GMail Short cut Keys


Shortcut Key
Definition
Action
c
Compose
Allows you to compose a new message. <Shift> + c allows you to compose a message in a new window.
/
Search
Puts your cursor in the search box.
k
Move to newer conversation
Opens or moves your cursor to a more recent conversation. You can hit <Enter> to expand a conversation.
j
Move to older conversation
Opens or moves your cursor to the next oldest conversation. You can hit <Enter> to expand a conversation.
n
Next message
Moves your cursor to the next message. You can hit <Enter> to expand or collapse a message. (Only applicable in 'Conversation View.')
p
Previous message
Moves your cursor to the previous message. You can hit <Enter> to expand or collapse a message. (Only applicable in 'Conversation View.')
o or <Enter>
Open
Opens your conversation. Also expands or collapses a message if you are in 'Conversation View.'
u
Return to conversation list
Refreshes your page and returns you to the inbox, or list of conversations.
e
Archive
Archive your conversation from any view.
m
Mute
Archives the conversation, and all future messages skip the Inbox unless sent or cc'd directly to you. Learn more.
x
Select conversation
Automatically checks and selects a conversation so that you can archive, apply a label, or choose an action from the drop-down menu to apply to that conversation.
s
Star a message or conversation
Adds or removes a star to a message or conversation. Stars allow you to give a message or conversation a special status.
+
Mark as important
Helps Gmail learn what's important to you by marking misclassified messages. (Specific to Priority Inbox)
-
Mark as unimportant
Helps Gmail learn what's not important to you by marking misclassified messages. (Specific to Priority Inbox)
!
Report spam
Marks a message as spam and removes it from your conversation list.
r
Reply
Replies to the message sender. <Shift> + r allows you to reply to a message in a new window. (Only applicable in 'Conversation View.')
a
Reply all
Replies to all message recipients. <Shift> +a allows you to reply to all message recipients in a new window. (Only applicable in 'Conversation View.')
f
Forward
Forwards a message. <Shift> + f allows you to forward a message in a new window. (Only applicable in 'Conversation View.')
<Esc>
Escape from input field
Removes the cursor from your current input field.
<Ctrl> + s
Save draft
Saves the current text as a draft when composing a message. Hold the <Ctrl> key while pressing s and make sure your cursor is in one of the text fields -- either the composition pane, or any of the To, CC, BCC, or Subject fields -- when using this shortcut.
#
Delete
Moves the conversation to Trash.
l
Label
Opens the Labels menu to label a conversation.
v
Move to
Moves the conversation from the inbox to a different label, Spam or Trash.
<Shift> + i
Mark as read
Marks your message as 'read' and skip to the next message.
<Shift> + u
Mark as unread
Marks your message as 'unread' so you can go back to it later.
[
Archive and previous
Archives your conversation and moves to the previous one.
]
Archive and next
Archives your conversation and moves to the next one.
z
Undo
Undoes your previous action, if possible (works for actions with an 'undo' link).
<Shift> + n
Update current conversation
Updates your current conversation when there are new messages.
q
Move cursor to chat search
Moves your cursor directly to the chat search box.
y
Remove from Current View*
Automatically removes the message or conversation from your current view.
  • From 'Inbox,' 'y' means Archive
  • From 'Starred,' 'y' means Unstar
  • From 'Trash,' 'y' means Move to inbox
  • From any label, 'y' means Remove the label
* 'y' has no effect if you're in 'Spam,' 'Sent,' or 'All Mail.'
.
Show more actions
Displays the 'More Actions' drop-down menu.
<Ctrl> + <Down arrow>
Opens options in Chat
  • <Ctrl> + <Down arrow> moves from edit field in your chat window to select the 'Video and more' menu
  • Next, press <Tab> to select the emoticon menu
  • Press <Enter> to open the selected menu
?
Show keyboard shortcuts help
Displays the keyboard shortcuts help menu within any page you're on.



k
Move up a contact
Moves your cursor up in your contact list
j
Move down a contact
Moves your cursor down in your contact list
o or <Enter>
Open
Opens the contact with the cursor next to it.
u
Return to contact list view
Refreshes your page and returns you to the contact list.
e
Remove from Current Group
Removes selected contacts from the group currently being displayed.
x
Select contact
Checks and selects a contact so that you can change group membership or choose an action from the drop-down menu to apply to the contact.
<Esc>
Escape from input field
Removes the cursor from the current input
#
Delete
Deletes a contact permanently
l
Group membership
Opens the groups button to group contacts
z
Undo
Reverses your previous action, if possible (works for actions with an 'undo' link)
.
Show more actions
Opens the "More actions" drop-down menu.
Combo-keys - Use the following combinations of keys to navigate through Gmail.
Shortcut Key
Definition
Action
<Tab> then <Enter>
Send message
After composing your message, use this combination to send it automatically. (Supported in Internet Explorer and Firefox, on Windows.)
y then o
Archive and next
Archives your conversation and moves to the next one.
g then a
Go to 'All Mail'
Takes you to 'All Mail,' the storage site for all mail you've ever sent or received (and have not deleted).
g then s
Go to 'Starred'
Takes you to all conversations you have starred.
g then c
Go to 'Contacts'
Takes you to your Contacts list.
g then d
Go to 'Drafts'
Takes you to all drafts you have saved.
g then l
Go to 'Label'
Takes you to the search box with the "label:" operator filled in for you.
g then i
Go to 'Inbox'
Returns you to the inbox.
g then t
Go to 'Sent Mail'
Takes you to all mail you've sent.
* then a
Select all
Selects all mail.
* then n
Select none
Deselects all mail.
* then r
Select read
Selects all mail you've read.
* then u
Select unread
Selects all unread mail.
* then s
Select starred
Selects all starred mail.
* then t
Select unstarred
Selects all unstarred mail.