Use Google Chat keyboard shortcuts

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.

Start a conversation

1. Select an option:
   • On Chrome OS and Microsoft Windows, press Ctrl + p. 
   • On macOS, press ⌘ + s.
2. To move through the suggestions:
   • Enter the username.
   • Use the Up and Down arrows, then press Enter.
3. Enter your message.
4. To send your message, press Enter or Tab until Send  is highlighted  Enter.

Create or find a space

1. Select an option:
   • On Chrome OS and Windows, press Ctrl + o. 
   • On macOS, press ⌘ + o.
2. To create a space, enter the name. 
3. Press Tab  Enter.
4. 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.

Start a new conversation or message in a space

1. Select an option:
   • On Chrome OS and Windows, press Ctrl + s. 
   • On macOS, press ⌘ + s.
2. A new thread or message box opens.
3. Enter your message.
4. Press Enter.