Slack has become an essential tool for communication and collaboration in the workplace. With its various features and integrations, it has made team communication more efficient and organized. But did you know that there are keyboard shortcuts that can make using Slack even easier and faster? In this article, we’ll cover every Slack keyboard shortcut for Windows, Mac, and the web, so you can become a Slack power user and save time while using the platform.
Why Use Keyboard Shortcuts in Slack?
Using keyboard shortcuts in Slack can save you time and make your workflow more efficient. Instead of clicking through menus and options, you can simply press a few keys to perform a specific action. This can be especially useful for tasks that you do frequently, such as sending a message or navigating between channels.
How to Use Keyboard Shortcuts in Slack
To use keyboard shortcuts in Slack, you’ll need to have the Slack app open on your computer or be logged into the web version. Then, simply press the designated keys for the action you want to perform. Keep in mind that some shortcuts may vary depending on your operating system.
General Shortcuts
These shortcuts can be used in any part of Slack, whether you’re in a channel, direct message, or the settings menu.
- Ctrl + K (Windows) or Cmd + K (Mac): Open the quick switcher to jump to a channel or direct message.
- Ctrl + / (Windows) or Cmd + / (Mac): Open the keyboard shortcuts menu.
- Ctrl + , (Windows) or Cmd + , (Mac): Open the settings menu.
- Ctrl + . (Windows) or Cmd + . (Mac): Open the emoji picker.
- Ctrl + Shift + T (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + T (Mac): Reopen the last closed direct message or channel.
- Ctrl + Shift + L (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + L (Mac): Toggle between light and dark mode.
- Ctrl + Shift + D (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + D (Mac): Open the direct message menu.
- Ctrl + Shift + E (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + E (Mac): Open the channel menu.
- Ctrl + Shift + I (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + I (Mac): Open the invite menu.
- Ctrl + Shift + S (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + S (Mac): Open the search menu.
Navigation Shortcuts
These shortcuts can be used to navigate between different channels and direct messages.
- Ctrl + ↑ (Windows) or Cmd + ↑ (Mac): Move up to the previous channel or direct message.
- Ctrl + ↓ (Windows) or Cmd + ↓ (Mac): Move down to the next channel or direct message.
- Ctrl + Shift + ↑ (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + ↑ (Mac): Move to the first unread message in a channel or direct message.
- Ctrl + Shift + ↓ (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + ↓ (Mac): Move to the last unread message in a channel or direct message.
- Ctrl + Shift + ← (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + ← (Mac): Move to the previous channel or direct message with unread messages.
- Ctrl + Shift + → (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + → (Mac): Move to the next channel or direct message with unread messages.
- Ctrl + ← (Windows) or Cmd + ← (Mac): Move to the previous channel or direct message you were in.
- Ctrl + → (Windows) or Cmd + → (Mac): Move to the next channel or direct message you were in.
- Ctrl + Shift + K (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + K (Mac): Open the conversation history for the current channel or direct message.
Message Shortcuts
These shortcuts can be used when you’re typing a message in Slack.
- Ctrl + Enter (Windows) or Cmd + Enter (Mac): Send the message.
- Ctrl + Shift + Enter (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + Enter (Mac): Add a line break in the message.
- Ctrl + B (Windows) or Cmd + B (Mac): Bold the selected text.
- Ctrl + I (Windows) or Cmd + I (Mac): Italicize the selected text.
- Ctrl + U (Windows) or Cmd + U (Mac): Underline the selected text.
- Ctrl + Shift + X (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + X (Mac): Strikethrough the selected text.
- Ctrl + Shift + C (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + C (Mac): Add a code snippet.
- Ctrl + Shift + M (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + M (Mac): Add a quote.
- Ctrl + Shift + 1 (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + 1 (Mac): Add a numbered list.
- Ctrl + Shift + 8 (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + 8 (Mac): Add a bulleted list.
- Ctrl + Shift + 7 (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + 7 (Mac): Add a checklist.
- Ctrl + Shift + 6 (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + 6 (Mac): Add a heading.
- Ctrl + Shift + 5 (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + 5 (Mac): Add a quote block.
- Ctrl + Shift + 4 (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + 4 (Mac): Add a code block.
- Ctrl + Shift + 3 (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + 3 (Mac): Add a divider.
- Ctrl + Shift + 2 (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + 2 (Mac): Add a link.
- Ctrl + Shift + 9 (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + 9 (Mac): Add a mention.
- Ctrl + Shift + 0 (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + 0 (Mac): Add an emoji.
File Shortcuts
These shortcuts can be used when you’re viewing a file in Slack.
- Ctrl + S (Windows) or Cmd + S (Mac): Save the file.
- Ctrl + Shift + S (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + S (Mac): Save the file as a new version.
- Ctrl + Shift + P (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + P (Mac): Print the file.
- Ctrl + Shift + R (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + R (Mac): Reload the file.
- Ctrl + Shift + O (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + O (Mac): Open the file in a new tab.
- Ctrl + Shift + N (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + N (Mac): Open the file in a new window.
- Ctrl + Shift + L (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + L (Mac): Open the file in a new tab and focus on it.
- Ctrl + Shift + J (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + J (Mac): Open the file in a new window and focus on it.
- Ctrl + Shift + H (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + H (Mac): Open the file in a new tab and hide the current one.
- Ctrl + Shift + G (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + G (Mac): Open the file in a new window and hide the current one.
Channel and Direct Message Shortcuts
These shortcuts can be used when you’re in a channel or direct message.
- Ctrl + Shift + A (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + A (Mac): Archive the current channel or direct message.
- Ctrl + Shift + N (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + N (Mac): Create a new channel or direct message.
- Ctrl + Shift + M (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + M (Mac): Mute the current channel or direct message.
- Ctrl + Shift + U (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + U (Mac): Mark the current channel or direct message as unread.
- Ctrl + Shift + J (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + J (Mac): View the channel or direct message info.
- Ctrl + Shift + L (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + L (Mac): Leave the current channel or direct message.
- Ctrl + Shift + D (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + D (Mac): Delete the current channel or direct message.
- Ctrl + Shift + T (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + T (Mac): Add a topic to the current channel or direct message.
- Ctrl + Shift + C (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + C (Mac): View the channel or direct message members.
- Ctrl + Shift + I (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + I (Mac): View the channel or direct message pinned items.
- Ctrl + Shift + P (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + P (Mac): View the channel or direct message purpose.
- Ctrl + Shift + R (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + R (Mac): View