Google Drive Keyboard Shortcuts: Complete Windows & Mac List (2026)
Google Drive keyboard shortcuts let you navigate, create, rename, share, and manage files without touching your mouse. To rename a file, press F2. To create a new folder, press Alt + c then f on Windows or Control + c then f on Mac. To see the full shortcut list inside Drive at any time, press Ctrl + / (Windows/ChromeOS) or Command + / (Mac).
Important: Google updated its Drive shortcuts on August 1, 2024, replacing the old single-letter keys with a new multi-key system. The list below reflects the current, working shortcuts verified against Google’s official documentation (last checked June 2026).
Key takeaways:
- Google Drive has 60+ keyboard shortcuts for Windows, Mac, and ChromeOS.
- The shortcut system changed on August 1, 2024 old single-letter keys (like n to rename) no longer work.
- Rename is now F2; share is Ctrl + Alt + a; new folder is Alt + c then f.
- Press Ctrl + / (or Command + / on Mac) to view all shortcuts inside Drive.
- You can also create files instantly with .new URLs (e.g., typing docs.new).
If you spend hours a day in Google Drive, keyboard shortcuts are the fastest way to cut down on clicking. Instead of hunting through menus to rename, move, or share files, a single key combination does it instantly. But there’s a catch many guides still get wrong: Google overhauled its Drive shortcuts in 2024, and most older lists online still show keys that no longer work. This guide gives you the complete, current set for both Windows and Mac, explains what changed, and includes a free PDF cheat sheet you can keep next to your keyboard.
Navigation & View Shortcuts
| Action | Windows / ChromeOS | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Go to navigation panel (folders list) | Alt + g then n | Option + g then n |
| Go to items view | Alt + g then i | Option + g then i |
| Switch between grid and list view | Alt + v then l | Option + v then l |
| Go to page content | Alt + g then c | Option + g then c |
| Go to details pane | Alt + g then d | Option + g then d |
| Go to top of application | Alt + g then t | Option + g then t |
| Go to download status | Alt + g then a | Option + g then a |
| Go to upload status | Alt + g then u | Option + g then u |
| Show or hide approvals pane | Alt + v then e | Option + v then e |
| Show or hide details pane | Alt + v then d | Option + v then d |
| Show or hide activity pane | Alt + v then a | Option + v then a |
Select Items shortcuts
| Action | Windows / ChromeOS | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Select or deselect item | Shift + Space | Shift + Space |
| Select next item down | Down arrow | Down arrow |
| Select next item up | Up arrow | Up arrow |
| Select next item left | Left arrow | Left arrow |
| Select next item right | Right arrow | Right arrow |
| Extend selection down | Shift + Down arrow | Shift + Down arrow |
| Extend selection up | Shift + Up arrow | Shift + Up arrow |
| Extend selection left | Shift + Left arrow | Shift + Left arrow |
| Extend selection right | Shift + Right arrow | Shift + Right arrow |
| Select all visible items | Ctrl + a | Command + a |
| Clear all selections | Esc | Esc |
Move Between Items (without changing selection) shortcuts
| Action | Windows / ChromeOS | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Move down without changing selection | Ctrl + Down arrow | Command + Down arrow |
| Move up without changing selection | Ctrl + Up arrow | Command + Up arrow |
| Move left without changing selection | Ctrl + Left arrow | Command + Left arrow |
| Move right without changing selection | Ctrl + Right arrow | Command + Right arrow |
Take Action on Selected Items Shortcuts
| Action | Windows / ChromeOS | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Open selected items | Enter | Enter |
| Open in new tab | Ctrl + Enter | Command + Enter |
| Rename selected items | F2 | F2 |
| Share selected items | Ctrl + Alt + a | Command + Option + a |
| Move selected items to new folder | Ctrl + Alt + m | Command + Option + m |
| Star or unstar selected items | Ctrl + Alt + s | Command + Option + s |
| Create shortcut to selected items | Ctrl + Alt + r | Command + Option + r |
| Remove selected items | Delete or # | Delete or # |
| Copy selected item URLs | Ctrl + Alt + l | Command + Option + l |
| Copy selected item titles | Ctrl + Shift + c | Command + Shift + c |
| Cut selected items | Ctrl + x | Command + x |
