Shortcuts · Slack
Slack keyboard shortcuts for Windows, Linux and Mac
In Slack, Ctrl+K (Cmd+K on a Mac) jumps to any conversation, Ctrl+G starts a search, Shift+Enter adds a line, and Ctrl+Shift+H starts a huddle. Press Ctrl+/ or Cmd+/ inside Slack to see every shortcut. Windows and Linux share the same keys.
These are the Slack keyboard shortcuts from Slack's own help article, checked on October 2, 2026. Slack lists one column for Mac and one for Windows and Linux, which share the same keys. To see the list for your own computer, press Ctrl+/ (Windows and Linux) or Cmd+/ (Mac) inside Slack.
Slack's article marks three kinds of exceptions, and you should check them there: some shortcuts work only in the Slack desktop app (noted in the tables below), some may differ with your keyboard language settings, and some need F6 first to move the focus to the sidebar.
At the end, you will find the few jobs that Barside, a free desktop app with community chat and video meetings, also does from the keyboard.
Slack keyboard shortcuts: the basics
As of October 2026:
| Action | Windows and Linux | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Jump to a conversation | Ctrl+K (also Ctrl+T) | Cmd+K |
| Compose a new message | Ctrl+N | Cmd+N |
| Start a search | Ctrl+G | Cmd+G |
| Search the current conversation | Ctrl+F | Cmd+F |
| Set your status | Ctrl+Shift+Y | Cmd+Shift+Y |
| Open preferences (desktop app only) | Ctrl+, | Cmd+, |
| Hide the right sidebar | Ctrl+. | Cmd+. |
| Create a new canvas | Ctrl+Shift+N | Cmd+Shift+N |
| Upload a file (desktop app only) | Ctrl+O | Cmd+O |
| View downloaded files | Ctrl+Shift+J | Cmd+Shift+J |
| Create a snippet | Ctrl+Shift+Enter | Cmd+Shift+Enter |
| Unsend a message | Ctrl+Z | Cmd+Z |
| Start, join, leave or end a huddle | Ctrl+Shift+H | Cmd+Shift+H |
| Mute or unmute in a huddle | Ctrl+Shift+Space | Cmd+Shift+Space |
| Open People view | Ctrl+Shift+E | Cmd+Shift+E |
| Full screen | F11 | Ctrl+Cmd+F |
| Open Help | F1 | F1 |
Move between conversations
| Action | Windows and Linux | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Jump to the most recent unread message (desktop app only) | Ctrl+J | Cmd+J |
| Previous / next unread channel or DM | Alt+Shift+Up / Alt+Shift+Down | Option+Shift+Up / Option+Shift+Down |
| Previous / next channel or DM | Alt+Up / Alt+Down | Option+Up / Option+Down |
| Back / forward in history | Alt+Left / Alt+Right | Cmd+[ / Cmd+] |
| Open Home view | Ctrl+Shift+1 | Ctrl+1 |
| Open Activity view (desktop app only) | Ctrl+Shift+M | Cmd+Shift+M |
| Open Threads view (desktop app only) | Ctrl+Shift+T | Cmd+Shift+T |
| Browse channels (desktop app only) | Ctrl+Shift+L | Cmd+Shift+L |
| Open conversation details | Ctrl+Shift+I | Cmd+Shift+I |
| Open All unreads | Ctrl+Shift+A | Cmd+Shift+A |
| Move the focus to the next / previous section | F6 / Shift+F6 | F6 / Shift+F6 |
Read, unread and workspaces
| Action | Windows and Linux | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Mark the current conversation as read | Esc | Esc |
| Mark all messages as read | Shift+Esc | Shift+Esc |
| Mark a message as unread | Alt+click | Option+click |
| Show or hide the workspace switcher | Ctrl+Shift+S | Cmd+Shift+S |
| Next / previous workspace | Ctrl+Tab / Ctrl+Shift+Tab | Ctrl+Tab / Ctrl+Shift+Tab |
| Switch to a workspace by its number | Ctrl+[number] | Cmd+[number] |
Act on a selected message
Select a message, then press a single key. These are the same on every computer.
