From just being a simple search engine to being a way of life, Google has altered the way digital data is processed and communicated. With huge cloud storage on Google Drive, Google Docs is the most preferred all-in-one services solution. But do you find it difficult to work around the document? From how to check word count on google docs to how to strikethrough on google docs, work faster and efficiently with Google Docs Shortcuts.

To boost up the corporate as well as the personal efficiency equation, Google Docs Shortcuts are sure to make life absolutely easy. You can now download images from Google Doc easily. Working with documents and spreadsheets usually entails actions like edit, cut, copy, paste, format and so on. With Google Docs, one is no longer restricted to one system, since you just need a browser and an internet connection. Users can also add table of content in Google Docs to make it look more organized.

Google Docs Shortcuts: Keyboard Shortcuts You Should Know

Whether you are blogging or working, alone or with your team that is far-flung, these Google Docs shortcuts are easy to use. Here we have listed all sorts of Google Docs short-cuts, cheat sheets, tips, and tricks that are sure to increase your productivity.

The following guide is not only useful to professionals, but also educators, students, and amateur users of Google Docs. Once you know these tricks, we bet you would never want to go for those traditional ways of doing a particular task in Google Docs.

Windows Shortcuts for Google Docs

Common Actions To Perform In Google Docs

The following Google Docs Shortcuts help to perform very basic tasks, like copy, paste, undo, redo, etc.

  • To Copy: Ctrl + c
  • To Cut: Ctrl + x
  • To Paste: Ctrl + v
  • To Paste without formatting: Ctrl + Shift + v
  • To Undo: Ctrl + z
  • To Redo: Ctrl + Shift + z
  • To Insert or edit link: Ctrl + k
  • To Open link: Alt + Enter
  • To Show common keyboard shortcuts: Ctrl + /
  • To Save (Every change is automatically saved in Drive): Ctrl + s
  • To Print: Ctrl + p
  • To Open: Ctrl + o
  • To Find: Ctrl + f
  • To Find and replace: Ctrl + h
  • To Find again: Ctrl + g
  • To Find previous: Ctrl + Shift + g
  • To Hide the menus (compact mode): Ctrl + Shift + f
  • To Insert page break: Ctrl + Enter
  • To Search the menus: Alt + /, Alt + Shift + z,
    Google Chrome: Alt + z

Text Formatting – Strikethrough Google Docs, Subscript Shortcuts in Google Docs

Want to turn the text bold? Or highlight it? While formatting text, there are a great number of things that you can do to change the overall look of the document.

For example, many users need to superscript in Google Docs and at times even strikethrough in Google Docs. Let’s take a look at the Google Docs shortcuts that help in-text formatting.

  • Make Content Bold: Ctrl + b
  • Make Content Italicize: Ctrl + i
  • Make Underline: Ctrl + u
  • Make Strikethrough: Alt + Shift + 5
  • To Superscript in Google Docs: Ctrl + .
  • To Subscript: Ctrl + ,
  • To Copy text formatting: Ctrl + Alt + c
  • To Paste text formatting: Ctrl + Alt + v
  • To Clear text formatting: Ctrl + ; Ctrl + Space
  • To Increase font size: Ctrl + Shift + >
  • To Decrease font size: Ctrl + Shift + <

Paragraph Formatting- Proper Alignment of Text

Long texts usually mean many paragraphs. If you do not format them properly, you might end up with a monotonous looking document. These Google Docs shortcuts help you with paragraph formatting.

  • To Increase paragraph indentation: Ctrl + ]
  • To Decrease paragraph indentation: Ctrl + [
  • To Apply normal text style: Ctrl + Alt + 0
  • To Apply heading style [1-6]: Ctrl + Alt + [1-6]
  • To Left align: Ctrl + Shift + l
  • To Center align: Ctrl + Shift + e
  • To Right align: Ctrl + Shift + r
  • To Justify: Ctrl + Shift + j
  • To Numbered list: Ctrl + Shift + 7
  • Make Bulleted list: Ctrl + Shift + 8
  • To Move paragraph up/down: Alt + Shift + Up/down arrow

Image and Drawings

We often use images in Google Docs especially when it comes to reports and presentations. Hence, you will need these easy Google Docs shortcuts to edit them.

