84 Slack Keyboard Shortcuts: Your Cheat Sheet
If you’re looking for the best Slack keyboard shortcuts then you’re in the right place.
In this post, we detail how Slack shortcuts work, the most common shortcuts, and even how you can create your own.
Let’s get started!
What are shortcuts in Slack?
In Slack, “shortcuts” have a wider scope than merely triggering quick access via keyboard key combinations.
When communicating, you want to trigger interactions as easily as possible.
Therefore, Slack shortcuts are also tools that enable users to trigger workflows from prominent UI locations within the app.
Following this definition, Slack shortcuts can be accessed via both a keyboard or an entry point.
These entry points are available after an app or workflow is added to Slack.
Therefore, there are two types of app shortcuts:
- Global Shortcuts – These shortcuts are available when searching on Slack, or via the shortcuts button in composer.
- Message Shortcuts – You can access these shortcuts in Slack messages context menus.
Slack shortcuts work in shared channels and Slack Connect too.
How do I use Slack shortcuts?
Slack keyboard shortcuts are accessible to all users – all you have to do is own a Slack account.
Go through our keyboard shortcuts table below to learn which key combinations will be most useful to you. Regular use will make it easier so that you don’t always have to refer to this Slack shortcuts handbook.
If you’re on the Slack desktop app, the first shortcut to know is Ctrl / (Windows or Linux) or ⌘ / (macOS). This key combination opens a sidebar with the most common keyboard shortcuts.
With other shortcuts, you can access them through convenient Slack client elements:
- Slash commands
- Entry points in app surfaces
What are the best Slack shortcuts?
Ultimately, the best Slack shortcuts are the ones you used the most.
Here’s a list of the most common shortcuts available in Slack.
Slack basic shortcuts
| Function | Windows Shortcut | macOS Shortcut |
| Compose a new message | Ctrl N | ⌘N |
| Edit last message (when the current message box is empty) | Ctrl ↑ | ⌘↑ |
| Jump to a conversation | Ctrl K or Ctrl T# | ⌘ K or ⌘ T# |
| Set a status | Shift Ctrl Y | ⌘ Shift Y |
| Open preferences# | Ctrl , | ⌘ , |
| Open search | Ctrl G | ⌘ G |
| Search current conversation | Ctrl F | ⌘ F |
| Search the Help Center | F1 | F1 |
| Browse channels | Shift Ctrl L | ⌘ Shift L |
| Access all DMs | Shift Ctrl K | ⌘ Shift K |
| Access all threads# | Shift Ctrl T | ⌘ Shift T |
| Go back in history | Alt ← | ⌘ [ |
| Go forward in history | Alt → | ⌘ ] |
| Dismiss dialogs | Esc | Esc |
| Toggle sidebar visibility | Shift Ctrl D | ⌘ Shift D |
| Open context menu | Shift F10 | Shift M with VoiceOver running |
Navigation
| Function | Windows Shortcut | macOS Shortcut |
| Navigate focus across messages | ↑ or ↓ | ↑ or ↓ |
| Navigate focus to the next section | F6 | F6 |
| Navigate focus to the previous section | Shift F6 | Shift F6 |
| Imitate “clicking” on a focused element | Enter | Enter |
| Scroll | ↑ & ↓ or pg up & pg dn | ↑ & ↓ |
| Scroll to the previous day | Shift pg up | Fn Shift ↑ |
| Scroll to the next day | Shift pg dn | Fn Shift ↓ |
| Jump to unread messages | Ctrl J | ⌘ J |
| Increase text font size | Ctrl + | ⌘ + |
| Decrease text font size | Ctrl – | ⌘ – |
| Access mentions and reactions# | Shift Ctrl M | ⌘ Shift M |
| Access directory | Shift Ctrl E | ⌘ Shift E |
| Toggle right pane visibility | Ctrl . | ⌘ . |
| Toggle fullscreen | Ctrl Shift F | Ctrl ⌘ F |
| Open sidebar item in split view | Ctrl & “click” | ⌘ & “click” |
| Open a conversation in split view | Ctrl Enter | ⌘ Enter |
| View channel Info | Shift Ctrl I | ⌘ Shift I |
| View saved items | Shift Ctrl S | ⌘ Shift S |
For Focused Messages
| Function | Windows Shortcut | macOS Shortcut |
| Edit focused message (your own message) | E | E |
| Delete focused message (your own message) | Delete | Delete |
| Share a focused message | S | S |
| Open a thread on a focused message | → or T | → or T |
| Add an emoji reaction to a focused message | R | R |
| Set a “remind me” on a focused message | M | M |
| Mark a focused message unread | U | U |
| Pin/unpin a focused message | P | P |
| Save/unsave a focused message | A | A |
Messaging
| Function | Windows Shortcut | macOS Shortcut |
| Bold text | Ctrl B | ⌘ B |
| Italicize text | Ctrl I | ⌘ I |
| Strikethrough text | Shift Ctrl X | ⌘ Shift X |
| Format text as hyperlink | Shift Ctrl U | ⌘ Shift U |
| Format text as code | Shift Ctrl C | ⌘ Shift C |
| Format text as codeblock | Shift Ctrl Alt C | ⌘ Alt Shift C |
| Format selection as bullet list | Shift Ctrl 8 | ⌘ Shift 8 |
| Format selection as numbered list | Shift Ctrl 7 | ⌘ Shift 7 |
| Format selection as quote | Shift Ctrl 9 | ⌘ Shift 9 |
| Undo formatting | Ctrl Z | ⌘ Z |
| Autocomplete emoji | : | : |
| Autocomplete channel | # | # |
| Autocomplete username | @ | @ |
