Are you aware of the numerous Gmail keyboard shortcuts that can make your life easier? If your answer is No, then you are not alone. I haven’t yet come across any keyboard shortcuts for Gmail and always assumed that it doesn’t have any.
I did a little digging, only to realize that there are in fact a lot of keyboard shortcuts that can improve your productivity and save you a lot of time.
Now, there are a few shortcuts in Gmail that are enabled by default and can be used immediately. A few other keyboard shortcuts have to be enabled before you can use them. To enable the additional keyboard shortcuts, click on the cog icon at the top right of Gmail and select Settings. Scroll down to ‘Keyboard shortcuts’, select ‘Keyboard shortcuts on’, then click Save Changes at the bottom of the page.
To quickly see a list of keyboard shortcuts in Gmail, press Shift + ?. The shortcuts appear as an inbox overlay that you can dismiss by pressing Esc
Complete list of Gmail keyboard shortcuts
Shortcuts that are auto-enabled
| Shortcut Key | Action |
| Compose and Chat | |
| + | Focus main window |
| Focus latest chat or compose | |
| + . | Advance to next chat or compose |
| + , | Advance to previous chat or compose |
| + | Send |
| + + c | Add cc recipients |
| + + b | Add bcc recipients |
| + + f | Access custom from |
| + k | Insert a link |
| + ; | Go to previous misspelled word |
| + ‘ | Go to next misspelled word |
| + m | Open spelling suggestions |
| Formatting | |
| + + 5 | Previous font |
| + + 6 | Next font |
| + + – | Decrease text size |
| + + + | Increase text size |
| + b | Bold |
| + i | Italics |
| + u | Underline |
| + + 7 | Numbered list |
| + + 8 | Bulleted list |
| + + 9 | Quote |
| + [ | Indent less |
| + ] | Indent more |
| + + l | Align left |
| + + e | Align center |
| + + r | Align right |
| + + , | Set right-to-left |
| + + . | Set left-to-right |
| + | Remove formatting |
Shortcuts that can be used after being enabled
| Shortcut Key | Action |
| Jumping | |
| g then i | Go to Inbox |
| g then s | Go to Starred conversations |
| g then t | Go to Sent messages |
| g then d | Go to Drafts |
| g then a | Go to All mail |
| g then c | Go to Contacts |
| g then k | Go to Tasks |
| g then l | Go to Label |
| Threadlist selection | |
| * then a | Select all conversations |
| * then n | Deselect all conversations |
| * then r | Select read conversations |
| * then u | Select unread conversations |
| * then s | Select starred conversations |
| * then t | Select unstarred conversations |
| Navigation | |
| Back to threadlist | |
| k / j | Newer/older conversation |
| o or | Open conversation; collapse/expand conversation |
| p / n | Read previous/next message |
| Go to next inbox section | |
| Go to previous inbox section | |
| Application | |
| Compose | |
| Compose in a tab (new compose only) | |
| Search mail | |
| Search chat contacts | |
| Open “more actions” menu | |
| Open “move to” menu | |
| Open “label as” menu | |
| Open keyboard shortcut help | |
| Actions | |
| Move focus to toolbar | |
| Select conversation | |
| Rotate superstar | |
| Remove label | |
| Archive | |
| Mute conversation | |
| Report as spam | |
| Delete | |
| Reply | |
| + r | Reply in a new window |
| Reply all | |
| + a | Reply all in a new window |
| f : | Forward |
| + f | Forward in a new window |
| + n | Update conversation |
| ] / [ | Remove conversation from current view and go previous/next |
| } / { | Archive conversation and go previous/next |
| z : | Undo last action |
| + i | Mark as read |
| + u | Mark as unread |
| Mark unread from the selected message | |
| + or = | Mark as important |
| – | Mark as not important |
| + t | Add conversation to Tasks |
Do try out the Gmail keyboard shortcuts and don’t forget to share this with your friends if you found it useful.