  • Make Image larger: Ctrl + Alt + k
  • Make Image larger horizontally: Ctrl + Alt + b
  • Make Image larger vertically: Ctrl + Alt + i
  • Make Image smaller: Ctrl + Alt + j
  • Make Image smaller horizontally: Ctrl + Alt + w
  • Make Image smaller vertically: Ctrl + Alt + q
  • Make Image Rotate clockwise by 15°: Alt + Right arrow
  • Make Image Rotate counterclockwise by 15°: Alt + Left arrow
  • Make Image Rotate counterclockwise by 1°: Alt + Shift + Left arrow
  • Make Image Rotate clockwise by 1°: Alt + Shift + Right arrow
  • Close drawing editor: Shift + Esc

Comments and Footnotes – Google Docs Comment

At times, you need to highlight a certain fact or figure in the write-up. From editors to writers, this is where adding ‘Comments’ comes in handy. We recommend these easy Google Docs shortcuts to insert a comment or footnote in a document.

  • To Insert comment: Ctrl + Alt + m
  • To Open discussion thread: Ctrl + Alt + Shift + a
  • To Enter current comment: Ctrl + Enter
  • To Insert footnote: Ctrl + Alt + f
  • To Move to a current footnote: holding Ctrl + Alt, press e then f
  • To Move to next footnote: holding Ctrl + Alt, press n then f
  • To Move to the previous footnote: holding Ctrl + Alt, press p then f

Menus

Here are the best Google Docs shortcuts that help you with the Menu Options.

  • For Context (right-click) menu: Ctrl + Shift + x, Ctrl + Shift +
  • For File menu: in Google Chrome: Alt + f

    other browsers: Alt + Shift + f

  • For Edit menu: in Google Chrome: Alt + e

    other browsers: Alt + Shift + e

  • For View menu: in Google Chrome: Alt + v

    other browsers: Alt + Shift + v

  • For Insert menu: in Google Chrome: Alt + i

    other browsers: Alt + Shift + i

  • For Format menu: in Google Chrome: Alt + o

    other browsers: Alt + Shift + o

  • For Tools menu: in Google Chrome: Alt + t

    other browsers: Alt + Shift + t

  • For Help menu: in Google Chrome: Alt + h

    other browsers: Alt + Shift + h

  • For Accessibility menu (present when screen reader support is enabled): in Google Chrome: Alt + a

    other browsers: Alt + Shift + a

  • For Input Tools menu(available in documents in non-Latin languages): Ctrl + Alt + Shift + k
  • Show your browser’s context menu: Shift + right-click

Text Selection With Keyboard

There may be times when you get tired of using the mouse. You can then shift to working with the keys on your keyboard. Have fun with these Google Docs shortcuts for text selection.

  • To Select all: Ctrl + A
  • To Extend selection one character: Shift + Left/right arrow
  • To Extend selection one line: Shift + Up/down arrow
  • To Extend selection one word: Ctrl + Shift + Left/right arrow
  • To Extend selection to the beginning of the line: Shift + Home
  • To Extend selection to the end of the line: Shift + End
  • To Extend selection to the beginning of the document: Ctrl + Shift + Home
  • To Extend selection to the end of the document: Ctrl + Shift + End
  • To Select current list item: holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press e then i
  • To select all list items at current level: holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press e and then o

Text Selection With Mouse

These Google Docs shortcuts for the Mouse are handy that allows you to select text and even a full paragraph with a few mouse clicks.

  • To Select word: Double-click
  • To Extend selection one word at a time: Double-click + drag
  • To Select paragraph: Triple-click
  • To Extend selection one paragraph at a time: Triple-click + drag

Screen Reader Support

Screen Reader shortcuts are a blessing for visually impaired users of the computer. Using their voices, they can perform various actions in Google Docs.

