Use Google Chat keyboard shortcuts

You can use keyboard shortcuts in Google Chat on Android, Chrome OS, macOS, and Windows. To access shortcuts in Chat, type ? anytime, except when you enter text in a field.

Use keyboard shortcuts in Chat

Important: To make the shortcuts â€œ/,â€ â€œh then c,â€ â€œh then r,â€ and â€œqâ€ available, enable keyboard shortcuts in the â€œ?â€ dialog.

Available everywhere

Action	ChromeOS & Windows	macOS
Open Keyboard Shortcut help	?	?
Search in "Chats and Spaces"	/	/
Focus on "Direct message" conversation list	h then c	h then c
Focus on Spaces list	h then r	h then r
Browse Spaces	Ctrl + o	Command + o
Create a Space	Ctrl + i	Command + i
New chat	q or Ctrl + Shift + k	q or Command + Shift + k

Navigating within the sidebar

Action	ChromeOS & Windows	macOS
Focus on previous or next space or direct message	â†‘ or â†“	â†‘ or â†“
Focus on previous or next unread space or direct message	Shift + â†‘ or Shift + â†“	Shift + â†‘ or Shift + â†“
Move focus between â€œShortcuts,â€ â€œSpaces,â€ or â€œDirect messagesâ€	Ctrl + â†‘ or Ctrl + â†“	Command â†‘ or Command + â†“
Select Shortcut, Space, or Direct message	â†’ or Enter	â†’ or Enter
Focus on "Direct message" conversation list	h then c	h then c
Focus on Spaces list	h then r	h then r

Navigating chat messages

Action	ChromeOS & Windows	macOS
Focus on previous or next message	â†‘ or â†“	â†‘ or â†“
Focus main reply box	r or Ctrl + s	r or Command + s
Open Space or Direct message menu	Ctrl + g	Command + g
Focus the last message	Ctrl + j	Command + j
Return focus to sidebar	Esc	Esc

Navigating space messages

Action	ChromeOS & Windows	macOS
Focus on previous or next message	â†‘ or â†“	â†‘ or â†“
Open the thread and focus last message	â†’	â†’
Open the thread and focus reply box	Enter or r	Enter or r
Focus main reply box	Ctrl + s	Command + s
Open Space or Direct message menu	Ctrl + g	Command + g
Focus the last message	Ctrl + j	Command + j
Open and focus the thread navigation panel	h then t	h then t
Return focus to sidebar	Esc	Esc

Navigating messages within a thread

Action	ChromeOS & Windows	macOS
Focus on previous or next message	â†‘ or â†“	â†‘ or â†“
Focus on first message in thread	Shift + â†‘	Shift + â†‘
Focus on last message in thread	Shift + â†“	Shift + â†“
Go back to the main conversation	â†	â†
Exit to thread navigation panel	Esc	Esc
Focus thread reply box	Enter or r	Enter or r
Focus main reply box	Ctrl + s	Command + s

Reply box

Action	ChromeOS & Windows	macOS
Send reply	Enter	Enter
Edit previously posted message	â†‘	â†‘
Insert new line in message	Shift + Enter	Shift + Enter
Show emoji picker	: (colon)	: (colon)
Return focus to messages	Esc	Esc
Read the preceding {number} message with a screen reader	Alt + {number}	Option + {number}

Navigating popups

Action	ChromeOS & Windows	macOS
Move focus between main window and last chat popup	Shift + Esc	Shift + Esc
Go to next chat popup	Ctrl + . (period)	Command + . (period)
Go to previous chat popup	Ctrl + , (comma)	Command + , (comma)

Workspace side panel

Action	ChromeOS & Windows	macOS
Move focus among main window, side panel, and video call	Ctrl + Alt + . (period)	Command + Option + . (period)
Reverse focus among main window, side panel, and video call	Ctrl + Alt + , (comma)	Command + Option + , (comma)

Use keyboard shortcuts to navigate around Chat

Navigate around chat

To go to a conversation or space, use the Up and Down arrows. To open a conversation or space, press Enter.
By default, the focus is on the message or conversation box. To read messages in a 1:1 conversation or space, press Esc to exit the box, then to go through the messages, use the Up arrow.

Legacy Spaces always have 2 levels:

Level one is the list of conversations.
Level 2 is messages within a conversation.

Current Spaces can have 2 levels:

Level one is the main conversation.
Any message in the main conversation can start a thread at the second level.

Tips:

To move through the level, use the Up and Down arrows.
To change the level, use the Left and Right arrows.
- This may start a thread if one doesn't already exist.

Start a conversation

Select an option:
- On Chrome OS and Microsoft Windows, press Ctrl + Shift + k or 'q' when not editing.
- On macOS, press Command + Shift + k or 'q' when not editing.
To move through the suggestions:
- Enter the username.
- Use the Up and Down arrows, then press Enter.
Enter your message.
To send your message, press Enter.

Create or find a space

Select an option:
- On Chrome OS and Windows, press Ctrl + o.
- On macOS, press Command + o.
To create a space, enter the name.
Press Tab Enter.
To find and join a space:
- To move through the list of spaces, use the Up and Down arrows.
- Press Tab to highlight or â€œPreviewâ€ Enter.

Start a new conversation or message in a space

Select an option:
- On Chrome OS and Windows, press Ctrl + s.
- On macOS, press Command + s.
Focus moves to the main reply box.
- In a legacy Space, this is a new topic.
Enter your message.
Press Enter.