Top useful Google Docs Keyboard Shortcuts

Got tired of navigating through menus in Google Docs to do simple tasks? No worries! Google Docs Keyboard Shortcuts help provide an easier and quicker method of navigating and executing commands in your Google Docs documents. Using Google Docs keyboard shortcuts, you can do tasks more efficiently.

You can cut down your mouse usage by using useful Google Docs keyboard shortcuts. Let’s dive deep to know some useful Google Docs keyboard shortcuts that make your work easier and time-efficient.

How to view useful Google Docs keyboard shortcuts?

To open and view a list of useful keyboard shortcuts in your Google Docs window itself,

  • For Windows and Chrome OS, press Ctrl+/
  • For macOS, press Cmd+/

Using the above keyboard shortcuts, you can view the entire list of keyboard shorts available in Google Docs. You can then use the search option to find the specific Google Docs keyboard shortcut you need.

google docs keyboard shortcuts

General Google Docs Keyboard Shortcuts

There are some general keyboard shortcuts that make your work easier like copying text to undoing a mistake.

Keyboard Shortcuts For Google Docs

Here are new google docs keyboard shortcuts.

Copy selected text or graphics to the Clipboard

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+C
  • For macOS,Cmd+C

Cut selected text or graphics to the Clipboard

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+X
  • For macOS, Cmd+X

Paste the contents of the Clipboard to your document

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+V
  • For macOS,Cmd+V

Paste the contents of the Clipboard without formatting

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+Shift+V
  • For macOS, Cmd+Shift+V (macOS)

Undo an action

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+Z
  • For macOS,Cmd+Z

Redo an action

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+Y
  • For macOS, Cmd+Y

Insert or edit an external link

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+K
  • For macOS, Cmd+K

Save

  • For Windows/Chrome OS, Ctrl+S
  • For macOS, Cmd+S

Print your Google Docs document

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+P
  • For macOS, Cmd+P

Open a file from your Drive or Computer

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+O
  • For macOS, Cmd+O

Find specific text in your document

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+F
  • For macOS, Cmd+F

Find and replace text in your document

  • For Windows/Chrome OS, Ctrl+H
  • For macOS, Cmd+H

Delete a word (to the left of your cursor)

  • For Windows/Chrome OS, Ctrl + Backspace
  • For macOS, Option + Delete

Delete an entire sentence (to the left of your cursor)

  • For Windows/Chrome OS, Ctrl + Shift + Up + Backspace
  • For macOS, Cmd + Delete

Google Docs Keyboard shortcuts for Character Formatting

Google Docs has a bunch of useful keyboard shortcuts for character formatting.

Apply bold formatting

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+B
  • For macOS,Cmd+B

Apply italic formatting

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+I
  • For macOS, Cmd+I

Apply underline formatting

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+U
  • For macOS, Cmd+U

Apply strikethrough formatting

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Alt+Shift+5
  • For macOS, Cmd+Shift+X

Copy the selected text’s formatting

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+Alt+C
  • For macOS, Cmd+Option+C

Paste text formatting

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+Alt+V
  • For macOS, Cmd+Option+V

Clear text formatting

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+
  • For macOS, Cmd+

Increase or decrease font size one point at a time

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+Shift+> or <
  • For macOS, Cmd+Shift+> or <

Superscript (superscript in google docs shortcut)

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl + .
  • For macOS, Command +.

Subscript (subscript in google docs shortcut)

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl + ,
  • For macOS, Command + ,

Google Docs keyboard shortcuts for Paragraph Formatting

These are some useful Google Docs keyboard shortcuts that let you format whole paragraphs just like character formatting.

