Google Docs Keyboard Shortcuts
Write and format faster in Google Docs — Mac and Windows keys side by side.
| Action | Mac | Windows | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bold / italic / underline | ⌘B / ⌘I / ⌘U | Ctrl+B / Ctrl+I / Ctrl+U | |
| Apply Heading 1 / 2 / 3 | ⌘⌥1 / 2 / 3 | Ctrl+Alt+1 / 2 / 3 | |
| Apply normal text | ⌘⌥0 | Ctrl+Alt+0 | |
| Paste without formatting | ⌘⇧V | Ctrl+Shift+V | |
| Clear formatting | ⌘\ | Ctrl+\ | |
| Insert link | ⌘K | Ctrl+K | |
| Insert comment | ⌘⌥M | Ctrl+Alt+M | |
| Word count | ⌘⇧C | Ctrl+Shift+C | |
| Find / find and replace | ⌘F / ⌘⇧H | Ctrl+F / Ctrl+H | |
| Show all shortcuts | ⌘/ | Ctrl+/ | |
| Bulleted list | ⌘⇧8 | Ctrl+Shift+8 | |
| Numbered list | ⌘⇧7 | Ctrl+Shift+7 |
Paste clean, format with headings
Ctrl+Shift+V (⌘⇧V on Mac) pastes text stripped of its source formatting — the fix for messy copy-paste from the web. Build structure with Ctrl+Alt+1/2/3 for headings so the document outline and any table of contents update automatically.
Comment and count
Ctrl+Alt+M drops a comment on the selection, and Ctrl+Shift+C pops the live word count.
FAQ
How do I paste without formatting in Google Docs?
Press Ctrl+Shift+V on Windows or ⌘⇧V on the Mac to paste plain text that matches the surrounding style.
What is the shortcut to add a comment in Google Docs?
Select the text and press Ctrl+Alt+M (⌘⌥M on Mac) to open a comment box.
How do I see every Google Docs shortcut?
Press Ctrl+/ (⌘/ on Mac) to open the searchable shortcut overlay built into Docs.