Slack keyboard shortcuts

Slack is the messaging hub for millions of workplaces, and its keyboard shortcuts are the difference between drowning in channels and gliding through them. The quick switcher alone (Ctrl+K or Cmd+K) replaces most sidebar clicking, and unread-navigation keys let you clear a busy morning in minutes. This cheat sheet covers 46 default shortcuts for Windows and Mac.

Jumping Around

Open quick switcher (jump to channel or DM)	`Ctrl`+`KCmd`+`K`
Search current workspace	`Ctrl`+`GCmd`+`G`
Go back in history	`Alt`+`LeftCmd`+`[`
Go forward in history	`Alt`+`RightCmd`+`]`
Previous channel or DM in sidebar	`Alt`+`UpOption`+`Up`
Next channel or DM in sidebar	`Alt`+`DownOption`+`Down`
Previous unread channel or DM	`Alt`+`Shift`+`UpOption`+`Shift`+`Up`
Next unread channel or DM	`Alt`+`Shift`+`DownOption`+`Shift`+`Down`
Switch to workspace 1-9	`Ctrl`+`1 to Ctrl`+`9Cmd`+`1 to Cmd`+`9`

Views & Panes

Open threads view	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`TCmd`+`Shift`+`T`
Open all unreads view	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`ACmd`+`Shift`+`A`
Open activity (mentions and reactions)	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`MCmd`+`Shift`+`M`
Open direct messages view	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`KCmd`+`Shift`+`K`
Browse channels	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`LCmd`+`Shift`+`L`
Open saved items (later)	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`SCmd`+`Shift`+`S`
Toggle left sidebar	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`DCmd`+`Shift`+`D`
Toggle right pane (thread or details)	`Ctrl`+`.Cmd`+`.`
Open preferences	`Ctrl`+`,Cmd`+`,`

Marking Read & Unread

Mark current channel as read	`EscEsc`
Mark all messages as read	`Shift`+`EscShift`+`Esc`
Mark a message as unread from that point	`Alt`+`ClickOption`+`Click`

Writing Messages

Send message	`EnterEnter`
New line without sending	`Shift`+`EnterShift`+`Enter`
Edit your last message (in empty input)	`UpUp`
Start a new message (compose)	`Ctrl`+`NCmd`+`N`
Upload a file	`Ctrl`+`UCmd`+`U`
Create a text snippet	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`EnterCmd`+`Shift`+`Enter`
Open emoji picker	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`\Cmd`+`Shift`+`\`
Undo typing	`Ctrl`+`ZCmd`+`Z`

Message Formatting

Bold	`Ctrl`+`BCmd`+`B`
Italic	`Ctrl`+`ICmd`+`I`
Strikethrough	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`XCmd`+`Shift`+`X`
Inline code	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`CCmd`+`Shift`+`C`
Code block	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`CCmd`+`Option`+`Shift`+`C`
Blockquote	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`9Cmd`+`Shift`+`9`
Bulleted list	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`8Cmd`+`Shift`+`8`
Numbered list	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`7Cmd`+`Shift`+`7`
Add link to selected text	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`UCmd`+`Shift`+`U`

Calls & Huddles

Toggle huddle in current channel or DM	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`HCmd`+`Shift`+`H`
Mute or unmute microphone in a huddle	`MM`

App & Window

Set or edit your status	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`YCmd`+`Shift`+`Y`
Toggle full screen	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`FCmd`+`Ctrl`+`F`
Zoom in	`Ctrl`+`PlusCmd`+`Plus`
Zoom out	`Ctrl`+`MinusCmd`+`Minus`
Reset zoom	`Ctrl`+`0Cmd`+`0`
Show keyboard shortcuts panel	`Ctrl`+`/Cmd`+`/`

Put your top Slack shortcuts on real keys

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

Ctrl+KCmd+K Open quick switcher The single fastest way to move anywhere in Slack; power users press it hundreds of times a day.

Alt+Shift+DownOption+Shift+Down Next unread channel or DM Repeated taps walk you through every unread conversation until the sidebar is clear.

Shift+EscShift+Esc Mark all messages as read The nuclear inbox-zero button after a vacation or a noisy morning.

Ctrl+Shift+HCmd+Shift+H Toggle huddle Jump into or out of a voice huddle without hunting for the headphone icon.

Ctrl+Shift+TCmd+Shift+T Open threads view Threads are where replies hide; one key surfaces everything awaiting your answer.

I hand-build small-batch programmable macropads (QMK/VIA) in Barcelona. One press, any shortcut, any app.

See the macropads

Slack shortcut FAQs

What is the most important Slack keyboard shortcut?

The quick switcher: Ctrl+K on Windows or Cmd+K on Mac. Type a few letters of any channel, DM, or app and hit Enter to jump there. Most power users navigate Slack almost exclusively with it.

How do I mark everything as read in Slack?

Press Shift+Esc to mark all messages in the workspace as read. Esc alone marks just the current channel as read.

How do I edit my last message in Slack?

Click into the message box of the conversation and press the Up arrow while the box is empty. Your most recent message opens for editing; press Enter to save or Esc to cancel.

How do I see all keyboard shortcuts inside Slack?

Press Ctrl+/ on Windows or Cmd+/ on Mac to open the shortcuts panel listing everything available on your platform.

How do I add a new line in Slack without sending the message?

Press Shift+Enter. Plain Enter sends the message by default, though you can change that behavior in Preferences > Advanced.