100+ Google Docs keyboard shortcuts for PC & Mac productivity

100+ google Docs shortcuts and Tips to Work Smarter in Google Docs. Try these shortcuts, productivity, and collaboration tricks and get more done in less time.

To save time while working, use Google Docs keyboard shortcuts to navigate, format, and edit. Google docs has 100+ keyboard shortcuts for better performance. Here, we’ve summarized them to give you the most important ones you use in your daily activities to improve your productivity.

TL; Dr

Google Docs has a vast array of keyboard shortcuts to operate Docs faster and easier.
Google Docs' keyboard shortcuts perform the same functions on Windows and Mac devices. But the keys you press differ depending on your device.
Open a list of keyboard shortcuts in Google Docs: press Ctrl + / (on Windows, Chrome OS) or ⌘ + / (on Mac).
Search Chrome menus: press Alt + / (on Windows, Chrome OS) or Option + / (on Mac).

PC Keyboard shortcuts for Google Docs

Google Docs keyboard shortcuts can save you a lot of time when you’re working, surfing, drawing, or using other software and applications. The keys in each keyboard shortcut listed below should be pressed simultaneously to get the targeted function.

Top Useful Google Doc Shortcuts for Windows

Navigate your documents and screen a lot faster when you use these keyboard shortcuts for formatting and more. These top Google Docs keyboard shortcuts are especially handy for writers who’re always on their computers.

Show keyboard shortcuts on Google Doc: Ctrl + /
Copy and pasted: Ctrl + c and Ctrl + v
Paste without formatting: Ctrl + Shift + v
Bold text: Ctrl + b
Undo: Ctrl + z
Redo: Ctrl + y
Find: Ctrl+f
Bulleted list: Ctrl + Shift + L
Inset link: Ctrl + k
Full screen: Ctrl + Shift + F
Underline: Ctrl + u
Italic: Ctrl + i
Strike through: Alt + Shift + 5
Heading: Ctrl+: 1 (1 represents Heading style. Change the "1" to any number 1-6)
Find the word count: Ctrl + Shift+ c
Justify: Ctrl + Shift + j
Print a document: Ctrl + p
UPPERCASE: Shift + F3 on Windows or fn + Shift + F3 for Mac

Note: Some keyboard shortcuts might not work for all Keyboards or languages.

Common Google Docs keyboard shortcuts for PC and Mac functions

100+ Google Docs keyboard shortcuts for PC & Mac productivity

Function	Windows/Chrome	Mac
Show common keyboard shortcuts	Ctrl + /	⌘ + /
Copy	Ctrl + c	⌘ + c
Cut	Ctrl + x	⌘ + x
Paste	Ctrl + v	⌘ + v
Paste without formatting	Ctrl + Shift + v	⌘ + Shift + V
Undo	Ctrl + z	⌘ + z
Redo	Ctrl + Shift + z	⌘ + Shift + Z
Insert or edit link	Ctrl + k	⌘ + k
Open link	Alt + Enter	Options + Enter
Save (Change automatically save in Drive)	Ctrl + s	⌘ + s
Print	Ctrl + p	⌘ + p
Open	Ctrl + o	⌘ + o
Find	Ctrl + f	⌘ + f
Find and replace	Ctrl + h	⌘ + Shift + h
Hide the menus (compact mode)	Ctrl + Shift + f	⌘ + Shift + f
Insert page break	Ctrl + Enter	⌘ + Enter
Search the menus (Search Docs Menus/Chrome Menus)	Alt + / Alt + Shift + z	Option + / Ctrl + Option + z
Switch to viewing	Ctrl + Alt + Shift + c	⌘ + Option + Shift + c
Switch to suggesting	Ctrl + Alt + Shift + x	⌘ + Option + Shift + x
Switch to editing	Ctrl + Alt + Shift + z	⌘ + Option + Shift + z

Text Formatting with Google Docs keyboard shortcuts

Text formatting action	Windows/Chrome	Mac
Open new google doc	docs.new	docs.new
Bold	Ctrl + b	⌘ + b
Italicize	Ctrl + i	⌘ + i
Underline	Ctrl + u	⌘ + u
Strikethrough	Ctrl + Shift + 5	⌘ + Shift + x
Superscript	Ctrl + .	⌘ + .
Subscript	Ctrl + ,	⌘ + ,
Copy text formatting	Ctrl + Alt + c	⌘ + Option + c
Paste text formatting	Ctrl + Alt + v	⌘ + Option + v
Clear text formatting	Ctrl + \ or Ctrl + Space	⌘ + \
Increase font size	Ctrl + Shift + .	⌘ + Shift + .
Decrease font size	Ctrl + Shift + ,	⌘ + Shift + ,

