# 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) * [Search](#search) * [Scrolling](#scrolling) * [Navigation](#navigation) * [Composing messages](#composing-messages) * [Message actions](#message-actions) * [Drafts](#drafts) * [Menus](#menus) * [Channel settings](#channel-settings) ## The basics * **Reply to message**: R or Enter — Reply to the selected message (outlined in blue). * **New channel message**: C — Start a new topic in the current channel. * **New direct message**: X * **Paste formatted text**: Ctrl + V * **Paste as plain text**: Ctrl + Shift + V. You can also paste formatted text with Ctrl + V, and press Ctrl + Z to remove formatting. * **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 followed topic**: Shift + N * **Next unread direct message**: P * **Search messages**: / * **Toggle keyboard shortcuts view**: ? * **Go to your home view**: Ctrl + [ (or Esc, [if enabled][disable-escape]) until you are in your [home view](/help/configure-home-view). [disable-escape]: /help/configure-home-view#configure-whether-esc-navigates-to-the-home-view ## Search * **Search messages**: / or Ctrl + K * **Filter channels**: Q * **Search people**: W ## Scrolling * **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 ## Navigation * **Go back through viewing history**: Alt + ← * **Go forward through viewing history**: Alt + → * **Go to next unread topic**: N * **Go to next unread followed topic**: Shift + N * **Go to next unread direct message**: P * **Go to topic or DM conversation**: S * **Go to channel feed from topic view**: S * **Go to direct message feed**: Shift + P * **Zoom to message in conversation context**: Z — This view does not mark messages as read. * **Cycle between channel views**: Shift + A (previous) and Shift + D (next) * **Go to inbox**: Shift + I — Shows conversations with unread messages. * **Go to recent conversations**: T * **Go to combined feed**: A — Shows all unmuted messages. * **Go to starred messages**: * * **Go to the conversation you are composing to**: Ctrl + . ## Composing messages * **New channel message**: C — For starting a new topic in a channel. * **New direct message**: X * **Reply to message**: R or Enter — Reply to the selected message (outlined in blue). Same behavior as clicking on the message. * **Quote and reply to message**: > * **Reply directly to sender**: Shift + R * **Reply @-mentioning sender**: @ ### In the compose box * **Send message**: Tab then Enter, or either Enter or Ctrl + Enter based on [your settings][toggle-enter-to-send] * **Insert new line**: Shift + Enter, or either Enter or Ctrl + Enter based on [your settings][toggle-enter-to-send] [toggle-enter-to-send]: /help/configure-send-message-keys * **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 * **Toggle preview mode**: Alt + P * **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) * **Edit message or view original message**: E * **Show message sender's user card**: U * **View read receipts**: Shift + V — Same shortcut also closes the read receipts menu (if open). * **View image**: V * **Move message and (optionally) other messages in the same topic**: M * **View message edit and move history**: Shift + H. Message edit history [must be enabled](/help/disable-message-edit-history). * **Star message**: Ctrl + S * **React with :thumbs_up:**: + * **Toggle first emoji reaction**: = * **Mark as unread from selected message**: Shift + U * **Collapse/show message**: - * **Toggle topic mute**: Shift + M. This works in both message views and views that list topics (e.g., [inbox](/help/inbox), [recent conversations](/help/recent-conversations)). Learn about [muted 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 * **Open personal menu**: G + → * **Open help menu**: G + ← ### For a selected message (outlined in blue) * **Toggle emoji reactions menu**: : * **Toggle message actions menu**: I ## Channel settings * **Scroll through channels**: ↑ and ↓ !!! tip "" Pressing ↑ from the first channel in the list moves you to the **Filter channels** input. * **Switch between tabs**: ← and → — Switch between the **Subscribed** and **All channels** tabs. * **Create new channel**: N ### For a selected channel * **View channel 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} {tab|desktop-web} {relative|help|keyboard-shortcuts} !!! keyboard_tip "" You can also use ? to open the keyboard shortcuts reference. {end_tabs} ## Related articles * [Reading strategies](/help/reading-strategies)