| Paste / paste as shortcut | Ctrl + Shift + v | Command + Shift + v |
| Upload file | Alt + c then u | Control + c then u |
| Upload folder | Alt + c then i | Control + c then i |
Create New Items Shortcuts
| Action | Windows / ChromeOS | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| New document | Alt + c then t | Control + c then t |
| New presentation | Alt + c then p | Control + c then p |
| New spreadsheet | Alt + c then s | Control + c then s |
| New drawing | Alt + c then d | Control + c then d |
| New folder | Alt + c then f | Control + c then f |
| New form | Alt + c then o | Control + c then o |
Open Menus Shortcuts
| Action | Windows / ChromeOS | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Create menu | Alt + n | Control + n |
| More actions menu | Shift + F10 or Alt + a | Shift + F10 or Control + a |
| Current folder actions menu | Alt + Shift + a | Control + Shift + a |
| Sort menu | Alt + r | Control + r |
| Settings menu | Ctrl + Shift + s | Command + Shift + s |
Application & Preview Actions Shortcuts
| Action | Windows / ChromeOS | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Display keyboard shortcuts list | Ctrl + / | Command + / |
| Choose next visual density | Alt + t then q | Control + t then q |
| Find / find next | Ctrl + f | Command + f |
| Ctrl + p | Command + p | |
| Undo last action | Ctrl + z | Command + z |
| Redo last undone action | Ctrl + y | Command + y |
| Show last message | Alt + g then k | Option + g then k |
| Search your Drive | / | / |
| Preview items | Ctrl + Alt + p | Command + Option + p |
| Close preview | Esc | Esc |
| Play / pause (preview) | Space | Space |
| Zoom in (preview) | + or = | + or = |
| Zoom out (preview) | – | – |
What Changed in Google’s 2024 Shortcut Update
On August 1, 2024, Google replaced Google Drive’s single-letter keyboard shortcuts with a new multi-key system. The change was made to support first-letter navigation the ability to jump to a file by typing the first letters of its name. Because single letters were now reserved for navigation, common actions had to move to combinations like Alt + c or Ctrl + Alt.
If you learned Drive shortcuts before 2024, your muscle memory is now out of date. Here’s exactly what changed for the most-used actions:
| Action | Old shortcut (pre-Aug 2024) | New shortcut (current) |
|---|---|---|
| Rename item | n | F2 |
| Share item | . (period) | Ctrl + Alt + a |
| Open create menu | c | Alt + n |
| Create new folder | Shift + f | Alt + c then f |
| Create new document | Shift + t | Alt + c then t |
| Move items to folder | z | Ctrl + Alt + m |
| Preview item | p | Ctrl + Alt + p |
| Clear all selections | Shift + n | Esc |
| Redo last action | Ctrl + Shift + z | Ctrl + y |
| Open more actions menu | a | Alt + a or Shift + F10 |
Mac users: replace Alt with Control for create actions, and Ctrl with Command for most others see the full Mac table below.
How to switch back or check which version you have
The new shortcuts became mandatory for all users on August 1, 2024, so there’s no longer an option to use the old single-letter keys. If a shortcut you remember isn’t working, it’s almost certainly because it changed in this update. To confirm the current keys at any time, open Drive and press Ctrl + / (Windows/ChromeOS) or Command + / (Mac) to display the live shortcut list.
How to View and Use Google Drive Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts are enabled by default in Google Drive on the web there’s no setting to turn on. You just need to know the keys, and you can pull up the full list inside Drive whenever you forget one.
View the full shortcut list inside Drive
- Open Google Drive in your web browser at drive.google.com.
- Press Ctrl + / on Windows or ChromeOS, or Command + / on Mac.
- A panel opens showing the complete, current list of shortcuts for your account.
You can also reach it from the menu: click the gear icon (Settings) in the top-right corner, then select Keyboard shortcuts.
If a shortcut isn’t working
If a key combination does nothing, check these in order:
- You’re on the web, not the desktop app. These shortcuts work on drive.google.com in a browser. The Drive desktop sync app and mobile apps don’t use them.
- You’re using a current key. If you learned Drive before August 2024, the shortcut likely changed see the comparison table above.
- Your cursor is in the file list, not a text field. Shortcuts won’t fire while you’re typing in a search box or renaming field.
