You can use keyboard shortcuts in Google Chat on ChromeOS, macOS and Windows. To access shortcuts in Chat, type ? at any time, except when you're entering text in a field.
Use keyboard shortcuts in Chat
Category | Shortcut | ChromeOS | 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 | ChromeOS | 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 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 two levels:
- Level one is the list of conversations.
- Level two 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 ChromeOS 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 ChromeOS 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 ChromeOS and Windows, press Ctrl + S.
- On macOS, press ⌘ + S.
- A new thread or message box will open.
- Enter your message.
- Press Enter.