Gmail Keyboard Shortcuts: The Complete Cheat Sheet for 2026
If you spend even an hour a day in your inbox, Gmail keyboard shortcuts are the single fastest way to cut that time. Instead of reaching for your mouse to archive, reply, or jump to your Sent folder, you do it with one keystroke. This guide covers all 80+ Gmail keyboard shortcuts that work in 2026 grouped by task, with separate Mac and PC keys, a clear note on which ones need enabling first, and a free printable PDF cheat sheet at the end.
What Are Gmail Keyboard Shortcuts?
A Gmail keyboard shortcut is a single key or key combination that performs an action such as archive, reply, or compose without using your mouse. Gmail offers more than 80 built-in shortcuts. Some work immediately, while most single-key shortcuts must be turned on first in Settings. On Mac, the modifier key is ⌘ (Command); on Windows and Chrome OS, it’s Ctrl.
How to Enable Gmail Keyboard Shortcuts
Most single-key shortcuts (like e for archive) are off by default. Here’s how to turn them on in under 30 seconds:
- On a computer, open Gmail.
- In the top right, click Settings (gear icon) → See all settings.
- On the Settings tab, scroll to the Keyboard shortcuts section.
- Select Keyboard shortcuts on.
- Click Save Changes at the bottom.
If you have more than one Gmail account, repeat these steps for each. To see the live shortcut list any time, press ? (Shift + /) while Gmail is open.
Default, Advanced & Custom Shortcuts: The Difference
- Default shortcuts: multi-key combos like Ctrl/⌘ + Enter (send) work immediately, no setup.
- Advanced shortcuts: single-key shortcuts like e (archive) or c (compose) are built in but require turning on (steps above).
- Custom shortcuts: you can remap keys yourself. Go to Settings → Advanced → Custom keyboard shortcuts → Enable → Save, then a new Keyboard Shortcuts tab appears where you assign your own keys. Each key can map to only one action.
Compose & Chat Shortcuts
These help you write, send, and move between messages. Most work without enabling.
| Action | Windows / PC | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Send | Ctrl + Enter | ⌘ + Enter |
| Add Cc recipients | Ctrl + Shift + c | ⌘ + Shift + c |
| Add Bcc recipients | Ctrl + Shift + b | ⌘ + Shift + b |
| Access custom “from” | Ctrl + Shift + f | ⌘ + Shift + f |
| Insert a link | Ctrl + k | ⌘ + k |
| Open spelling suggestions | Ctrl + m | ⌘ + m |
| Go to next misspelled word | – | ⌘ + ; |
| Previous message in open conversation | P | P |
| Next message in open conversation | N | N |
| Focus main window | Shift + Esc | Shift + Esc |
| Focus latest chat or compose | Esc | Esc |
| Advance to next chat / compose | Ctrl + . | Ctrl + . |
| Advance to previous chat / compose | Ctrl + , | Ctrl + , |
Formatting Shortcuts
Use these inside the compose window to style your email text. All work without enabling.
| Action | Windows / PC | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Bold | Ctrl + b | ⌘ + b |
| Italics | Ctrl + i | ⌘ + i |
| Underline | Ctrl + u | ⌘ + u |
| Previous font | Ctrl + Shift + 5 | ⌘ + Shift + 5 |
| Next font | Ctrl + Shift + 6 | ⌘ + Shift + 6 |
| Decrease text size | Ctrl + Shift + – | ⌘ + Shift + – |
| Increase text size | Ctrl + Shift + + | ⌘ + Shift + + |
| Numbered list | Ctrl + Shift + 7 | ⌘ + Shift + 7 |
| Bulleted list | Ctrl + Shift + 8 | ⌘ + Shift + 8 |
| Quote | Ctrl + Shift + 9 | ⌘ + Shift + 9 |
| Indent less | Ctrl + [ | ⌘ + [ |
| Indent more | Ctrl + ] | ⌘ + ] |
| Align left | Ctrl + Shift + l | ⌘ + Shift + l |
| Align center | Ctrl + Shift + e | ⌘ + Shift + e |
| Align right | Ctrl + Shift + r | ⌘ + Shift + r |
| Remove formatting | Ctrl + \ | ⌘ + \ |
Action Shortcuts (Archive, Delete, Reply, Snooze)
Important: these single-key shortcuts only work once you’ve turned keyboard shortcuts on.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Archive | e |
| Delete | # |
| Report as spam | ! |
| Reply | r |
| Reply in a new window | Shift + r |
| Reply all | a |
| Reply all in a new window | Shift + a |
| Forward | f |
| Forward in a new window | Shift + f |
| Select conversation | x |
| Toggle star / rotate superstars | s |
| Mute conversation | m |
| Snooze (not in classic Gmail) | b |
| Mark as read | Shift + i |
| Mark as unread | Shift + u |
| Mark unread from selected message | _ |
