Open JavaScript Console Shortcut (⌘⌥J / Ctrl+Shift+J)
Open the JavaScript console: ⌘⌥J on Mac, Ctrl+Shift+J on Windows. Drops you straight into the Console panel of DevTools.
| Action | Mac | Windows | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Console directly | ⌘⌥J | Ctrl+Shift+J | |
| Open DevTools (last panel) | ⌘⌥I | F12 | |
| Open DevTools in element-picker mode | ⌘⇧C | Ctrl+Shift+C | |
| Clear the console | ⌘K | Ctrl+L | |
| Focus the console input | Esc (toggle drawer) | Esc (toggle drawer) |
Straight to the Console
⌘⌥J on Mac and Ctrl+Shift+J on Windows open developer tools with the Console panel already focused, so you can type JavaScript or read errors immediately. Same keys in Chrome and Edge; Firefox uses the same combo for its Web Console.
Console vs full DevTools
F12 / ⌘⌥I opens DevTools to whatever panel you used last; Ctrl+Shift+J / ⌘⌥J guarantees you land on the Console. Press Esc inside DevTools to pop the Console drawer over any other panel.
Clearing it
Type into the prompt and hit Enter to run code. ⌘K (Mac) or Ctrl+L (Windows) clears the console history when the output gets noisy.
FAQ
What is the shortcut for the JavaScript console?
Press ⌘⌥J on Mac or Ctrl+Shift+J on Windows. It opens DevTools directly on the Console panel in Chrome, Edge and Firefox.
What's the difference between Ctrl+Shift+J and F12?
F12 (⌘⌥I) opens DevTools on the last-used panel; Ctrl+Shift+J (⌘⌥J) always opens straight into the Console.
How do I clear the console?
Press ⌘K on Mac or Ctrl+L on Windows, or type clear() and press Enter.