MS Word Shortcut Keys: Complete List for Windows & Mac

MS Word shortcut keys let you copy, format, navigate, and edit documents using only the keyboard. The most-used shortcuts are Ctrl+C (copy), Ctrl+V (paste), Ctrl+Z (undo), Ctrl+B (bold), and Ctrl+S (save). On Mac, replace Ctrl with Command for most of these. Microsoft Word supports 200+ keyboard shortcuts across Windows and Mac, organized below by task.

Key takeaways:

• The five essential Word shortcuts are Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, Ctrl+Z, Ctrl+B, and Ctrl+S.
• On Mac, most Windows shortcuts work by swapping Ctrl for Command.
• Word groups shortcuts by task: formatting, navigation, selection, find & replace, and inserting elements.
• A few shortcuts (like F1–F12 function keys) may not work on Chromebooks or in Word for the web.
• You can download the full list as a free PDF cheat sheet below.

What Are MS Word Shortcut Keys?

MS Word shortcut keys are combinations of keyboard keys that perform a command instantly, without using the mouse or navigating the ribbon. For example, pressing Ctrl+B applies bold formatting, and Ctrl+S saves your document. Each shortcut maps to a specific action in Microsoft Word, such as formatting text, moving the cursor, selecting content, or inserting elements like page breaks and hyperlinks.

Most shortcuts use a modifier key Ctrl on Windows or Command on Mac pressed together with one or more other keys. A plus sign (+) means press the keys at the same time, while a comma means press them in sequence. Learning even a handful of shortcuts can noticeably speed up document editing, which is why they’re widely taught in computer courses and office-skills training.

Top 20 Most-Used MS Word Shortcuts

If you only learn 20 shortcuts, make them these. They cover the everyday actions saving, formatting, navigating, and editing that you repeat dozens of times in every document.

Tip: On Mac, the pattern is simple wherever Windows uses Ctrl, Mac usually uses Command (⌘). The exceptions are listed in the Mac vs Windows section below.

Most Used MS Word Shortcuts

Text Formatting Shortcuts

Paragraph Formatting Shortcuts

Find & Replace Shortcuts

Insert Special Characters & Elements

Navigation Shortcuts

Extend Selection & Delete Shortcuts

Spike & Office Clipboard

View Shortcuts

Review, Mail Merge & Others

Mouse Shortcuts

MS Word Shortcuts That Differ on Mac vs Windows

Most Word shortcuts follow one simple rule: swap Ctrl (Windows) for Command (Mac) and they work the same. But a handful break that pattern. These are the ones worth memorizing separately if you switch between platforms.

The general rule: for everyday formatting, navigation, and editing, Ctrl on Windows = Command (⌘) on Mac. The exceptions above mostly involve redo/repeat and the function keys (F1–F12), which on a Mac often require holding Fn as well.

How to Create a Custom Keyboard Shortcut in Word

If a command you use often doesn’t have a shortcut or you want to replace one that’s hard to reach Word lets you assign your own. This works in Word 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Microsoft 365 on Windows.

1. Open Word and click the File tab, then click Options at the bottom of the menu. (Keyboard shortcut: press Alt, F, T to jump straight to Word Options.)
2. Select Customize Ribbon in the left-hand list of the Word Options window.
3. Click the Customize button next to “Keyboard shortcuts” at the bottom of the dialog box. This opens the Customize Keyboard window.
4. Choose a category from the Categories list (for example, Home Tab or Insert Tab), then select the command you want from the Commands list. The description at the bottom tells you what each command does.
5. Click inside the “Press new shortcut key” box and press your desired key combination. Word warns you if those keys are already assigned to another command.
6. Click Assign, then click Close. Your new shortcut is ready to use.

To remove or reset a shortcut: return to the same Customize Keyboard window, select the shortcut under “Current keys,” and click Remove. To undo all your changes at once, click Reset All.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the shortcut key for all functions in MS Word?

There is no single shortcut for all functions. Word groups its 200+ shortcuts by task. The most essential are Ctrl+C (copy), Ctrl+V (paste), Ctrl+Z (undo), Ctrl+S (save), and Ctrl+A (select all). The full categorized list is above, and you can download it as a PDF.

How many shortcut keys are there in MS Word?

Microsoft Word includes well over 200 documented keyboard shortcuts across Windows and Mac, covering formatting, navigation, selection, find and replace, and inserting elements. Most users regularly use fewer than 15 of them.

What is Ctrl + Y used for in Word?

Ctrl+Y redoes the last action you undid. It is the reverse of Ctrl+Z (undo). On Mac, the equivalent is Command+Y.

How do I get the MS Word shortcut keys as a PDF?

You can download the complete MS Word shortcut keys list as a free printable PDF using the download link in this guide. The PDF includes both Windows and Mac shortcuts organized by category.

Are MS Word shortcuts the same on Windows and Mac?

Most are similar, but Mac replaces the Ctrl key with Command for the majority of shortcuts. Some shortcuts differ entirely between the two platforms. This guide lists both the Windows and Mac version of each shortcut side by side.

Do Word keyboard shortcuts work in Word for the web (Word 365 online)?

Many do, but not all. Shortcuts that rely on function keys (F1–F12) or system-level commands may not work in Word for the web or on devices like Chromebooks. Core shortcuts such as Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, and Ctrl+B work in nearly every version.

How do I create a custom keyboard shortcut in Word?

Go to File > Options > Customize Ribbon, then select “Customize” next to Keyboard shortcuts. Choose a command, type your preferred key combination, and click Assign. This lets you map any command to a shortcut you’ll remember.

Wrapping Up

Keyboard shortcuts are the fastest way to speed up your work in Microsoft Word. You don’t need to memorize all 200+ at once — start with the Top 20 essentials like Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, Ctrl+S, and Ctrl+Z, then add the ones that match how you actually work, whether that’s formatting, navigation, or reviewing documents. On a Mac, remember the simple rule: swap Ctrl for Command, with a few exceptions like redo (Command+Shift+Z).

Bookmark this page as a quick reference, or download the free PDF cheat sheet above to keep every shortcut at your fingertips, even offline. The more you use them, the more they become second nature, and the less you’ll reach for the mouse.

Looking for shortcuts in other tools? Check out our guides to Excel shortcut keys, and PowerPoint shortcut keys to speed up your whole workflow.

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