Gmail keyboard shortcuts
Gmail has one of the best keyboard shortcut systems of any web app: single keys like c, e, and r let you compose, archive, and reply without ever touching the mouse. Important: most of these only work after you enable them in Settings > See all settings > General > Keyboard shortcuts > On. Chorded sequences like g then i are pressed one key after the other, not held together. This cheat sheet covers 60 default shortcuts for Windows and Mac.
Compose & Send
| Compose new message | cc |
| Compose in a new tab | dd |
| Send message | Ctrl+EnterCmd+Enter |
| Add cc recipients | Ctrl+Shift+CCmd+Shift+C |
| Add bcc recipients | Ctrl+Shift+BCmd+Shift+B |
| Discard draft | Ctrl+Shift+DCmd+Shift+D |
Reply & Forward
| Reply | rr |
| Reply all | aa |
| Forward | ff |
| Reply in a new window | Shift+RShift+R |
| Reply all in a new window | Shift+AShift+A |
| Forward in a new window | Shift+FShift+F |
Actions on Conversations
| Archive | ee |
| Delete | ## |
| Report as spam | !! |
| Mute conversation | mm |
| Star or unstar | ss |
| Snooze | bb |
| Mark as read | Shift+IShift+I |
| Mark as unread | Shift+UShift+U |
| Open label menu | ll |
| Move to folder or label | vv |
| Add conversation to Tasks | Shift+TShift+T |
| Undo last action | zz |
| Archive and go to previous conversation | ]] |
| Archive and go to next conversation | [[ |
| Open more actions menu | .. |
Navigation & Reading
| Newer conversation | kk |
| Older conversation | jj |
| Open conversation | oo |
| Open conversation (alternative) | EnterEnter |
| Back to conversation list | uu |
| Next message in conversation | nn |
| Previous message in conversation | pp |
| Expand entire conversation | ;; |
| Collapse entire conversation | :: |
| Search mail | // |
| Show keyboard shortcut help | ?? |
Selection
| Select or deselect conversation | xx |
| Select all conversations | *thena*thena |
| Deselect all conversations | *thenn*thenn |
| Select all read conversations | *thenr*thenr |
| Select all unread conversations | *thenu*thenu |
| Select all starred conversations | *thens*thens |
| Select all unstarred conversations | *thent*thent |
Go To (chords)
| Go to Inbox | gthenigtheni |
| Go to Starred | gthensgthens |
| Go to Sent | gthentgthent |
| Go to Drafts | gthendgthend |
| Go to All Mail | gthenagthena |
| Go to Contacts | gthencgthenc |
| Go to Tasks | gthenkgthenk |
Formatting (in compose)
| Bold | Ctrl+BCmd+B |
| Italic | Ctrl+ICmd+I |
| Underline | Ctrl+UCmd+U |
| Insert link | Ctrl+KCmd+K |
| Numbered list | Ctrl+Shift+7Cmd+Shift+7 |
| Bulleted list | Ctrl+Shift+8Cmd+Shift+8 |
| Remove formatting | Ctrl+\Cmd+\ |
| Undo in compose | Ctrl+ZCmd+Z |
Put your top Gmail shortcuts on real keys
The five Gmail actions most worth binding to a physical macropad key:
ee Archive The core of inbox-zero triage; you press it more than any other key in Gmail.
cc Compose new message Start a fresh email instantly from anywhere in Gmail.
Ctrl+EnterCmd+Enter Send message Fire off the finished email without reaching for the Send button.
[[ Archive and go to next conversation Processes an entire inbox one tap at a time: archive, advance, repeat.
bb Snooze Punt non-urgent mail to later and keep the inbox clean during triage.
I hand-build small-batch programmable macropads (QMK/VIA) in Barcelona. One press, any shortcut, any app.
Gmail shortcut FAQs
Why are Gmail keyboard shortcuts not working?
Single-key shortcuts are off by default. Go to Settings (gear icon) > See all settings > General > Keyboard shortcuts, select Keyboard shortcuts on, and save. Shortcuts also pause while your cursor is inside a text field.
How do I see all keyboard shortcuts in Gmail?
Press ? (Shift+/) anywhere in Gmail to open the full shortcut overlay. It also shows which shortcuts are currently disabled.
What do 'g then i' style shortcuts mean in Gmail?
They are two-key sequences: press g, release it, then press i. Held-together combos like Ctrl+Enter are different and are written with a plus sign.
What is the difference between archive and delete in Gmail?
Archive (e) removes the conversation from your inbox but keeps it in All Mail forever. Delete (#) moves it to Trash, where it is permanently erased after 30 days.
Can I customize Gmail keyboard shortcuts?
Yes. Enable Custom keyboard shortcuts in Settings > Advanced, then a Keyboard Shortcuts tab appears in settings where you can remap most keys.