Here are the Google Docs shortcuts that will help the visually impaired people in your surroundings.

  • To Enable screen reader support: Ctrl + Alt + z, Alt + Shift + ~
  • To-Do Speak selection: Ctrl + Alt + x
  • To Speak from cursor location: Ctrl + Alt + r
  • To Announce cursor location: holding Ctrl + Alt, press a then l
  • To Announce formatting at cursor location: holding Ctrl + Alt, press a then f
  • To Speak the table column and row header: holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then h
  • To Speak the table cell location: holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then n
  • To Speak the table row header: holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then r
  • To Speak the table column header: holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then c

Google Docs Shortcuts For Windows Navigation

Document Navigation

By using the following Google Docs shortcuts, you can easily navigate through your document and the table of content quickly.

  • To Move to next heading: holding Ctrl + Alt, press n then h
  • To Move to the previous heading: holding Ctrl + Alt, press p then h
  • To Move to next heading [1-6]: holding Ctrl + Alt, press n then [1-6]
  • To Move to previous heading [1-6]: holding Ctrl + Alt, press p then [1-6]
  • To Move to next graphic (image or drawing): holding Ctrl + Alt, press n then g
  • To Move to the previous graphic (image or drawing): holding Ctrl + Alt, press p then g
  • To Move to next list: holding Ctrl + Alt, press n then o
  • To Move to the previous list: holding Ctrl + Alt, press p then o
  • To move to next item in the current list: holding Ctrl + Alt, press n then i
  • To Move to the previous item in the current list: holding Ctrl + Alt, press p then i
  • To Move to next link: holding Ctrl + Alt, press n then l
  • To Move to previous link: holding Ctrl + Alt, press p then l
  • To Move to next bookmark: holding Ctrl + Alt, press n then b
  • To Move to the previous bookmark: holding Ctrl + Alt, press p then b
  • To Move to next formatting change: holding Ctrl + Alt, press n then w
  • To Move to previous formatting change: holding Ctrl + Alt, press p then w
  • To Move to next edit (while viewing revision history or new changes): holding Ctrl + Alt, press n then r

Ctrl + Alt + k

  • To Move to previous edit (while viewing revision history or new changes): holding Ctrl + Alt, press p then r

Ctrl + Alt + j

Table Navigation

The following Google Docs’ shortcuts are to assist you while handling tables and also to make columns in Google Docs.

  • To Move to the start of the table: holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then s
  • To Move to the end of the table: holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then d
  • To Move to the start of the table column: holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then i
  • To Move to the end of the table column: holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then k
  • To Move to the next table column: holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then b
  • To Move to the previous table column: holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then v
  • To Move to the start of the table row: holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then j
  • To Move to the end of the table row: holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then l
  • To Move to the next table row: holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then m
  • To Move to the previous table row: holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then g
  • To Exit table: holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then e
  • To Move to the next table: holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press n then t
  • To Move to the previous table: holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press p then t

Other Tools and Navigation

If you are wondering how google docs word count happens? Well, there are two options to count words in Google Docs. You either go to the menu bar and look under tools or just use the Google Docs word count shortcut! Easy, isn’t it? then there is a shortcut for that as well.

  • To Open revision history: Ctrl + Alt + Shift + h
  • To Open Explore tool: Ctrl + Alt + Shift + i
  • To Open dictionary: Ctrl + Shift + y
  • To Word count: Ctrl + Shift + c
  • To Start voice typing (available in Chrome browsers): Ctrl + Shift + s
  • To Go to the side panel: Ctrl + Alt + .

