Productivity Reference

Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard Shortcuts
A keyboard shortcut is a combination of keys that performs a specific action. The shortcuts typically involve one or more modifier keys such as Ctrl, Alt, or Command combined with another key usually a letter, number, or punctuation symbol. By using keyboard shortcuts, you can bypass navigating through menus and dialog boxes in software applications. Tasks that would normally require multiple clicks with a mouse can be accomplished swiftly using shortcuts, and you will be less relying on mouse movements. Professionals who use keyboard shortcuts efficiently perform repetitive actions more quickly. Most software allows customization of keyboard shortcuts. Users can assign their preferred shortcuts for specific functions. Additionally, each application often has its own unique set of shortcuts. We have crafted shortcuts for most commonly used applications across multiple platforms.

Practical Notes

Shortcut Learning Strategy

Keyboard shortcuts are easiest to adopt when you focus on repeated actions instead of trying to memorize an entire application at once.

Start with frequent tasks

Learn the commands you use every hour: search, save, switch tabs, copy, paste, undo, and open command menus.

Mind the platform

The same action may use Ctrl on Windows or Linux and Command on macOS.

Practice in context

Shortcuts stick faster when you use them during real work instead of reading a list once.

Shortcut Application Action
R Google Slide When focus is on comment, reply to comment
E Google Slide When focus is on comment, resolve comment
Ctrl+0 Google Slide Zoom 100%
Ctrl++ Google Slide Zoom in
Ctrl+- Google Slide Zoom out
Ctrl+Shift+F Gmail Access custom from
Ctrl+Shift+B Gmail Add bcc recipients
Ctrl+Shift+C Gmail Add cc recipients
Shift+T Gmail Add conversation to Tasks
Ctrl+, Gmail Advance to previous chat or compose
Ctrl+. Gmail Advance to the next chat or compose
Ctrl+Shift+E Gmail Align center
Ctrl+Shift+L Gmail Align left
Ctrl+Shift+R Gmail Align right
E Gmail Archive
]or[ Gmail Archive conversation and go previous/next
U Gmail Back to threadlist
Ctrl+B Gmail Bold
Ctrl+Shift+8 Gmail Bulleted list
: Gmail Collapse entire conversation
C Gmail Compose
D Gmail Compose in a new tab
Ctrl+Shift+- Gmail Decrease text size
# Gmail Delete
*+N Gmail Deselect all conversations
; Gmail Expand entire conversation
Esc Gmail Focus latest chat or compose
Shift+Esc Gmail Focus main window
F Gmail Forward
Shift+F Gmail Forward in a new window
G+A Gmail Go to All mail
G+D Gmail Go to Drafts
G+I Gmail Go to Inbox
G+L Gmail Go to label
` Gmail Go to next Inbox section
G+N Gmail Go to next page
~ Gmail Go to previous Inbox section
G+P Gmail Go to previous page
G+T Gmail Go to Sent messages
G+B Gmail Go to Snoozed conversations
G+S Gmail Go to Starred conversations
G+K Gmail Go to Tasks
Ctrl+Shift++ Gmail Increase text size
Ctrl+[ Gmail Indent less
Ctrl+] Gmail Indent more
Ctrl+K Gmail Insert a link
Ctrl+I Gmail Italics
++= Gmail Mark as important
- Gmail Mark as not important
Shift+I Gmail Mark as read