Gmail Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut Key

Definition

Action

c

Compose

Allows you to compose a new message. + 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 to expand a conversation.

j

Move to older conversation

Opens or moves your cursor to the next oldest conversation. You can hit to expand a conversation.

n

Next message

Moves your cursor to the next message. You can hit to expand or collapse a message. (Only applicable in 'Conversation View.')

p

Previous message

Moves your cursor to the previous message. You can hit to expand or collapse a message. (Only applicable in 'Conversation View.')

o or

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.

!

Report spam

Marks a message as spam and removes it from your conversation list.

r

Reply

Replies to the message sender. + 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. +a allows you to reply to all message recipients in a new window. (Only applicable in 'Conversation View.')

f

Forward

Forwards a message. + f allows you to forward a message in a new window. (Only applicable in 'Conversation View.')

Escape from input field

Removes the cursor from your current input field.

+ s

Save draft

Saves the current text as a draft when composing a message. Hold the 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.

+ i

Mark as read

Marks your message as 'read' and skip to the next message.

+ 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).

+ 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.

?

Show keyboard shortcuts help

Displays the keyboard shortcuts help menu within any page you're on.

Shortcut Key

Definition

Action

then

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 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.