How to Enable and Use Gmail Keyboard Shortcuts

To enable Gmail keyboard shortcuts on a computer, open Settings > See all settings > General, find Keyboard shortcuts, choose Keyboard shortcuts on, and save the changes. After enabling them, press ? in Gmail to open the current shortcut list.

What Gmail shortcuts can do

Keyboard commands reduce repeated mouse movement when you compose, search, archive, label, and navigate messages. Some common formatting and browser-style commands work immediately, while many single-letter Gmail commands must be enabled in settings.

Shortcuts may vary by keyboard layout, language, device, and operating system. On a Mac, many commands use Command where Windows and ChromeOS use Ctrl.

How to turn on Gmail keyboard shortcuts

1. Open Gmail on a computer and sign in to the correct account.
2. Select the gear icon in the upper-right corner.
3. Choose See all settings.
4. Stay on the General tab and scroll to Keyboard shortcuts.
5. Select Keyboard shortcuts on.
6. Scroll to the bottom and choose Save Changes.

The screenshots may show an older Gmail layout or a different interface language, but the setting names and workflow remain recognizable. If an organization manages the account, some options can differ.

Open Gmail's complete shortcut reference

With Gmail open, press Shift + /, which produces the ? character on many keyboards. Gmail displays a shortcut dialog for the current account and interface. This is more reliable than memorizing an old static list because it reflects the available commands.

Google maintains a current reference in Gmail Help's keyboard shortcut guide.

Essential Gmail shortcuts

Compose and send

Action	Shortcut	Notes
Compose a message	c	Requires Gmail shortcuts to be enabled
Compose in a new tab	d	Useful when referencing the inbox
Send	Ctrl/Command + Enter	Gmail may ask for confirmation
Add Cc	Ctrl/Command + Shift + c	Works in the compose window
Add Bcc	Ctrl/Command + Shift + b	Works in the compose window
Insert a link	Ctrl/Command + k	Use on selected text or at the cursor

Format message text

Action	Windows/ChromeOS	Mac
Bold	Ctrl + b	Command + b
Italic	Ctrl + i	Command + i
Underline	Ctrl + u	Command + u
Remove formatting	Ctrl +	Command +

Manage selected or open messages

Action	Shortcut
Select a conversation	x
Archive	e
Delete	#
Mark as spam	!
Mark as read	Shift + i
Mark as unread	Shift + u
Reply	r
Reply all	a
Forward	f
Undo the last action	z

Deletion and spam commands act quickly. Practice first in a test account or with unimportant messages, and remember that z can undo many recent actions while Gmail's notification remains available.

Navigate Gmail

Action	Shortcut
Move to a newer conversation	k
Move to an older conversation	j
Open a conversation	o or Enter
Return to the conversation list	u
Search mail	/
Open the More actions menu	.
Open Move to	v
Open Label as	l

Use multi-key “go to” commands

Some commands are sequences rather than simultaneous key combinations. For example, press g, release it, and then press the second key. The current shortcut dialog shows which destinations are available for your account.

• g then i: go to Inbox.
• g then s: go to Starred.
• g then d: go to Drafts.
• g then a: go to All Mail.

If a sequence opens a browser command instead, click inside Gmail and try again. Do not hold both letter keys at the same time.

Customize Gmail keyboard shortcuts

Gmail can expose custom shortcut settings through its Advanced features:

1. Open Settings > See all settings > Advanced.
2. Enable Custom keyboard shortcuts if the option appears.
3. Save the change and allow Gmail to reload.
4. Return to Settings and open the new Keyboard Shortcuts tab.
5. Change only the commands you use, avoid duplicate assignments, and save again.

Custom shortcuts are best for experienced users with a stable workflow. Start with Gmail's defaults so instructions and support documentation remain easy to follow.

Why Gmail shortcuts may not work

• Shortcuts are disabled: Recheck the General settings and save the change.
• The cursor is inside a text field: Single-letter keys may type into the field instead of triggering an action.
• A browser or extension uses the same command: Test Gmail in a private window or temporarily disable the conflicting extension.
• The keyboard layout differs: Punctuation shortcuts such as ?, #, and ! may require different modifier keys.
• The account or device has limited support: Mobile apps and managed Workspace accounts may not offer the same shortcuts as desktop Gmail.
• The Gmail window is not focused: Click the message list, then retry the command.

A simple way to learn the shortcuts

Choose three commands for one week—for example c to compose, e to archive, and / to search. Add navigation commands only after those feel automatic. You can also review these Gmail shortcuts that use Shift and the broader Windows keyboard shortcut guide.

Keep Gmail's ? shortcut reference as the authoritative list for your current interface. It is faster to verify a command there than to rely on an outdated image or memorized list.