Slack is an instant messaging platform used primarily by professional organisations. To improve workflow and performance, Slack offers tons of shortcuts.
In this article, we will list all the keyboard shortcuts for Windows, Linux as well as Mac.
This is an extensive list of Slack keyboard shortcuts for Windows, Linux and Mac. If you’re looking for a specific keyboard shortcut, consider looking for it via the Ctrl+F browser shortcut to find in a page. If you’re using a mobile browser, click on the ‘triple-dot’ menu and tap on Find in Page.
Slack keyboard shortcuts for navigation
Windows and Linux
Here the shortcuts to help you navigate in Slack.
- Quick Switch: Ctrl + K
- To open the messages menu directly: Ctrl + Shift + K
- To browse all channels: Ctrl + Shift + L
- To open the threads view: Ctrl + Shift + T
- To read the previous unread channel or a DM: Alt + Shift + Upward arrow
- To read the next unread channel or a DM: Alt + Shift + Downward arrow
- To check the previous channel or DM that you have visited: Alt + Left arrow
- To check the next channel or DM: Alt + Right Arrow
- To open the preferences: Ctrl + Comma (,)
- To open or close the right pane: Ctrl + Full Stop (.)
- To open the channel’s info pane: Ctrl + Shift + I
- To check the activity: Ctrl + Shift + M
- To open the directory: Ctrl + Shift + E
- To check all the starred items: Ctrl + Shift + S
- To search the current channel or a conversation: Ctrl + F
- To open a previous search: Ctrl + G
- To toggle between a full-screen view: Ctrl + Shift + F
Mac
- Quick Switch: Command + K
- To navigate section by section: F6
- To open the direct messages menu: Command + Shift + K
- To browse all channels: Command + Shift + L
- To open the threads view: Command + Shift + T
- To go to the previous unread channel or a DM: Option + Shift + Upward Arrow
- To go to the next unread channel or a DM: Option + Shift + Downward Arrow
- To go to the previous unread channel or a DM: Command + [
- To go to the next unread channel or a DM: Command + ]
- To open the preferences: Command + Comma (,)
- To open or close the right pane: Command + Dot (.)
- To open an activity: Command + Shift + M
- To open the directory: Command + Shift + E
- To go to the starred items: Command + Shift + S
- To search the current channel or a conversation: Command + F
- To open a previous search: Command + G
- To toggle between the full-screen view: ^ + Command + F
Also read: Every Windows 7 shortcut you must know
Shortcut for all unread navigation
Windows and Linux
- To open all unread view: Ctrl + Shift + A
- To mark messages as unread: Alt + click on the message
- To move between the channels: Upward or Downward arrow as the case may be
- To open and collapse channels: Left or Right arrow as the case may be
Mac
- To open all unread view: Command + Shift + A
- To mark the messages as unread: Option + click on a message
- To move between channels: Upward or downward arrow
- To open and collapse channel sections: Left or right arrow
Also read: 12 Netflix keyboard shortcuts you must know
Switching workspaces
Windows and Linux
- To switch to a previous workspace: Ctrl + Shift + Tab (Windows) or Ctrl + Shift + [ (Linux)
- To switch to a next workspace: Ctrl + Tab (Windows) or Ctrl + ] (Linux)
- To switch to a specific workspace: Ctrl + number of the workspace that you have assigned
Mac
- Switch to a previous workspace: Command + Shift + [
- To switch to a next workspace: Command + Shift + ]
- To switch to a specific workspace: Command + Workspace number
Also read: Kindle keyboard shortcuts for Mac
Marking the messages as read or unread
Windows and Linux
- To mark all messages as read in a channel or a DM: Esc
- To mark all messages as read: Shift + Esc
- To set a message as your oldest unread message: Alt + click on the message (Windows) or Ctrl + Alt (Linux)
Mac
- To mark all messages as read in a channel or a DM: Esc
- To mark all messages as read: Shift + Esc
- To set a particular message as the oldest unread message: Option + click on the message
Also read: VLC Keyboard shortcuts: A comprehensive list
Formatting the messages
Windows and Linux
- To edit the last message: Ctrl + Upward arrow (in a space)
- To select the text to the beginning of the current line: Shift + Upward arrow
- To select text to the end of the current line: Shift + downward arrow
- To create a new line in the messages: Shift + Enter
- To add an emoji to the message: Ctrl + Shift + \
- To bolden the selected text: Ctrl + B
- To italicise the selected text: Ctrl + I
- Strikethrough function: Ctrl + Shift + X
- To quote the selected text: Ctrl + Shift + 9
- To code the selected text: Ctrl + Shift + C
- To code block the selected text: Ctrl + Alt + Shift + C
- To turn the selected texts into a numbered list: Ctrl + Shift + 7
- To turn the selected text into a bullet point: Ctrl + Shift + 8
- To apply formatting while you copy the text from some other format to Slack: Ctrl + Shift + F
- To undo the message formatting: Ctrl + Z
Mac
- To edit the last message: Command + upward arrow
- To select text to the beginning of the current line: Shift + Upward arrow
- To select the text to the current line: Shift + downward arrow
- To create a new line in your message: Shift + Enter
- To add an emoji to your message: Command + Shift + \
- To bolden the selected text: Command + B
- To italicise the selected text: Command + I
- To quote the selected text: Command + Shift + 9
- To code block the selected text: Command + Alt + Shift + C
- To turn the selected text into a numbered list: Command + Shift + 7
- To turn the selected text into a bullet-point list: Command + Shift + 8
- To apply formatting to those texts which you copy from some other source: Command + Shift + F
- To undo the message formatting: Command + Z
Also read: Kindle keyboard shortcuts for Windows
Files and Snippets
Windows and Linux
- To upload the file: Ctrl + U
- To create a new snippet: Ctrl + Shift + Enter
Mac
- To upload the file: Command + U
- To create a new snippet: Command + Shift + Enter
Also read: 65 Photoshop keyboard shortcuts to make your workflow quicker
Call actions
Windows and Linux
- To toggle between mute on and off: M
- To toggle video on or off: V
- To show the invitation list: + or A
- To view and select an emoji reaction: E then press the numbers from 1-9
Mac
- To toggle mute on or off: M
- To toggle the video on or off: V
- To reveal the invitation list: + or A
- To view and select an emoji reaction: E then press the number between 1 to 9
By using these shortcuts, you can streamline your workflow and can increase your productivity.
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