Google Photos Keyboard Shortcuts: The Complete List for Web
Google Photos keyboard shortcuts let you navigate, edit, organize, and delete photos on the web without touching your mouse. They work in the web version of Google Photos (photos.google.com) by default there’s nothing to install or enable. The most-used shortcut is # to delete a photo, and you can press Shift + ? at any time to see the full list inside the app.
Below is the complete, tested list of Google Photos keyboard shortcuts for web, plus a free PDF you can download and keep.
Key takeaways
- Delete a photo: open it and press # (it moves to Trash for 60 days)
- See all shortcuts: press Shift + ?
- Shortcuts work on the web only not in the Android or iOS app
- They work the same on Windows, Mac, and Chromebook
- Free storage limit: 15 GB across Google Photos, Drive, and Gmail
These shortcuts work in the web version of Google Photos (photos.google.com) on any computer Windows, Mac, or Chromebook in Chrome, Safari, Edge, or Firefox. They are single-key shortcuts, so there’s no separate Mac key combination to learn. On Mac, the Shift key works exactly as shown below.
| Action | Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Search photos | / | Jumps the cursor straight to the search bar |
| Select photo | x | Selects the open or hovered photo |
| Deselect / close | Esc | Deselects a photo or closes the open view |
| Previous photo | ← (Left arrow) | Moves to the previous photo |
| Next photo | → (Right arrow) | Moves to the next photo |
| Zoom in | + | Zooms into the open photo |
| Zoom out | – | Zooms out of the open photo |
| Show original | o | Shows the original, pre-edit version |
| Auto-enhance | a | Applies Google’s automatic enhancement |
| Edit photo | e | Opens the photo in the editor |
| Rotate | Shift + R | Rotates the photo 90° |
| Download | Shift + D | Downloads the photo at original quality |
| Archive | Shift + A | Hides the photo from the main grid |
| Delete | # | Sends the photo to Trash (60 days) |
| Show / hide info | i | Toggles photo details (date, location, file) |
| Favorite | Shift + = | Stars the photo (adds to Favorites) |
| Show all shortcuts | Shift + ? | Opens the full shortcut list in-app |
How to Delete Photos in Google Photos with a Keyboard Shortcut
To delete a photo in Google Photos using a keyboard shortcut, open the photo and press the # key. The photo moves to Trash, where it stays for 60 days before being permanently deleted. You can restore it anytime within those 60 days.
Here’s the full process:
- Open Google Photos in your browser (photos.google.com).
- Click a photo to open it in full view.
- Press # on your keyboard.
- The photo moves to Trash immediately no confirmation on most accounts.
To delete multiple photos at once, press x on each photo to select it (or hold the selection and use your arrow keys), then press # to send all selected photos to Trash.
Note: The # delete shortcut works in the web version of Google Photos only. The Android and iOS apps do not support keyboard shortcuts you’ll need to tap the trash icon instead.
Google Photos Editing Shortcuts
Google Photos includes a built-in editor on the web, and three shortcuts speed it up:
- Press e to open the current photo in the editor.
- Press a to apply Auto-enhance, Google’s one-click color and lighting fix.
- Press o to toggle the original handy for comparing your edit against the untouched photo before you save.
- Press Shift + R to rotate a photo 90° without opening the full editor.
Tip: Once you’re inside the editor (after pressing e), you can press r to jump straight to the Crop tool.
Selection and Organization Shortcuts
Managing a large library is where shortcuts save the most time:
- Press x to select the photo you’re hovering over or viewing. Keep pressing x on different photos to build a multi-photo selection.
- Press Esc to deselect everything, or to close a photo you’ve opened.
- Press Shift + A to archive a photo it disappears from your main grid but stays searchable and accessible under Archive.
For example, selecting 30 photos for an album by clicking each checkbox is slow; tabbing through with the arrow keys and pressing x is far faster.
Do Google Photos Shortcuts Work on Mac and Chromebook?
Yes. Because Google Photos shortcuts are single-key web shortcuts, they work identically on Windows, Mac, and Chromebook. There is no separate Mac key combination the # delete key, e edit key, and Shift-based shortcuts all behave the same in Chrome, Safari, Edge, and Firefox.
The only requirement is that you’re using the web version at photos.google.com, not the mobile app.
Do Google Photos Keyboard Shortcuts Work on the Mobile App?
No. Keyboard shortcuts only work in the web version of Google Photos. The Android and iOS apps are touch-based and don’t support keyboard shortcuts, even if you pair an external keyboard. On mobile, you’ll delete a photo by tapping the trash icon,
edit by tapping Edit, and so on.
If you want shortcut-style speed on a phone or tablet, the closest option is to open photos.google.com in a mobile browser with a connected keyboard though the experience is built for desktop.
Google Photos Shortcuts Not Working? Try This
If keyboard shortcuts aren’t responding, work through these checks:
- Confirm you’re on the web version (photos.google.com), not the app.
- Make sure a text field isn’t focused click an empty area of the page first, since shortcuts won’t fire while your cursor is in the search box.
- Open a photo before using photo-specific shortcuts like #, e, or o.
- Update your browser; shortcuts are most reliable on the latest Chrome.
- Disable browser extensions one at a time some intercept single-key presses.
- Press Shift + ? to confirm the in-app shortcut list loads, which verifies shortcuts are active for your account.
How to See Every Google Photos Shortcut
You don’t have to memorize the list. Press Shift + ? anywhere in the web version and Google Photos opens a panel showing every active keyboard shortcut for your account. This is the most reliable reference, since Google occasionally updates the available shortcuts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the delete shortcut in Google Photos?
The delete shortcut is the # (hash) key. Open a photo on the web and press # to send it to Trash, where it stays for 60 days before permanent deletion.
Do Google Photos keyboard shortcuts work on mobile?
No. Shortcuts only work in the web version at photos.google.com. The Android and iOS apps are touch-based and don’t support keyboard shortcuts.
How do I see all Google Photos keyboard shortcuts?
Press Shift + ? anywhere in the web version to open a panel listing every active shortcut for your account.
What is the rotate shortcut in Google Photos?
Press Shift + R to rotate a photo 90° in the web version.
Do the shortcuts work the same on Mac?
Yes. They are single-key web shortcuts, so they work identically on Windows, Mac, and Chromebook there is no separate Mac key combination.
Why are my Google Photos shortcuts not working?
The most common cause is that your cursor is in a text field, or you’re using the mobile app instead of the web version. Click an empty area of the page and confirm you’re on photos.google.com.
Conclusion
Google Photos keyboard shortcuts turn slow, click-heavy photo management into a few quick keystrokes. The ones worth memorizing first are # to delete, e to edit, x to select, and Shift + ? to pull up the full list whenever you forget the rest. All of
them work in the web version at photos.google.com on Windows, Mac, or Chromebook with nothing to install.
Keep the full list handy by downloading the free Google Photos shortcuts PDF above, and the next time you’re clearing out your library or fixing up a photo, let your keyboard do the work.
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