Slack Keyboard Shortcuts Cheat Sheet for Mac and Windows

The Slack keyboard shortcuts most people need are Cmd+K (Ctrl+K on Windows) to jump to any conversation, Shift+Cmd+K for a new message, Shift+Esc to mark everything as read, Shift+Cmd+Y to set your status, and Cmd+Shift+A to open All Unreads. Press Cmd+/ (Ctrl+/) in Slack to open the full list, which you can search. Slack does not let you change or add shortcuts.

The tables below come from that panel, read in the Slack web app on a Mac on 2 October, not from the help center. We also pressed the main ones and wrote down what opened. Two shortcuts differ from most cheat sheets: a new message is Shift+Cmd+K in the web app, and starting a huddle is Cmd+Option+Shift+H.

What each shortcut opened in our test

We pressed each key in the Slack web app with the message list in focus:

Cmd+N and Cmd+G are desktop-app shortcuts in Slack's help center (new message and search). In a browser tab, use Shift+Cmd+K and Cmd+K instead.

The Slack shortcuts worth learning first

On Windows and Linux, Slack uses Ctrl where the Mac uses Cmd, and Alt where the Mac uses Option. We read the panel on a Mac and did not test the Windows keys.

The panel lists the left rail tabs on Control plus a number on a Mac: Ctrl+1 Slackbot, Ctrl+2 Home, Ctrl+3 DMs, Ctrl+4 Activity, Ctrl+5 Files, Ctrl+6 Later, Ctrl+7 Agents & tools. Cmd plus 1 to 9 switches workspaces. Slackbot Mini, the small window behind the Slack icon in the Mac menu bar, has its own shortcut setting with three choices: Ctrl Ctrl, ⌘+Shift+O or None.

Shortcuts to read and catch up

If a badge still will not clear after Shift+Esc, the measured causes are in Slack keeps showing unread messages. To narrow a search with from:, in: and dates, see Slack search operators. Threads have no new-window shortcut in the browser; how to open a Slack thread in a new window shows the split view that does that job.

Huddle shortcuts

Many lists still give Cmd+Shift+H for huddles; the panel in our test listed the four-key version. If a huddle will not start, see Slack huddle not working.

Formatting shortcuts

To make Enter add a line and Cmd+Enter send, see how to add a new line in Slack. With a link copied, select text and paste to turn it into a link; every way to link text is in how to add a hyperlink in Slack. To check formatting before you post, paste it into the Markdown to Slack converter. Canvases use a different set: there Shift+Cmd+9 makes a checklist, not a quote, and Option+Cmd+1 to 3 make headings; Slack canvas shortcuts lists the ones we tested.

One-key shortcuts on a message

Move focus onto a message first: press the Up or Down arrow in the message list, or F6 (Cmd+F6 on a Mac) to move between sections. Then:

• • E edit your message, Delete delete it
• • T or Right arrow open the thread
• • R add a reaction (what the eyes emoji means)
• • F forward, P pin or unpin
• • A save for later, M set a reminder (Slack saved for later)
• • U mark as unread from this message
• • L copy a link to the message, Cmd+C copy its text, which Slack copies as plain text, HTML and markdown at once; see copy text from Slack with formatting

The Activity view has its own single keys: U mark read, C clear, A save, M add a reminder, S snooze a reminder, X select for bulk actions.

Slack keyboard shortcuts not working

• • Web app vs desktop app. Cmd+N, Cmd+G and the Threads and Activity shortcuts from the help center belong to the desktop app. In our browser test Cmd+N and Cmd+G did nothing in Slack. Open Cmd+/ in the app you use; the panel lists the keys that work there.
• • Browser shortcuts win. In a real browser window, keys such as Cmd+N (new window) or Cmd+L (address bar) go to the browser first.
• • Focus. One-key shortcuts need a message in focus. Press the Up arrow or F6 first.
• • Keyboard language. Some shortcuts differ on keyboards set to a language other than English.

FAQ

How do I see all Slack keyboard shortcuts? Press Cmd+/ on a Mac or Ctrl+/ on Windows. The panel has a search box; typing "huddle" filtered it to the two huddle shortcuts in our test. Typed commands are in the Slack slash commands list.

What is the shortcut to mark all as read in Slack? Shift+Esc. Esc alone marks the current conversation as read.

Can I customize Slack keyboard shortcuts? No. On a Mac you can remap Slack's menu bar commands under System Settings, Keyboard, Keyboard Shortcuts, App Shortcuts, which works for the desktop app only.