Productivity Reference

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
`Shift`+`U`	Gmail	Mark as unread
`_`	Gmail	Mark unread from the selected message
`,`	Gmail	Move focus to toolbar
`M`	Gmail	Mute conversation
`K`	Gmail	Newer conversation
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`6`	Gmail	Next font
`N`	Gmail	Next message in an open conversation
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`7`	Gmail	Numbered list
`J`	Gmail	Older conversation
`L`	Gmail	Open "label as" menu
`.`	Gmail	Open "more actions" menu
`V`	Gmail	Open "move to" menu
`O`or`Enter`	Gmail	Open conversation
`?`	Gmail	Open keyboard shortcut help
`Ctrl`+`M`	Gmail	Open spelling suggestions
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`5`	Gmail	Previous font
`P`	Gmail	Previous message in an open conversation
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`9`	Gmail	Quote
`Ctrl`+`\`	Gmail	Remove formatting
`R`	Gmail	Reply
`A`	Gmail	Reply all
`Shift`+`A`	Gmail	Reply all in a new window
`Shift`+`R`	Gmail	Reply in a new window
`!`	Gmail	Report as spam
`Q`	Gmail	Search chat contacts
`/`	Gmail	Search mail
`*`+`A`	Gmail	Select all conversations
`X`	Gmail	Select conversation
`*`+`R`	Gmail	Select read conversations
`*`+`S`	Gmail	Select starred conversations
`*`+`U`	Gmail	Select unread conversations
`*`+`T`	Gmail	Select unstarred conversations
`Ctrl`+`Enter`	Gmail	Send
`B`	Gmail	Snooze Note: This shortcut isn't available in classic Gmail.
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`,`	Gmail	Switch between the Calendar/Keep/Tasks sidebar and your inbox.
`S`	Gmail	Toggle star/rotate among superstars
`Ctrl`+`U`	Gmail	Underline
`Z`	Gmail	Undo last action
`Shift`+`N`	Gmail	Update conversation
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`!`	MS Word	¡
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`?`	MS Word	¿
`Ctrl`+`@`then`a`or`A`	MS Word	å, Å
`Ctrl`+`thenthe letter	MS Word	à, è, ì, ò, ù, À, È, Ì, Ò, Ù
`Ctrl`+`^`thenthe letter	MS Word	â, ê, î, ô, û, Â, Ê, Î, Ô, Û
`Ctrl`+`'`thenthe letter	MS Word	á, é, í, ó, ú, ý, Á, É, Í, Ó, Ú, Ý
`Ctrl`+`:`thenthe letter	MS Word	ä, ë, ï, ö, ü, ÿ, Ä, Ë, Ï, Ö, Ü, Ÿ
`Ctrl`+`~`thenthe letter	MS Word	ã, ñ, õ, Ã, Ñ, Õ
`Space`or`Enter`	MS Word	Activate the selected button.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`L`	MS Word	Add a bulleted list.
`Ctrl`+`zero`	MS Word	Add or remove space before the paragraph.

Shortcut Learning Strategy

Start with frequent tasks

Mind the platform

Practice in context

Related References