| Mark as important | + or = |
| Mark as not important | – |
| Update conversation | Shift + n |
| Archive & go to previous/next | ] or [ |
| Undo last action | z |
| Expand entire conversation | ; |
| Collapse entire conversation | : |
| Add conversation to Tasks | Shift + t |
| Move focus to toolbar | , |
Jumping Shortcuts (Move Between Folders)
Press g then a second key to jump anywhere. Requires shortcuts on.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Go to Inbox | g + i |
| Go to Starred | g + s |
| Go to Snoozed | g + b |
| Go to Sent | g + t |
| Go to Drafts | g + d |
| Go to All Mail | g + a |
| Go to Tasks | g + k |
| Go to label | g + l |
| Switch Calendar/Keep/Tasks sidebar ↔ inbox | ⌘/Ctrl + Alt + , and ⌘/Ctrl + Alt + . |
Navigation Shortcuts
Move through conversations and pages without scrolling. Requires shortcuts on.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Newer conversation | k |
| Older conversation | j |
| Open conversation | o or Enter |
| Back to threadlist | u |
| Next page | g + n |
| Previous page | g + p |
| Next inbox section | ` (backtick) |
| Previous inbox section | ~ |
Threadlist Selection Shortcuts
Press * then a second key to bulk-select. Requires shortcuts on.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Select all conversations | * + a |
| Deselect all | * + n |
| Select read | * + r |
| Select unread | * + u |
| Select starred | * + s |
| Select unstarred | * + t |
Application Shortcuts
Control Gmail’s core functions compose, search, menus. Requires shortcuts on.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Compose | c |
| Compose in a new tab | d |
| Search mail | / |
| Search chat contacts | q |
| Open “more actions” menu | . |
| Open “move to” menu | v |
| Open “label as” menu | l |
| Open keyboard shortcut help | ? |
Gmail Shortcuts for Mac vs PC
The single-key shortcuts (like e, c, r) are identical on Mac and PC. The only difference is the modifier key in combinations: Mac uses ⌘ (Command) where Windows and Chrome OS use Ctrl. For example, “send” is ⌘ + Enter on Mac and Ctrl + Enter on a PC. One shortcut go to next misspelled word (⌘ + 😉 is Mac-only.
Do Gmail Shortcuts Work on Mobile?
No. Gmail keyboard shortcuts work only in the desktop browser version of Gmail. The Android and iPhone/iPad apps don’t support them unless you pair an external physical keyboard with a tablet, where a limited set may work.
Free Printable Gmail Shortcuts PDF Cheat Sheet
Want all 80+ shortcuts on one page? Download our free printable Gmail keyboard shortcuts cheat sheet (PDF) and keep it next to your desk.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I access keyboard shortcuts in Gmail?
Open Gmail on a computer, go to Settings → See all settings → Keyboard shortcuts section → select “Keyboard shortcuts on” → Save Changes. Then press ? inside Gmail to view the full list.
Why aren’t my Gmail shortcuts working?
The most common reason is that single-key shortcuts are turned off by default. Enable them in Settings (steps above). Also note that shortcuts don’t work in the mobile apps, and some aren’t available in classic Gmail.
What is the shortcut to archive in Gmail?
Press e to archive a selected conversation (keyboard shortcuts must be turned on). Archiving moves the email to All Mail without deleting it.
How do I see all Gmail keyboard shortcuts?
While Gmail is open in a browser, press ? (Shift + /). This opens Gmail’s built-in shortcut list, which also shows which shortcuts still need enabling.
Can I create custom Gmail shortcuts?
Yes. Go to Settings → Advanced → enable “Custom keyboard shortcuts” → Save. A new “Keyboard Shortcuts” tab appears where you can remap keys. Each key can be assigned to only one action.
What is the Gmail shortcut to compose a new email?
Press c to compose in the current window, or d to compose in a new tab (shortcuts must be enabled).
Final Thoughts
Learning even 10 of these Gmail keyboard shortcuts will noticeably speed up how you process email. Start with the high-impact ones c (compose), e (archive), r (reply), and / (search) then add more as they become muscle memory. Press ? any time you forget one. Treat learning shortcuts as an investment: a few seconds saved per email adds up to hours over a year.
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