Microsoft Word Shortcut Keys: The Complete CheatSheet

Take a printout of these shortcuts to keep them handy

How to » Microsoft Office » Microsoft Word

16 min. read

Published on August 6, 2024

published on August 6, 2024

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Mastering shortcuts on any productivity tool, like Microsoft Word, can streamline your workflow and boost your productivity. In this guide, we will mention the comprehensive cheat sheet to help you use Word with speed and efficiency.

What are the commonly used keyboard shortcuts in Microsoft Word?

1. Frequently used shortcuts

Keyboard Shortcut	Function
`Ctrl`+`O`	Opens a document
`Ctrl` + `N`	Create a new document
`Ctrl`+`S`	Saves a document
`Ctrl`+`W`	Closes a document
`Ctrl`+`A`	Lets you select all the content of a document
`Ctrl`+`X`	Allows you to cut the selected content to the Clipboard
`Ctrl`+`Z`	Undo the previous action
`Ctrl`+`Y`	Redo the previous action
`Ctrl`+`C`	Allows you to copy selected content to the Clipboard
`Ctrl`+`V`	Lets you paste the content of the Clipboard
`Ctrl`+`B`	Applies bold formatting to text
`Ctrl`+`I`	Applies italic formatting to text
`Ctrl`+`U`	Applies underline formatting to text
`Ctrl`+`Left bracket ([)`	Decreases the font size by 1 point
`Ctrl`+`Right bracket ([)`	Increases the font size by 1 point
`Ctrl`+`L`	Align the text to the left
`Ctrl`+`E`	Align text to the center
`Ctrl`+`R`	Align the text to the right
`Esc`	Lets you cancel a command
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`S`	Splits the document window
`Alt`+`Shift`+`C` or `Ctrl`+`Alt`+`S`	Remove the document window split
`Alt`+`W`, `Q`, and then press the `Tab` key in the Zoom dialog box to go to the value you want	Adjusts the zoom magnification

2. Ribbon keyboard shortcuts

Common keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard Shortcut	Function
`Alt`+`Q` and enter the search term	Lets you search the document or seek Help
`Alt`+`F`	Lets you open the File menu to use the Backstage view
`Alt` + `H`	Takes you to the Home tab to use common formatting commands, paragraph styles, and the Find tool.
`Alt`+`N`	Opens the Insert tab to insert pictures, tables, shapes, headers, or text boxes
`Alt`+`G`	Opens the Design tab to let you access colors, themes, and effects
`Alt`+`P`	Lets you access the Layout tab to change the page margins, orientation, spacing, and indentation
`Alt`+`S`	Opens the References tab, which can be used to add a table of contents, citations, and footnotes
`Alt`+`M`	Lets you access the Mailings tab to manage Mail merge tasks and work with envelopes and labels
`Alt`+`R`	Opens the Review tab, which allows you to use Spell Check, set proofing languages, and track and review changes to your document.
`Alt`+`W`	Open the View tab, which lets you choose a document view or mode, such as Read Mode or Outline view. It also has options to set the zoom magnification & manage multiple document windows.

Work in the ribbon with the keyboard

Keyboard Shortcut	Function
`Alt` or `F10`	Lets you select the active tab on the ribbon, activate the access keys, and use either the access or arrow keys to move to a different tab
`Tab` key or `Shift`+`Tab`	Moves the focus to commands on the ribbon
`Ctrl`+`Left` or `Right` arrow key	Lets you move between command groupings on the ribbon
Arrow keys	Allows you to move among the options on the ribbon.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F10`	Shows the tooltip for the ribbon element, which is currently in focus.
`Spacebar` or `Enter`	Activates the selected button
`Down` arrow key	Opens the list for the selected command
`Alt`+`Down` arrow key	Opens the menu for the selected button
`Ctrl`+`F1`	Expand or collapse the ribbon
`Shift`+`F10`	Open the context menu
`Left` arrow key	Navigate to the submenu when a main menu is open

