Use Google Chat keyboard shortcuts

You can use keyboard shortcuts in Google Chat on Android, 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

Important: To make the shortcuts “/,” “h then c,” “h then r,” and “q” available, enable keyboard shortcuts in the “?” dialog.

Available everywhere

Action	ChromeOS & Windows	macOS
Open Keyboard Shortcut help	?	?
Search in "Chats and Spaces"	/	/
Focus on "Direct message" conversation list	h then c	h then c
Focus on Spaces list	h then r	h then r
Browse Spaces	Ctrl + o	Command + o
Create a Space	Ctrl + i	Command + i
New chat	q or Ctrl + Shift + k	q or Command + Shift + k

Navigating within the sidebar

Action	ChromeOS & Windows	macOS
Focus on previous or next space or direct message	↑ or ↓	↑ or ↓
Focus on previous or next unread space or direct message	Shift + ↑ or Shift + ↓	Shift + ↑ or Shift + ↓
Move focus between “Shortcuts,” “Spaces,” or “Direct messages”	Ctrl + ↑ or Ctrl + ↓	Command ↑ or Command + ↓
Select Shortcut, Space, or Direct message	→ or Enter	→ or Enter
Focus on "Direct message" conversation list	h then c	h then c
Focus on Spaces list	h then r	h then r

Navigating chat messages

Action	ChromeOS & Windows	macOS
Focus on previous or next message	↑ or ↓	↑ or ↓
Focus main reply box	r or Ctrl + s	r or Command + s
Open Space or Direct message menu	Ctrl + g	Command + g
Focus the last message	Ctrl + j	Command + j
Return focus to sidebar	Esc	Esc

Navigating space messages

Action	ChromeOS & Windows	macOS
Focus on previous or next message	↑ or ↓	↑ or ↓
Open the thread and focus last message	→	→
Open the thread and focus reply box	Enter or r	Enter or r
Focus main reply box	Ctrl + s	Command + s
Open Space or Direct message menu	Ctrl + g	Command + g
Focus the last message	Ctrl + j	Command + j
Open and focus the thread navigation panel	h then t	h then t
Return focus to sidebar	Esc	Esc

Navigating messages within a thread

Action	ChromeOS & Windows	macOS
Focus on previous or next message	↑ or ↓	↑ or ↓
Focus on first message in thread	Shift + ↑	Shift + ↑
Focus on last message in thread	Shift + ↓	Shift + ↓
Go back to the main conversation	←	←
Exit to thread navigation panel	Esc	Esc
Focus thread reply box	Enter or r	Enter or r
Focus main reply box	Ctrl + s	Command + s

Reply box

Action	ChromeOS & Windows	macOS
Send reply	Enter	Enter
Edit previously posted message	↑	↑
Insert new line in message	Shift + Enter	Shift + Enter
Show emoji picker	: (colon)	: (colon)
Return focus to messages	Esc	Esc
Read the preceding {number} message with a screen reader	Alt + {number}	Option + {number}

Navigating popups

Action	ChromeOS & Windows	macOS
Move focus between main window and last chat popup	Shift + Esc	Shift + Esc
Go to next chat popup	Ctrl + . (period)	Command + . (period)
Go to previous chat popup	Ctrl + , (comma)	Command + , (comma)

Workspace side panel

Action	ChromeOS & Windows	macOS
Move focus among main window, side panel, and video call	Ctrl + Alt + . (period)	Command + Option + . (period)
Reverse focus among main window, side panel, and video call	Ctrl + Alt + , (comma)	Command + Option + , (comma)

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.

Legacy Spaces always have 2 levels:

• Level one is the list of conversations.
• Level 2 is messages within a conversation.

Current Spaces can have 2 levels:

• Level one is the main conversation.
• Any message in the main conversation can start a thread at the second level.

Tips:

• To move through the level, use the Up and Down arrows.
• To change the level, use the Left and Right arrows.
  • This may start a thread if one doesn't already exist.

Start a conversation

1. Select an option:
   • On Chrome OS and Microsoft Windows, press Ctrl + Shift + k or 'q' when not editing.
   • On macOS, press Command + Shift + k or 'q' when not editing.
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.

Create or find a space

1. Select an option:
   • On Chrome OS and Windows, press Ctrl + o.
   • On macOS, press Command + 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 Command + s.
2. Focus moves to the main reply box.
   • In a legacy Space, this is a new topic.
3. Enter your message.
4. Press Enter.