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Google Docs Keyboard Shortcuts

Written by Meghan Donovan | Jul 5, 2020 6:25:00 AM
 

The functionality of Google Docs is phenomenal; however, its effectiveness relies on knowing all of its capabilities.

Whether you use a PC or a Mac while using Google Docs, you can work even more efficiently by knowing the Google Docs keyboard shortcuts that I'll share in this blog article.

This is a long list of keyboard shortcuts for Docs, so click on a link in the menu below to jump to the right section of our comprehensive list of Google Docs keyboard shortcuts that will simplify your life and help you be even more productive with Google's popular word processing app.

Google Docs Keyboard Shortcuts for PC

Google Docs Keyboard Shortcuts for Mac

Google Docs Shortcuts on a PC

If you're using a PC, there are so many helpful keyboard shortcuts you can use to make Google Docs work better for you. Some may be ones you already know from experience using the application, but my guess is many will be new to you. I've broken them out by category for you here.

Commonly Used Keyboard Shortcuts

Copy

Ctrl + c

Cut

Ctrl + x

Paste

Ctrl + v

Paste without formatting

Ctrl + Shift + v

Undo

Ctrl + z

Redo

Ctrl + Shift + z

Insert or edit link

Ctrl + k

Open link

Alt + Enter

Show common keyboard shortcuts

Ctrl + /

Save (every change is automatically saved in Drive)

Ctrl + s

Print

Ctrl + p

Open

Ctrl + o

Find

Ctrl + f

Find and replace

Ctrl + h

Find again

Ctrl + g

Find previous

Ctrl + Shift + g

Hide the menus (compact mode)

Ctrl + Shift + f

Insert page break

Ctrl + Enter

Search the menus

Alt + /
Alt + Shift + z
Google Chrome: Alt + z

Repeat last action

Ctrl + y

 

Text Formatting Shortcuts

Bold

Ctrl + b

Italicize

Ctrl + i

Underline

Ctrl + u

Strikethrough

Alt + Shift + 5

Superscript

Ctrl + .

Subscript

Ctrl + ,

Copy text formatting

Ctrl + Alt + c

Paste text formatting

Ctrl + Alt + v

Clear text formatting

Ctrl + \ Ctrl + Space

Increase font size

Ctrl + Shift + >

Decrease font size

Ctrl + Shift + <

 

Paragraph Formatting Shortcuts for Google Docs

 

Increase paragraph indentation

Ctrl + ]

Decrease paragraph indentation

Ctrl + [

Apply normal text style

Ctrl + Alt + 0

Apply heading style [1-6]

Ctrl + Alt + [1-6]

Left align

Ctrl + Shift + l

Center align

Ctrl + Shift + e

Right align

Ctrl + Shift + r

Justify

Ctrl + Shift + j

Numbered list

Ctrl + Shift + 7

Bulleted list

Ctrl + Shift + 8

Move paragraph up/down

Ctrl + Shift + Up/down arrow

Google Docs Shortcuts for Images and Drawings

Alt text

Ctrl + Alt + y

Resize larger

Ctrl + Alt + k

Resize larger horizontally

Ctrl + Alt + b

Resize larger vertically

Ctrl + Alt + i

Resize smaller

Ctrl + Alt + j

Resize smaller horizontally

Ctrl + Alt + w

Resize smaller vertically

Ctrl + Alt + q

Rotate clockwise by 15°

Alt + Right arrow

Rotate counterclockwise by 15°

Alt + Left arrow

Rotate counterclockwise by 1°

Alt + Shift + Left arrow

Rotate clockwise by 1°

Alt + Shift + Right arrow

Close drawing editor

Shift + Esc

Shortcuts for Comments & Footnotes

Insert comment

Ctrl + Alt + m

Open discussion thread

Ctrl + Alt + Shift + a

Enter current comment

Ctrl + Enter

Insert footnote

Ctrl + Alt + f

Move to current footnote

holding Ctrl + Alt, press e then f

Move to next footnote

holding Ctrl + Alt, press n then f

Move to previous footnote

holding Ctrl + Alt, press p then f

Google Docs Menu Shortcuts

Context (right-click) menu

Ctrl + Shift + xCtrl + Shift + \

File menu

in Google Chrome: Alt + f
other browsers: Alt + Shift + f

Edit menu

in Google Chrome: Alt + e
other browsers: Alt + Shift + e

View menu

in Google Chrome: Alt + v
other browsers: Alt + Shift + v

Insert menu

in Google Chrome: Alt + i
other browsers: Alt + Shift + i

Format menu

in Google Chrome: Alt + o
other browsers: Alt + Shift + o

Tools menu

in Google Chrome: Alt + t
other browsers: Alt + Shift + t

Help menu

in Google Chrome: Alt + h
other browsers: Alt + Shift + h

Accessibility menu
(present when screen reader support is enabled)

in Google Chrome: Alt + a
other browsers: Alt + Shift + a

Input Tools menu
(available in documents in non-Latin languages)

