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Writer's pictureSharon Rajendra Manmothe

How to Enable Keyboard Shortcuts in Gmail

Updated: Oct 31

Before you can start using keyboard shortcuts, you need to ensure they are enabled in your Gmail settings. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Open Gmail: Go to your Gmail account.

  2. Access Settings: Click on the gear icon (Settings) in the top right corner, then select See all settings.

  3. Navigate to Keyboard Shortcuts: Scroll down to the Keyboard shortcuts section.

  4. Enable Shortcuts: Select Keyboard shortcuts on.

  5. Save Changes: At the bottom of the page, click Save Changes.

Once you’ve completed these steps, you’re ready to start using keyboard shortcuts!

How to Enable Keyboard Shortcuts in Gmail
How to Enable Keyboard Shortcuts in Gmail

Comprehensive List of Gmail Keyboard Shortcuts

Basic Shortcuts

These shortcuts allow you to perform common actions quickly:

Action

Shortcut (PC)

Shortcut (Mac)

Compose a new message

c

c

Compose in a new tab

d

d

Search mail

/

/

Open "more actions" menu

.

.

Open "move to" menu

v

v

Open "label as" menu

l

l

Message Navigation Shortcuts

These shortcuts help you navigate through your messages efficiently:

Action

Shortcut (PC)

Shortcut (Mac)

Previous message in an open conversation

p

p

Next message in an open conversation

n

n

Open conversation

o or Enter

o or Enter

Jump to the next page

g + n

g + n

Jump to the previous page

g + p

g + p

Mark as read

Shift + i

Shift + i

Mark as unread

Shift + u

Shift + u

Message Action Shortcuts

Perform common actions on your messages quickly with these shortcuts:

Action

Shortcut (PC)

Shortcut (Mac)

Archive conversation

e

e

Delete conversation

#

#

Mute conversation

m

m

Report as spam

!

!

Reply

r

r

Reply all

a

a

Forward

f

f

Undo last action

z

z

Toggle star/rotate among superstars

s

s

Formatting Text Shortcuts

Formatting your email text is quick and easy with these shortcuts:

Action

Shortcut (PC)

Shortcut (Mac)

Bold

Ctrl + b

⌘ + b

Italics

Ctrl + i

⌘ + i

Underline

Ctrl + u

⌘ + u

Increase text size

Ctrl + Shift + >

⌘ + Shift + >

Decrease text size

Ctrl + Shift + <

⌘ + Shift + <

Numbered list

Ctrl + Shift + 7

⌘ + Shift + 7

Bulleted list

Ctrl + Shift + 8

⌘ + Shift + 8

Jumping and Navigation Shortcuts

Quickly move through your Gmail interface with these navigation shortcuts:

Action

Shortcut (PC)

Shortcut (Mac)

Go to Inbox

g + i

g + i

Go to Starred conversations

g + s

g + s

Go to Sent messages

g + t

g + t

Go to Drafts

g + d

g + d

Go to All mail

g + a

g + a

Go to Tasks

g + k

g + k

Customizing Keyboard Shortcuts

You can customize Gmail keyboard shortcuts to fit your preferences. Here’s how:

Step 1: Enable Custom Keyboard Shortcuts

  1. Go to Gmail and click on the gear icon (Settings).

  2. Select See all settings.

  3. Click on the Advanced tab.

  4. Next to Custom keyboard shortcuts, click Enable.

  5. Click Save Changes at the bottom.

Step 2: Change Your Keyboard Shortcuts

  1. Go back to the Gmail settings.

  2. Click on the Keyboard Shortcuts tab.

  3. Next to the action you want to change, type the new keyboard key to create a new shortcut.

  4. Click Save Changes at the bottom.

Note: Each key can only be assigned to one action.

Tips for Maximizing Efficiency with Gmail Shortcuts

  1. Practice Regularly: The more you use shortcuts, the easier they will become. Set aside time to practice using them until they become second nature.

  2. Combine Shortcuts: Many actions can be combined with navigation shortcuts for faster email management. For instance, use Shift + i to mark an email as read immediately after selecting it with j or k.

  3. Use Custom Shortcuts: Take advantage of custom shortcuts to create a personalized workflow that suits your needs.

Conclusion

Gmail keyboard shortcuts are powerful tools that can significantly enhance your productivity by allowing you to manage your emails more efficiently. By enabling shortcuts, familiarizing yourself with their functions, and customizing them to your liking, you can navigate your inbox, format messages, and perform actions in mere seconds. Start incorporating these shortcuts into your daily routine and watch as your email management becomes faster and more streamlined.

Now that you have a comprehensive understanding of Gmail keyboard shortcuts, it’s time to put them into practice. Happy emailing!

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