Keyboard shortcuts for Gmail

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Save time navigating in Gmail by using keyboard shortcuts.

Turn on keyboard shortcuts

Some keyboard shortcuts only work if you've turned them on.

Note: Keyboard shortcuts aren't supported on all keyboards.

1. On a computer, go to Gmail.
2. In the top right, click Settings   See all settings. 
3. Click Settings.
4. Scroll down to the "Keyboard shortcuts" section.
5. Select Keyboard shortcuts on.
6. At the bottom of the page, click Save Changes.

Shortcuts you can use

You can use keyboard shortcuts to navigate your inbox and messages, format text, and complete actions like archiving and deleting.

To see a complete list of keyboard shortcuts, including which need to be turned on, type ? when you have Gmail open.

Note: Keyboard shortcuts work differently on PC and Mac computers. On PCs, you'll use Ctrl instead of ⌘.

Compose & chat

Action	Shortcut
Previous message in an open conversation	p
Next message in an open conversation	n
Focus main window	Shift + Esc
Focus latest chat or compose	Esc
Advance to the next chat or compose	Ctrl + .
Advance to previous chat or compose	Ctrl + ,
Send	⌘/Ctrl + Enter
Add cc recipients	⌘/Ctrl + Shift + c
Add bcc recipients	⌘/Ctrl + Shift + b
Access custom from	⌘/Ctrl + Shift + f
Insert a link	⌘/Ctrl + k
Go to next misspelled word (Mac only)	⌘ + ;
Open spelling suggestions	⌘/Ctrl + m

Formatting text

Action	Shortcut
Previous font	⌘/Ctrl + Shift + 5
Next font	⌘/Ctrl + Shift + 6
Decrease text size	⌘/Ctrl + Shift + -
Increase text size	⌘/Ctrl + Shift and +
Bold	⌘/Ctrl + b
Italics	⌘/Ctrl + i
Underline	⌘/Ctrl + u
Numbered list	⌘/Ctrl + Shift + 7
Bulleted list	⌘/Ctrl + Shift + 8
Quote	⌘/Ctrl + Shift + 9
Indent less	⌘/Ctrl + [
Indent more	⌘/Ctrl + ]
Align left	⌘/Ctrl + Shift + l
Align center	⌘/Ctrl + Shift + e
Align right	⌘/Ctrl + Shift + r
Remove formatting	⌘/Ctrl + \

Actions

Note: These shortcuts won't work unless keyboard shortcuts are turned on.

Action	Shortcut
Move focus to toolbar	,
Select conversation	x
Toggle star/rotate among superstars	s
Archive	e
Mute conversation	m
Report as spam	!
Delete	#
Reply	r
Reply in a new window	Shift + r
Reply all	a
Reply all in a new window	Shift + a
Forward	f
Forward in a new window	Shift + f
Update conversation	Shift + n
Archive conversation and go previous/next	] or [
Undo last action	z
Mark as read	Shift + i
Mark as unread	Shift + u
Mark unread from the selected message	_
Mark as important	+ or =
Mark as not important	-
Snooze Note: This shortcut isn't available in classic Gmail.	b
Expand entire conversation	;
Collapse entire conversation	:
Add conversation to Tasks	Shift + t

Jumping

Note: These keyboard shortcuts won't work unless keyboard shortcuts are turned on.

Action	Shortcut
Go to Inbox	g + i
Go to Starred conversations	g + s
Go to Snoozed conversations	g + b
Go to Sent messages	g + t
Go to Drafts	g + d
Go to All mail	g + a
Switch between the Calendar/Keep/Tasks sidebar and your inbox.	⌘/Ctrl + Alt + ,  and ⌘/Ctrl + Alt + .
Go to Tasks	g + k
Go to label	g + l

Threadlist selection

Note: These keyboard shortcuts won't work unless keyboard shortcuts are turned on.

Action	Shortcut
Select all conversations	* + a
Deselect all conversations	* + n
Select read conversations	* + r
Select unread conversations	* + u
Select starred conversations	* + s
Select unstarred conversations	* + t

Navigation

Note: These keyboard shortcuts won't work unless keyboard shortcuts are turned on.

Action	Shortcut
Go to next page	g + n
Go to previous page	g + p
Back to threadlist	u
Newer conversation	k
Older conversation	j
Open conversation	o or Enter
Go to next Inbox section	`
Go to previous Inbox section	~

Application

Note: These keyboard shortcuts won't work unless keyboard shortcuts are turned on.

Action	Shortcut
Compose	c
Compose in a new tab	d
Search mail	/
Search chat contacts	q
Open "more actions" menu	.
Open "move to" menu	v
Open "label as" menu	l
Open keyboard shortcut help	?

Customize keyboard shortcuts

You can change your default keyboard shortcuts in Gmail.

Step 1: Turn on custom keyboard shortcuts

1. On your computer, go to Gmail.
2. At the top right, click Settings   Settings. 
3. Click Advanced. 
4. Next to “Custom keyboard shortcuts,” click Enable.
5. At the bottom, click Save Changes.

Step 2: Change your keyboard shortcuts

1. On your computer, go to Gmail.
2. At the top right, click Settings   Settings. 
3. At the top, click Keyboard Shortcuts.
4. Next to the action, type the keyboard key to make a new shortcut.
5. At the bottom, click Save Changes.

Note: One key can refer to only one action.