Slack Keyboard Shortcuts
Move through Slack without the mouse — Mac and Windows keys side by side.
| Action | Mac | Windows | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quick switcher (jump to channel/DM) | ⌘K | Ctrl+K | |
| Search | ⌘G | Ctrl+G | |
| Mark channel read | Esc | Esc | |
| Mark all read | ⇧Esc | Shift+Esc | |
| Next / previous unread | ⌥⇧↓ / ↑ | Alt+Shift+↓ / ↑ | |
| Edit last message | ↑ (in empty box) | ↑ (in empty box) | |
| Add reaction (emoji) | ⌘⇧\ | Ctrl+Shift+\ | |
| Upload file | ⌘U | Ctrl+U | |
| Bold / italic | ⌘B / ⌘I | Ctrl+B / Ctrl+I | |
| Create new message (DM) | ⌘N | Ctrl+N | |
| Toggle right sidebar | ⌘. | Ctrl+. | |
| Open preferences | ⌘, | Ctrl+, |
Live in the quick switcher
Ctrl+K (⌘K on Mac) opens the quick switcher — start typing a person or channel name and hit Enter to jump there. Combined with Alt+Shift+↓ to hop to the next unread conversation, you can clear Slack without ever clicking the sidebar.
Fix a typo instantly
Press ↑ in an empty message box to edit your last message — no need to hover and find the menu.
FAQ
What is the Slack quick switcher shortcut?
Press Ctrl+K on Windows or ⌘K on the Mac, then type a channel or person's name and press Enter to jump there.
How do I edit my last Slack message with the keyboard?
With the message box empty, press the Up arrow to open your most recent message for editing.
How do I mark everything as read in Slack?
Press Shift+Esc to mark all channels read, or Esc to mark just the current channel.