Ctrl + Alt + ,

  • Page up: Page Up
  • Page down: Page Down
  • To Move to next misspelling: Ctrl + ‘
  • To Move to previous misspelling: Ctrl + ;
  • To Insert or move to the header: holding Ctrl + Alt, press o then h
  • To Insert or move to the footer: holding Ctrl + Alt, press o then f
  • To Move focus to popup (for links, bookmarks, and images): holding Ctrl + Alt, press e then p
  • To Open chat inside the document: Shift + Esc
  • To move focus out of editing area: Ctrl + Alt + Shift + m

Google Docs Shortcuts For Mac

Common Actions To Perform In Google Docs

We have seen Google Docs shortcuts for Windows OS, but if you are a Mac user, we have got you covered as well. For the basic tasks in Mac, like copying text, undo and redo a task, etc., simply use the following shortcuts.

  • To Copy: ⌘ + c
  • To Cut: ⌘ + x
  • To Paste: ⌘ + v
  • To Paste without formatting: ⌘ + Shift + v
  • To Undo: ⌘ + z
  • To Redo: ⌘ + Shift + z
  • To Insert or edit link: ⌘ + k
  • To Open link: Option + Enter
  • To Show common keyboard shortcuts: ⌘ + /
  • To Save (Every change is automatically saved in Drive): ⌘ + s
  • To Print: ⌘ + p
  • To Open: ⌘ + o
  • To Find: ⌘ + f
  • To Find and replace: ⌘ + Shift + h
  • To Find again: ⌘ + g
  • To Find previous: ⌘ + Shift + g
  • To Hide the menus (compact mode): Ctrl + Shift + f
  • To Insert page break: ⌘ + Enter
  • To Search the menus: Option + /

Ctrl + Option + z

Text Formatting – Strikethrough in Google Docs, Subscript in Google Docs For Mac

Text formatting is an important task for any document. Here are some simple shortcuts.

  • Make Content Bold: ⌘ + b
  • Make Content Italicize: ⌘ + i
  • Make Content Underline: ⌘ + u
  • Make Strikethrough: ⌘ + Shift + x
  • To Superscript: ⌘ + .
  • To Subscript: ⌘ + ,
  • To Copy text formatting: ⌘ + Option + c
  • To Paste text formatting: ⌘ + Option + v
  • To Clear text formatting: ⌘ +
  • To Increase font size: ⌘ + Shift + >
  • To Decrease font size: ⌘ + Shift + <

Paragraph Formatting – Proper alignment of text

Paragraphs always make an article look uniform while offering a good reader experience. When there are multiple paragraphs to handle and format, these shortcuts will be very helpful.

  • To Increase paragraph indentation: ⌘ + ]
  • To Decrease paragraph indentation: ⌘ + [
  • To Apply normal text style: ⌘ + Option + 0
  • To Apply heading style [1-6]: ⌘ + Option + [1-6]
  • To Left align: ⌘ + Shift + l
  • To Center align: ⌘ + Shift + e
  • To Right align: ⌘ + Shift + r
  • To Justify: ⌘ + Shift + j
  • Numbered list: ⌘ + Shift + 7
  • Bulleted list: ⌘ + Shift + 8

Image and Drawings

Visuals always make an article look more engaging and attractive. However, there are times when the actual image doesn’t fit your context and you need to edit them accordingly. These Google Docs Shortcuts let you resize and rotate your images.

  • Make Image larger: ⌘ + Ctrl + k
  • Make Image larger horizontally: ⌘ + Ctrl + b
  • Make Image larger vertically: ⌘ + Ctrl + i
  • Make Image smaller: ⌘ + Ctrl + j
  • Make Image smaller horizontally: ⌘ + Ctrl + w
  • Make Image smaller vertically: ⌘ + Ctrl + q
  • Make Image Rotate clockwise by 15°: Option + Right arrow
  • Make Image Rotate counterclockwise by 15°: Option + Left arrow
  • Make Image Rotate counterclockwise by 1°: Option + Shift + Left arrow
  • Make Image Rotate clockwise by 1°: Option + Shift + Right arrow
  • Close drawing editor: ⌘ + Esc

Shift + Esc

Comments and Footnotes- Google Docs Comment

When someone is reviewing your content, comments play a significant role to help you get to the point and rework on the article. Adding footnote and Comments in the docs make sure that you don’t forget any important point while editing your work.

