Zoho Writer Keyboard Shortcuts: Complete List for Windows & Mac
Quick answer: Zoho Writer keyboard shortcuts let you format, navigate, and edit documents without touching the mouse. The most-used ones are Ctrl + B (bold), Ctrl + K (insert link), Ctrl + Shift + C (word count), and Ctrl + Alt + M (add comment) on Windows with ⌘ replacing Ctrl on Mac. You can also trigger commands by typing a forward slash (/) inside the document. The full categorized list and a free PDF download are below.
What Are Zoho Writer Keyboard Shortcuts?
Zoho Writer keyboard shortcuts are key combinations that run common commands saving, formatting, navigating, and reviewing without using the menus or mouse. Zoho Writer is the word processor in Zoho’s Office Suite (alongside Zoho Sheet and Zoho Show) and works in the browser, desktop app, and mobile, so most shortcuts behave consistently across devices.
How to View and Customize Shortcuts in Zoho Writer
You don’t have to memorize anything Zoho Writer has a built-in reference panel:
- Open any document in Zoho Writer.
- Click the keyboard icon at the bottom of the page.
- The Keyboard Shortcuts window opens, listing every available key.
- Browse by category (General, Formatting, Navigation) and apply the keys directly in your document.
This is the fastest way to confirm a shortcut on your specific version, since Zoho occasionally updates commands.
Most-Used Zoho Writer Shortcuts (General)
These are the everyday commands for opening, saving, and editing documents.
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Open file | Ctrl + O | ⌘ + O |
| Create new document | Ctrl + N | ⌘ + N |
| Save | Ctrl + S | ⌘ + S |
| Save as | Ctrl + Alt + S | ⌘ + Option + S |
| Open left panel | Ctrl + Alt + O | ⌘ + Option + O |
| Select all content | Ctrl + A | ⌘ + A |
| Copy | Ctrl + C | ⌘ + C |
| Cut | Ctrl + X | ⌘ + X |
| Paste | Ctrl + V | ⌘ + V |
| Delete character to the left | Backspace | Backspace |
| Delete character to the right | Delete | Delete |
| Delete word right of cursor | Ctrl + Delete | ⌘ + Delete |
| Undo | Ctrl + Z | ⌘ + Z |
| Redo | Ctrl + Y | ⌘ + Y |
Formatting Shortcuts
Apply headings, alignment, and text styling instantly.
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Bold | Ctrl + B | ⌘ + B |
| Italic | Ctrl + I | ⌘ + I |
| Underline | Ctrl + U | ⌘ + U |
| Apply Heading 1 | Ctrl + Alt + 1 | ⌘ + Option + 1 |
| Apply Heading 2 | Ctrl + Alt + 2 | ⌘ + Option + 2 |
| Apply Heading 3 | Ctrl + Alt + 3 | ⌘ + Option + 3 |
| Apply Heading 4 | Ctrl + Alt + 4 | ⌘ + Option + 4 |
| Apply Heading 5 | Ctrl + Alt + 5 | ⌘ + Option + 5 |
| Apply Heading 6 | Ctrl + Alt + 6 | ⌘ + Option + 6 |
| Align left | Ctrl + L | ⌘ + L |
| Align center | Ctrl + E | ⌘ + E |
| Align right | Ctrl + R | ⌘ + R |
| Justify | Ctrl + J | ⌘ + J |
| Superscript | Ctrl + . | ⌘ + , |
| Subscript | Ctrl + , | ⌘ + . |
| Create link | Ctrl + K | ⌘ + K |
Editing & Review Shortcuts
For comments, footnotes, equations, word count, and research tools.
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Find and replace | Ctrl + F | ⌘ + F |
| Word count | Ctrl + Shift + C | ⌘ + Shift + C |
| Add comment | Ctrl + Alt + M | ⌘ + Option + M |
| Insert endnote / footnote | Ctrl + Alt + D | ⌘ + Option + D |
| Insert equation | Ctrl + Q | ⌘ + Q |
| Use Thesaurus | Shift + F7 | Shift + F7 |
Navigation Shortcuts
Move around long documents quickly.
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Beginning of line | Home | Home |
| End of line | End | End |
| Top of document | Ctrl + Home | ⌘ + Fn + Left |
| End of document | Ctrl + End | ⌘ + Fn + Right |
| Up one screen | Page Up | Page Up |
| Down one screen | Page Down | Page Down |
Table Shortcuts
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Insert a tab space inside a table cell | Ctrl + Alt + Tab | ⌘ + Option + Tab |
Slash Commands (Inline Quick Commands)
Beyond key combinations, Zoho Writer lets you insert content by typing a forward slash (/) followed by a command name, then choosing from the menu (use the up/down arrows to navigate). For example, type /date to insert today’s date.
| Command | What it inserts |
|---|---|
| /formats | Bold, italic, underline and other character formatting |
| /text styles | Normal, titles, headings, or quotes |
| /change case | Changes the case of selected text |
| /paragraph | Alignment, line spacing, or indentation |
| /object | A table, drawing, or similar object |
| /image | An image from various sources |
| /signature | A digital signature or initials |
| /reference & comments | A reference, comment, table of contents, or bookmark |
| /break | A page, column, or section break |
| /date | Today’s date, a dynamic date, or a custom date |
| /autofields | Page count, author name, document name, or version |
| /formula | A formula |
| /my information | Your name or contact information |
This list is not exhaustive; Zoho Writer adds new slash commands over time.
Auto-Replace Codes
Type these codes and press Enter (or Space) to generate content automatically.
| Type this | Result |
|---|---|
=rand(3) | Inserts 3 paragraphs of dummy text |
=rand(3,5) | Inserts 3 paragraphs of 5 lines each |
=table(4,3) | Creates a 4-row, 3-column table |
=code(python) | Inserts a code snippet in the chosen language |
1. + Space | Starts an ordered (numbered) list |
* + Space | Starts an unordered (bulleted) list |
Download the Zoho Writer Shortcuts PDF
Want a printable cheat sheet to keep beside your desk?
→ Download the Zoho Writer Shortcuts PDF
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Zoho Writer have keyboard shortcuts?
Yes. Zoho Writer supports 50+ keyboard shortcuts for formatting, navigation, and editing, plus slash commands and auto-replace codes for inserting content.
How do I see all shortcuts in Zoho Writer?
Open a document, click the keyboard icon at the bottom of the page, and the Keyboard Shortcuts window will display the full list by category.
What is the word count shortcut in Zoho Writer?
Press Ctrl + Shift + C on Windows or ⌘ + Shift + C on Mac to view the document’s word count.
Are Zoho Writer shortcuts the same as Google Docs?
Mostly, yes. Zoho Writer mirrors most Google Docs shortcuts (bold, link, comment, word count), so switching between them is easy. A few differ from Microsoft Word, particularly word count and sub/superscript.
Do Zoho Writer shortcuts work on Mac?
Yes. Replace Ctrl with ⌘ (Command). Note that superscript/subscript are reversed on Mac, and document navigation uses ⌘ + Fn + Left/Right.
What is a slash command in Zoho Writer?
A slash command lets you insert content by typing / followed by a command name (such as /date, /image, or /table) and selecting from the pop-up menu.
Conclusion
Zoho Writer’s keyboard shortcuts cover everything from basic editing to advanced inserts, and its slash commands and auto-replace codes add a layer of speed most word processors don’t offer. Start with the everyday combinations Ctrl + B, Ctrl + K, Ctrl + S then add the editing and slash commands as they become useful. Bookmark this page or grab the PDF, and you’ll spend far less time reaching for the mouse.
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