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Slack Keyboard Shortcuts (Desktop & Web) — Complete Cheat Sheet
Communicate faster in Slack with shortcuts for navigation, messaging, reactions, and calls.
37 shortcuts across 5 categories · Windows · macOS · Browser
Slack's keyboard shortcuts let you switch channels, search messages, react to posts, and compose new messages entirely from the keyboard. Teams that use Slack shortcuts communicate more efficiently and spend less time clicking through channels and conversations.
Navigation
| Action | Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Quick Switcher | Ctrl + K or Ctrl + T | Open Quick Switcher to jump to any channel, DM, or workspace |
| Previous Channel / DM | Alt + ↑ | Move to the previous channel or DM in your sidebar |
| Next Channel / DM | Alt + ↓ | Move to the next channel or DM in your sidebar |
| Jump to Unread | Alt + Shift + ↑ | Jump to the previous channel with unread messages |
| Next Unread | Alt + Shift + ↓ | Jump to the next channel with unread messages |
| Open DMs | Ctrl + Shift + K | Open the Direct Messages browser |
| Go Back | Alt + ← | Navigate to the previous view in history |
| Go Forward | Alt + → | Navigate to the next view in history |
| Open Threads | Ctrl + Shift + T | Open the Threads view to see all replies |
| Open Mentions & Reactions | Ctrl + Shift + M | View all your recent mentions and reactions |
| Mark All as Read | Shift + Esc | Mark all messages in every channel as read |
Messaging
| Action | Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|---|
| New Message | Ctrl + N | Start a new direct message |
| Edit Last Message | ↑ | Edit your most recently sent message in the current channel |
| Move Focus to Messages | Ctrl + F | Move keyboard focus to the message input area |
| Search Messages | Ctrl + G | Open the search bar to search all messages |
| Upload File | Ctrl + U | Open the file picker to upload a file |
| Add Emoji to Message | Ctrl + Shift + \ | Open the emoji picker while composing |
| Create Snippet | Ctrl + Shift + Enter | Create a text snippet or code block |
| Mark as Unread | Alt + Click | Alt+click a message to mark it as unread for follow-up |
Reactions & Actions
| Action | Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Add Reaction | Ctrl + Shift + \ | Open the emoji picker to add a reaction to a message |
| Save / Bookmark Message | S | Save (bookmark) the message when hovering over it |
| Pin Message | P | Pin the highlighted message to the channel |
| Reply in Thread | T | Reply in a thread to the highlighted message |
| Show Keyboard Shortcuts | Ctrl + / | Open the full list of Slack keyboard shortcuts |
Message Formatting
| Action | Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Bold | Ctrl + B | Toggle bold formatting on selected text |
| Italic | Ctrl + I | Toggle italic formatting on selected text |
| Strikethrough | Ctrl + Shift + X | Toggle strikethrough on selected text |
| Inline Code | Ctrl + Shift + C | Format selected text as inline code |
| Code Block | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + C | Format selected text as a multi-line code block |
| Bulleted List | Ctrl + Shift + 8 | Start or toggle a bulleted list |
| Numbered List | Ctrl + Shift + 7 | Start or toggle a numbered list |
| Block Quote | Ctrl + Shift + 9 | Format the current paragraph as a block quote |
Calls & Huddles
| Action | Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mute / Unmute Mic | M | Toggle your microphone mute during a Slack call or huddle |
| Toggle Video | V | Turn your camera on or off during a Slack call |
| Start / End Huddle | Ctrl + Shift + H | Start a new huddle or end the current one in any channel |
| Accept Incoming Call | Ctrl + Shift + A | Answer an incoming Slack call |
| Decline Call | Ctrl + Shift + D | Decline an incoming Slack call |
Slack Tips & Tricks
- Ctrl+K is the fastest way to move anywhere: The Quick Switcher (Ctrl+K) lets you type any channel name, person, or even search query and jump there instantly — much faster than clicking through the sidebar.
- ↑ edits your last message without mouse: Pressing the Up arrow key while the message box is empty opens your most recent sent message for editing — no need to hover and click the '...' menu.
- Alt+click marks a message as unread: If you read a message but need to come back to it, Alt+click any message to mark it as unread. It will show as a new notification next time you switch to the channel.
Frequently Asked Questions — Slack
- How do I quickly switch channels in Slack?
- Press Ctrl+K (Cmd+K on Mac) to open the Quick Switcher — a search box that lets you jump to any channel, DM, or workspace by typing a few characters.
- What is the Slack shortcut to mark all messages as read?
- Press Shift+Esc to mark all messages in your current workspace as read at once. Press Esc to mark the current channel or DM as read.
- How do I react to a message in Slack without using the mouse?
- Navigate to the message with keyboard arrows, then press R to open the emoji picker for that message. You can type an emoji name to search and press Enter to add the reaction.
How to Learn Slack Keyboard Shortcuts
Slack is the communication hub for millions of teams, and its keyboard shortcuts address a specific problem: channel sprawl. When a team grows, the Slack sidebar fills with dozens of channels, and the constant act of clicking between them becomes a real friction point. Ctrl+K (the Quick Switcher) solves this completely — it opens a searchable jump-to dialog where you can type any channel or person's name and navigate there instantly. This single shortcut changes the relationship most people have with Slack's interface. Instead of scanning a sidebar for the right channel, you jump directly to wherever you need to be, which keeps communication fast even as the workspace grows.
The meeting and real-time communication shortcuts deserve attention for remote teams. Ctrl+Shift+M to mark all messages as read, Ctrl+Shift+Y to set your status, and the shortcuts for Slack Huddles are used most during the hours when a team is actively collaborating. One often-overlooked Slack shortcut is Alt+Click on a message to mark it as unread — this effectively turns messages into to-dos by flagging them for follow-up after you've moved on. For people who manage their Slack the way they manage an inbox, Ctrl+/ to open the shortcut list is worth bookmarking initially, as it serves as a searchable cheat sheet within the app itself.