Keyboard shortcuts
Everything in Zulip can be done with the mouse, but mastering a few keyboard shortcuts will change your experience of the app. Start with the basics below, and use the convenient keyboard shortcuts reference in the Zulip app to add more to your repertoire as needed.
- The basics
- Search
- Scrolling
- Navigation
- Composing messages
- Message actions
- Drafts
- Menus
- Channel settings
The basics
Section titled “The basics”- Reply to message: R or Enter — Reply to the selected message (outlined in blue).
- New channel message: C — Start a new topic in the current channel.
- New direct message: X
- Paste formatted text: Ctrl + V
- Paste as plain text: Ctrl + Shift + V. You can also paste formatted text with Ctrl + V, and press Ctrl + Z to remove formatting.
- Cancel compose and save draft: Esc or Ctrl + [ — Close the compose box and save the unsent message as a draft.
- View drafts: D — Use the arrow keys and Enter to restore a draft. Press D again to close.
- Next message: ↓ or J
- Last message: End or Shift + G — Also marks all messages in the current view as read.
- Next unread topic: N
- Next unread followed topic: Shift + N
- Next unread direct message: P
- Search messages: /
- Toggle keyboard shortcuts view: ?
- Go to your home view: Ctrl + [ (or Esc, if enabled) until you are in your home view.
Search
Section titled “Search”- Search messages: / or Ctrl + K
- Filter left sidebar: Q
- Filter users: W
Scrolling
Section titled “Scrolling”- Last message: End or Fn + → or Shift + G — Also marks all messages in the current view as read.
- First message: Home or Fn + ←
- Previous message: ↑ or K
- Next message: ↓ or J
- Scroll up: PgUp or Fn + ↑ or Shift + K
- Scroll down: PgDn or Fn + ↓ or Shift + J or Spacebar
Navigation
Section titled “Navigation”- Go back through viewing history: Alt + ←
- Go forward through viewing history: Alt + →
- Go to next unread topic: N
- Go to next unread followed topic: Shift + N
- Go to next unread direct message: P
- Go to topic or DM conversation: S
- Go to channel feed from topic view: S
- Go to direct message feed: Shift + P
- Go to list of topics for the current channel: Y
- Zoom to message in conversation context: Z — This view does not mark messages as read.
- Cycle between channel views: Shift + A (previous) and Shift + D (next)
- Go to inbox: Shift + I — Shows conversations with unread messages.
- Go to recent conversations: T
- Go to combined feed: A — Shows all unmuted messages.
- Go to starred messages: *
- Go to the conversation you are composing to: Ctrl + .
Composing messages
Section titled “Composing messages”- New channel message: C — For starting a new topic in a channel.
- New direct message: X
- Reply to message: R or Enter — Reply to the selected message (outlined in blue). Same behavior as clicking on the message.
- Quote message: >
- Forward message: <
- Reply directly to sender: Shift + R
- Reply @-mentioning sender: @
In the compose box
Section titled “In the compose box”- Send message: Tab then Enter, or either Enter or Ctrl + Enter based on your settings
- Insert new line: Shift + Enter, or either Enter or Ctrl + Enter based on your settings
- Insert italic text:
*italic*or Ctrl + I - Insert bold text:
**bold**or Ctrl + B - Insert link:
[Zulip website](https://zulip.org)or Ctrl + Shift + L - Insert or create a saved snippet: Ctrl + ’
- Toggle preview mode: Alt + P
- Cancel compose and save draft: Esc or Ctrl + [ — Close the compose box and save the unsent message as a draft.
Message actions
Section titled “Message actions”- Edit your last message: ← — Scroll to the most recent message you are allowed to edit in the current view, and open it for editing. If there are no messages you can edit, nothing happens.
For a selected message (outlined in blue)
Section titled “For a selected message (outlined in blue)”- Toggle message actions menu: I
- Edit message or view original message: E
- Show message sender’s user card: U
- View read receipts: Shift + V — Same shortcut also closes the read receipts menu (if open).
- View image: V
- Move message and (optionally) other messages in the same topic: M
- View message edit and move history: Shift + H. Viewing message edit history must be allowed.
- Star message: Ctrl + S
- Add emoji reaction: :
- Toggle first emoji reaction: =
- React with 👍: +
- Mark as unread from selected message: Shift + U
- Collapse/show message: -
- Toggle topic mute: Shift + M. This works in both message views and views that list topics (e.g., inbox, recent conversations). Learn about muted topics.
Recent conversations
Section titled “Recent conversations”- View recent conversations: T
- Search recent conversations: T
- Escape from recent conversations search: Esc or arrow keys
- Navigate recent conversations: Use arrow keys or vim keys (J, K, L, H).
Use Enter to engage with elements.
Drafts
Section titled “Drafts”- Toggle drafts view: D
Within the drafts view
Section titled “Within the drafts view”- Edit selected draft: Enter
- Delete selected draft: Backspace
Keyboard navigation (e.g., arrow keys) works as expected.
- Toggle shortcuts help: ?
- Toggle gear menu: G
- Open personal menu: G + →
- Open help menu: G + ←
- Toggle message actions menu for a selected message (outlined in blue): I
Channel settings
Section titled “Channel settings”- Scroll through channels: ↑ and ↓
- Switch between tabs: ← and → — Switch between the Subscribed and All channels tabs.
- Create new channel: N
For a selected channel
Section titled “For a selected channel”- View channel messages: Shift + V
- Toggle subscription: Shift + S
Keyboard shortcuts reference
Section titled “Keyboard shortcuts reference”A summary of the keyboard shortcuts above is available in the Zulip app.
- Click on the Help menu () icon in the upper right corner of the app.