Along with Microsoft Teams, many organizations use Slack for utilizing the free plan. Slack has a friendly interface for having conversations and sharing files.
You can create channels and update announcements to the channel members. Slack keyboard shortcuts can be used on individual chats and channels. You need to pick the right keys to execute the functions.
Slack has provided dedicated shortcut keys for Windows, Linux, and MAC. You can find many shortcuts in this post.
These keyboard shortcuts can help you to collaborate with colleagues faster than before. You can also try the shortcut keys on the web version of Slack.
Slack Keyboard Shortcuts
| Shortcuts for Windows/Linux | Shortcuts for MAC | Functions |
| Ctrl + K Ctrl + T (desktop) |
Cmd + K Cmd + T (desktop) |
Jump to a Conversation |
| Ctrl + J | Cmd + J | Jump to Unread Message in a Conversation |
| F6 | F6 | Move Focus to Next Section |
| Shift + F6 | Shift + F6 | Move Focus to the Previous Section |
| Ctrl + Shift + K | Cmd + Shift + K | Browse Direct Messages |
| Ctrl + Shift + L | Cmd + Shift + L | Browse Channels |
| Ctrl + N | Cmd + N | Compose a New Message |
| Ctrl + Shift + T | Cmd + Shift + T | Open the Threads View (desktop app) |
| Alt + Shift + Up | Option + Shift + Up | Previous Unread Channel or DM |
| Alt + Shift + Down | Option + Shift + Down | Next Unread Channel or DM |
| Alt + Left | Cmd + [ | Previous Channel or DM Visited |
| Alt + Right | Cmd + ] | Next Channel or DM Visited |
| Ctrl + , (comma) | Cmd + , (comma) | Open Your Preferences (desktop app) |
| Ctrl + Shift + I | Cmd + Shift + I | Channel Details Pane |
| Ctrl + Shift + M | Cmd + Shift + M | Mentions and Reactions (desktop app) |
| Ctrl + Shift + E | Cmd + Shift + E | People |
| Ctrl + Shift + S | Cmd + Shift + S | Saved Items |
| Ctrl + Shift + Y | Cmd + Shift + Y | Set a Status |
| Ctrl + F | Cmd + F | Search Current Channel or Conversation |
| Ctrl + G | Cmd + G | Open Previous Search |
| Ctrl + Shift + F | ^ + Cmd + F | Toggle Full-Screen View (when message field is not in focus) |
| Ctrl + . (dot) | Cmd + . (dot) | Collapse or Expand the Right Sidebar |
| Ctrl + Shift + D | Cmd + Shift + D | Collapse or Expand the Left Sidebar |
| Ctrl + Shift + A | Cmd + Shift + A | Open All Unread View |
| Alt + Click a message | Option + Click a message | Mark Messages as Unread |
| Up or Down | Up or Down | Move Between Messages |
| Left or Right | Left or Right | Open and Collapse Channels |
| Ctrl + Shift + Tab (windows) Ctrl + Shift + [ (linux) |
Cmd + Shift + [ | Switch to the Previous Workspace |
| Ctrl + Tab (windows) Ctrl + ] (linux) |
Cmd + Shift + ] | Switch to the Next Workspace |
| Ctrl + [number] | Cmd + [number] | Switch to a Specific Workspace (see the assigned number under workspace icon in Slack) |
| Esc | Esc | Mark All Messages in Current Channel or DM as Read |
| Shift + Esc | Shift + Esc | Mark All Messages as Read |
| Alt + Click a message (windows) Ctrl + Alt + Click a message (linux) |
Option + Click a message | Set a Message as Your Oldest Unread Message |
| E | E | Edit Your Message |
| R | R | Add an Emoji Reaction |
| T | T | Open or Reply to a Thread |
| P | P | Pin or Unpin a Message |
| S | S | Share a Message |
| A | A | Save a Message or Remove from Saved Items |
| U | U | Mark as Unread Starting from a Message |
| Delete | Delete | Delete Your Message |
| M | M | Create a Reminder about a Message |
| Ctrl + Up in empty message field | Cmd + Up in empty message field | Edit Your Last Message |
| Shift + Up | Shift + Up | Select Text to Beginning of Current Line |
| Shift + Down | Shift + Down | Select Text to End of Current Line |
| Shift + Enter | Shift + Enter | Create a New Line in Your Message |
| Ctrl + Shift + \ | Cmd + Shift + \ | Add an Emoji Reaction to a Message |
| Ctrl + B | Cmd + B | Bold Selected Text |
| Ctrl + I | Cmd + I | Italicize Selected Text |
| Ctrl + Shift + X | Cmd + Shift + X | Strikethrough Selected Text |
| Ctrl + Shfit + 9 | Cmd + Shift + 9 | Quote Selected Text |
| Ctrl + Shift + C | Cmd + Shift + C | Code Selected Text |
| Ctrl + Alt + Shift + C | Cmd + Alt + Shift + C | Code Block Selected Text |
| Ctrl + Shift + 7 | Cmd + Shift + 7 | Turn Selected Text into a Numbered List |
| Ctrl + Shift + 8 | Cmd + Shift + 8 | Turn Selected Text into Bullet Points List |
| Ctrl + Shift + F | Cmd + Shift + F | Apply Formatting When Copy Pasting Text in Markdown from Other Source |
| Ctrl + Z | Cmd + Z | Undo Message Formatting (when message field is in focus) |
| Ctrl + U | Cmd + U | Upload File |
| Ctrl + Shift + J | Cmd + Shift + J | View All Downloaded Files |
| Ctrl + Shift + Enter | Cmd + Shift + Enter | Create New Snippet |
| M | M | Toggle Mute On and Off |
| V | V | Toggle Video On and Off |
| + or A | + or A | Show Invitation List |
| E + 1 TO 9 | E + 1 to 9 | View and Select an Emoji Reaction |
| @ | @ | To Mention Someone in Channel |
| @everyone | @everyone | Notifies All in General Channel |
| @channel | @channel | Notifies All members of the Channel |
| @here | @here | Notifies Only Active Members in the Channel |
| Ctrl + / | Cmd + / | View All Keyboard Shortcuts in Slack |
Conclusion
Mastering keyboard shortcuts can take quite some time. The cheat sheet mentioned in this article may vary from general computer shortcuts keys.
If Slack introduces or updates its keyboard shortcuts, you can find them on their official website.
