Google Docs keyboard shortcuts

Google Docs is Google's free, browser-based word processor and the default for collaborative writing. Because it saves automatically and lives in a browser tab, the real speed comes from its editing shortcuts: formatting, headings, lists, and comments all have direct keys. These are the defaults for Windows and Mac in any browser. This cheat sheet covers 56 default shortcuts for Windows and Mac.

General

Show keyboard shortcuts list	`Ctrl`+`/Cmd`+`/`
Search the menus	`Alt`+`/Option`+`/`
Find	`Ctrl`+`FCmd`+`F`
Find and replace	`Ctrl`+`HCmd`+`Shift`+`H`
Print	`Ctrl`+`PCmd`+`P`
Undo	`Ctrl`+`ZCmd`+`Z`
Redo	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`ZCmd`+`Shift`+`Z`
Repeat last action	`Ctrl`+`YCmd`+`Y`
Word count	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`CCmd`+`Shift`+`C`
Open version history	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`HCmd`+`Option`+`Shift`+`H`
Define selected word (dictionary)	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`YCmd`+`Shift`+`Y`
Start voice typing	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`SCmd`+`Shift`+`S`
Open the insert menu at cursor	`@@`

Insert and Comments

Insert page break	`Ctrl`+`EnterCmd`+`Enter`
Insert line break	`Shift`+`EnterShift`+`Enter`
Insert or edit link	`Ctrl`+`KCmd`+`K`
Open link at cursor	`Alt`+`EnterOption`+`Enter`
Insert comment	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`MCmd`+`Option`+`M`
Insert footnote	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`FCmd`+`Option`+`F`

Text Formatting

Bold	`Ctrl`+`BCmd`+`B`
Italic	`Ctrl`+`ICmd`+`I`
Underline	`Ctrl`+`UCmd`+`U`
Strikethrough	`Alt`+`Shift`+`5Cmd`+`Shift`+`X`
Superscript	`Ctrl`+`.Cmd`+`.`
Subscript	`Ctrl`+`,Cmd`+`,`
Increase font size	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`.Cmd`+`Shift`+`.`
Decrease font size	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`,Cmd`+`Shift`+`,`
Copy formatting	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`CCmd`+`Option`+`C`
Paste formatting	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`VCmd`+`Option`+`V`
Paste without formatting	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`VCmd`+`Shift`+`V`
Clear formatting	`Ctrl`+`\Cmd`+`\`

Paragraph Styles

Apply normal text style	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`0Cmd`+`Option`+`0`
Apply Heading 1	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`1Cmd`+`Option`+`1`
Apply Heading 2	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`2Cmd`+`Option`+`2`
Apply Heading 3	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`3Cmd`+`Option`+`3`
Apply Heading 4	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`4Cmd`+`Option`+`4`
Apply Heading 5	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`5Cmd`+`Option`+`5`
Apply Heading 6	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`6Cmd`+`Option`+`6`

Alignment and Lists

Left align	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`LCmd`+`Shift`+`L`
Center align	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`ECmd`+`Shift`+`E`
Right align	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`RCmd`+`Shift`+`R`
Justify	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`JCmd`+`Shift`+`J`
Numbered list	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`7Cmd`+`Shift`+`7`
Bulleted list	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`8Cmd`+`Shift`+`8`
Checklist	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`9Cmd`+`Shift`+`9`
Increase indent	`Ctrl`+`]Cmd`+`]`
Decrease indent	`Ctrl`+`[Cmd`+`[`
Move paragraph up	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`UpCtrl`+`Shift`+`Up`
Move paragraph down	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`DownCtrl`+`Shift`+`Down`

Editing and Selection

Select all	`Ctrl`+`ACmd`+`A`
Copy	`Ctrl`+`CCmd`+`C`
Cut	`Ctrl`+`XCmd`+`X`
Paste	`Ctrl`+`VCmd`+`V`
Delete word before cursor	`Ctrl`+`BackspaceOption`+`Delete`
Move cursor one word left or right	`Ctrl`+`Left / Ctrl`+`RightOption`+`Left / Option`+`Right`
Extend selection word by word	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Left / Ctrl`+`Shift`+`RightOption`+`Shift`+`Left / Option`+`Shift`+`Right`

Put your top Google Docs shortcuts on real keys

The five Google Docs actions most worth binding to a physical macropad key:

Ctrl+Alt+MCmd+Option+M Insert comment Collaborative review in Docs is comment-driven; one key per comment adds up fast.

Ctrl+Shift+VCmd+Shift+V Paste without formatting The default paste for anyone assembling docs from web sources and other files.

Ctrl+Alt+2Cmd+Option+2 Apply Heading 2 The workhorse heading level when structuring documents and meeting notes.

Ctrl+Shift+9Cmd+Shift+9 Checklist Turns any line into an actionable to-do, perfect for notes and action items.

Ctrl+Alt+Shift+HCmd+Option+Shift+H Open version history Instant access to who changed what, without digging through the File menu.

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Google Docs shortcut FAQs

How do I see all keyboard shortcuts in Google Docs?

Press Ctrl+/ on Windows or Cmd+/ on Mac to open the searchable shortcut list inside Docs.

How do I paste text without formatting in Google Docs?

Press Ctrl+Shift+V on Windows or Cmd+Shift+V on Mac. The text takes on the formatting of the surrounding paragraph instead of keeping its source styling.

What is the shortcut for word count in Google Docs?

Press Ctrl+Shift+C on Windows or Cmd+Shift+C on Mac. In the dialog you can also tick an option to keep the word count visible while typing.

How do I add a comment with the keyboard in Google Docs?

Select the text and press Ctrl+Alt+M on Windows or Cmd+Option+M on Mac to open a new comment box anchored to that selection.

Can I use a shortcut I know from Microsoft Word in Google Docs?

Many carry over, like Ctrl+B, Ctrl+K, and Ctrl+Enter for a page break, but some differ: strikethrough is Alt+Shift+5, and find-and-replace is Ctrl+H on Windows but Cmd+Shift+H on Mac.