The Google Docs shortcuts we have summed up for you are helpful while editing and reviewing any sort of content.

  • To Insert comment: ⌘ + Option + m
  • To Open discussion thread: ⌘ + Option + Shift + a
  • To Enter current comment: Ctrl + Enter
  • To Insert footnote: ⌘ + Option + f
  • To Move to the current footnote: holding Ctrl + ⌘, press e then f
  • To Move to next footnote: holding Ctrl + ⌘, press n then f
  • To Move to the previous footnote: holding Ctrl + ⌘, press p then f

Shortcuts For Menus

Try out these simple Menu Google Docs shortcuts for Mac.

  • For Context (right-click) menu: ⌘ + Shift +
  • For File menu: Ctrl + Option + f
  • For Edit menu: Ctrl + Option + e
  • For View menu: Ctrl + Option + v
  • For Insert menu: Ctrl + Option + i
  • For Format menu: Ctrl + Option + o
  • For Tools menu: Ctrl + Option + t
  • For Help menu: Ctrl + Option + h
  • For Accessibility menu (present when screen reader support is enabled): Ctrl + Option + a
  • For Input Tools menu (available in documents in non-Latin languages): ⌘ + Option + Shift + k
  • Toggle input controls (available in documents in non-Latin languages): ⌘ + Shift + k
  • Show your browser’s context menu: Shift + right-click

Text Selection With Keyboard

Once you get to know these Google Docs shortcuts, selecting text without using the mouse gets easier.

  • To Select all: ⌘ + a
  • To Extend selection one character: Shift + Left/right arrow
  • To Extend selection one line: Shift + Up/down arrow
  • To Extend selection to the beginning of the line: Shift + Fn + Left arrow
  • To Extend selection one paragraph: Option + Shift + Up/Down arrow
  • To Extend selection to the end of the line: Shift + Fn + Right arrow
  • To Extend selection to the beginning of the document: ⌘ + Shift + Up arrow
  • To Extend selection to the end of the document: ⌘ + Shift + Down arrow
  • To Select current list item: holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press e then i
  • To select all list items at current level: holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press e then o

Text Selection With Mouse

If you cannot let go of your mouse-using habit, then these Google Docs shortcuts are for you.

  • To Select word: Double-click
  • To Extend selection one word at a time: Double-click + drag
  • To Select paragraph: Triple-click
  • To Extend selection one paragraph at a time: Triple-click + drag

Screen Reader Support

Screen Reader support shortcuts come in use when a visually impaired person is dealing with Google Docs. By using the following Google Docs shortcuts, he/she can speak the content in order to get it on the Google Doc.

  • Enable screen reader support: Option + ⌘ + z
  • To Do Speak selection: Ctrl + ⌘ + x
  • To Speak from cursor location: Ctrl + ⌘ + r
  • To Announce cursor location: holding Ctrl + ⌘, press a then l
  • To Announce formatting at cursor location: holding Ctrl + ⌘, press a then f
  • To Speak the table column and row header: holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then h
  • To Speak the table cell location: holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then n
  • To Speak the table row header: holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then r
  • To Speak the table column header: holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then c

Mac Navigation Shortcuts In Google Docs

Documentation navigation

  • To Move to next heading: holding Ctrl + ⌘, press n then h
  • To Move to previous heading: holding Ctrl + ⌘, press p then h
  • To Move to next heading [1-6]: holding Ctrl + ⌘, press n then [1-6]
  • To Move to previous heading [1-6]: holding Ctrl + ⌘, press p then [1-6]
  • To Move to next media (image or drawing): holding Ctrl + ⌘, press n then g
  • To Move to previous media (image or drawing): holding Ctrl + ⌘, press p then g
  • To Move to next list: holding Ctrl + ⌘, press n then o
  • To Move to previous list: holding Ctrl + ⌘, press p then o
  • To Move to next item in the current list: holding Ctrl + ⌘, press n then i
  • To Move to previous item in the current list: holding Ctrl + ⌘, press p then i
  • To Move to next link: holding Ctrl + ⌘, press n then l
  • To Move to previous link: holding Ctrl + ⌘, press p then l
  • To Move to next bookmark: holding Ctrl + ⌘, press n then b
  • To Move to previous bookmark: holding Ctrl + ⌘, press p then b
  • To Move to next formatting change: holding Ctrl + ⌘, press n then w
  • To Move to previous formatting change: holding Ctrl + ⌘, press p then w
  • To Move to the next edit (while viewing revision history or new changes): holding Ctrl + ⌘, press n then r
  • To Move to the previous edit (while viewing revision history or new changes): holding Ctrl + ⌘, press p then r