- A browser or extension is intercepting the key. Some extensions claim combinations like Ctrl + Alt + a. Disable conflicting extensions to test.
- Keyboard layout or language. Google notes some shortcuts may not work on all languages or keyboard layouts.
A faster way to navigate: first-letter search
Since the 2024 update, you can jump straight to a file by typing the first few letters of its name while the file list is focused. Press the same letter again to cycle to the next file starting with that letter. This is the feature the whole shortcut change was built around.
Create Files Instantly with .new URLs
Beyond keyboard shortcuts, Google offers .new URL shortcuts type one into your browser’s address bar and a new file is created instantly in your Drive. You don’t even need Drive open first; you just need to be signed in to your Google account.
| Type this URL | What it creates |
|---|---|
| docs.new | New Google Doc |
| sheets.new | New Google Sheet |
| slides.new | New Google Slides presentation |
| forms.new | New Google Form |
| drawings.new | New Google Drawing |
| sites.new | New Google Site |
| meet.new | New Google Meet |
| cal.new | New Google Calendar event |
| keep.new | New Google Keep note |
These work from any browser tab, which makes them faster than navigating into Drive for a quick new document. Bookmark the ones you use most, or just type them modern browsers autocomplete them after the first use.
Google Drive Shortcuts for Mac
Mac shortcuts follow a consistent translation from the Windows keys. Once you know the pattern, you don’t have to memorize a separate list:
| Windows / ChromeOS key | Mac equivalent |
|---|---|
| Alt (for create actions, e.g. Alt + c) | Control |
| Alt + g navigation (e.g. Alt + g then n) | Option + g |
| Ctrl (for most actions) | Command |
| Ctrl + Alt (e.g. share, move) | Command + Option |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the keyboard shortcut to rename a file in Google Drive?
Press F2 to rename a selected file or folder in Google Drive. This changed in the August 2024 update — the old shortcut was the single letter n, which no longer works.
How do I create a new folder in Google Drive with a keyboard shortcut?
Press Alt + c then f on Windows or ChromeOS, or Control + c then f on Mac. Release the first combination before pressing f. (Note: this maps to the “keyboard shortcut to create new folder” query you already rank well for.)
How do I see all Google Drive keyboard shortcuts?
Open Drive in a browser and press Ctrl + / on Windows/ChromeOS or Command + / on Mac. A panel displays the complete, up-to-date list for your account.
Why aren’t my Google Drive keyboard shortcuts working?
The most common reason is that the shortcut changed in Google’s August 2024 update old single-letter keys like n and c were replaced with multi-key combinations. Also confirm you’re using Drive on the web (not the desktop or mobile app) and that your cursor isn’t inside a text field.
Did Google change its Drive keyboard shortcuts?
Yes. On August 1, 2024, Google replaced the single-letter shortcut system with multi-key combinations to support first-letter file navigation. The change became mandatory for all users, and the old keys can no longer be restored.
What is the shortcut to share a file in Google Drive?
Press Ctrl + Alt + a on Windows or Command + Option + a on Mac to open the sharing dialog for the selected item. The old shortcut was the period key (.).
Do Google Drive keyboard shortcuts work on Mac?
Yes. Most Mac shortcuts swap Ctrl for Command and Alt for Control or Option. For example, sharing is Command + Option + a and viewing all shortcuts is Command + /.
Can I create a Google Doc without opening Drive?
Yes. Type docs.new into your browser’s address bar to instantly create a new Google Doc. The same works for sheets.new, slides.new, and forms.new, as long as you’re signed in to your Google account.
Start Using Google Drive Shortcuts Today
Keyboard shortcuts are the simplest way to move faster in Google Drive once they’re muscle memory, you’ll rename, share, and organize files without ever reaching for the mouse. The key thing to remember is that Google’s 2024 update changed the system, so if an old shortcut stops working, check it against the current keys above. Start with the handful you’ll use every day F2 to rename, Alt + c then f for a new folder, and Ctrl + / to pull up the full list whenever you forget one and add more as you go.
Keep the free PDF cheat sheet next to your keyboard while the new keys sink in. And if you live in Google Workspace, the same time savings apply across the rest of your tools here are our companion guides:
