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Keyboard Shortcuts
You Should Actually Learn

A one-page reference. Bookmark it, print it, tattoo it on your forearm. These will save you hours.

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Showing Windows shortcuts. Mac users: swap Ctrl for ⌘ Cmd unless noted.

The Essentials

⚡

Start here. These omni-shortcuts work everywhere — browsers, docs, email, forms, etc.

Ctrl+C⌘C on Mac

Copy selection

Pairs with Ctrl+A (select all) or Ctrl+Shift+Arrow (select words)

★

Ctrl+V⌘V on Mac

Paste

Add Shift to paste without formatting — great for email

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Ctrl+X⌘X on Mac

Cut (copy + delete)

Use with Ctrl+Shift+Arrow to move whole words and sentences

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Ctrl+Z⌘Z on Mac

Undo

Works in docs, spreadsheets, web forms — basically everywhere

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Ctrl+A⌘A on Mac

Select all

Then Ctrl+C to copy everything — saves dragging with mouse

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Ctrl+Shift+←→⌘⇧← → on Mac

Select whole words

Use ↑↓ instead to grab whole paragraphs. The secret power-user move.

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⊞ WinNot applicable on Mac

Open apps instantly

Press ⊞, type "Word" or "Chrome", hit Enter. Faster than clicking.

Browser

Ctrl+T⌘T

New tab

Then type "doc.new" for instant Google Doc, "sheet.new" for Sheets

Ctrl+W⌘W

Close current tab

Closed one by accident? Ctrl+Shift+T brings it right back

Ctrl+Shift+T⌘⇧T

Reopen closed tab

Works multiple times — reopens tabs in reverse order, even full windows

★

Ctrl+L⌘L

Jump to address bar

Then Ctrl+C to copy current URL — great for sharing links fast

Ctrl+1/2/3⌘1/2/3

Jump to tab by position

Pin your most-used tabs (Gmail, Calendar) and jump to them with Ctrl+1, Ctrl+2

Ctrl+R⌘R

Refresh page

Add Shift for a hard refresh (bypasses cache)

Email (Gmail)

Enable keyboard shortcuts in Gmail Settings → General → Keyboard shortcuts: ON

C

Compose new email

Then Tab to jump to subject line. Add recipients last to avoid accidental sends.

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Enter

Open selected email

Then R to Reply, A to Reply All, or Shift+E to Archive

Shift+E

Archive email

The inbox-zero power move. Select multiples first with J/K + X.

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J/K → X → Shift+E

Navigate → Select → Archive

Takes practice but the Monday morning payoff is enormous

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R / A

Reply / Reply All

Pair with Shift+E after replying to archive and move on

📅

If you haven't tried a calendar scheduler (Calendly, Cal.com, etc.), add one.

Chat

Ctrl+K⌘K

Jump to person or channel

Finish one conversation, Ctrl+K to the next — no mouse needed

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↑

Edit your last message

Fix typos instantly — press ↑, edit, Enter

:emoji name:

Insert emoji

:thumbsup: :eyes: :poop: — a picture is worth a thousand words

⚠️

Reminder: Chat is best for immediate, short-lived messages. Please be a serious person for anything that needs to be found later. Move it to email, knowledge management, or a project management tool.

Word / Google Docs

Ctrl+Shift+7⌘⇧7

Numbered list

Use 8 for bullet list instead

Ctrl+Alt+1/2/3⌘⌥1/2/3

Apply Heading 1 / 2 / 3

Structure your docs fast. Select text first with Ctrl+Shift+Arrow.

★

Ctrl+Alt+M⌘⌥M

Insert comment

Select text first, then comment — great for feedback and review

Ctrl+K⌘K

Insert hyperlink

Select text, Ctrl+K, paste URL. Faster than right-click menu.

★

Ctrl+B / I / U⌘B / ⌘I / ⌘U

Bold / Italic / Underline

The classics. Pair with Ctrl+Shift+Arrow to format whole words.

Sheets / Excel

Ctrl+Arrow⌘Arrow

Jump to edge of data

Leap to the last row or column of a dataset instantly

★

Ctrl+Shift+Arrow⌘⇧Arrow

Select to edge of data

Select entire columns or rows of data in one keystroke

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Ctrl+SpaceSame

Select entire column

Shift+Space selects entire row

F2Same (or Enter)

Edit cell

Enter a cell without overwriting its contents

Ctrl+D⌘D

Fill down

Copies the cell above into selected cells below. Ctrl+R fills right.

★

Ctrl+Shift+L⌘⇧L (Excel) / Ctrl⇧L (Sheets)

Toggle filters

Instantly filter any column. One of the most useful spreadsheet moves.

★

Alt+=⌘⇧T (Sheets)

AutoSum

Select a range, press Alt+= and it inserts a SUM formula

Ctrl+;⌘;

Insert today's date

Ctrl+Shift+; inserts current time

F4⌘T (Sheets) / F4 (Excel)

Toggle absolute reference ($)

Cycles through A1 → $A$1 → A$1 → $A1 when editing a formula

★

Notion

/

Insert content block

Try /page, /pdf, /linked database, /ai, /table, /callout

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######

Create headings (H1 / H2 / H3)

Type at the start of a line then press Space

@

Mention person, page, or date

@today, @next Tuesday — set inline reminders

Ctrl+P⌘P

Quick search

The recommended searches are surprisingly good — use this constantly

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Ctrl+[ / ]⌘[ / ⌘]

Navigate back / forward

Essential for navigating Notion's link rabbit holes