Table Navigation

Dealing with a table when it has multiple rows and columns can be quite tiresome. If you are looking to find or edit the data of a particular row or column in a table,  try any of these shortcuts.

  • To Move to the start of the table: holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then s
  • To Move to the end of the table: holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then d
  • To Move to the start of the table column: holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then i
  • To Move to the end of the table column: holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then k
  • To Move to the next table column: holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then b
  • To Move to the previous table column: holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then v
  • To Move to the start of the table row: holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then j
  • To Move to the end of the table row: holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then l
  • To Move to the next table row: holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then m
  • To Move to the previous table row: holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then g
  • To Exit table: holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then e
  • To Move to the next table: holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press n then t
  • To Move to the previous table: holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press p then t

Other Tools And Navigation

Some miscellaneous Google Docs shortcuts that are helpful for random actions like counting words, or to start voice typing.

  • Open revision history: ⌘ + Option + Shift + h
  • Open Explore tool: ⌘ + Option + Shift + i
  • Open dictionary: ⌘ + Shift + y
  • Word count: ⌘ + Shift + c
  • Start voice typing (available in Chrome browsers): ⌘ + Shift + s
  • Go to the side panel: ⌘ + Option + .

⌘ + Option + ,

  • Page up: Fn + Up arrow
  • Page down: Fn + Down arrow
  • Move to next misspelling: ⌘ + ‘
  • Move to previous misspelling: ⌘ + ;
  • Insert or move to the header: holding Ctrl + ⌘, press o then h
  • Insert or move to the footer: holding Ctrl + ⌘, press o then f
  • Move focus to popup (for links, bookmarks, and images): holding Ctrl + ⌘, press e then p
  • Move focus out of document text: ⌘ + Option + Shift + m
  • Return focus to document text: Esc

Android Shortcuts for Google Docs

Note: The shortcuts we are going to mention for Android may or may not work for your phone. To make sure that you have all the necessary buttons on your phone’s keyboard, here is the solution for you.

We recommend you to download Hacker’s Keyboard if your phone does not have buttons like CTRL, FN, ALT, and so on. This keyboard is designed in a way that you can use some common shortcuts that include buttons like Tab/CTRL/ESC.

Google Docs Shortcuts – Common Actions In Android

After we thoroughly covered the Google Doc shortcuts for Windows and Mac, Android should not be an exclusion from this wonderful list. If you are on your smartphone and going through a Google Doc, you can use the following shortcuts to perform some primary tasks like copy, paste, undo and redo.

  • To Copy: Ctrl + c
  • To Cut: Ctrl + x
  • To Paste: Ctrl + v
  • To Undo: Ctrl + z
  • To Redo: Ctrl + Shift + z
  • To Insert comment: Ctrl + Alt + m
  • To Insert page break: Ctrl + Enter
  • To Help menu (Android N only): Ctrl + /

Text formatting in Android – Strikethrough in Google Docs in Android

Yes, text formatting is possible even from an Android phone if you know the following shortcuts.

  • Bold: Ctrl + b
  • Italicize: Ctrl + i
  • Underline: Ctrl + u
  • Strikethrough: Alt + Shift + 5
  • Superscript: Ctrl + .
  • Subscript: Ctrl + ,
  • Clear text formatting: Ctrl +
  • Increase font size: Ctrl + Shift + >
  • Decrease font size: Ctrl + Shift + <

Paragraph Formatting

While formatting a paragraph in Google Doc from the smartphone, you can use the following shortcuts.