3. Navigate through, preview and print a document

Navigate through a document

Keyboard Shortcut	Function
`Ctrl`+`Left` arrow key	Moves the cursor one word to the left side.
`Ctrl`+`Right` arrow key	Moves the cursor one word to the right side.
`Ctrl`+`Up` arrow key	Moves the cursor up by one stanza or para
`Ctrl`+`Down` arrow key	Moves the cursor down by one para
`End`	Place the cursor on the end of current line
`Home`	Takes the cursor to the beginning of the current line
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Page up`	Positions the cursor to the top of the screen
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Page down`	Place the cursor on the bottom of the screen
`Page up`	Scrolls the document view up by one screen, moving the cursor
`Page down`	Scrolls the document view down by one screen, moving the cursor
`Ctrl`+`Page down`	Takes the cursor to the top of the following page
`Ctrl`+`Page up`	Place the cursor at the top of the previous page
`Ctrl`+`End`	Positions the cursor at the end of the document
`Ctrl`+`Home`	Moves the cursor to the beginning of the document
`Shift`+`F5`	Takes the cursor to the location of previous correction or revision
Open a document and press `Shift`+`F5`	Place your cursor on the last revision location made before the document was last closed.
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`5`, and press the `Tab` key repeatedly	Navigate through floating elements, like text boxes or images.
`Esc`	Exit the floating shape navigation and go back to standard navigation
`Ctrl`+`F`	Opens the Navigation task pane to look within the document content
`Ctrl`+`G`	Opens the Go To dialog box, which allows you to navigate to a certain page, footnote bookmark, table, graphic, comment, or other location
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Z`	Navigate through the locations of the 4 previous changes made within the document

Preview and print documents

Keyboard Shortcut	Function
`Ctrl`+`P`	Print an open document
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`I`	Switch to print preview
`Arrow` keys	Pan around the preview page when zoomed in
`Page up` or `Page down`	Shift to the next preview page when zoomed out
`Ctrl`+`Home`	Takes you to the first preview page when zoomed out
`Ctrl`+`End`	Takes you to the last preview page when zoomed out

4. Selection

Select text and graphics

Keyboard Shortcut	Function
`Shift` + `Arrow` key	Lets you select text
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Left` arrow key	Selects the word to the left
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Right` arrow key	Selects the word to the right
`Shift`+`Home`	Select everything from the current position back to the start of the line
`Shift`+`End`	Select from the current position to the end of the line
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Up` arrow key	Selects everything from the current position to the start of the paragraph.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Down` arrow key	Select from the current position to the end of the paragraph.
`Shift`+`Page up`	Select everything from the current position to the top of the screen
`Shift`+`Page down`	Select from the current position at the bottom of the screen
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Home`	Selects everything from the current position to the start of the document
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `End`	Select from the current position to the end of the document.
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`Page down`	Selects everything from the current position to the bottom of the window
`Ctrl` + `A`	Select all the content in a document

Extend a selection

Keyboard Shortcut	Function
`F8`	Enter extend selection mode; clicking a location in the document will expand the current selection to include that location
`F8`, then the `Right` or `Left` arrow key	F8, Left or Right arrow key Select the nearest character to your right or left
Press `F8` repeatedly	Expands the text selection through the following stages: the entire word the complete sentence, the entire paragraph, the entire section, and the whole document
`Shift` + `F8`	Reduce the selection
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F8`, then press the arrow keys to navigate	Choose a vertical block of text
`Esc`	Stop expanding the selection

