Updated July 2026 · 6 min read
Gmail Keyboard Shortcuts: Complete Cheat Sheet (2026)
Gmail has over 100 keyboard shortcuts — but they're turned off by default. Once you enable them, you can process an entire inbox without touching your mouse. This guide covers how to turn them on and the shortcuts that matter most.
Want the full interactive list? Visit the Gmail shortcuts page to search and copy any shortcut.
Step 1: Enable Keyboard Shortcuts
Gmail shortcuts are off by default. To turn them on:
- Click the gear icon (top right) → See all settings
- On the General tab, find Keyboard shortcuts
- Select Keyboard shortcuts on
- Scroll down and click Save Changes
Once enabled, press ? at any time to see Gmail's full shortcut list.
Reading & Navigation
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Next email (older) | J |
| Previous email (newer) | K |
| Open email | Enter or O |
| Back to inbox | U |
| Newer conversation | P |
| Older conversation | N |
| Go to inbox | G then I |
| Go to starred | G then S |
| Go to sent | G then T |
| Go to drafts | G then D |
| Search emails | / |
Composing & Replying
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Compose new email | C |
| Compose in new tab | D |
| Reply | R |
| Reply all | A |
| Forward | F |
| Send email | Ctrl + Enter (⌘ + Enter) |
| Discard draft | Ctrl + Shift + D (⌘ + Shift + D) |
Organising Your Inbox
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Archive | E |
| Delete | # (Shift + 3) |
| Mark as read | Shift + I |
| Mark as unread | Shift + U |
| Star / unstar | S |
| Snooze | B |
| Mark as spam | ! (Shift + 1) |
| Move to label | V |
| Apply label | L |
| Mute conversation | M |
Selecting Multiple Emails
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Select email | X |
| Select all read | * then R |
| Select all unread | * then U |
| Select all starred | * then S |
| Select all | * then A |
| Deselect all | * then N |
3 Power-User Tips
- E is faster than Delete for inbox zero. Archive (E) keeps emails findable; Delete (#) removes them. For most people, archiving everything is the right habit — your search always finds it later.
- J and K are your inbox conveyor belt. Open an email, read it, act on it (E, R, V), then press J to move to the next one. You can process dozens of emails without ever clicking.
- G + I is instant inbox access from anywhere. If you've navigated to a label or search result, G then I jumps straight back to your inbox — much faster than clicking the sidebar.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I enable keyboard shortcuts in Gmail?
Go to Gmail Settings (the gear icon) → See all settings → General tab → Keyboard shortcuts → select 'Keyboard shortcuts on' → Save Changes. You must enable this before any shortcuts will work. Once on, press ? to see the full shortcut list.
What is the Gmail shortcut to archive an email?
Press E to archive the selected email or the email you're reading. This removes it from your inbox without deleting it — it stays searchable in All Mail. It's the fastest way to process your inbox.
How do I compose a new email in Gmail with a keyboard shortcut?
Press C to open a compose window. Press D to compose in a full-screen tab instead. If you want to reply to the email you're reading, press R for a regular reply or A to reply all.
How do I navigate between emails in Gmail without a mouse?
Press J to move to the next (older) email and K to move to the previous (newer) email in your inbox list. Press Enter or O to open the highlighted email. Press U to go back to the inbox list.
What Gmail shortcut moves an email to a label/folder?
Press V to open the 'Move to' dialog where you can type a label name. Press L to apply a label without moving the email out of your inbox. Both shortcuts work on selected emails or while reading an email.