Every Gmail keyboard shortcut worth knowing on a Mac, how to switch them on, and the dozen that save the most time. Includes a printable table.
Gmail has over 80 keyboard shortcuts, but most people never switch them on. That's a shame, because the dozen that matter can halve the time you spend in email. Here's how to turn them on, the ones worth learning first, and the full list.
How to turn on Gmail keyboard shortcuts
Shortcuts are off by default. To switch them on:
- Open Gmail in your browser and click the Settings cog.
- Click See all settings.
- On the General tab, scroll to Keyboard shortcuts.
- Choose Keyboard shortcuts on.
- Scroll to the bottom and click Save Changes.
Press ? anywhere in Gmail to see the full list at any time.
The 12 shortcuts that save the most time
| Key | What it does |
|---|
| j / k | Move to the older / newer conversation |
| o or Enter | Open a conversation |
| e | Archive |
| # | Delete |
| r | Reply |
| a | Reply all |
| f | Forward |
| c | Compose |
| / | Search |
| z | Undo the last action |
| s | Star or unstar |
| g then i | Go to the inbox |
Learn j, k, e and r first. Those four alone let you get through most of an inbox without touching the mouse.
Selecting and marking
| Key | What it does |
|---|
| x | Select a conversation |
| Shift + i | Mark as read |
| Shift + u | Mark as unread |
| m | Mute a conversation |
| ! | Report spam |
| l | Add a label |
| v | Move to a label |
Going places
| Keys | Where it goes |
|---|
| g then i | Inbox |
| g then s | Starred |
| g then t | Sent |
| g then d | Drafts |
| g then a | All mail |
Mac tips
- Gmail uses the same single-letter shortcuts on Mac and Windows. Where Windows uses Ctrl, the Mac uses ⌘, for example ⌘ + Enter to send.
- Shortcuts don't work while your cursor is in a text box. Press Esc first.
- Some keyboard layouts and languages don't support every shortcut.
Want shortcuts without the browser?
Gmail in a browser tab works, but it shares your browser with everything else, and it's easy to lose among other tabs. A Mac mail app gives Gmail its own window, with the same kind of shortcuts.
In Dusk, the keys are deliberately close to Gmail's: J and K to move, E for done, R to reply, Z to undo, / to search and ⌘K for every other command. The difference is that each email arrives already sorted and summed up in one line, so you often don't need to open it at all. See the best Gmail apps for Mac for the other options.
Questions
- Why aren't my Gmail keyboard shortcuts working?
- They're off by default. Turn them on in Settings, See all settings, Keyboard shortcuts on, then Save Changes. Also make sure your cursor isn't in a text box.
- What's the Gmail shortcut to archive?
- Press e to archive the open or selected conversation.
- How do I see all Gmail shortcuts?
- Press ? (Shift and /) anywhere in Gmail.
- Are Gmail shortcuts different on a Mac?
- The single-letter shortcuts are the same. Combinations that use Ctrl on Windows use ⌘ on a Mac.
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