Editing text and graphics

Keyboard shortcut	Function
`Ctrl` + `Backspace`	Deletes one word to the left
`Ctrl` + `Delete`	Deletes one word to the right
`Alt`+`H`, `F`, `O`	Opens the clipboard task pane and activates the Office Clipboard, allowing you to copy & paste across Microsoft 365 apps
`Ctrl` + `X`	Cuts the selected content to the Clipboard
`Ctrl` + `C`	Copies the selected content to the Clipboard
`Ctrl` + `V`	Pastes the content of the Clipboard
`F2`, take the cursor to the destination, then press `Enter`	Moves the selected content to a certain location
`Shift` + `F`, moves the cursor to the destination, then press Enter	Copies the selected content to a certain location
`Alt` + `F3`	Opens the new building block to create an AutoText block with highlighted content
`Ctrl` + `F3`	Cuts the highlighted content to the Spike
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F3`	Pastes the highlighted content of the Spike
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`C`	Copy the selected formatting
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`V`	Paste the selected formatting
`Alt`+`Shift`+`R`	Allows you to copy the header/footer in the document’s previous section
`Ctrl`+`H`	Opens the Replace dialog box, which allows you to find & replace text, special formatting, and more
`Alt`+`N`, `J`, `J`	Launches the Object dialog box that lets you insert a file object in the document
`Alt`+`N`, `M`	Lets you add a SmartArt graphic
`Alt`+`N`, `W`	Allows you to add WordArt graphic

5. Align and format

Align & format paragraphs

Keyboard shortcuts	Function
`Ctrl`+`E`	Align the paragraph to the center
`Ctrl` + `J`	Justify the paragraph
`Ctrl` + `L`	Align the paragraph to the left
`Ctrl` + `R`	Align the paragraph to the right
`Ctrl` + `M`	Indents the paragraph
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `M`	Removes indent from the para
`Ctrl` + `T`	Creates a hanging indent
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`T`	Removes a hanging indent
`Ctrl`+`Q`	Lets you remove formatting from a paragraph
`Ctrl` + `1`	Adds single space in a para
`Ctrl` + `2`	Add double space in a paragraph
`Ctrl` + `5`	Adds 1.5-line spacing in a paragraph.
`Ctrl`+`0`	Add/remove space before a paragraph
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `K`	Turns on Autoformat
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`N`	Applies Normal Style
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`1`	Adds Heading 1 Style
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`2`	Adds Heading 2 style
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`3`	Adds Heading 2 style
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`S`	Show the Apply Styles task pane
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Shift` + `S`	Brings up the Styles task pane

Format characters

Keyboard Shortcuts	Function
`Ctrl`+`D` or `Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F`	Opens the Font dialog box
`Ctrl` + `Shift` +`>`	Increases the font size
`Ctrl` + `Shift` +`<`	Decreases the font size
`Ctrl` + `]`	Increases the font size by 1 point
`Ctrl` + `[`	Decreases the font size by 1 point
`Shift`+`F3`	Lets you switch the highlighted text between upper case, lower case, and title case
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`A`	Changes the selected text to all Upper case
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`H`	Hides the highlighted text
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`L`	Adds a bulleted list
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`W`	Underlines all the selected words but not the spaces between them
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`D`	Applies double-underline formatting to the highlighted text, including spaces
`Ctrl`+`=`	Turn on the subscript formatting for the selected text or text you type next
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`=`	Apply superscript formatting, which raises the text above the baseline
`Ctrl`+`Spacebar`	Remove manual character formatting
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Q`	Helps to change the highlighted text to the Symbol font

Manage text formatting

	Function
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`8` (Don’t use numeric keypad)	Shows all the nonprinting characters
`Shift`+`F1`	Opens up the Reveal Formatting task pane.