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
E | Edit your message |
Delete | Delete your message |
T or Right arrow | Open or reply to the thread |
F | Forward the message |
P | Pin or unpin the message |
A | Save the message |
U | Mark messages above as unread |
M | Set a reminder about the message |
R | Add an emoji reaction |
Format messages and canvases
| Action | Windows and Linux | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| New line in a message | Shift+Enter | Shift+Enter |
| Bold | Ctrl+B | Cmd+B |
| Italic | Ctrl+I | Cmd+I |
| Strikethrough | Ctrl+Shift+X | Cmd+Shift+X |
| Link | Ctrl+Shift+U | Cmd+Shift+U |
| Quote | Ctrl+Shift+9 | Cmd+Shift+9 |
| Code | Ctrl+Shift+C | Cmd+Shift+C |
| Code block | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+C | Cmd+Alt+Shift+C |
| Bulleted list | Ctrl+Shift+8 | Cmd+Shift+8 |
| Numbered list | Ctrl+Shift+7 | Cmd+Shift+7 |
| Apply Markdown | Ctrl+Shift+F | Cmd+Shift+F |
In a canvas, Ctrl+Alt+1, 2 and 3 make a big, medium or small heading (Cmd+Option on a Mac), Ctrl+Shift+0 makes a checklist, Ctrl+Shift+H finds and replaces, and Ctrl+Alt+Up or Down moves a list item.
The same jobs in Barside
Barside is not a Slack replacement key for key. Its Spaces are private groups and public communities with chat, shared notes, files and polls, and its video meetings take up to six people. Only a few Slack jobs have a Barside key, and the rest are honest gaps. Every Barside key below is on the Barside keyboard shortcuts sheet.
| Action | Slack (Windows) | Barside (Windows and Linux) |
|---|---|---|
| Jump to a conversation | Ctrl+K | No shortcut to a conversation: Ctrl+K, then type spaces to open Spaces |
| Search messages | Ctrl+G | Not in Barside |
| New line in a message | Shift+Enter | Shift+Enter in a Space |
| Bold, italic in a message | Ctrl+B, Ctrl+I | Not in Spaces messages (Ctrl+B and Ctrl+I work in notes) |
| Start a call | Ctrl+Shift+H (huddle) | No default: type meet in the search bar, or give New meeting a hotkey |
| Mute or unmute in a call | Ctrl+Shift+Space | Alt+A in a meeting |
| Create a canvas | Ctrl+Shift+N | Ctrl+N makes a note |
| Open preferences | Ctrl+, | No shortcut: type settings in the search bar |
| See every shortcut | Ctrl+/ | No shortcut: type keys in the search bar |
| Set your status | Ctrl+Shift+Y | Not in Barside |
In Barside for Mac, meeting keys use Option and app shortcuts use Cmd.
Tips
- Learn
Ctrl+KandEscfirst. One gets you anywhere, and the other marks the conversation you are in as read. - Press
F6when a shortcut seems to do nothing. Slack marks some shortcuts as needing the focus in the sidebar first. - Watch
Ctrl+Shift+Spaceif you also run Barside. Barside's default hotkey to show or hide Barside uses the same keys, and a hotkey that works from any app may take them before Slack sees them. Give one of them another combination in Settings → Hotkeys and aliases.
More guides
If you are looking at other team chat options, read the Slack alternative guide and the best community platforms. For meeting keys, see the Zoom keyboard shortcuts.
FAQ
Questions and answers
How do I see all Slack keyboard shortcuts?
Press Ctrl+/ on Windows and Linux, or Cmd+/ on a Mac, inside Slack. The list there is the one for your computer and keyboard.
What is the shortcut to mark everything as read in Slack?
Esc marks all messages in the current conversation as read, and Shift+Esc marks all messages as read. Both keys are the same on Windows, Linux and Mac.
How do I start a huddle with the keyboard?
Press Ctrl+Shift+H on Windows and Linux, or Cmd+Shift+H on a Mac, to start, join, leave or end a huddle. Ctrl+Shift+Space (Cmd+Shift+Space) mutes or unmutes you in the huddle.
Can I change Slack's keyboard shortcuts?
Slack's keyboard shortcuts help article does not say that shortcuts can be changed. It does mark some shortcuts as working only in the desktop app, and some that may differ with your keyboard language settings.
Does Barside have Slack's shortcuts?
Only a few jobs overlap. In a Barside Space, Enter sends and Shift+Enter adds a line, and in a Barside meeting Alt+A mutes you. Barside has no shortcuts for jumping between conversations or searching messages. See Barside keyboard shortcuts.
Sources
Where the facts come from
Checked on October 2, 2026. Products change: if something here is out of date, tell us at support@barside.space.
Product names are trademarks of their owners. Barside is not affiliated with them.