  • To Increase paragraph indentation: Ctrl + ]
  • To Decrease paragraph indentation: Ctrl + [
  • To Apply normal text style: Ctrl + Alt + 0
  • To Apply heading style [1-6]: Ctrl + Alt + [1-6]
  • To Left align: Ctrl + Shift + l
  • To Center align: Ctrl + Shift + e
  • To Right align: Ctrl + Shift + r
  • To Justify: Ctrl + Shift + j
  • Numbered list: Ctrl + Shift + 7
  • Bulleted list: Ctrl + Shift + 8

Text Selection With The Keyboard

Although smartphones have their own way of selecting and copying text, sometimes some sources do not accept those conventional methods. If you have ever come up with a situation where you need to use similar shortcuts as in desktop keyboard, we have a list of commonly used Google Docs shortcuts.

  • To Select all: Ctrl + a
  • To Extend selection one character: Shift + Left/right arrow
  • To Extend selection one line: Shift + Up/down arrow
  • To Extend selection one word: Ctrl + Shift + Left/right arrow
  • To Extend selection to beginning/end of paragraph: Ctrl + Shift + Up/down arrow

Document Navigation

If you need to read or edit really long documents, use these Google Docs shortcuts. These will help you to navigate through the document conveniently.

  • Page up/down: Alt + Up/down arrow
  • To Return focus to document text: Esc
  • To Move to next heading: holding: Ctrl + Alt, press n then h
  • To Move to previous heading: holding Ctrl + Alt, press p then h
  • To Move to next heading [1-6]: holding Ctrl + Alt, press n then [1-6]
  • To Move to previous heading [1-6]: holding Ctrl + Alt, press p then [1-6]
  • To Move to next list: holding Ctrl + Alt, press n then o
  • To Move to previous list: holding Ctrl + Alt, press p then o
  • To Move to next item in the current list: holding Ctrl + Alt, press n then i
  • To Move to previous item in the current list: holding Ctrl + Alt, press p then i
  • To Move to next formatting change: holding Ctrl + Alt, press n then w
  • To Move to previous formatting change: holding Ctrl + Alt, press p then w

Table Navigation

Need to edit a row/column but the table is too long to jump to a particular content? Use these time-saving tricks/shortcuts to navigate through a table in a Google Doc.

  • To Move to the start of the table: holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then s
  • To Move to the end of the table: holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then d
  • To Move to the start of the table column: holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then i
  • To Move to the end of the table column: holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then k
  • To Move to the next table column: holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then b
  • To Move to the previous table column: holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then v
  • To Move to the start of the table row: holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then j
  • To Move to the end of the table row: holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then l
  • To Move to the next table row: holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then m
  • To Move to the previous table row: holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then g
  • To Exit table: holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t then e
  • To Move to the next table: holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press n then t
  • To Move to the previous table: holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press p then t

Google Docs Shortcuts for iPhone and iPad

Note: These shortcuts may or may not be feasible for you depending on the device and keyboard you use. iPad users can outsource a keyboard and use these shortcuts while handling Google Docs.

Common Actions

If you are an iPhone or iPad user, you must know some shortcuts while dealing with a Google Doc. Following shortcuts let you do simple tasks like Copy, Cut, Redo, and insert a comment.

  • To Copy: ⌘ + c
  • To Cut: ⌘ + x
  • To Paste: ⌘ + v
  • To Undo: ⌘ + z
  • To Redo: ⌘ + Shift + z
  • To Insert comment: ⌘ + Option + m

Text Formatting – Strikethrough and Subscript in Google Docs in iPhone and iPad

Thinking of strikethrough in Google Docs and Superscript in Google Docs even when on iPhone/iPad? Yes, there are shortcuts for that too.

