Keyboard shortcuts help you save time since you never have to take your hands off the keyboard to use the mouse. You'll need a Standard 101/102-Key or Natural PS/2 Keyboard to use the shortcuts.
To turn these case-sensitive shortcuts on or off, click Settings, and then pick an option next to Keyboard shortcuts.
| Shortcut Key | Definition | Action |
|---|---|---|
| c | Compose | Allows you to compose a new message. |
| / | 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 |
| j | Move to older conversation | Opens or moves your cursor to the next oldest conversation. You can hit |
| n | Next message | Moves your cursor to the next message. You can hit |
| p | Previous message | Moves your cursor to the previous message. You can hit |
| 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. |
| y | Archive* Remove from current view | Automatically removes the message or conversation from your current 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 | Reply to the message sender. |
| a | Reply all | Reply to all message recipients. |
| f | Forward | Forward a message. |
| Escape from input field | Removes the cursor from your current input field. | |
| Save draft | Holding the Macintosh users should use |
# | Delete | Moves the conversation to Trash. |
Combo-keys - Use the following combinations of keys to navigate through Gmail.
| Shortcut Key | Definition | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Archive your conversation and move 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. |