Why Slack Shortcuts Matter (2026)
Ctrl/Cmd+K opens Quick Switcher to jump anywhere. Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+K starts a direct message. Ctrl/Cmd+/ shows all shortcuts in-app. Power users never click the sidebar. Also see Discord, Zoom, and Notion.
Slack Keyboard Shortcuts
Every essential Slack keyboard shortcut—channels, threads, search, formatting, and navigation. From Slack's official shortcut documentation.
Navigation & Quick Switcher
Quick Switcher (Jump to conversation)
CtrlK
Browse Channels
CtrlShiftK
Previous Channel/DM
Alt↑
Next Channel/DM
Alt↓
Previous Unread Channel
AltShift↑
Next Unread Channel
AltShift↓
Open Thread
T
Open All Threads
CtrlShiftT
Open All DMs
CtrlShiftK
Open Activity (All unreads)
CtrlShiftM
Open Directory
CtrlShiftE
Open Saved Items
CtrlShiftS
Search Current Channel/DM
CtrlF
Channel Info Pane
CtrlShiftI
Messaging & Composition
Send Message
Enter
New Line in Message
ShiftEnter
Edit Last Message
↑
Mark All Messages as Read
ShiftEsc
Set Reminder on Message
AltClick message
Delete Message
AltClick trash icon
Create Code Snippet
CtrlShiftEnter
Upload File
CtrlU
Start Voice Call
CtrlShiftV
Start Video Call
CtrlShiftC
Message Formatting
Bold Text
CtrlB
Italic Text
CtrlI
Strikethrough
CtrlShiftX
Code Block
CtrlAltShiftC
Inline Code
CtrlShiftC
Quote Block
CtrlShift>
Numbered List
CtrlShift7
Bulleted List
CtrlShift8
Insert Link
CtrlShiftU
Undo Formatting
CtrlZ
Emojis & Reactions
Add Emoji Reaction
CtrlShift\
Browse Emoji Picker
CtrlShiftJ
Toggle Emoji Reaction Panel
R
Search & Browse
Search Workspace
CtrlG
Search in Channel
CtrlF
Previous Search Result
↑
Next Search Result
↓
Open Files
CtrlShiftF
Calls & Huddles
Toggle Mute in Call
M
Toggle Video in Call
V
Start/Leave Huddle
CtrlShiftH
Toggle Screen Share
CtrlShiftE
Invite to Call
A
Workspace & Settings
Open Preferences
Ctrl,
Switch Workspace
CtrlShiftW
Open Workspace Menu
Ctrl/
Message Actions
Star Message
S
Pin/Unpin Message
P
Share Message
CtrlShiftF
Copy Message Link
AltShiftC
Mark as Unread
AltClick message
Sidebar & Views
Toggle Left Sidebar
CtrlShiftD
Toggle Right Sidebar
Ctrl.
Zoom In
Ctrl+
Zoom Out
Ctrl-
Reset Zoom
Ctrl0
Help & Other
Open Keyboard Shortcuts
Ctrl/
Open Help Center
CtrlShift?
Set Status
CtrlShiftY
Open Apps
CtrlShiftA
Navigation & Quick Switcher
Quick Switcher (Jump to conversation)
⌘K
Browse Channels
⌘⇧K
Previous Channel/DM
⌥↑
Next Channel/DM
⌥↓
Previous Unread Channel
⌥⇧↑
Next Unread Channel
⌥⇧↓
Open Thread
T
Open All Threads
⌘⇧T
Open All DMs
⌘⇧K
Open Activity (All unreads)
⌘⇧M
Open Directory
⌘⇧E
Open Saved Items
⌘⇧S
Search Current Channel/DM
⌘F
Channel Info Pane
⌘⇧I
Messaging & Composition
Send Message
Enter
New Line in Message
⇧Enter
Edit Last Message
↑
Mark All Messages as Read
⇧Esc
Set Reminder on Message
⌥Click message
Delete Message
⌥Click trash icon
Create Code Snippet
⌘⇧Enter
Upload File
⌘U
Start Voice Call
⌘⇧V
Start Video Call
⌘⇧C
Message Formatting
Bold Text
⌘B
Italic Text
⌘I
Strikethrough
⌘⇧X
Code Block
⌘⌥⇧C
Inline Code
⌘⇧C
Quote Block
⌘⇧>
Numbered List
⌘⇧7
Bulleted List
⌘⇧8
Insert Link
⌘⇧U
Undo Formatting
⌘Z
Emojis & Reactions
Add Emoji Reaction
⌘⇧\
Browse Emoji Picker
⌘⇧J
Toggle Emoji Reaction Panel
R
Search & Browse
Search Workspace
⌘G
Search in Channel
⌘F
Previous Search Result
↑
Next Search Result
↓
Open Files
⌘⇧F
Calls & Huddles
Toggle Mute in Call
M
Toggle Video in Call
V
Start/Leave Huddle
⌘⇧H
Toggle Screen Share
⌘⇧E
Invite to Call
A
Workspace & Settings
Open Preferences
⌘,
Switch Workspace
⌘⇧W
Open Workspace Menu
⌘/
Message Actions
Star Message
S
Pin/Unpin Message
P
Share Message
⌘⇧F
Copy Message Link
⌥⇧C
Mark as Unread
⌥Click message
Sidebar & Views
Toggle Left Sidebar
⌘⇧D
Toggle Right Sidebar
⌘.
Zoom In
⌘+
Zoom Out
⌘-
Reset Zoom
⌘0
Help & Other
Open Keyboard Shortcuts
⌘/
Open Help Center
⌘⇧?
Set Status
⌘⇧Y
Open Apps
⌘⇧A
Slack Shortcuts — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most important Slack keyboard shortcut?
Ctrl/Cmd+K opens Quick Switcher—you can jump to any channel, DM, or person by typing their name.
How do I mark messages unread in Slack?
Press Alt+Shift+U on Windows or Option+Shift+U on Mac while viewing a channel or DM.
How do I see all Slack keyboard shortcuts?
Press Ctrl+/ on Windows or Cmd+/ on Mac inside Slack to open the full keyboard shortcuts reference.
Are Slack shortcuts the same on Mac and Windows?
Most shortcuts map Ctrl to Cmd. Slack documents platform-specific bindings in their help center.