shortcutsSlack basics
Compose, search, change status, open help, manage the desktop window, and reach the preferences or shortcut list.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Compose a new message | Windows / LinuxCtrl + NorCtrl + Shift + K macOSCmd + NorCmd + Shift + K |
| Unsend a message | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Z macOSCmd + Z |
| Set your status | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + Y macOSCmd + Shift + Y |
| Open preferencesDesktop app only. | Windows / LinuxCtrl + , macOSCmd + , |
| Resize the left sidebarPress F6 to move focus to the sidebar first. | Windows / macOS / LinuxLeft or Right |
| Hide the right sidebar | Windows / LinuxCtrl + . macOSCmd + . |
| Create a new canvas | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + N macOSCmd + Shift + N |
| Upload a fileDesktop app only. | Windows / LinuxCtrl + O macOSCmd + O |
| View downloaded filesDesktop app only. | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + J macOSCmd + Shift + J |
| Create a new snippet | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + Enter macOSCmd + Shift + Enter |
| Add an emoji reaction to a messageSlack lists several equivalent keys depending on keyboard language. | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + \ macOSCmd + Shift + \ |
| Start a search | Windows / LinuxCtrl + G macOSCmd + G |
| Open Help | Windows / macOS / LinuxF1 |
| Toggle full-screen view | Windows / LinuxF11 macOSCtrl + Cmd + F |
| Close the Slack window | Windows / LinuxCtrl + W macOSCmd + W |
| Reopen the last closed window | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + W macOSCmd + Shift + W |
| Open the People view | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + E macOSCmd + Shift + E |
| Quit SlackDesktop app only. | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Q macOSCmd + Q |
| Open Slack's keyboard shortcut list | Windows / LinuxCtrl + / macOSCmd + / |
Conversations and messages
Jump through unread conversations, move around the sidebar, open views, and move focus between Slack's major sections.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Jump to the most recent unread messageDesktop app only. | Windows / LinuxCtrl + J macOSCmd + J |
| Jump to the previous unread channel or DM | Windows / LinuxAlt + Shift + Up macOSOption + Shift + Up |
| Jump to the next unread channel or DM | Windows / LinuxAlt + Shift + Down macOSOption + Shift + Down |
| Move to the previous channel or DM | Windows / LinuxAlt + Up macOSOption + Up |
| Move to the next channel or DM | Windows / LinuxAlt + Down macOSOption + Down |
| Go back in conversation history | Windows / LinuxAlt + Left macOSCmd + [ |
| Go forward in conversation history | Windows / LinuxAlt + Right macOSCmd + ] |
| Open the Home view | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + 1 macOSCtrl + 1 |
| Browse direct messages | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + 2 macOSCmd + Shift + K |
| Open the Activity viewDesktop app only. | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + M macOSCmd + Shift + M |
| Open the More view | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + 0 macOSCtrl + 0 |
| Open the Threads viewDesktop app only. | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + T macOSCmd + Shift + T |
| Browse channelsDesktop app only. | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + L macOSCmd + Shift + L |
| Open conversation details | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + I macOSCmd + Shift + I |
| Jump to a conversationWindows and Linux desktop apps. | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + K then Ctrl + T |
| Move focus to the next section | Windows / macOS / LinuxF6 |
| Move focus to the previous section | Windows / macOS / LinuxShift + F6 |
| Expand or collapse all sidebar sections | Windows / LinuxAlt + Click macOSOption + Click |
Unread messages and workspaces
Catch up in All unreads, mark messages, and switch between workspaces without reopening the sidebar.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Open the All unreads view | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + A macOSCmd + Shift + A |
| Move between unread messages | Windows / macOS / LinuxUp or Down |
| Mark a message as unread | Windows / LinuxAlt + Click macOSOption + Click |
| Mark the current conversation as read | Windows / macOS / LinuxEsc |
| Mark all messages as read | Windows / macOS / LinuxShift + Esc |
| Open or collapse an unread group | Windows / macOS / LinuxLeft or Right |
| Expand or collapse the workspace switcher | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + S macOSCmd + Shift + S |
| Switch to the previous workspace | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + Shift + Tab |
| Switch to the next workspace | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + Tab |
| Switch to a specific workspaceThe number is shown under or beside the workspace icon in the Slack desktop app. | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Number macOSCmd + Number |
Tabs and message actions
Switch navigation tabs and act on a focused message with one-key editing, threading, forwarding, saving, and reaction controls.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Switch to the previous navigation tab | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + PageUp |
