Using keyboard shortcuts in WordPress will save you lot of time during content editing and comments moderation. This is also an easy way to format your content faster rather than selecting the options from toolbar icons, especially in distraction free mode where the toolbar is restricted with few icons. There are also shortcuts which do not have equivalent icons resulting in not using that function if you are not aware of the keyboard shortcut. Here is a complete guide to WordPress keyboard shortcuts for Windows / Linux based PCs and macOS for Classic and Gutenberg editors.
1. Shortcuts Help in Gutenberg Editor
WordPress introduced a new Gutenberg editor with the release of version 5.0. Gutenberg editor has new shortcuts and you can access the help by clicking on the “setting”Options” icon and then choosing “Keyboard Shortcuts” option.
Alternatively, you can press “Control + Option + H” keys to open the shortcuts help in Gutenberg editor. Note that + sign in the key combination indicates holding previous key and then pressing next key in sequence. You need not to press + key in the keyboard.
1.1. Gutenberg Global Shortcuts
As Gutenberg is a block editor, it has different shortcuts compared to the previous classic editor.
| Windows | Mac | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Shift + Alt + H | Control + Option + H | Display keyboard shortcuts |
| Control + K | Command + K | Open command palette |
| Alt + 10 | Control + F10 | Navigate to nearest toolbar |
| Control + Alt + Shift + F | Command + Option + Shift + F | Toggle full screen mode |
| Control + Alt + Shift + M | Command + Option + Shift + M | Switch editor modes (visual/code) |
| Control + S | Command + S | Save changes |
| Control + Z | Command + Z | Undo |
| Control + Shift + Z or Control + Y | Command + Shift + Z | Redo |
| Alt + Shift + O | Control + Option + O | Toggle List View |
| Control + Shift + \ | Command + Shift + \ | Toggle distraction-free mode |
| Control + Shift + Comma | Command + Shift + Comma | Toggle Settings panel |
| Alt + Shift + N | Control + Option + N | Next part of editor |
| Alt + Shift + P | Control + Option + P | Previous part of editor |
1.2. Selection Shortcuts
| Windows | Mac | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Control + A | Command + A | Select all text (again press to select all blocks) |
| Escape | Escape | Clear selection |
| Shift + Arrow | Shift + Arrow | Multi-block text selection |
1.3. Block Shortcuts
| Windows | Mac | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Control + C | Command + C | Copy blocks |
| Control + X | Command + X | Cut blocks |
| Control + V | Command + V | Paste blocks |
| Control + Shift + D | Command + Shift + D | Duplicate blocks |
| Alt + Shift + Z | Control + Option + Z | Remove blocks |
| Control + Alt + T | Command + Option + T | Insert a block before |
| Control + Alt + Y | Command + Option + Y | Insert a block after |
| Delete or Backspace | Delete or Backspace | Delete selection |
| Control + Alt + Shift + T | Command + Option + Shift + T | Move blocks up |
| Control + Alt + Shift + Y | Command + Option + Shift + Y | Move blocks down |
| Control + G | Command + G | Group multiple selected blocks |
| / | / | List frequently used blocks |
1.4. Text Formatting Shortcuts
| Windows | Mac | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Control + B | Command + B | Bold |
| Control + I | Command + I | Italic |
| Control + K | Command + K | Add link |
| Control + Shift + K | Command + Shift + K | Remove link |
| [[ | [[ | Insert internal post/page link |
| Control + U | Command + U | Underline |
| Alt + Shift + D | Control + Option + D | Strikethrough |
| Alt + Shift + X | Control + Option + X | Inline code |
| Alt + Shift + (0 or 7) | Control + Option + (0 or 7) | Convert heading to paragraph |
| Alt + Shift + (1 through 6) | Control + Option + (1 through 6) | Convert to heading level 1 through 6 |
| Control + Shift + Space | Command + Shift + Space | Non-breaking space |
1.5. List View Shortcuts
| Windows | Mac | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Alt + L | Option + L | Collapse all other items |
2. Shortcuts Help in Classic Editor
If you are using the classic editor, you can view the list of shortcut keys by clicking the “?” icon available under “Kitchen Sink” toolbar in your WordPress post editor as shown below.
You can also open this shortcuts help by pressing “Alt + Shift + H” in Windows and “Option + Shift + H” in Mac.