Increase paragraph indentation

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+]
  • For macOS, Cmd+]

Decrease paragraph indentation

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+ [
  • For macOS, Cmd+ [

Apply normal text style

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+Alt+0
  • For macOS,Cmd+Option+0

Apply heading style [1–6]

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+Alt+1–6
  • For macOS, Cmd+Option 1–6

Left align a paragraph

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+Shift+L
  • For macOS, Cmd+Shift+L

Center align a paragraph

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+Shift+E
  • For macOS,Cmd+Shift+E

Right align a paragraph

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+Shift+R
  • For macOS, Cmd+Shift+R

Justify text

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl + Shift + J
  • For macOS,Command + Shift + J

Insert a numbered list

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+Shift+7
  • For macOS, Cmd+Shift+7

Insert a bulleted list

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+Shift+8
  • For macOS, Cmd+Shift+8

Move paragraph up

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Alt + Shift + Up arrow
  • For macOS, Option + Shift + Up arrow

Move paragraph down

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Alt + Shift + down arrow
  • For macOS, Option + Shift + down arrow

Google Docs keyboard shortcuts for Comments and Footnotes

You can easily insert a comment or footnote into your Google Docs documents using keyboard shortcuts.

Insert a comment

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+Alt+M
  • For macOS,Cmd+Option+M

Enter current comment

  • For Windows/Chrome OS, Hold Ctrl + Alt, press E then C
  • For macOS, Hold Ctrl + Command, press E then C

Open a discussion thread

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+Alt+Shift+A
  • For macOS, Cmd+Option+Shift+A

Move to next comment

  • For Windows/Chrome OS, Hold Ctrl + Alt, press N then C
  • For macOS, Hold Ctrl + Command, press N then C

Move to the previous comment

  • For Windows/Chrome OS, Hold Ctrl + Alt, press P then C
  • For macOS, Hold Ctrl + Command, press P then C

Move to next edit (while viewing revision history or new changes)

  • For Windows/Chrome OS, Hold Ctrl + Alt, press N then R, Ctrl + Alt + K
  • For macOS, Hold Command + Option, press N then R, Command + Option + K

Move to previous edit (while viewing revision history or new changes)

  • For Windows/Chrome OS, Hold Ctrl + Alt, press P then R, Ctrl + Alt + J
  • For macOS, Hold Command + Option, press P then R, Command + Option + J

Insert a footnote

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+Alt+F
  • For macOS, Cmd+Option+F

Enter current footnote

  • For Windows/Chrome OS, Hold Ctrl + Alt, press E then F
  • For macOS, Hold Ctrl + Command, press E then F

Move to next footnote

  • For Windows/Chrome OS, Hold Ctrl + Alt, press N then F
  • For macOS, Hold Ctrl + Command, press N then F

Move to the previous footnote

  • For Windows/Chrome OS, Hold Ctrl + Alt, press P then F
  • For macOS, Hold Ctrl + Command, press P then F

Google Docs keyboard shortcuts for Text Selection

You can select anything from one character to the whole Google Docs document’s text with these useful Google Docs keyboard shortcuts.

Select all text in the document

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+A
  • For macOS,Cmd+A

Extend selection by one character

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Shift+Left/right arrow
  • For macOS,Shift+Left/right arrow

Extend selection by one line

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Shift+Up/down arrow
  • For macOS, Shift+Up/down arrow

Extend selection by one word

  • For Windows,Ctrl+Shift+Left/right arrow
  • For macOS, Shift+Option+Left/right Arrow

Extend selection to the beginning of the line

  • For Windows, Shift+Home
  • For macOS, Shift+Fn+Left Arrow

Extend selection to the end of the line

  • For Windows, Shift+End
  • For macOS, Shift+Fn+Right Arrow

Extend selection to the beginning of the document

  • For Windows, Ctrl+Shift+Home
  • For macOS, Cmd+Shift+Up Arrow

Extend selection to the end of the document

  • For Windows,Ctrl+Shift+End
  • For macOS, Cmd+Shift+Down Arrow

Google Docs keyboard shortcuts for word selection

Instead of using a mouse to select text in your Google Docs document, you can accomplish the same text selection with Google Docs keyboard shortcuts.

Select a word

  • Double-click

Extend selection one word at a time

  • Double-click+drag

Select the whole paragraph

  • Triple-click

Extend selection one paragraph at a time

  • Triple-click+drag

Google Docs keyboard shortcuts for moving around the document

How about quickly moving around your Google Docs document without having to grab your mouse and scroll your wheel endlessly? Yes! You can use these helpful keyboard shortcuts that zip between words or sentences instantly.

