We all spend a lot of time in Google Docs—whether it’s drafting an important report, collaborating on a project, or jotting down ideas. But did you know there’s an easier way to speed things up and work more efficiently? Google Docs Keyboard Shortcuts are the secret weapon that can help you breeze through tasks, saving time and making things feel smoother.
In this article, we’ll dive into the most helpful Google Docs shortcuts, showing you how a few quick keystrokes can make a big difference in your daily workflow.
Whether you’re on a Mac, Windows, or Chromebook, these tips will help you work smarter, not harder!
Google Doc Keyboard Shortcuts
General Google Docs Keyboard Shortcuts
1. Open Keyboard Shortcuts Popup:
Ctrl + / (control key + forward slash) (Windows/Chromebook)
Cmd + / (command key + forward slash) (Mac)
2. Copy: Ctrl + C
3. Cut: Ctrl + X
4. Paste: Ctrl + V
5. Undo: Ctrl + Z
6. Redo: Ctrl + Shift + Z
7. Bold: Ctrl + B
8. Italic: Ctrl + I
9. Underline: Ctrl + U
10. Select all: Ctrl + A
11. Find: Ctrl + F
12. Print: Ctrl + P
13. Save: Ctrl + S
14. Open: Ctrl + O
15. Insert link: Ctrl + k
16. Switch to editing: Ctrl + Alt + Shift + z
17. Switch to suggesting: Ctrl + Alt + Shift + x
18. Switch to viewing: Ctrl + Alt + Shift + c
19. Insert link: Ctrl + k
20. Insert page break: Ctrl + Enter
21. Open link: Alt + Enter
22. Insert/edit link: Ctrl + K
23. Insert comment: Ctrl + Alt + M
24. Insert footnote: Ctrl + Alt + F
25. Open the Explore tool: Ctrl + Alt + Shift + I
26. Open Revision History: Ctrl + Alt + Shift + G
27. Move to next misspelled word: Ctrl + ‘
28. Move to previous misspelled word: Ctrl + ;
29. Insert numbered list: Ctrl + Shift + 7
30. Insert bullet list: Ctrl + Shift + 8
31. Insert special characters: Ctrl + Shift + U
32. Open dictionary: Ctrl + Shift + Y
Google Docs Keyboard Shortcuts For Text Formatting:
33. Increase font size: Ctrl + Shift + >
34. Decrease font size: Ctrl + Shift + <
35. Strikethrough: Alt + Shift + 5
36. Superscript: Ctrl + .
37. Subscript: Ctrl + ,
38. Clear formatting: Ctrl + \
39. Resize image proportionally: Shift + drag image corners
Paragraph Formatting:
40. Align left: Ctrl + Shift + L
41. Align center: Ctrl + Shift + E
42. Align right: Ctrl + Shift + R
43. Justify: Ctrl + Shift + J
44. Increase indent: Ctrl + ]
45. Decrease indent: Ctrl + [
46. Bulleted list: Ctrl + Shift + 8
47. Numbered list: Ctrl + Shift + 7
48. Apply normal text style: Ctrl + Alt + 0
49. Apply heading style 1: Ctrl + Alt + 1
50. Apply heading style 2: Ctrl + Alt + 2
51. Apply heading style 3: Ctrl + Alt + 3
52. Apply heading style 4: Ctrl + Alt + 4
53. Apply heading style 5: Ctrl + Alt + 5
54. Apply heading style 6: Ctrl + Alt + 6
Navigation:
55. Move to the beginning of document: Ctrl + Home
56. Move to the end of document: Ctrl + End
57. Move to next word: Ctrl + Right Arrow
58. Move to previous word: Ctrl + Left Arrow
59. Move to start of line: Home
60. Move to end of line: End
61. Move to next paragraph: Ctrl + Down Arrow
62. Move to previous paragraph: Ctrl + Up Arrow
63. Scroll up: Page Up
64. Scroll down: Page Down
Table Shortcuts:
65. Insert row above: Ctrl + Alt + Shift + =
66. Insert row below: Ctrl + Alt + =
67. Insert column left: Ctrl + Alt + Shift + [
68. Insert column right: Ctrl + Alt + ]
69. Delete row: Ctrl + Alt + Shift + –
70. Delete column: Ctrl + Alt + –
Accessibility Shortcuts:
71. Screen reader support: Ctrl + Alt + Z
72. Voice typing: Ctrl + Shift + S
Key Considerations for Using Google Docs Keyboard Shortcuts
- Google Docs keyboard shortcuts vary between operating systems:
Windows/Chrome OS often use the Ctrl key for most shortcuts.
Mac uses the Cmd (⌘) key instead of Ctrl for similar actions. Make sure you’re using the correct key based on your platform.
- Some shortcuts might conflict with browser or system-level shortcuts:
For example, Ctrl + W (Windows) and Cmd + W (Mac) close browser tabs. Avoid using this combination if you’re working within a browser-based Google Docs window to prevent accidental tab closures.
- Certain shortcuts might differ based on keyboard layouts (e.g., QWERTY vs. AZERTY). This can impact how some key combinations work, especially those involving symbols or punctuation marks.
- If you use Google Docs’ voice typing feature, some keyboard shortcuts may not work while voice typing is active. You may need to turn off voice typing to use them.
- Some features, and therefore their shortcuts, may be unavailable in offline mode. If you’re working offline, make sure you are aware of any limitations in functionality.
- Certain browser extensions or settings may interfere with the functioning of keyboard shortcuts. If you find a shortcut not working, check if there is an extension conflicting with it.
Also note that most keyboard shortcuts for Google Docs primarily apply to the web version on desktop browsers. The Google Docs mobile app (for Android and iOS) does not support the full range of keyboard shortcuts due to the different interface and functionality on mobile devices.It can take time to get used to using keyboard shortcuts instead of relying on the mouse. Start with frequently used commands (e.g., Copy and Paste) and gradually incorporate others to improve efficiency over time.
You can discover more Google Doc keyboard shortcuts here.