Insert special characters

Keyboard shortcut	Function
`Shift`+`Enter`	Adds a line break
`Ctrl`+`Enter`	Inserts a page break
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Enter`	Adds a column break
`Ctrl`+`-` (Minus from numeric keypad)	Inserts an en dash
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`-` (Minus from numeric keypad)	Adds an em dash
`Ctrl`+`-`(Hyphen)	Lets you add an optional hyphen
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`-`(Hyphen )	Adds a non-breaking hyphen
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Spacebar`	Inserts a nonbreaking space
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`R`	Adds a registered trademark symbol (®)
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`C`	Let you add a copyright symbol (©)
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`T`	Adds a trademark symbol (™)
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`.` (Period )	Lets you add an ellipsis (…)
Type a character code, then press `Alt` +`X`	Adds a Unicode character for the specified Unicode (hexadecimal) character code
`Alt`+the character code (from the numeric keypad)	Lets you add the ANSI character for the specified ANSI (decimal) character code

6. Work with web content

Keyboard shortcut	Function
`Ctrl`+`K`	Lets you add a hyperlink
`Alt`+`Left` arrow key	Takes you one page backwards
`Alt`+`Right` arrow key	Takes you one page forward

7. Work with tables

Move around in a table

Keyboard shortcut	Function
`Tab`	Takes you to the next cell in the row and selects the content
`Shift`+`Tab`	Takes you to the previous cell in the row and selects the content
`Alt`+`Home`	Lets you move to the first cell in the row
`Alt`+`End`	Lets you move to the first cell in the row
`Alt`+`Page up`	Takes you to the first cell in the column
`Alt`+`Page down`	Takes you to the last cell in the column
`Up arrow`	Place the cursor in the previous row
`Down arrow`	Place the cursor in the next row
`Alt`+`Shift`+`Up arrow`	Takes you one row up
`Alt`+`Shift`+`Down arrow`	Takes you one row down

Select table content

Keyboard shortcut	Function
`Tab`	Select the content in the next cell
`Shift`+`Tab`	Select the content in the previous cell
`Shift`+`Arrow keys`	Extend selection to adjoining cells
Select the upper or bottom cell of a column, and press `Shift`+`Up` or `Down arrow` together	Lets you select a column
Select the first or last cell in the row, and press `Shift`+`Alt`+`End`/`Home`	Lets you select a row
`Alt`+`5` (from the numeric keypad)	Lets you select the whole table

Insert paragraphs and tab characters in a table

Keyboard shortcut	Function
`Enter`	Lets you add a new para in a cell
`Ctrl`+`Tab`	Lets you insert a tab character in a cell

8. Review a document

Keyboard shortcut	Function
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`M`	Lets you add a comment
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`E`	Enable or disable change tracking
`Alt`+`Shift`+`C`	Close the Reviewing Pane

9. Shortcuts related to references, citations, and indexing

Keyboard shortcut	Function
`Alt`+`Shift`+`O`	Allows you to mark an entry of table of contents
`Alt`+`Shift`+`I`	Allows to mark an entry for the table of authorities
`Alt`+`Shift`+`F12`, `Spacebar`	Select citation options
`Alt`+`Shift`+`X`	Allows to mark an entry for index
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`F`	Lets you add a footnote
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`D`	Lets you add an endnote
`Alt`+`Shift`+`>` (Right angle bracket )	Takes you to the next footnote
`Alt`+`Shift`+`<` (Left angle bracket )	Takes you to the previous footnote

You can also learn about Windows key alphabet shortcuts to make your work easier on a Windows PC and improve your productivity; to learn more, check out this guide.

10. Work with mail merge and fields

NOTE

To use the below-mentioned shortcuts, you need first to select the Mailings ribbon tab; to do so, press Alt + M

Perform a mail merge

Keyboard shortcut	Function
`Alt`+`Shift`+`K`	Opens preview of the mail merge
`Alt`+`Shift`+`N`	Merges a document
`Alt`+`Shift`+`M`	Helps you take a print of a merged document.
`Alt`+`Shift`+`E`	Lets you edit a mail-merge document
`Alt`+`Shift`+`F`	Adds a merge field

Work with fields

Keyboard shortcut	Function
`Alt`+`Shift`+`D`	Adds a DATE field
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`L`	Inserts a LISTNUM field
`Alt`+`Shift`+`P`	Adds a PAGE field.
`Alt`+`Shift`+`T`	Insert a TIME field.