  • Bold: ⌘ + b
  • Italicize: ⌘ + i
  • Underline: ⌘ + u
  • Strikethrough: Option + Shift + 5
  • Superscript: ⌘ + .
  • Subscript: ⌘ + ,
  • Clear text formatting: ⌘ +
  • Increase font size: ⌘ + Shift + >
  • Decrease font size: ⌘ + Shift + <

Paragraph Formatting

Formatting a paragraph in a Google Doc on iPhone was never this easy. Whether you want to center align a paragraph or apply a heading style, there are Google Docs Shortcuts for everything.

  • To Increase paragraph indentation: ⌘ + ]
  • To Decrease paragraph indentation: ⌘ + [
  • To Apply normal text style: ⌘ + Option + 0
  • To Apply heading style [1-6]: ⌘ + Option + [1-6]
  • To Left align: ⌘ + Shift + l
  • To Center align: ⌘ + Shift + e
  • To Right align: ⌘ + Shift + r
  • To Justify: ⌘ + Shift + j
  • Numbered list: ⌘ + Shift + 7
  • Bulleted list: ⌘ + Shift + 8
  • To Move paragraph up/down: Ctrl + Shift + Up/down arrow

Text Selection With Keyboard

When you want to select the whole text of a Google Doc, shortcuts like ⌘ + a comes in use. Similarly, there are various other shortcuts for you while you want to work with text selection on your keyboard.

  • To Select all: ⌘ + a
  • To Extend selection one character: Shift + Left/right arrow
  • To Extend selection one line: Shift + Up/down arrow
  • To Extend selection one word: Alt + Shift + Left/right arrow
  • To Extend selection to beginning/end of line: ⌘ + Shift + Left/right arrow
  • To Extend selection to beginning/end of paragraph: Alt + Shift + Up/down arrow
  • To Extend selection to beginning/end of document: ⌘ + Shift + Up/down arrow

Document Navigation

Keep in mind the following Google Docs Shortcuts when you want to navigate through a document on an iPhone or iPad.

  • To Move to next heading: holding Ctrl + ⌘, press n then h
  • To Move to previous heading: holding Ctrl + ⌘, press p then h
  • To Move to next heading [1-6]: holding Ctrl + ⌘, press n then [1-6]
  • To Move to previous heading [1-6]: holding Ctrl + ⌘, press p then [1-6]
  • To Move to next list: holding Ctrl + ⌘, press n then o
  • To Move to the previous list: holding Ctrl + ⌘, press p then o
  • To Move to next item in the current list: holding Ctrl + ⌘, press n then i
  • To Move to the previous item in the current list: holding Ctrl + ⌘, press p then i
  • To Move to next formatting change: holding Ctrl + ⌘, press n then w
  • To Move to previous formatting change: holding Ctrl + ⌘, press p then w

Table Navigation

You may want to navigate through a table to fetch particular data or to edit a row or column. Use these Google Docs Shortcuts to move to a certain set of data in a table.

  • To Move to the start of the table: holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then s
  • To Move to the end of the table: holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then d
  • To Move to the start of the table column: holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then i
  • To Move to the end of the table column: holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then k
  • To Move to the next table column: holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then b
  • To Move to the previous table column: holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then v
  • To Move to the start of the table row: holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then j
  • To Move to the end of the table row: holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then l
  • To Move to the next table row: holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then m
  • To Move to the previous table row: holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then g
  • To Exit table: holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press t then e
  • To Move to the next table: holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press n then t
  • To Move to the previous table: holding Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift, press p then t
Conclusion

Remembering all these Google Doc shortcuts is no easy task. However, you can keep a note of some important shortcuts. You can also check out Google Docs Tutorials that are useful and improves your understanding and knowledge on Google Docs.

Alternatively, you can save all these Google Docs shortcuts and access them when needed. These shortcuts are definitely going to play an important role to boost your productivity when handling multiple Google Docs and huge data content.

(Updated on 8th Dec 2020)