💬 Complete Reference

All Google Chat Keyboard Shortcuts

39 shortcuts across 8 categories to supercharge your chat productivity.

Browse by Category

⚡

Available Everywhere

Global shortcuts available from anywhere in Google Chat.

7 shortcuts

🗂️

Navigating the Sidebar

Move between spaces, direct messages, and sections in the sidebar.

4 shortcuts

💬

Navigating Chat Messages

Navigate messages in a direct message or chat conversation.

5 shortcuts

🚀

Navigating Space Messages

Navigate messages and threads within a Space.

6 shortcuts

🧵

Navigating Messages in a Thread

Navigate messages within an open thread.

6 shortcuts

✏️

Reply Box

Shortcuts for composing and sending messages in the reply box.

6 shortcuts

🪟

Navigating Pop-ups

Move between the main window and Chat pop-up windows.

3 shortcuts

📌

Workspace Side Panel

Move focus between the main window, side panel, and video call.

2 shortcuts

⚡Available Everywhere

?
Open Keyboard Shortcut HelpOpen the keyboard shortcut help dialog listing all available Google Chat shortcuts.
/
Search Chats and SpacesMove focus to the search bar to search across your chats and spaces.
H then C
Focus Direct Messages ListMove keyboard focus to the Direct Messages conversation list in the sidebar.
H then R
Focus Spaces ListMove keyboard focus to the Spaces list in the sidebar.
Ctrl + O
Browse SpacesOpen the Browse Spaces dialog to discover and join spaces.
Ctrl + I
Create a SpaceOpen the dialog to create a new Space in Google Chat.
Q or Ctrl + Shift + K
New ChatOpen a new direct message chat window.

🗂️Navigating the Sidebar

↑ or ↓
Focus Previous or Next Space or DMMove focus up or down through the list of spaces and direct messages in the sidebar.
Shift + ↑ or Shift + ↓
Focus Previous or Next UnreadJump to the previous or next unread space or direct message in the sidebar.
Ctrl + ↑ or Ctrl + ↓
Move Focus Between SectionsMove keyboard focus between the Shortcuts, Spaces, and Direct Messages sections of the sidebar.
→ or Enter
Select Space or Direct MessageOpen and select the currently focused space or direct message in the sidebar.

💬Navigating Chat Messages

↑ or ↓
Focus Previous or Next MessageMove focus up or down through messages in a direct message conversation.
R or Ctrl + S
Focus Main Reply BoxMove keyboard focus to the main message reply box in a chat or space.
Ctrl + G
Open Space or Direct Message MenuOpen the menu for the current space or direct message conversation.
Ctrl + J
Focus on the Last MessageJump focus directly to the most recent message in the conversation.
Esc
Return Focus to SidebarReturn keyboard focus from the message view back to the sidebar.

🚀Navigating Space Messages

↑ or ↓
Focus Previous or Next Space MessageMove focus up or down through messages in a space.
→
Open Thread and Focus Last MessageOpen the reply thread for the focused message and jump to the last message in it.
Enter or R
Open Thread and Focus Reply BoxOpen the reply thread for the focused message and move focus to the thread reply box.
Ctrl + S
Focus Main Reply Box in SpaceMove keyboard focus to the main reply box at the bottom of the space.
Ctrl + J
Focus on the Last Message in SpaceJump focus to the most recent message in the space.
H then T
Open Thread Navigation PanelOpen and move focus to the thread navigation panel in a space.

🧵Navigating Messages in a Thread

↑ or ↓
Focus Previous or Next Thread MessageMove focus up or down through messages within an open thread.
Shift + ↑
Focus First Message in ThreadJump focus to the first message at the top of the current thread.
Shift + ↓
Focus Last Message in ThreadJump focus to the most recent message at the bottom of the current thread.
←
Go Back to Main ConversationClose the thread and return focus to the main space conversation.
Esc
Exit to Thread Navigation PanelExit the current thread and return focus to the thread navigation panel.
Enter or R
Focus Thread Reply BoxMove keyboard focus to the reply box within the current thread.

✏️Reply Box

Enter
Send ReplySend the message or reply currently typed in the reply box.
↑
Edit Previously Posted MessageWhen the reply box is empty, press Up Arrow to edit your most recently sent message.
Shift + Enter
Insert New LineInsert a line break in your message without sending it.
: (colon)
Show Emoji PickerType a colon (:) to open the emoji picker and insert an emoji into your message.
Esc
Return Focus to MessagesMove keyboard focus from the reply box back to the message list.
Alt + Number
Read Preceding Message (Screen Reader)Read a preceding message using your screen reader by pressing Alt (or Option on Mac) plus a number.

🪟Navigating Pop-ups

Shift + Esc
Move Focus Between Main Window and Pop-upToggle keyboard focus between the main Google Chat window and the last open pop-up window.
Ctrl + .
Go to Next Chat Pop-upMove focus to the next open Chat pop-up window.
Ctrl + ,
Go to Previous Chat Pop-upMove focus to the previous open Chat pop-up window.

📌Workspace Side Panel

Ctrl + Alt + .
Move Focus to Side PanelMove keyboard focus forward among the main Chat window, the Workspace side panel, and any active video call.
Ctrl + Alt + ,
Reverse Focus in Side PanelMove keyboard focus backward among the main Chat window, the Workspace side panel, and any active video call.

⚡ Want Shortcut Hints Right Inside Google Chat?

Accelerator Keys shows hints, documents, and shortcut keys directly in your chat.

Add Accelerator Keys by 8apps to Chrome