Ctrl + Alt + Shift + k

Show your browser's context menu

Shift + right-click

Shortcuts for Text Selection with Keyboard

Select all

Ctrl + a

Extend selection one character

Shift + Left/right arrow

Extend selection one line

Shift + Up/down arrow

Extend selection one word

Ctrl + Shift + Left/right arrow

Extend selection to the beginning of the line

Shift + Home

Extend selection to the end of the line

Shift + End

Extend selection to the beginning of the document

Ctrl + Shift + Home

Extend selection to the end of the document

Ctrl + Shift + End

Select current list item

holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press e then i

Select all list items at current level

holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press e then o

Google Docs Shortcuts for Text Selection with Mouse

Select word

Double-click

Extend selection one word at a time

Double-click + drag

Select paragraph

Triple-click

Extend selection one paragraph at a time

Triple-click + drag

Screen Reader Shortcuts for Google Docs

Enable screen reader support

Ctrl + Alt + zAlt + Shift + ~

Speak selection

Ctrl + Alt + x

Speak from cursor location

Ctrl + Alt + r

Announce cursor location

holding Ctrl + Alt, press a then l

Announce formatting at cursor location

holding Ctrl + Alt, press a then f

Speak the table column and row header

holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then h

Speak the table cell location

holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then n

Speak the table row header

holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then r

Speak the table column header

holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then c

Show live edits

Ctrl + Alt + Shift + r

Document Navigation Shortcuts in Google Docs

Show document outline

holding Ctrl + Alt, press a then h

Move to next heading

holding Ctrl + Alt, press n then h

Move to previous heading

holding Ctrl + Alt, press p then h

Move to next heading [1-6]

holding Ctrl + Alt, press n then [1-6]

Move to previous heading [1-6]

holding Ctrl + Alt, press p then [1-6]

Move to next graphic (image or drawing)

holding Ctrl + Alt, press n then g

Move to previous graphic (image or drawing)

holding Ctrl + Alt, press p then g

Move to next list

holding Ctrl + Alt, press n then o

Move to previous list

holding Ctrl + Alt, press p then o

Move to next item in the current list

holding Ctrl + Alt, press n then i

Move to previous item in the current list

holding Ctrl + Alt, press p then i

Move to next link

holding Ctrl + Alt, press n then l

Move to previous link

holding Ctrl + Alt, press p then l

Move to next bookmark

holding Ctrl + Alt, press n then b

Move to previous bookmark

holding Ctrl + Alt, press p then b

Move to next formatting change

holding Ctrl + Alt, press n then w

Move to previous formatting change

holding Ctrl + Alt, press p then w

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

holding Ctrl + Alt, press n then rCtrl + Alt + k

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

holding Ctrl + Alt, press p then rCtrl + Alt + j

Table Navigation Shortcuts in Google Docs

Move to the start of the table

holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then s

Move to the end of the table

holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then d

Move to the start of the table column

holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then i

Move to the end of the table column

holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then k

Move to the next table column

holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then b

Move to the previous table column

holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then v

Move to the start of the table row

holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then j

Move to the end of the table row

holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then l

Move to the next table row

holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then m

Move to the previous table row

holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then g

Exit table

holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then e

Move to the next table

holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press n then t

Move to the previous table

holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press p then t

Other Shortcuts for Tools & Navigation in Google Docs

Open revision history

Ctrl + Alt + Shift + h

Open Explore tool

Ctrl + Alt + Shift + i

Open spelling/grammar

Ctrl + Alt + x
F7

Open dictionary

Ctrl + Shift + y

Word count

Ctrl + Shift + c

Start voice typing (available in Chrome browsers)

Ctrl + Shift + s

Go to side panel

Ctrl + Alt + .
Ctrl + Alt + ,

Page up

Page Up

Page down

Page Down

Move to next misspelling

Ctrl + '

