You can use keyboard shortcuts in Google Chat on Chrome OS, macOS, and Windows. To access shortcuts in Chat, type ? anytime, except when you enter text in a field.
Use keyboard shortcuts in Chat
Category | Shortcut | Chrome OS | macOS | Windows | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Actions across "Chat" and "Spaces" | Navigate between views | Search | Alt + / | / | Alt + / |
Navigate the sidebar | Focus on previous or next space or conversation | ↑ or ↓ | ↑ or ↓ | ↑ or ↓ | |
Move focus between "Spaces" or "Chat" section |
Ctrl + ↑ or Ctrl + ↓ |
⌘+ ↑ or ⌘ + ↓ |
Ctrl + ↑ or Ctrl + ↓ |
||
Focus on previous unread item | Shift + ↑ | Shift + ↑ | Shift + ↑ | ||
Focus on next unread item | Shift + ↓ | Shift + ↓ | Shift + ↓ | ||
Open a space or conversation | → | → | → | ||
Anywhere | Show keyboard shortcuts | ? | ? | ? | |
Actions within a space | Navigate conversations within a space | Open a space menu | Ctrl + g | ⌘ + g | Ctrl + g |
Start a new message, thread, or topic | Ctrl + s | ⌘ + s | Ctrl + s | ||
Navigate messages within a conversation | Focus on previous or next message | ↑ or ↓ | ↑ or ↓ | ↑ or ↓ | |
Focus on reply box | r | r | r | ||
Reply box | Edit previously posted message | ↑ | ↑ | ↑ | |
New line | Shift + Enter | Shift + Enter | Shift + Enter | ||
Show emoji picker | : | : | : | ||
Copy a transcript of the conversation | Copy selected messages as a transcript | Control + Shift + . | ⌘ + Shift + . | Control + Shift + . |
Use keyboard shortcuts in spaces with in-line threading
In a space with in-line threading, you can send a message to the entire group in the main conversation or reply to a single message. When you reply to a single message, it branches into a separate conversation through an in-line thread. In-line threads are helpful when you want to have a side conversation.
Shortcut Type | Specific Action | Chrome OS | macOS | Windows |
---|---|---|---|---|
Main conversation | Reply to a thread or start a new thread while focus is on a message | Enter | Enter | Enter |
Focus on either the thread navigation panel icon, the open thread navigation panel or the open thread | → | → | → | |
Reading a thread | Go up or down the list of replies | ↑ or ↓ | ↑ or ↓ | ↑ or ↓ |
Go to the top or bottom of the list |
Shift + ↑ or Shift + ↓ |
Shift + ↑ or Shift + ↓ |
Shift + ↑ or Shift + ↓ |
|
Exit to the thread navigation panel | Esc | Esc | Esc | |
Focus on reply box | r | r | r | |
Go back to the main conversation | ← | ← | ← | |
Thread navigation panel (“Active Threads”) |
Go up or down the list of threads | ↑ or ↓ | ↑ or ↓ | ↑ or ↓ |
Focus on the top or bottom thread in the list |
Shift + ↑ or Shift + ↓ |
Shift + ↑ or Shift + ↓ |
Shift + ↑ or Shift + ↓ |
|
Select and open thread | Enter | Enter | Enter | |
Focus on the follow chip for the current thread (To navigate off, press ←) | → | → | → | |
Close the thread navigation panel | Esc | Esc | Esc | |
Focus on reply box in main conversation | r | r | r | |
Go back to the main conversation | ← | ← | ← |
Use keyboard shortcuts in spaces grouped by topic
Shortcut Type | Specific Action | Chrome OS | macOS | Windows |
---|---|---|---|---|
Navigate topics within a space | Go up or down topics | ↑ or ↓ | ↑ or ↓ | ↑ or ↓ |
Focus on first message of current topic | → | → | → | |
Reply to current topic | r | r | r | |
Focus on last topic or message | Ctrl + j | ⌘ + j | Ctrl + j | |
Navigate messages within a topic | Focus on the topic | ← or Esc | ← or Esc | ← or Esc |
Go up or down messages in the topic | ↑ or ↓ | ↑ or ↓ | ↑ or ↓ |
Use keyboard shortcuts to navigate around Chat
Navigate around chat- To go to a conversation or space, use the Up and Down arrows. To open a conversation or space, press Enter.
- By default, the focus is on the message or conversation box. To read messages in a 1:1 conversation or space, press Esc to exit the box, then to go through the messages, use the Up arrow.
Spaces have 2 levels:
- Level one is the list of conversations.
- Level 2 is messages within a conversation.
Tips:
- To move through the level, use the Up and Down arrows.
- To change the level, use the Left and Right arrows.
- Select an option:
- On Chrome OS and Microsoft Windows, press Ctrl + p.
- On macOS, press ⌘ + s.
- To move through the suggestions:
- Enter the username.
- Use the Up and Down arrows, then press Enter.
- Enter your message.
- To send your message, press Enter or Tab until Send
is highlighted
Enter.
- Select an option:
- On Chrome OS and Windows, press Ctrl + o.
- On macOS, press ⌘ + o.
- To create a space, enter the name.
- Press Tab
Enter.
- To find and join a space:
- To move through the list of spaces, use the Up and Down arrows.
- Press Tab to highlight or “Preview”
Enter.
- Select an option:
- On Chrome OS and Windows, press Ctrl + s.
- On macOS, press ⌘ + s.
- A new thread or message box opens.
- Enter your message.
- Press Enter.