Move the insertion point (cursor) one character to the left or right

  • For Windows / chrome OS / macOS , Left/Right Arrow
  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+Left/Right Arrow

Move one word to the left or right

  • For macOS, Option+Left/Right Arrow
  • Up/Down Arrow: Move up or down one line

Move up or down one paragraph

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+Up/Down Arrow
  • For macOS,Ctrl+Shift+Up/Down Arrow

Move to the end of the current line

  • For windows, End
  • For Chrome OS, Search+Right Arrow ()
  • For macOS,Cmd+Right Arrow

Move to the end of the document

  • For Windows, Ctrl+End
  • For Chrome OS, Search+Down Arrow
  • For macOS,Cmd+Down Arrow

Move to the beginning of the current line

  • For windows, Home
  • For Chrome OS, Search+Left Arrow
  • For macOS, Cmd+Left Arrow

Move to the beginning of the document

  • For Windows, Ctrl+Home
  • For Chrome OS, Search+Up Arrow
  • For macOS, Cmd+Up Arrow

Move up one page

  • For Windows, Page Up
  • For Chrome OS, Alt+Up Arrow
  • For macOS, Fn+Up Arrow

Move down one page

  • For Windows/Chrome OS, Page Down
  • For macOS, Fn+Down Arrow

Google Docs keyboard shortcuts to work with Tables

You can navigate through the tables in your Google Docs document without the use of your mouse.

Move to the start of the table

  • For Windows/Chrome OS, Hold Ctrl+Alt+Shift, press T then S
  • For macOS, Hold Ctrl+Cmd+Shift, press T then S

Move to the end of the table

  • For Windows/Chrome OS, Hold Ctrl+Alt+Shift, press T then D
  • For macOS, Hold Ctrl+Cmd+Shift, press T then D

Move to the start of the table column

  • For Windows/Chrome OS, Hold Ctrl+Alt+Shift, press T then I
  • For macOS, Hold Ctrl+cmd+Shift, press T then I

Move to the end of the table column

  • For Windows/Chrome OS, Hold Ctrl+Alt+Shift, press T then K
  • For macOS, Hold Ctrl+Cmd+Shift, press T then K

Move to the next table column

  • For Windows/Chrome OS, Hold Ctrl+Alt+Shift, press T then B
  • For macOS, Hold Ctrl+Cmd+Shift, press T then B

Move to the previous table column

  • For Windows/Chrome OS, Hold Ctrl+Alt+Shift, press T then V
  • For macOS, Hold Ctrl+Cmd+Shift, press T then V

Move to the start of the table row

  • For Windows/Chrome OS, Hold Ctrl+Alt+Shift, press T then J
  • For macOS, Hold Ctrl+Cmd+Shift, press T then J

Move to the end of the table row

  • For Windows/Chrome OS, Hold Ctrl+Alt+Shift, press T then L
  • For macOS, Hold Ctrl+Cmd+Shift, press T then L

Move to the next table row

  • For Windows/Chrome OS, Hold Ctrl+Alt+Shift, press T then M
  • For macOS, Hold Ctrl+Cmd+Shift, press T then M

Move to the previous table row

  • For Windows/Chrome OS, Hold Ctrl+Alt+Shift, press T then G
  • For macOS, Hold Ctrl+Cmd+Shift, press T then G

Exit table

  • For Windows/Chrome OS, Hold Ctrl+Alt+Shift, press T then E
  • For macOS, Hold Ctrl+Cmd+Shift, press T then E

Move to the next table

  • For Windows/Chrome OS, Hold Ctrl+Alt+Shift, press N then T
  • For macOS, Hold Ctrl+Cmd+Shift, press N then T

Move to the previous table

  • For Windows/Chrome OS, Hold Ctrl+Alt+Shift, press P then T
  • For macOS, Hold Ctrl+Cmd+Shift, press P then T

Google Docs keyboard shortcuts for tools and navigation bars

You can also use Google Docs keyboard shortcuts for a cluster of more tools to enhance your Google Docs experience, such as a document’s revision history, the dictionary, and enable voice typing.

