Gmail keyboard shortcuts

Gmail becomes much faster once a conversation stays selected. Use the single-key triage actions first, then move through views, open a reply, and read a thread without reaching for the toolbar.

Gmail rewards a small set of decisions made quickly. Start with inbox triage, then move into conversation reading and composing so a message can go from arrival to action without a toolbar detour.

Inbox triage

Single keys act on the selected or checked conversation. Turn shortcuts on in Gmail settings before using any of these.

ActionWindowsmacOSLinux
Archive the conversationeee
Send to Trash###
Mark as readShiftIShiftIShiftI
Mark as unreadShiftUShiftUShiftU
Star or unstarsss
Check or uncheck the selected conversationxxx
Report as spam!!!
Mute the conversationmmm
Undo the last actionzzz
Mark as important+++
Mark as not important---
Snooze the conversationbbb
Add the conversation to TasksShiftTShiftTShiftT

Compose and reply

Start a message, reply or forward a thread, and send it without leaving the conversation.

ActionWindowsmacOSLinux
Compose a new messageccc
Reply to the senderrrr
Reply to everyoneaaa
Forwardfff
Reply in a new windowShiftrShiftrShiftr
Forward in a new windowShiftfShiftfShiftf
Add Cc recipientsCtrlShiftcCmdShiftcCtrlShiftc
Add Bcc recipientsCtrlShiftbCmdShiftbCtrlShiftb
Send the messageCtrlEnterCmdEnterCtrlEnter
Discard the draftShiftEscShiftEscShiftEsc

The g sequences jump straight to a view; type g then the letter.

ActionWindowsmacOSLinux
Go to Inboxgigigi
Go to Starred conversationsgsgsgs
Go to Sent messagesgtgtgt
Go to Draftsgdgdgd
Go to All Mailgagaga
Go to Tasksgkgkgk
Go to Labelsglglgl
Open the older page of resultsg then p opens the newer page.gngngn

Reading a thread

Open, expand, move through, and archive messages while reading a conversation.

ActionWindowsmacOSLinux
Newer message in the threadj moves to the older message.kkk
Move focus out of the input fieldEscEscEsc
Open the selected conversationooo
Return to the thread listuuu
Move to a newer conversationkkk
Move to an older conversationjjj
Previous message in the threadppp
Next message in the threadnnn
Expand the whole thread:::
Collapse or expand the whole thread;;;

Formatting

Format a message in place with the same text controls Gmail exposes in the compose window.

ActionWindowsmacOSLinux
BoldCtrlbCmdbCtrlb
ItalicCtrliCmdiCtrli
UnderlineCtrluCmduCtrlu
Numbered listCtrlShift7CmdShift7CtrlShift7
Bulleted listCtrlShift8CmdShift8CtrlShift8
QuoteCtrlShift9CmdShift9CtrlShift9
Remove formattingCtrl\Cmd\Ctrl\

Selection and menus

Select conversations in a list and open the menus that replace the toolbar for a keyboard-first workflow.

ActionWindowsmacOSLinux
Select all conversations*a*a*a
Deselect all conversations*n*n*n
Select read conversations*r*r*r
Select unread conversations*u*u*u
Move focus to the toolbar,,,
Open the More actions menu...
Open the Move to menuvvv
Open the Label as menulll
Open keyboard shortcut help???

Make the useful keys stick

The point is not to turn email into a game. It is to make the few decisions you repeat all day feel direct, then leave the unusual message actions here until you need them.

You do not need this whole page in your head. Pick two shortcuts that remove a repeated hand movement, use them until they feel ordinary, and come back for the next pair.

Make a printable sheet for this app