| Start a new line | Shift Enter | Shift Enter |
| React to last message (or a message focused on) | Shift Ctrl /* | ⌘ Shift / |
| Select text to the beginning of current line | Shift ↑ | Shift ↑ |
| Select text to the end of current line | Shift ↓ | Shift ↓ |
Marking messages
| Function | Windows Shortcut | macOS Shortcut |
| Mark a read message as unread | Alt & “click” message | Option & “click” message |
| Mark all unread messages as read | Shift Esc | Shift Esc |
| Mark all unread messages in a channel as read | Esc | Esc |
Workspace switching
| Function | Windows Shortcut | macOS Shortcut |
| Go to previous workspace | Ctrl Tab | ⌘ Shift [ |
| Go to next workspace | Ctrl Shift Tab | ⌘ Shift ] |
| Go to a specific workspace | Ctrl & “1 – 9” | ⌘ & “1 – 9” |
Channels & direct messages
| Function | Windows Shortcut | macOS Shortcut |
| Previous chat (channel or DM) history | Alt ↑ | Option ↑ |
| Next chat (channel or DM) history | Alt ↓ | Option ↓ |
| Previous unread chat (channel or DM) | Alt Shift ↑ | Option Shift ↑ |
| Next unread chat (channel or DM) | Alt Shift ↓ | Option Shift ↓ |
All Unreads
| Function | Windows Shortcut | macOS Shortcut |
| Open the “All unreads” dialog | Ctrl Shift A | ⌘ Shift A |
| Next unread channel | Shift pg dn | Option Shift ↓ |
| Previous unread channel | Shift pg up | Option Shift ↑ |
| Collapse unread channel | ← | ← |
| Expand unread channel | → | → |
Files and snippets
| Function | Windows Shortcut | macOS Shortcut |
| Add a file | Ctrl U | ⌘ U |
| Create a snippet | Shift Ctrl Enter | ⌘ Shift Enter |
| View all file downloads | Shift Ctrl J | ⌘ Shift J |
Calls
| Function | Windows Shortcut | macOS Shortcut |
| Toggle mute on a Slack call | M | M |
| Toggle video on a Slack call | V | V |
| Invite participants to a Slack call | + or A | + or A |
| Use emoji reactions in a Slack call | E then “1 – 9″ | E then “1 – 9″ |
Huddle
| Function | Windows Shortcut | macOS Shortcut |
| Initiate (start or join) or terminate (leave or end) a Slack huddle | Ctrl Shift H | ⌘ Shift H |
| Toggle mute in a Slack huddle | Ctrl Shift Space | ⌘ Shift Space |
NOTE: Functions or shortcuts with the # superscript only work on the Slack desktop app. Functions or shortcuts with the * superscript may vary by keyboard layout.
How do I change Slack shortcuts?
Depending on your keyboard layout, shortcuts may differ. An example is the reactji keyboard shortcut.
You can effect changes that will allow you to access other Slack shortcuts on your keyboard using these steps:
- Sign in to Slack on your browser.
- Click on your profile picture in the top right corner and select “Preferences”.
- A mini window appears, then click on “Langauge & region”.
- Under “Keyboard Layout”, select your preferred layout to change the Slack shortcuts available to you.
Creating custom Slack shortcuts
If you want to create your own custom Slack shortcuts for your apps, follow these steps:
- Sign in to your app dashboard. Click on “Interactivity & Shortcuts” in the sidebar, then toggle on “Interactivity”.
- Input your HTTP Post Request URL. Then, under the “Shortcuts” section, click the “Create new shortcuts” button.
- Choose if you want to access your shortcut as a “Global” or “On messages” shortcut and click “Next”.
- Fill in the required information in the next dialog and hit the “Create” button.
- You’ll be redirected to the “Interactivity & Shortcuts” page where you’ll click the “Save Changes” button.
- Your new app shortcut for Slack is now ready to use.
Mio’s custom Slack shortcut
The Mio app allows you to message users on Microsoft Teams from your Slack workspace.
If you have contacts who don’t use Slack because they use Microsoft Teams, what’s your current process?
Do you have to log in to Teams every time you want to chat with them? Or end up reverting to email?
Maybe you can only work synchronously with them because they don’t have Slack. Isn’t it annoying to only be able to chat with them on a scheduled call?
With Mio installed, you can create a universal channel to connect Slack and Teams.
Once connected, you stay in Slack, they stay in Teams, and you message cross-platform.
Features supported include:
- Cross-platform messages
- Edits and deletions
- GIFs
- File uploads
- Emojis and reactjis
- Security and admin features for enterprise customers
You can even use message threads cross-platform.
You’ll get a Teams icon next to users who aren’t on Slack in channel messages, DMs, and threads.
CodeStream is a code collaboration software company using Mio to connect Slack and Teams.
CodeStream’s CEO, Peter Pezaris, says:
“Our sales and customer success teams use Slack shared channels whenever possible. Until discovering Mio, we were still using email to communicate with customers who use Teams. Mio allows us to communicate with all our customers in real-time, regardless of which team collaboration app they use.”
To find out more about Mio, visit our website.