2.1. Shortcuts for Content Editing
Below is the complete list of keyboard shortcuts for Classic Editor in Windows and Mac.
| Windows | Mac | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Control + Z | Command + Z | Undo |
| Control + Y | Command + Y | Redo |
| Control + X | Command + X | Cut |
| Control + V | Command + V | Paste |
| Control + U | Command + U | Underline |
| Control + P | Command + P | |
| Control + K | Command + K | Insert or edit link |
| Control + I | Command + I | Italic |
| Control + Home | Command + Up Arrow | Go to top of the editor |
| Control + End | Command + Down Arrow | Go to bottom of the editor |
| Control + C | Command + C | Copy |
| Control + B | Command + B | Bold |
| Control + A | Command + A | Select all content |
| Alt + Shift + 9 | Control + Option + 9 | Address format |
| Alt + Shift + (1 through 6) | Control + Option + (1 through 6) | Heading level 1 through 6 |
| Alt + Shift + 7 | Control + Option + 7 | Convert heading to paragraph |
| Alt + Shift + Z | Control + Option + Z | Show or hide (additional) toolbar options |
| Alt + Shift + X | Control + Option + X | Add or remove code tag |
| Alt + Shift + U | Control + Option + U | Unordered list |
| Alt + Shift + T | Control + Option + T | Insert read more |
| Alt + Shift + S | Control + Option + S | Remove link |
| Alt + Shift + R | Control + Option + R | Align right |
| Alt + Shift + Q | Control + Option + Q | Block quote |
| Alt + Shift + P | Control + Option + P | Insert page break |
| Alt + Shift + O | Control + Option + O | Numbered list |
| Alt + Shift + N | Control + Option + N | Spelling check (if spelling check is activated) |
| Alt + Shift + M | Control + Option + M | Insert or edit media |
| Alt + Shift + L | Control + Option + L | Align left |
| Alt + Shift + J | Control + Option + J | Align justify text |
| Alt + Shift + H | Control + Option + H | Keyboard shortcuts help |
| Alt + Shift + D | Control + Option + D | Strikethrough of selected text |
| Alt + Shift + C | Control + Option + C | Align center |
| Alt + Shift + A | Control + Option + A | Insert link |
2.1. Quick Conversion Shortcuts
Use these key(s) at the start of the paragraph and press enter key. For example, type ## Text and press enter to convert to level 2 heading. These shortcuts work on both Windows and Mac with the same keys.
| Windows / Mac | Function |
|---|---|
| * or – | Unordered list |
| 1. or 1) | Ordered list |
| — | Insert divider |
| > text | Convert to block quote |
| ## text | Convert to H2 |
| ### text | Convert to H3 |
| #### text | Convert to H4 |
| ##### text | Convert to H5 |
| ###### text | Convert to H6 |
| `..` | Convert to code |
2.2. Adjusting Distraction Free Writing
You can adjust the distraction free writing using the below shortcuts.
| Windows | Mac | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Alt + Shift + W | Control + Option + W | Distraction free writing mode |
| Control + + | Command + + | Expanding editor width |
| Control + – | Command + – | Contracting editor width |
| Control + 0 | Command + 0 | Reset editor to default width |
3. Activate Shortcuts for Comments Moderation
Unlike post editor shortcuts, comments shortcuts in WordPress need to be activated in your admin dashboard under “Users > Your Profile”.
There are two types of comments shortcuts available in WordPress (works on both Windows and Mac).
- Individual Comment Actions.
- Bulk Comments Actions.
3.1. Individual Comment Actions Shortcuts:
| Key | Function |
|---|---|
| j | Select comment or move down |
| k | Select comment or move up |
| a | Approve |
| s | Marking as spam |
| d | Delete |
| z | Restore deleted comment from trash |
| u | Unapprove and move comment back to moderation |
| r | Reply inline |
| q | Quick edit inline |
| e | Navigate to edit screen |
3.2. Bulk Comments Actions Shortcuts:
| Keys | Function |
|---|---|
| x | Select comment for bulk action when it is highlighted or select all comments |
| Shift + x | Toggle select or deselect comments |
| Shift + a | Approve selected comments |
| Shift + s | Mark as spam all selected comments |
| Shift + d | Delete all selected comments |
| Shift + u | Unapprove all selected comments and move back to pending for moderation |
| Shift + t | Delete selected comments |
| Shift + z | Restore selected comments from trash |
Remember, when you use browser extensions, the extension shortcuts may conflict with the WordPress editor shortcuts. For example, Mozilla Firefox browser offers various extensions like Keyconfig, Mouseless, Nostagy, etc., to define your own shortcuts. This may overwrite the hotkeys used in WordPress editor.
