The easiest way to increase Gmail productivity is to start using keyboard shortcuts. We’ve rounded them all up in this free cheat sheet.
If you really want to master Gmail and increase your email productivity, you need to memorize all your keyboard shortcuts. These help you navigate, compose, and format with ease. You can get more done when you spend less time moving and clicking your mouse.
To help you out, we’ve rounded up all the Gmail keyboard shortcuts. Keep this list by your side and soon shortcuts will become second nature.
FREE DOWNLOAD: This cheat sheet is available as a downloadable PDF from our distribution partner, TradePub. You will have to complete a short form to access it for the first time. download the Gmail Keyboard Shortcuts Cheat Sheet.
How to enable keyboard shortcuts in Gmail
Before you begin, some keyboard shortcuts won’t work if you haven’t enabled a specific Gmail setting. Follow these steps to enable all keyboard shortcuts:
- Go to Gmail and click Settings (gear icon) at the top right.
- Click See all settings.
- Scroll down to the Keyboard shortcuts section and select Keyboard shortcuts enabled.
- Finally, at the bottom of the page, click Save Changes.
Keyboard shortcuts for Gmail
|
Shortcut |
Action |
|---|---|
|
quick navigation |
|
|
G+A |
Go to all mail |
|
G+C |
Go to Contacts |
|
G+D |
Go to Drafts |
|
g + i |
Go to inbox |
|
G+K |
Go to Tasks |
|
G+S |
Go to Featured Conversations |
|
G+T |
Go to Sent messages |
|
G+B |
Go to Postponed messages |
|
G+L |
Start tag search |
|
G+N |
Go to the next page |
|
G+P |
Return to the previous page |
|
your |
Back to thread list |
|
what |
Go to the most recent conversation |
|
j |
Go to previous conversation |
|
` (back quote) |
Go to the next section of Inbox |
|
~ (tilde) |
Go to the previous section of the inbox |
|
/ (slash) |
go to search box |
|
Get into |
open conversation |
|
. (Period) |
Open the More menu |
|
reading messages |
|
|
X |
select conversation |
|
R. |
Reply |
|
A |
Answer everyone |
|
me |
File, Archive |
|
F |
Forward |
|
METER |
Mute Conversation |
|
north |
Next message in open conversation |
|
P |
Previous message in open conversation |
|
S |
toggle star |
|
z |
Undo last action |
|
! |
Report as spam |
|
# |
Delete |
|
B. |
Nap |
|
V |
Open the Move To menu |
|
L |
Open Label As Menu |
|
(eat) |
Move focus to toolbar |
|
– (less) |
Mark as not important |
|
= (same) |
mark as important |
|
; (Semicolon) |
Expand all conversation |
|
: (colon) |
Collapse all conversation |
|
_ (Underscore) |
Mark currently open message as unread |
|
[ |
Archive conversation and go to previous message |
|
] |
Archive conversation and go to next message |
|
Shift + R |
Reply in a new window |
|
Shift + A |
Reply all in a new window |
|
Shift + F |
Forward in a new window |
|
shift + me |
Mark as read |
|
Shift + U |
Mark as unread |
|
Shift + N |
update conversation |
|
Shift + T |
Add conversation to Tasks |
|
Composition |
|
|
C. |
Create Message |
|
D. |
Write message in new tab |
|
Esc |
Focus on the last chat or compose |
|
Cmd/Ctrl + K |
insert a link |
|
Cmd/Ctrl + M |
Open spelling suggestions |
|
Command + ; |
Go to the next misspelled word (Mac only) |
|
Cmd/Ctrl + Enter |
Send |
|
Shift + Cmd/Ctrl + B |
Add Bcc Recipients |
|
Shift + Cmd/Ctrl + C |
Add CC Recipients |
|
Shift + Esc |
Focus on main window |
|
Ctrl+. |
Go to the next chat or compose |
|
Ctrl+, |
Move to previous chat or compose |
|
Shift + Cmd/Ctrl + F |
personalized access from |
|
formatting |
|
|
Command/Ctrl + B |
Bold |
|
Cmd/Ctrl + I |
Italics |
|
Cmd/Ctrl + U |
Underline |
|
Command/Ctrl + [ |
Indent less |
|
Cmd/Ctrl + ] |
bleed more |
|
Cmd/Ctrl + \ |
remove format |
|
Shift + Cmd/Ctrl + 7 |
numbered list |
|
Shift + Cmd/Ctrl + 8 |
bulleted list |
|
Shift + Cmd/Ctrl + 9 |
Appointment |
|
Shift + Cmd/Ctrl + E |
align center |
|
Shift + Cmd/Ctrl + L |
Align to the left |
|
Shift + Cmd/Ctrl + R |
to align to the right |
|
Shift + Cmd/Ctrl + 5 |
old source |
|
Shift + Cmd/Ctrl + 6 |
next source |
|
Shift + Cmd/Ctrl + + |
Increase text size |
|
Shift + Cmd/Ctrl + – |
Decrease text size |
|
conversation selection |
|
|
* + A |
Select all conversations |
|
* + north |
Deselect all conversations |
|
* + S |
Select featured conversations |
|
* +T |
Select Unstarred Conversations |
|
* + R |
Select read conversations |
|
* + you |
Select unread conversations |
How to use custom keyboard shortcuts in Gmail
If the default keyboard shortcuts don’t work for you, Gmail lets you relink them. That’s how:
- Go to Gmail and click Settings (gear icon) at the top right.
- Click See all settings.
- Click on the Advanced eyelash.
- Beside Custom keyboard shortcutsclick Enable.
- At the bottom of the page, click Save Changes.
- navigate back to See all settings page and click on the Keyboard shortcuts eyelash.
- Next to each action, enter the desired shortcut key(s). You cannot bind the same key(s) to multiple actions.
- Finally, scroll down and click on Save Changes.
Expand the functionality of Gmail with extensions
Once you’ve mastered these Gmail keyboard shortcuts, you can take your email efficiency a step further by installing Gmail browser extensions. There are many available from third-party developers, allowing you to send voice notes, pause your inbox, and much more. You will wonder how you ever lived without them!