Updated July 2026 · 6 min read
Google Docs Keyboard Shortcuts: Complete Cheat Sheet (2026)
Google Docs is used by hundreds of millions of people, but most rely entirely on the toolbar. Learning its keyboard shortcuts cuts formatting time in half — no menu hunting, no mouse clicks. This guide covers every shortcut you need, organized by task.
Want the full interactive list? Visit the Google Docs shortcuts page to search and copy any shortcut.
Formatting Shortcuts
These work on selected text and are identical across Windows and Mac (swap Ctrl for ⌘):
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Bold | Ctrl + B | ⌘ + B |
| Italic | Ctrl + I | ⌘ + I |
| Underline | Ctrl + U | ⌘ + U |
| Strikethrough | Alt + Shift + 5 | ⌘ + Shift + X |
| Superscript | Ctrl + . | ⌘ + . |
| Subscript | Ctrl + , | ⌘ + , |
| Clear formatting | Ctrl + \ | ⌘ + \ |
| Increase font size | Ctrl + Shift + > | ⌘ + Shift + > |
| Decrease font size | Ctrl + Shift + < | ⌘ + Shift + < |
Paragraph & Heading Styles
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Normal text | Ctrl + Alt + 0 | ⌘ + Option + 0 |
| Heading 1 | Ctrl + Alt + 1 | ⌘ + Option + 1 |
| Heading 2 | Ctrl + Alt + 2 | ⌘ + Option + 2 |
| Heading 3 | Ctrl + Alt + 3 | ⌘ + Option + 3 |
| Align left | Ctrl + Shift + L | ⌘ + Shift + L |
| Align center | Ctrl + Shift + E | ⌘ + Shift + E |
| Align right | Ctrl + Shift + R | ⌘ + Shift + R |
| Justify | Ctrl + Shift + J | ⌘ + Shift + J |
Navigation & Selection
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Jump to beginning | Ctrl + Home | ⌘ + Home (or Fn+⌘+←) |
| Jump to end | Ctrl + End | ⌘ + End (or Fn+⌘+→) |
| Select all | Ctrl + A | ⌘ + A |
| Select word | Double-click | Double-click |
| Find | Ctrl + F | ⌘ + F |
| Find & Replace | Ctrl + H | ⌘ + Shift + H |
| Word count | Ctrl + Shift + C | ⌘ + Shift + C |
Inserting & Editing
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Insert link | Ctrl + K | ⌘ + K |
| Insert comment | Ctrl + Alt + M | ⌘ + Option + M |
| Open comment stream | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + A | ⌘ + Option + Shift + A |
| Undo | Ctrl + Z | ⌘ + Z |
| Redo | Ctrl + Y | ⌘ + Shift + Z |
| Copy formatting | Ctrl + Alt + C | ⌘ + Option + C |
| Paste formatting | Ctrl + Alt + V | ⌘ + Option + V |
Collaboration Shortcuts
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Version history | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + H | ⌘ + Option + Shift + H |
| Share document | Ctrl + Shift + Enter | ⌘ + Shift + Enter |
| Open Explore panel | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + I | ⌘ + Option + Shift + I |
| Dictionary lookup | Ctrl + Shift + Y | ⌘ + Shift + Y |
3 Power-User Tips
- Use heading shortcuts for instant structure. Ctrl+Alt+1 for Heading 1, Ctrl+Alt+2 for Heading 2 — building an outline takes seconds without touching the toolbar.
- Ctrl+Alt+M beats the margin. Inserting comments via the sidebar adds friction. The shortcut lets you comment without breaking your typing flow.
- Ctrl+\ is the great equaliser. Paste text from anywhere and it comes in with rogue formatting. Select all + Ctrl+\ strips it back to your document's default style in one keystroke.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I add a comment in Google Docs with a keyboard shortcut?
Press Ctrl+Alt+M (Windows) or ⌘+Option+M (Mac) to insert a comment on selected text. To view and reply to comments, press Ctrl+Alt+Shift+A (Windows) or ⌘+Option+Shift+A (Mac) to open the comment stream.
What is the Google Docs shortcut to apply heading styles?
Press Ctrl+Alt+1 through Ctrl+Alt+6 (Windows) or ⌘+Option+1–6 (Mac) to apply Heading 1 through Heading 6. Use Ctrl+Alt+0 (⌘+Option+0) to return to Normal text style.
How do I open Find & Replace in Google Docs?
Press Ctrl+H (Windows) or ⌘+Shift+H (Mac) to open Find & Replace. To use Find only, press Ctrl+F (⌘+F). The Replace dialog lets you swap text across the whole document at once.
Is there a shortcut to check word count in Google Docs?
Yes — press Ctrl+Shift+C (Windows) or ⌘+Shift+C (Mac) to open the Word Count dialog, which shows words, characters, and pages. This works whether or not text is selected.
How do I insert a link in Google Docs without using the menu?
Select the text you want to link, then press Ctrl+K (Windows) or ⌘+K (Mac) to open the link dialog. Paste or type a URL and press Enter. To remove a link, place your cursor in it and press Ctrl+Shift+K.