# Keyboard shortcuts Everything in Zulip can be done with the mouse, but mastering a few keyboard shortcuts will change your experience of the app. Start with the basics below, and use the convenient [**keyboard shortcuts reference**](#keyboard-shortcuts-reference) in the Zulip app to add more to your repertoire as needed. * [The basics](#the-basics) * [Navigation](#navigation) * [Narrowing](#narrowing) * [Composing messages](#composing-messages) * [Message actions](#message-actions) * [Drafts](#drafts) * [Menus](#menus) * [Streams settings](#streams-settings-page) ## The basics * **Reply to message**: R or Enter — Reply to the selected message (outlined in blue). * **New stream message**: C — Start a new topic in the current stream. * **New direct message**: X * **Cancel compose and save draft**: Esc or Ctrl + [ — Close the compose box and save the unsent message as a draft. * **View drafts**: D — Use the arrow keys and Enter to restore a draft. Press D again to close. * **Next message**: ↓ or J * **Last message**: End or Shift + G — Also marks all messages in the current view as read. * **Next unread topic**: N * **Next unread direct message**: P * **Search messages**: / * **Toggle keyboard shortcuts view**: ? * **Go to default view**: Ctrl + [ (or Esc, [if enabled][disable-escape]) until you are in the [default view](/help/configure-default-view). [disable-escape]: /help/configure-default-view#set-whether-esc-navigates-to-the-default-view ## Navigation * **Search messages**: / or Ctrl + K * **Filter streams**: Q * **Search people**: W * **Last message**: End or Shift + G — Also marks all messages in the current view as read. * **First message**: Home * **Previous message**: ↑ or K * **Next message**: ↓ or J * **Scroll up**: PgUp or Shift + K * **Scroll down**: PgDn, Shift + J, or Spacebar * **Go back through viewing history**: Alt + ← * **Go forward through viewing history**: Alt + → ## Narrowing * **Narrow to next unread topic**: N * **Narrow to next unread direct message**: P * **Narrow to stream**: S * **Narrow to topic or DM conversation**: Shift + S * **Narrow to all direct messages**: Shift + P * **Zoom to message in conversation context**: Z — This view does not mark messages as read. * **Cycle between stream narrows**: Shift + A (previous) and Shift + D (next) * **Narrow to All messages**: A — Shows all unmuted messages. * **Narrow to current compose box recipient**: Ctrl + . ## Composing messages * **Reply to message**: R or Enter — Reply to the selected message (outlined in blue). Same behavior as clicking on the message. * **Reply to message, mentioning author**: @ * **Reply only to author**: Shift + R * **Quote and reply to message**: > * **New stream message**: C — For starting a new topic in a stream. * **New direct message**: X ### In the compose box * **Send message**: Enter, Tab then Enter, and/or Ctrl + Enter, depending on your settings. See [enable enter to send](/help/mastering-the-compose-box#toggle-between-ctrl-enter-and-enter-to-send-a-message). * **Insert new line**: Enter, or Shift + Enter, depending on your settings. See [enable enter to send](/help/mastering-the-compose-box#toggle-between-ctrl-enter-and-enter-to-send-a-message). * **Insert italic text**: `*italic*` or Ctrl + I * **Insert bold text**: `**bold**` or Ctrl + B * **Insert link**: `[Zulip website](https://zulip.org)` or Ctrl + Shift + L * **Cancel compose and save draft**: Esc or Ctrl + [ — Close the compose box and save the unsent message as a draft. ## Message actions * **Edit last message**: ← — Open the last editable message in the current view (if any). ### For a selected message (outlined in blue) * **Show message sender's user card**: U * **View image**: V * **Edit message or view message source**: E * **Move message and (optionally) other messages in the same topic**: M * **Star message**: Ctrl + S * **React with :thumbs_up:**: + * **Mark as unread from selected message**: Shift + U * **Collapse/show message**: - * **Toggle topic mute**: Shift + M — Muted topics don't show up in any views (including **All messages**), and don't contribute to unread counts. Read more about [muting topics](/help/mute-a-topic). ## Recent conversations * **View recent conversations**: T * **Search recent conversations**: T * **Escape from recent conversations search**: Esc or arrow keys * **Navigate recent conversations**: Use arrow keys or vim keys (J, K, L, H). Use Enter to engage with elements. ## Drafts * **Toggle drafts view**: D ### Within the drafts view * **Edit selected draft**: Enter * **Delete selected draft**: Backspace Keyboard navigation (e.g. arrow keys) works as expected. ## Menus * **Toggle shortcuts help**: ? * **Toggle gear menu**: G ### For a selected message (outlined in blue) * **Toggle emoji reactions menu**: : * **Toggle message actions menu**: I ## Streams settings page * **Scroll through streams**: ↑ and ↓ !!! tip "" Pressing ↑ from the first stream in the list moves you to the **Filter streams** input. * **Switch between tabs**: ← and → — Switch between the **Subscribed** and **All streams** tabs. * **Create new stream**: N ### For a selected stream * **View stream messages**: Shift + V * **Toggle subscription**: Shift + S ## Keyboard shortcuts reference A summary of the keyboard shortcuts above is available in the Zulip app. {start_tabs} 1. Click the **keyboard** () icon at the bottom of the app, just below the right sidebar. {end_tabs} ## Related articles * [Reading strategies](/help/reading-strategies)