Open the document’s revision history

  • For Windows/Chrome OS, Ctrl+Alt+Shift+H
  • For macOS, Cmd+Option+Shift+H

Open Google Docs Explore tool

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+Alt+Shift+I
  • For macOS,Cmd+Option+Shift+I

Open the dictionary and thesaurus

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+Shift+Y
  • For macOS,Cmd+Shift+Y

Display the document’s word count

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+Shift+C
  • For macOS,Cmd+Shift+C

Start voice typing (available in Chrome browsers)

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl+Shift+S
  • For macOS, Cmd+Shift+S

Move to next misspelling

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl + ‘
  • For macOS, Command + ‘ [apostrophe]

Move to previous misspelling

  • For Windows/Chrome OS,Ctrl + ;
  • For macOS, Command + ;

Google Docs keyboard shortcuts to access menu bar – Windows PC

You can access any of the menus on the menu bar with a few simple keyboard shortcuts without using the mouse to click on each menu in PC.

Access the File menu

  • For Chrome, Alt+F
  • For other browsers, Alt+Shift+F

Access the Edit menu

  • For Chrome, Alt+E
  • For other browsers, Alt+Shift+E

Access the View menu

  • For Chrome, Alt+V
  • For other browsers, Alt+Shift+V

Access the Insert menu

  • For Chrome, Alt+I
  • For other browsers, Alt+Shift+I

Access the Format menu

  • For Chrome, Alt+O
  • For other browsers, Alt+Shift+O

Access the Tools menu

  • For Chrome, Alt+T
  • For other browsers, Alt+Shift+T

Access the Help menu

  • For Chrome, Alt+H
  • For other browsers, Alt+Shift+H

Access the Accessibility menu

  • For Chrome, Alt+A
  • For other browsers, Alt+Shift+A

Google Docs keyboard shortcuts to access menu bar – macOS

You can access the menu bar without clicking on it with keyboard shortcuts on macOS also.

Open the File menu

  • Ctrl+Option+F

Open the Edit menu

  • Ctrl+Option+E

Open the View menu

  • Ctrl+Option+V

Open the Insert menu

  • Ctrl+Option+I

Open the Format menu

  • Ctrl+Option+O

Open the Tools menu

  • Ctrl+Option+T

Open the Help menu

  • Ctrl+Option+H

Open the Accessibility menu

  • Ctrl+Option+A

Open the Input Tools menu

  • Cmd+Option+Shift+K

Show your browser’s context menu

  • Shift+Right-click

Google Docs Arrow Shortcut

Below are the list of keyboard shortcuts for different arrows in Google Docs.

Up Arrow Google docs

Yo can press Alt+24 to generate an up arrow in Google docs.

Down Arrow Google docs

Press Alt+25 to generate a down arrow in Google docs.

Right Arrow Google docs

You can press Alt+26 to generate a right arrow in Google docs.

Left Arrow Google docs

You can press Alt+27 to generate a left arrow in Google docs.

Left/Right Arrow Google docs

Press Alt+29 to generate a Left/Right Arrow in Google docs.

Up/Down Arrow Google docs

You can press Alt+23 to generate a Up/Down Arrow in Google docs.

These are a few google docs keyboard shortcuts highlights that you can use while working in docs.

Change Google Docs Shortcuts

It’s not possible to change the Google docs shortcuts. But you can change the shortcut for preferences using the below information.

  • Click on Tools –> Select Preferences –> Change the preferences based on your need –> Click on the Ok button.

Google Docs Text Color Shortcut

There is no keyboard shortcut available as of now to color a selected text in Google Docs. You can select the text –> Click on the Text color button from the top.

How To Select All In Google Docs

To Select all words in Google Docs, you can use the below instructions.

  • Open the Google Docs document –> Press Ctrl + A keyboard shortcuts for windows PC or, Command + A for Mac to select all words in Google Docs.

Or, you can click Edit menu –> Click on Select All option.

You may like following docs tutorials:

And voila! Navigate with ease in Google Docs using keyboard shortcuts in no time! Here, we change various google docs keyboard shortcuts.