Send in Gmail (Ctrl+Enter / ⌘Enter)
Send the email you're composing: press Ctrl+Enter on Windows or ⌘Enter (Command+Enter) on the Mac — no need to reach for the Send button.
| Action | Mac | Windows | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Send email | ⌘+Enter | Ctrl+Enter | |
| Send & Archive (when enabled) | ⌘+Shift+Enter | Ctrl+Shift+Enter | |
| Compose new email | c | c | |
| Reply | r | r | |
| Reply all | a | a | |
| Forward | f | f | |
| Add Cc recipients | ⌘+Shift+C | Ctrl+Shift+C | |
| Add Bcc recipients | ⌘+Shift+B | Ctrl+Shift+B |
Send without the mouse
While a compose window is focused, press Ctrl+Enter on Windows or ⌘Enter on the Mac to send. This send shortcut works even when Gmail's other keyboard shortcuts are turned off.
Turn on the rest of the shortcuts
Single-key shortcuts like c (compose), r (reply) and a (reply all) need Keyboard shortcuts enabled: open Settings → See all settings → General → Keyboard shortcuts on, then Save Changes.
Send faster from the keyboard
Ctrl+Enter (Windows) or ⌘Enter (Mac) sends the email you are composing without reaching for the mouse — it works even if the rest of Gmail's shortcuts are turned off.
Send & Archive in one keystroke
Turn on Settings → Advanced → Send & Archive to add a button that sends your reply and removes the thread from your inbox at once. The keyboard equivalent is ⌘Shift+Enter / Ctrl+Shift+Enter.
Troubleshooting: single-key shortcuts do nothing
If pressing r or c just types the letter, keyboard shortcuts are off. Enable them under Settings → See all settings → General → Keyboard shortcuts on. The Send shortcut (Ctrl+Enter/⌘Enter) is separate and always active in the compose window.
FAQ
What is the send shortcut in Gmail?
Press Ctrl+Enter on Windows or ⌘Enter (Command+Enter) on the Mac while composing to send the email.
Do I need to enable shortcuts to send with the keyboard?
No — the send shortcut works regardless, but keys like c, r and a require Keyboard shortcuts turned on in Settings.
How do I turn on Gmail keyboard shortcuts?
Settings → See all settings → General → set Keyboard shortcuts on, then Save Changes.
Why doesn't Ctrl+Enter send my email?
Ctrl+Enter / ⌘Enter always works to send from the compose window. The single-letter shortcuts (c, r, a, f) only work after you turn shortcuts on: Settings (gear) → See all settings → General → Keyboard shortcuts on → Save Changes.
Can I schedule a send with a shortcut?
There is no default keyboard shortcut for Schedule send. Click the small arrow next to the Send button and choose Schedule send to pick a date and time.