Reddit Keyboard Shortcuts: Complete Hotkey List
Quick answer: Reddit keyboard shortcuts (hotkeys) let you browse, vote, and post without a mouse. On desktop reddit.com, press Shift + ? to open the shortcuts panel. Hotkeys are on by default and include J / K to move between posts, A / Z to upvote/downvote, S to save, and R to reply.
What Are Reddit Keyboard Shortcuts?
Reddit keyboard shortcuts also called hotkeys are key combinations that perform an action (like upvoting or jumping to the next post) without you touching the mouse. They’re designed to speed up browsing, commenting, and moderating, and they double as an accessibility aid for keyboard-first users.
Hotkeys are active by default on the current desktop version of reddit.com and work across Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari on both Windows and macOS.
How to Enable or Disable Reddit Hotkeys
Reddit hotkeys are turned on by default, but you can view, enable, or disable them in two ways:
- Press Shift + ? anywhere on Reddit to open the hotkeys helper panel.
- Go to your preferences settings and click the Keyboard shortcuts line item.
From that panel you can see every available shortcut and toggle the feature on or off.
Important note: On Mac, some shortcuts use CMD. For Windows users, any mention of CMD automatically translates to ALT.
Navigation Shortcuts
Use these to move around posts, comments, and panels.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Show shortcuts panel | Shift + ? |
| Next post or comment | J |
| Previous post or comment | K |
| Expand / collapse content (compact mode only) | X |
| Copy post or comment link | L |
| Open / close navigation | Q |
Action Shortcuts (Vote, Save, Reply, Post)
These cover the everyday interactions voting, saving, replying, and creating content.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Upvote | A |
| Downvote | Z |
| Reply to comment | R |
| Save / unsave post or comment | S |
| Hide post | H |
| Collapse / expand comment | F |
| Create post | C |
| Submit comment or post | CMD + Enter (Windows: Alt + Enter) |
Media & Video Player Shortcuts
When a Reddit video or media player is in focus, these controls take over. This is the category most third-party shortcut lists miss.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Play / pause | Space or K |
| Toggle fullscreen | F |
| Rewind 5 seconds | Left Arrow |
| Fast-forward 5 seconds | Right Arrow |
| Rewind 10 seconds | J |
| Fast-forward 10 seconds | L |
| Increase volume | Up Arrow |
| Decrease volume | Down Arrow |
| Mute / unmute | M |
| Restart video | 0 |
| Captions on / off | C |
Reddit Enhancement Suite (RES) Shortcuts
If you use old Reddit or want extra power-user keys, the Reddit Enhancement Suite (RES) browser extension adds its own navigation shortcuts. Common RES keys include:
| Action | RES Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Move down to next post | J |
| Move up to previous post | K |
| Upvote focused post | A |
| Downvote focused post | Z |
| Open / close expando (media) | X |
| Open link in new tab | Enter |
| Hide post | (configurable) |
RES shortcuts are fully customizable in the extension’s settings, and the available keys can vary by RES version. Treat the table above as a starting point and confirm in your RES keyboard navigation settings.
Do Reddit Shortcuts Work on Mobile?
No. Keyboard shortcuts are a desktop-only feature because they require a physical keyboard. The Reddit mobile apps (iOS and Android) rely on touch gestures instead swipe and tap actions for voting, saving, and navigating. If you connect an external keyboard to a tablet, standard browser shortcuts may work, but Reddit’s native hotkeys are built for the desktop web experience.
Troubleshooting: Reddit Shortcuts Not Working
If your hotkeys aren’t responding, check these in order:
- You’re on old Reddit. Native hotkeys don’t work on old.reddit.com. Switch to reddit.com or install RES.
- You’re not logged in. Some shortcuts behave inconsistently when you’re logged out sign in.
- Your cursor is in a text field. Letters get typed instead of triggering actions. Click empty space first.
- Shortcuts are disabled. Open Shift + ? or preferences and confirm they’re enabled.
- The video player isn’t focused. Media keys only work when the player is the active element click the video once.
- A browser extension is intercepting keys. Disable conflicting extensions to test.
Download the Reddit Shortcuts PDF
Want a printable cheat sheet? Download the Reddit Shortcuts PDF and keep every hotkey within reach.
If you spend a lot of time across different platforms, you might also like our Discord Shortcuts guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I open the Reddit keyboard shortcuts list?
Press Shift + ? anywhere on desktop reddit.com, or open your preferences settings and select the Keyboard shortcuts item.
What is the shortcut to upvote on Reddit?
Press A to upvote and Z to downvote the focused post or comment.
How do I go to the next post on Reddit using the keyboard?
Press J for the next post or comment and K for the previous one.
Do Reddit keyboard shortcuts work on old Reddit?
No. Native hotkeys only work on the current desktop reddit.com interface. For old Reddit, use the Reddit Enhancement Suite (RES) extension.
Do Reddit shortcuts work on mobile?
No. Hotkeys are desktop-only. The mobile apps use touch gestures instead.
Why aren’t my Reddit shortcuts working?
The most common reasons are being on old Reddit, having your cursor in a text box, being logged out, or having shortcuts disabled in preferences.
Which browsers support Reddit hotkeys?
All major browsers Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari on both Windows and macOS.
What’s the difference between CMD and ALT in Reddit shortcuts?
CMD is used on Mac. On Windows, any shortcut listing CMD automatically uses ALT instead for example, submit a post with Alt + Enter.
READ NEXT:
