Once you become familiar with Google's Gmail, you will want to find shortcuts that make some of the repetitive clicks just go away. One easy way to accomplish this is with Gmail keyboard shortcuts.
To enable keyboard shortcuts, logon to Gmail and click on settings, then click the radio button - Keyboard shortcuts on in the Keyboard shortcuts configuration section and click on Save Changes at the bottom.
Once enabled, you will have the following shortcuts available.
(Source Google GMail Help - search for "What are Keyboard Shortcuts" http://mail.google.com)
| Shortcut Key | Definition | Action |
|---|---|---|
| c | Compose | Allows you to compose a new message. <Shift> + 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 <Enter> to expand a conversation. |
| j | Move to older conversation | Opens or moves your cursor to the next oldest conversation. You can hit <Enter> to expand a conversation. |
| n | Next message | Moves your cursor to the next message. You can hit <Enter> to expand or collapse a message. (Only applicable in 'Conversation View.') |
| p | Previous message | Moves your cursor to the previous message. You can hit <Enter> to expand or collapse a message. (Only applicable in 'Conversation View.') |
| o or <Enter> | 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.
* 'y' has no effect if you're in 'Spam,' 'Sent,' or 'All Mail.' |
| 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. <Shift> + r allows you to reply to a message in a new window. (Only applicable in 'Conversation View.') |
| a | Reply all | Reply to all message recipients. <Shift> +a allows you to reply to all message recipients in a new window. (Only applicable in 'Conversation View.') |
| f | Forward | Forward a message. <Shift> + f allows you to forward a message in a new window. (Only applicable in 'Conversation View.') |
| <Esc> | Escape from input field | Removes the cursor from your current input field. |
|
<Ctrl> + s |
Save draft |
Holding the <Ctrl> key while pressing s when composing a message will save the current text as a draft. 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. Macintosh users should use <Cmd> + s. |
Combo-keys - Use the following combinations of keys to navigate through Gmail.
| Shortcut Key | Definition | Action |
|---|---|---|
| <tab> then <Enter> | 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. |
You will find the following shortcuts, valuable time savers:
c (compose message)
n (next message),
p (previous Message)
u ( return to conversation list)
r (reply)
g then a (go to all mail)
g then i (go to inbox)
Comments on How To Enable Keyboard Shortcuts in Gmail
hearegasy @ 8:20 pm
Hello,
I'm newer here and stopping in to say hi.
I hope everyone has a good day.
Jaeric
davernginzks @ 3:25 pm
I've recently joined and wanted to introduce myself 🙂
@davernginzks
Welcome to Watching The Net!
HSCharles @ 7:31 pm
I have a flash website
i'm looking for the script who shows google adsense in flash.
can you give me the link?
Axonounty @ 2:15 pm
I am here at a forum newcomer. Until I read and deal with the forum.
Let's learn!
actispslath @ 3:20 pm
Hello
As newly registered user i only wanted to say hello to everyone else who uses this forum 😀
grielperi @ 9:27 am
Some peoples says that you need, other that you dont.
What I have to do?
TiedSmode @ 9:15 pm
hey guys, i've just registered here, and thoutht that it would be nice to say hello to all of the other users 🙂
AlexStivenson @ 8:47 pm
How you think, in our situation whis crisis its actual?
inficererfups @ 3:41 pm
Great post dude,
Thanks alot……for sharing.
You are so helpful……
Web Hosting @ 4:17 am
Thank you, was so helpful
Rahul @ 7:54 am
I want to play snake games in gmail.But how?
thhanu @ 2:45 pm
\i cant find the radio button. so i cant really get the rest of the steps
thhanu @ 2:47 pm
i really dont know! i wanted to play so badly but i cant find the radio button@Rahul:
SiGWDo @ 6:27 pm
What radio button? I keep looking through my settings, and it's not anywhere, net even Labs!
Musicmann @ 6:11 pm
For me I just clicked the settings link in the upper right corner of the screen, then scrolled down to Keyboard Shortcuts under the General tab.
This may change though as it seems Google doesn't have the radio thing anymore.