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 in the Zulip app to add more to your repertoire as needed.

• The basics
• Search
• Scrolling
• Navigation
• Composing messages
• Message actions
• Drafts
• Menus
• 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) until you are in your 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 direct message: P

• Go to topic or DM conversation: S

• Go to channel feed from topic view: S

• Go to your 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 Combined feed: A — Shows all unmuted 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: Enter, Tab then Enter, and/or Ctrl + Enter, depending on your settings. See enable enter to send.

• Insert new line: Enter, or Shift + Enter, depending on your settings. See enable enter to send.

• 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.

• Star message: Ctrl + S

• React with : +

• 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, recent conversations). Learn about muted topics.

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 ↓

  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.

Related articles

• Reading strategies