Google Gemini

Gemini Keyboard Shortcuts

Every official Google Gemini shortcut across its three surfaces: the gemini.google.com web app (Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+O new chat), the Gemini for Mac desktop app (Option+Space summon, hold Fn to dictate), and Gemini in Chrome (Alt+G on Windows, Ctrl+G on Mac). Sourced from Google's release notes and support docs. Pair with ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity shortcuts if you switch assistants.

Why Gemini Shortcuts Matter (August 2026)

Gemini passed 950 million monthly users, and two 2026 launches made its keyboard story worth learning: the Gemini for Mac app, which floats over any application with Option+Space and turns the Fn key into a hold-to-dictate button, and Gemini in Chrome, which adds real system-level hotkeys (Alt+G / Ctrl+G) plus a selection mode for asking about anything on screen. The web app itself is deliberately minimal — just Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+O for a new chat and Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+K to search conversations — so this cheat sheet also covers the browser-level keys power users lean on at gemini.google.com.

One thing other guides get wrong: there is no official Gemini desktop app for Windows. If you want a summon-anywhere hotkey on Windows, opt in to Gemini in Chrome — it adds Gemini to your system tray with Alt+G. Everything marked "browser standard" below is normal browser behavior on the Gemini site, not a Gemini-specific binding; we label the difference honestly so you know what will survive a UI update.

Essential — Start Here

New chat (web app)
CtrlShiftO
Search your conversations (web app)
CtrlShiftK
Open / close Gemini in Chrome
AltG
Submit prompt
Enter
New line in prompt
ShiftEnter

Gemini in Chrome (official hotkeys)

Open / close Gemini panel
AltG
Switch focus between tab and Gemini
AltShiftG
Start selection mode (ask about anything on screen)
CtrlAltG
Open / close Gemini panel (ChromeOS)
SearchG
Switch tab ↔ Gemini (ChromeOS)
SearchAltG
Remap these shortcuts
Chrome Settings→Edit

Desktop & System Tray (Windows)

Summon Gemini from any app (via Gemini in Chrome tray)
AltG
Official Windows desktop app
None — see FAQ

Chat & Composer (web app)

Submit prompt
Enter
New line without submitting
ShiftEnter
Select all prompt text (browser standard)
CtrlA
Delete previous word (browser standard)
CtrlBackspace
Move caret by word (browser standard)
Ctrl←/→
Undo edit in composer (browser standard)
CtrlZ
Copy selected response text
CtrlC

Reading & Navigating Answers

Find on page in a long answer
CtrlF
Scroll one viewport down / up
Space/ShiftSpace
Jump to top / bottom
Home/End
Open a source link in new tab
CtrlClick
Print / save answer as PDF
CtrlP
Zoom in / out
Ctrl+/Ctrl-
Reset zoom
Ctrl0

Tabs & Workspace (gemini.google.com)

New browser tab for a parallel chat
CtrlT
Close current tab
CtrlW
Reopen closed tab (recover a chat tab)
CtrlShiftT
Switch to next / previous tab
CtrlTab/CtrlShiftTab
Focus address bar to jump to Gemini
CtrlL
Hard refresh if the UI hangs
CtrlShiftR

Essential — Start Here

Summon Gemini desktop app over any application
⌥Space
Dictate with your voice (hold)
Fnhold
New chat (web app)
⌘⇧O
Search your conversations (web app)
⌘⇧K
Open / close Gemini in Chrome
⌃G

Gemini for Mac Desktop App (official)

Summon / dismiss Gemini overlay
⌥Space
Voice dictation into active window (hold)
Fnhold
Share your window for screen context
Share windowbutton
Submit prompt
Return
New line in prompt
⇧Return
Quit Gemini app
⌘Q

Gemini in Chrome (official hotkeys)

Open / close Gemini panel
⌃G
Switch focus between tab and Gemini
⌃⌘G
Start selection mode (ask about anything on screen)
⌃⇧G
Remap these shortcuts
Chrome Settings→Edit

Chat & Composer (web app)

Submit prompt
Return
New line without submitting
⇧Return
Select all prompt text (browser standard)
⌘A
Delete previous word (browser standard)
⌥Delete
Move caret by word (browser standard)
⌥←/→
Undo edit in composer (browser standard)
⌘Z
Copy selected response text
⌘C

Reading & Navigating Answers

Find on page in a long answer
⌘F
Scroll one viewport down / up
Space/⇧Space
Jump to top / bottom
⌘↑/↓
Open a source link in new tab
⌘Click
Print / save answer as PDF
⌘P
Zoom in / out
⌘+/⌘-
Reset zoom
⌘0

Tabs & Workspace (gemini.google.com)

New browser tab for a parallel chat
⌘T
Close current tab
⌘W
Reopen closed tab (recover a chat tab)
⌘⇧T
Switch to next / previous tab
⌃Tab/⌃⇧Tab
Focus address bar to jump to Gemini
⌘L
Hard refresh if the UI hangs
⌘⇧R

Also see: ChatGPT • Claude • Perplexity • Antigravity • Chrome • macOS

Gemini Shortcuts — Frequently Asked Questions

Does Gemini have keyboard shortcuts?

Yes, but the web app ships only two native shortcuts: Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+O for a new chat and Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+K to search conversations. Most other Gemini shortcuts come from the Mac desktop app and Gemini in Chrome, which add system-level hotkeys.

What is the Gemini desktop app shortcut?

On the official Gemini for Mac app, press Option+Space to summon Gemini alongside any application, and hold Fn to dictate. Requires macOS 15+, free at gemini.google/mac.

Is there a Gemini desktop app for Windows?

No — Google has not released an official Gemini desktop app for Windows. The closest official option is Gemini in Chrome: once you opt in, Gemini sits in your Windows system tray and opens from anywhere with Alt+G. Unofficial open-source wrappers exist on GitHub, but they are not made by Google.

How do I open Gemini in Chrome with a keyboard shortcut?

Press Alt+G on Windows, Ctrl+G on Mac, or Search+G on ChromeOS. Switch focus with Alt+Shift+G (Windows) / Ctrl+Cmd+G (Mac); start selection mode with Ctrl+Alt+G (Windows) / Ctrl+Shift+G (Mac). All remappable in Chrome settings.

What is the shortcut for a new chat in Gemini?

Ctrl+Shift+O on Windows/Linux, Cmd+Shift+O on Mac. Search existing chats with Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+K.

How do I dictate with Gemini on Mac?

With the Gemini for Mac app installed, press and hold Fn to dictate into whatever window is active — Gemini types polished text at your cursor. Enable Gemini reasoning in the app settings to also rewrite highlighted text or pull information from selected files.

Can I add more keyboard shortcuts to Gemini?

Yes. Gemini in Chrome shortcuts can be remapped in Chrome settings. For the web app, third-party browser extensions add extras like model switching and copy-last-response — but those are community tools, not official Google shortcuts, and defaults vary by extension.

Are Gemini CLI shortcuts the same as the Gemini app?

No — Gemini CLI is a separate terminal tool with its own keybindings (Ctrl+L clear screen, Shift+Tab cycle approval modes), documented in the gemini-cli repo. This page covers the consumer Gemini surfaces: web, the Mac app, and Gemini in Chrome.

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