Move to previous misspelling

Ctrl + ;

Insert or move to header

holding Ctrl + Alt, press o then h

Insert or move to footer

holding Ctrl + Alt, press o then f

Move focus to popup (for links, bookmarks, and images)

holding Ctrl + Alt, press e then p

Open chat inside the document

Shift + Esc

Move focus out of editing area

Ctrl + Alt + Shift + m

Google Docs Shortcuts on a Mac

Many of the shortcuts for Google Docs on a Mac are similar to those on a PC, but there are a few differences, and the list here will help Mac users work more efficiently in Google Docs. Shortcuts are broken out by category:

Commonly Used Keyboard Shortcuts

Copy

⌘ + c

Cut

⌘ + x

Paste

⌘ + v

Paste without formatting

⌘ + Shift + v

Undo

⌘ + z

Redo

⌘ + Shift + z

Insert or edit link

⌘ + k

Open link

Option + Enter

Show common keyboard shortcuts

⌘ + /

Save (every change is automatically saved in Drive)

⌘ + s

Print

⌘ + p

Open

⌘ + o

Find

⌘ + f

Find and replace

⌘ + Shift + h

Find again

⌘ + g

Find previous

⌘ + Shift + g

Hide the menus (compact mode)

Ctrl + Shift + f

Insert page break

⌘ + Enter

Search the menus

Option + /
Ctrl + Option + z

Repeat last action

⌘ + y

Mac Text Formatting Shortcuts for Google Docs

Bold

⌘ + b

Italicize

⌘ + i

Underline

⌘ + u

Strikethrough

⌘ + Shift + x

Superscript

⌘ + .

Subscript

⌘ + ,

Copy text formatting

⌘ + Option + c

Paste text formatting

⌘ + Option + v

Clear text formatting

⌘ + \

Increase font size

⌘ + Shift + >

Decrease font size

⌘ + Shift + <

Paragraph Formatting Shortcuts in Google Docs

Increase paragraph indentation

⌘ + ]

Decrease paragraph indentation

⌘ + [

Apply normal text style

⌘ + Option + 0

Apply heading style [1-6]

⌘ + Option + [1-6]

Left align

⌘ + Shift + l

Center align

⌘ + Shift + e

Right align

⌘ + Shift + r

Justify

⌘ + Shift + j

Numbered list

⌘ + Shift + 7

Bulleted list

⌘ + Shift + 8

Move paragraph up/down

Ctrl + Shift + Up/down arrow

Docs Shortcuts for Images & Drawings

Alt text

⌘ + Option + y

Resize larger

⌘ + Ctrl + k

Resize larger horizontally

⌘ + Ctrl + b

Resize larger vertically

⌘ + Ctrl + i

Resize smaller

⌘ + Ctrl + j

Resize smaller horizontally

⌘ + Ctrl + w

Resize smaller vertically

⌘ + Ctrl + q

Rotate clockwise by 15°

Option + Right arrow

Rotate counterclockwise by 15°

Option + Left arrow

Rotate counterclockwise by 1°

Option + Shift + Left arrow

Rotate clockwise by 1°

Option + Shift + Right arrow

Close drawing editor

⌘ + Esc
Shift + Esc

Shortcuts for Comments & Footnotes in Docs

Insert comment

⌘ + Option + m

Open discussion thread

⌘ + Option + Shift + a

Enter current comment

Ctrl + Enter

Insert footnote

⌘ + Option + f

Move to current footnote

holding Ctrl + ⌘, press e then f

Move to next footnote

holding Ctrl + ⌘, press n then f

Move to previous footnote

holding Ctrl + ⌘, press p then f

Menu Shortcuts in Google Docs

Context (right-click) menu

⌘ + Shift + \

File menu

Ctrl + Option + f

Edit menu

Ctrl + Option + e

View menu

Ctrl + Option + v

Insert menu

Ctrl + Option + i

Format menu

Ctrl + Option + o

Tools menu

Ctrl + Option + t

Help menu

Ctrl + Option + h

Accessibility menu (present when screen reader support is enabled)

Ctrl + Option + a

Input Tools menu (available in documents in non-Latin languages)

⌘ + Option + Shift + k

Toggle input controls (available in documents in non-Latin languages)