Paragraph formatting with Google Docs keyboard shortcuts

Paragraph formatting function	Windows/Chrome	Mac
Increase paragraph indentation	Ctrl + ]	⌘ + ]
Decrease paragraph indentation	Ctrl + [	⌘ + [
Apply normal text style	Ctrl + Alt + 0	⌘ + Option + 0
Apply heading style [1-6]	Ctrl + Alt + [1-6]	⌘ + Option + [1-6]
Left align	Ctrl + Shift + l	⌘ + Shift + l
Center align	Ctrl + Shift + e	⌘ + Shift + e
Right align	Ctrl + Shift + r	⌘ + Shift + r
Insert Numbered list	Ctrl + Shift + 7	⌘ + Shift + 7
Insert Bulleted list	Ctrl + Shift + 8	⌘ + Shift + 8
Inset Checklist	Ctrl + Shift + 9	⌘ + Shift + 9
Move paragraph up/down	Ctrl + Shift + Up/down arrow	Ctrl + Shift + Up/down arrow

Images and drawings Google Docs Keyboard shortcuts

Images and drawings Functions	Windows	Mac
Insert Alt text =	Ctrl + Alt + y	⌘ + Option + y
Resize larger =	Ctrl + Alt + k	⌘ + Ctrl + k
Resize larger horizontally =	Ctrl + Alt + b	⌘ + Ctrl + b
Resize larger vertically =	Ctrl + Alt + i	⌘ + Ctrl + i
Resize smaller =	Ctrl + Alt + j	⌘ + Ctrl + j
Resize smaller horizontally =	Ctrl + Alt + w	⌘ + Ctrl + w
Resize smaller vertically =	Ctrl + Alt + q	⌘ + Ctrl + q
Close drawing editor =	Shift + Esc	⌘ + Esc or Shift + Esc

Text selection with Google Docs Keyboard Shortcuts

Text selection with keyboard Functions	Windows	Mac
Select all	Ctrl + a	⌘ + a
Extend selection one character	Shift + Left/right arrow	Shift + Left/right arrow
Extend selection one line	Shift + Up/down arrow	Shift + Up/down arrow
Extend selection one word	Ctrl + Shift + Left/right arrow	Shift + Fn + Left arrow
Extend selection to the beginning of the line	Shift + Home	Option + Shift + Up/Down arrow
Extend selection to the end of the line	Shift + End	Shift + Fn + Right arrow
Extend selection to the beginning of the document	Ctrl + Shift + Home	⌘ + Shift + Up arrow
Extend selection to the end of the document	Ctrl + Shift + End	⌘ + Shift + Down arrow

Document Navigation with Google Docs Keyboard shortcuts

There are two groups of shortcuts in the document navigation category to help you move quickly through your document or table:

Move to the next or previous item with Ctrl + Alt + n or Ctrl + Alt + p followed by another key.
Move quickly around a table with Ctrl + Alt + Shift + t followed by another key.

Document Navigation

Document navigation Function	Windows	Mac
Show outline	olding Ctrl + Alt, press a then h	holding Ctrl + ⌘, press a then h
Move to next heading	holding Ctrl + Alt, press n then h	holding Ctrl + ⌘, press n then h
Move to previous heading	holding Ctrl + Alt, press p then h	holding Ctrl + ⌘, press p then h
Move to next heading [1-6]	holding Ctrl + Alt, press n then [1-6]	holding Ctrl + ⌘, press n then [1-6]
Move to previous heading [1-6]	holding Ctrl + Alt, press p then [1-6]	holding Ctrl + ⌘, press p then [1-6]
Move to next graphic (image or drawing)	holding Ctrl + Alt, press n then g	holding Ctrl + ⌘, press n then g
Move to previous graphic (image or drawing)	holding Ctrl + Alt, press p then g	holding Ctrl + ⌘, press p then g
Move to next list	holding Ctrl + Alt, press n then o	holding Ctrl + ⌘, press n then o
Move to previous list	holding Ctrl + Alt, press p then o	holding Ctrl + ⌘, press p then o
Move to next formatting change	holding Ctrl + Alt, press n then w	holding Ctrl + ⌘, press n then w
Move to previous formatting change	holding Ctrl + Alt, press p then w	holding Ctrl + ⌘, press p then w
Move to next edit (while viewing revision history or new changes)	holding Ctrl + Alt, press n then r Ctrl + Alt + k	holding Ctrl + ⌘, press n then r
Move to previous edit (while viewing revision history or new changes)	holding Ctrl + Alt, press p then r Ctrl + Alt + j	holding Ctrl + ⌘, press p then r

