Outlook Keyboard Shortcuts

Complete keyboard shortcut reference for Outlook on MacWindowsLinux.

Mail

Action Shortcut
Create new email CmdNCtrlNCtrlN
Reply to message CmdRCtrlRCtrlR
Reply all CmdShiftRCtrlShiftRCtrlShiftR
Forward message CmdJCtrlFCtrlF
Send message CmdEnterAltSAltS
Attach file CmdEAltNAFAltNAF
Mark as read CmdTCtrlQCtrlQ
Mark as unread CmdShiftTCtrlUCtrlU
Save draft CmdSCtrlSCtrlS
Check for new mail CmdShiftKCtrlMCtrlM

Reading & Managing

Action Shortcut
Open selected message CmdOCtrlOCtrlO
Delete message DeleteDeleteDelete
Archive message CtrlEBackspaceBackspace
Flag message Ctrl1InsertInsert
Assign category CmdShiftYAltDAltD
Move to folder CmdShiftMCtrlShiftVCtrlShiftV
Mark as junk CmdShiftJCtrlAltJCtrlAltJ
Print message CmdPCtrlPCtrlP
Select all messages CmdACtrlACtrlA
Close open message CmdWEscEsc

Calendar

Action Shortcut
Create new appointment CmdNCtrlNCtrlN
Create new meeting request CmdShiftNCtrlShiftQCtrlShiftQ
Day view CmdOption1CtrlAlt1CtrlAlt1
Work week view CmdOption2CtrlAlt2CtrlAlt2
Full week view CmdOption3CtrlAlt3CtrlAlt3
Month view CmdOption4CtrlAlt4CtrlAlt4
Go to a specific date CmdShiftGCtrlGCtrlG
Go to today CmdTCtrlTCtrlT
Forward in calendar CmdRightAltDownAltDown
Back in calendar CmdLeftAltUpAltUp

Formatting

Action Shortcut
Bold CmdBCtrlBCtrlB
Italic CmdICtrlICtrlI
Underline CmdUCtrlUCtrlU
Bulleted list CmdShiftLCtrlShiftLCtrlShiftL
Increase indent Ctrl]CtrlTCtrlT
Decrease indent Ctrl[CtrlShiftTCtrlShiftT
Insert hyperlink CmdKCtrlKCtrlK
Align left CmdLCtrlLCtrlL
Align center CmdECtrlECtrlE
Align right CmdRCtrlRCtrlR

Folders & Organization

Action Shortcut
Create new folder CmdShiftNCtrlShiftECtrlShiftE
Expand folder group RightRightRight
Collapse folder group LeftLeftLeft
Mark all as read CmdOptionTCtrlShiftACtrlShiftA
Clean up conversation CmdShiftEAltDEAltDE
Go to next folder with unread OptionShiftUpCtrlShiftUpCtrlShiftUp
Create new search folder CmdOptionFCtrlShiftPCtrlShiftP
Empty Deleted Items CmdShiftDeleteCtrlShiftDeleteCtrlShiftDelete
Ignore conversation CmdDeleteCtrlDelCtrlDel

Views & Windows

Action Shortcut
Open new Outlook window CmdShiftNCtrlShiftNCtrlShiftN
Toggle Reading Pane Cmd\AltVRRAltVRR
Zoom in Cmd+Ctrl+Ctrl+
Zoom out Cmd-Ctrl-Ctrl-
Show ribbon shortcuts OptionAltAlt
Collapse ribbon CmdOptionRCtrlF1CtrlF1
Switch between open windows Cmd`CtrlF6CtrlF6
Open Quick Steps CmdShiftQCtrlShiftQCtrlShiftQ
Show To-Do Bar CmdOptionTAltVBAltVB
Open in new window CmdShiftOCtrlShiftOCtrlShiftO
No shortcuts found. Try a different search term.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most useful Outlook keyboard shortcuts to learn first?
Start with Ctrl+N (new email), Ctrl+R (reply), Ctrl+Shift+R (reply all), Ctrl+Enter or Alt+S (send), and Delete (delete message). On Mac, substitute Cmd for Ctrl. These five shortcuts cover the core email workflow and will immediately save you time.
Are Outlook keyboard shortcuts different on Mac and Windows?
Yes. Outlook for Mac uses Cmd as the primary modifier key, while Outlook for Windows uses Ctrl and Alt. Some shortcuts differ significantly between the two platforms. For example, sending a message is Cmd+Enter on Mac but Alt+S on Windows, and forwarding is Cmd+J on Mac but Ctrl+F on Windows.
How do I quickly switch between Mail, Calendar, Contacts, and Tasks in Outlook?
Use Ctrl+1 for Mail, Ctrl+2 for Calendar, Ctrl+3 for Contacts, and Ctrl+4 for Tasks on Windows. On Mac, use Cmd+1 through Cmd+4 for the same views. These navigation shortcuts work from anywhere in Outlook.
Can I customize keyboard shortcuts in Outlook?
In Outlook for Windows (desktop), you can customize shortcuts for categories and Quick Steps, but most built-in shortcuts cannot be changed. Outlook for Mac does not offer shortcut customization. In Outlook on the web, some shortcuts can be configured through Settings under General > Accessibility.
Do keyboard shortcuts work in Outlook on the web?
Yes. Outlook on the web supports many of the same keyboard shortcuts as the desktop version. You can press the ? key to open a full list of available shortcuts in the web app. Some shortcuts may differ slightly from the desktop application, and you can choose between Outlook and Gmail shortcut styles in web settings.