⌘ + Shift + k

Show your browser's context menu

Shift + right-click

Shortcuts for Text Selection with Mac Keyboard

Select all

⌘ + a

Extend selection one character

Shift + Left/right arrow

Extend selection one line

Shift + Up/down arrow

Extend selection to the beginning of the line

Shift + Fn + Left arrow

Extend selection one paragraph

Option + Shift + Up/Down arrow

Extend selection to the end of the line

Shift + Fn + Right arrow

Extend selection to the beginning of the document

⌘ + Shift + Up arrow

Extend selection to the end of the document

⌘ + Shift + Down arrow

Select current list item

holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press e then i

Select all list items at current level

holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press e then o

Text Selection with a Mouse on a Mac

Select word

Double-click

Extend selection one word at a time

Double-click + drag

Select paragraph

Triple-click

Extend selection one paragraph at a time

Triple-click + drag

Screen Reader Shortcuts for Google Docs on a Mac

Enable screen reader support

Option + ⌘ + z

Speak selection

Ctrl + ⌘ + x

Speak from cursor location

Ctrl + ⌘ + r

Announce cursor location

holding Ctrl + ⌘, press a then l

Announce formatting at cursor location

holding Ctrl + ⌘, press a then f

Speak the table column and row header

holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then h

Speak the table cell location

holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then n

Speak the table row header

holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then r

Speak the table column header

holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then c

Show live edits

⌘ + Option + Shift + r

Google Doc Navigation Shortcuts for Mac

Show document outline

holding Ctrl + ⌘, press a then h

Move to next heading

holding Ctrl + ⌘, press n then h

Move to previous heading

holding Ctrl + ⌘, press p then h

Move to next heading [1-6]

holding Ctrl + ⌘, press n then [1-6]

Move to previous heading [1-6]

holding Ctrl + ⌘, press p then [1-6]

Move to next media (image or drawing)

holding Ctrl + ⌘, press n then g

Move to previous media (image or drawing)

holding Ctrl + ⌘, press p then g

Move to next list

holding Ctrl + ⌘, press n then o

Move to previous list

holding Ctrl + ⌘, press p then o

Move to next item in the current list

holding Ctrl + ⌘, press n then i

Move to previous item in the current list

holding Ctrl + ⌘, press p then i

Move to next link

holding Ctrl + ⌘, press n then l

Move to previous link

holding Ctrl + ⌘, press p then l

Move to next bookmark

holding Ctrl + ⌘, press n then b

Move to previous bookmark

holding Ctrl + ⌘, press p then b

Move to next formatting change

holding Ctrl + ⌘, press n then w

Move to previous formatting change

holding Ctrl + ⌘, press p then w

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

holding Ctrl + ⌘, press n then r

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

holding Ctrl + ⌘, press p then r

Google Docs Table Navigation Shortcuts

Move to the start of the table

holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then s

Move to the end of the table

holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then d

Move to the start of the table column

holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then i

Move to the end of the table column

holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then k

Move to the next table column

holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then b

Move to the previous table column

holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then v

Move to the start of the table row

holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then j

Move to the end of the table row

holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then l

Move to the next table row

holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then m

Move to the previous table row

holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then g

Exit table

holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then e

Move to the next table

holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press n then t

Move to the previous table

holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press p then t

Other Google Docs Shortcuts on Macs

Open revision history

⌘ + Option + Shift + h

Open Explore tool

⌘ + Option + Shift + i

Open spelling/grammar

⌘ + Option + x
Fn + F7

Open dictionary

⌘ + Shift + y

Word count

⌘ + Shift + c

Start voice typing (available in Chrome browsers)

⌘ + Shift + s

Go to side panel

⌘ + Option + .
⌘ + Option + ,

Page up

Fn + Up arrow

Page down

Fn + Down arrow

Move to next misspelling

⌘ + '

Move to previous misspelling

⌘ + ;

Insert or move to header

holding Ctrl + ⌘, press o then h

Insert or move to footer

holding Ctrl + ⌘, press o then f

Move focus to popup (for links, bookmarks, and images)

holding Ctrl + ⌘, press e then p

Move focus out of document text

⌘ + Option + Shift + m

Return focus to document text

Esc

 

Wrapping Up

Google Docs is one of the G Suite productivity apps that is free to the public and available for everyone to use. But like any software, understanding the shortcuts and tricks available to you will help you fully leverage its powerful tools.

I hope that the Google Docs keyboard shortcuts listed above can fast-track your projects by helping you utilize all this helpful word processing platform has to offer.