Table navigation with Google Docs Keyboard shortcuts

Table Navigation	Windows	Mac
Move to the start of the table	holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then s	holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then s
Move to the end of the table	holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then d	holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then d
Move to the start of the table column	holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then i	holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then i
Move to the end of the table column	holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then k	holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then k
Move to the next table column	holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then b	holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then b
Move to the previous table column	holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then v	holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then v
Move to the start of the table row	holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then j	holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then j
Move to the end of the table row	holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then l	holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then l
Move to the next table row	holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then m	holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then m
Move to the previous table row	holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then g	holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then g
Exit table	holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then e	holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then e
Move to the next table	holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press n then t	holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press n then t
Move to the previous table	holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press p then t	holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press p then t

Other tools and navigation with Google Doc Keyboard Shortcuts

Other tools and navigation	Windows	Mac
Open spelling/grammar	Ctrl + Alt + x F7	⌘ + Options + x F7
Open dictionary	Ctrl + Shift + y	⌘ + Options + Y
Word count	Ctrl + Shift + c	⌘ + Shift + c
Page up	Page Up	Page Up
Page down	Page Down	Page Down
Insert or move to header	Holding Ctrl + Alt, press o then h	Holding ⌘ + Options, Press O the h
Insert or move to footer	Holding Ctrl + Alt, press o then f	Holding ⌘ + Options, Press O the f

Google Docs Productivity Hacks

The following hacks will make your Google Docs experience even better, efficient, and streamlined:

Templates: Use Google Docs’ over 300 templates to get started on different types of documents.
Work offline: You can view and edit documents even when you’re offline (not connected to the Internet connection) by enabling the offline editing mode.
Create shortcuts & bookmarks: Create shortcuts and bookmarks for your new documents, frequently visited docs, and Google Docs home.
Save as different file types: If you want to save the documents on your PC or mac, you can use different file types. Instead of converting docs to different file types, you just simply change it to HTML, RTF, PDG, ODT, PDF, etc., whenever you save it.

Tips for Collaboration on Google Docs

One of the great things about Google Docs is its ability to allow file sharing and collaboration on projects. Learn how to make the most of the Google docs collaboration with some of the features here:

Shared folders. Create one folder and share it with team members, colleagues, or family. Everyone can drag and drop items from other folders to the shared folder.
Privacy. You can choose to have documents published publicly or privately. Similarly, when you share a document with people, you cna choose whether they cna edit, video or suggest.
Share, don’t email: In Google docs, instead of emailing documents back and forth, you cna just type in the email addresses of people you’d like to share your Google document with, and they’ll be sent an editable, web copy of the document.
Collaborate. More than one person can make changes simultaneously on Google Docs. You and your teammates/classmates/colleagues can log into the same document simultaneously and make edits.
Share documents. Group documents together and save them into a single file, then share them with coworkers, teams, students, etc.
Invite mailing lists as collaborators. You can share a document in Google docs with all members of your email mailing lists.
Data validation. Make sure everyone is entering data into the spreadsheet the same way by controlling data validation settings.
Allow people to edit without signing in. Anyone, with or without a Google account, can sign in and edit your piece.
Change ownership. Switch ownership of Google docs as project leaders change.

Conclusion

Google Docs is a great alternative to Microsoft word. There is more to do with Google docs. Use Google Docs keyboard shortcuts for easy, faster work and productivity. Ensure you master and know what each shortcut means before applying or just undo (Ctrl + z) if you make a mistake. For a complete list of the Google Docs keyboard shortcuts, press Ctrl + /.

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Editor’s Recomended Further Reading

» How to Delete a Page in Google Docs
» How to Change Margins In Google Docs
» Google Docs vs. Microsoft Word: Which One Is Suitable for You?
» How to Share Your Google Calendar
» The Most Useful Excel Keyboard Shortcuts

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100+ Best Google Doc Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows and Mac Productivity