| Switch to the next navigation tab | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + PageDown |
| Switch to a specific navigation tab | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + Number macOSCtrl + Number |
| Edit a message you sent | Windows / macOS / LinuxE |
| Delete a message you sent | Windows / macOS / LinuxDelete |
| Open or reply to a threadRight Arrow also opens or replies to a thread. | Windows / macOS / LinuxT |
| Forward a message | Windows / macOS / LinuxF |
| Pin or unpin a message | Windows / macOS / LinuxP |
| Save a message or remove it from Later | Windows / macOS / LinuxA |
| Mark messages above the focused message as unread | Windows / macOS / LinuxU |
| Create a reminder about a message | Windows / macOS / LinuxM |
| Add an emoji reaction to a focused message | Windows / macOS / LinuxR |
| Edit your last sent message from the message fieldSlack lets you change this preference so Up focuses the last visible message instead. | Windows / macOS / LinuxUp |
Message formatting
Format selected message text, insert a line break, and use the same language-aware bindings Slack documents for rich messages.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Select text to the beginning of the line | Windows / macOS / LinuxShift + Up |
| Select text to the end of the line | Windows / macOS / LinuxShift + Down |
| Create a new line | Windows / macOS / LinuxShift + Enter |
| Bold selected text | Windows / LinuxCtrl + B macOSCmd + B |
| Italicize selected text | Windows / LinuxCtrl + I macOSCmd + I |
| Underline selected text | Windows / LinuxNot documented macOSCmd + U |
| Strikethrough selected text | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + X macOSCmd + Shift + X |
| Hyperlink selected text | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + U macOSCmd + Shift + U |
| Quote selected text | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + 9 macOSCmd + Shift + 9 |
| Format selected text as code | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + C macOSCmd + Shift + C |
| Format selected text as a code block | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Alt + Shift + C macOSCmd + Alt + Shift + C |
| Format selected text as a bulleted list | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + 8 macOSCmd + Shift + 8 |
| Format selected text as a numbered list | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + 7 macOSCmd + Shift + 7 |
| Apply Markdown formatting | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + F macOSCmd + Shift + F |
| Undo formatting | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Z macOSCmd + Z |
| Create a hyperlink from selected text using a copied URL | Windows / LinuxCtrl + V macOSCmd + V |
Canvas
Navigate and format Slack canvas content with the canvas-specific commands for views, comments, find and replace, anchors, lists, and headings.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| View a comment thread | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Alt + T macOSCmd + Option + T |
| Show reader or edit view | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Alt + R macOSCmd + Option + R |
| Open the canvas context menu | Windows / LinuxShift + F10 macOSCmd + Shift + / |
| Find text in the canvas | Windows / LinuxCtrl + F macOSCmd + F |
| Find the next canvas match | Windows / LinuxCtrl + G macOSCmd + G |
| Find the previous canvas match | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + G macOSCmd + Shift + G |
| Find and replace in the canvas | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + H macOSCmd + Shift + H |
| Copy an anchor link to a section | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Alt + Q macOSCtrl + Option + Q |
| Undo the last canvas action | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Z macOSCmd + Z |
| Redo the last canvas action | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + Z macOSCmd + Shift + Z |
| Move a formatted-list item up | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Alt + Up macOSCmd + Option + Up |
| Move a formatted-list item down | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Alt + Down macOSCmd + Option + Down |
| Format selected canvas text as a paragraph | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Alt + 0 macOSCmd + Option + 0 |
| Format selected canvas text as a big heading | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Alt + 1 macOSCmd + Option + 1 |
| Format selected canvas text as a medium heading | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Alt + 2 macOSCmd + Option + 2 |
| Format selected canvas text as a small heading | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Alt + 3 macOSCmd + Option + 3 |
| Format selected canvas text as a checklist | Windows / LinuxCtrl + Shift + 0 macOSCmd + Shift + 0 |
| Toggle heading and list styles | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + ` |
Source
official Slack keyboard shortcuts · Checked
Current Slack Help shortcuts checked in August 2026. A single asterisk in Slack's source means the binding can vary by keyboard language; two asterisks mean it works only in the desktop app. Slack does not currently support custom shortcuts.