11. Work with text in other languages

Set the proofing language

Keyboard shortcut	Function
`Alt`+`R`, `U`, `L`	Opens the Language dialog box which lets you set the proofing language
`Alt`+`R`, `L`	Set default languages.

Use Input Method Editors for East Asian languages

Keyboard shortcut	Function
`Alt`+`~` (Tilde )	Lets you switch to the Japanese Input Method Editor (IME) for a 101-key keyboard, provided it is available
Right `Alt`	Changes to the Korean Input Method Editor (IME) for a 101-key keyboard, if available.
`Ctrl`+`Spacebar`	Switches to the Chinese Input Method Editor (IME) for a 101-key keyboard, provided it is available

12. Work with document views

Switch the document view

Keyboard shortcut	Function
`Alt`+`W`, `F`	Changes to the Read Mode view.
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`P`	Opens the Print Layout view
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`O`	Changes to the Outline view
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`N`	Switches to the Draft view

Outline a document

NOTE

To use these shortcuts, you need to press Ctrl+Alt+O to open the Outline view.

Keyboard shortcut	Function
`Alt`+`Shift`+`Left arrow`	Promotes a paragraph by increasing the font size
`Alt`+`Shift`+`Right arrow`	Demotes a para
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`N`	Demotes a para back to the body text
`Alt`+`Shift`+`Up arrow`	Moves the highlighted para up
`Alt`+`Shift`+`Down arrow`	Moves the highlighted para down
`Alt`+`Shift`+ `+` ( Plus sign)	Expands the text under a heading
`Alt`+`Shift`+ `-` (Minus sign)	Collapse the text under a heading
`Alt`+`Shift`+`A`	Expand/collapse all text or headings available in a document
`/` (Forward slash from the numeric keypad)	Display/Hide the character formatting
`Alt`+`Shift`+`L`	Allows you to switch between showing the first line of body text and all body text
`Alt`+`Shift`+`1`	Displays all headings with the Heading 1 style
`Alt`+`Shift`+Heading level number	Displays all headings with the specified heading level number
`Ctrl`+`Tab`	Allows you to add a tab character

Move through the document in Read Mode

Keyboard shortcut	Function
`Home`	Takes you to the beginning of the document
`End`	Takes you to the end of the document
Type the page number and hit `Enter`	Navigate to a specific page
`Esc`	Closes the Edit mode

13. Use function key shortcuts

Keyboard shortcut	Function
`F1`	Shows the Word help task panel
`Shift`+`F1`	Shows or hides context-sensitive help or the Reveal Formatting task pane
`Ctr`l+`F1`	Displays or hides the ribbon
`Alt`+`F1`	Takes to the next field
`Alt`+`Shift`+`F1`	Takes you to the previous field
`F2`	Press the key, and use the arrow keys to place the cursor where you want to move the text or graphic, then press `Enter`
`Shift`+`F2`	Press the key, then use the arrow keys to take your cursor where you want to copy the text or graphic, then press `Enter`
`Ctrl`+`F2`	Shows the print preview area on the Print tab in the Backstage view.
`Alt`+`Shift`+`F2`	Save the document
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`F2`	Launches the Open dialog box
`Shift`+`F3`	Switches the highlighted text between upper case, lower case, and title case.
`Ctrl`+`F3`	Cuts the highlighted content to the Spike and paste them as a group to another location
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+F3	Paste the contents of the Spike
`Alt`+`F3`	Allows you to create a new Building Block
`F4`	Repeats the last action
`Shift`+`F4`	Repeats the last Go To or Find action
`Ctrl`+`F4`	Closes the current open document
`Alt`+`F4`	Close the complete Word application
F5	Opens the Go To window
`Alt`+`F5`	Restores the size of the window as per the document
`Shift`+`F5`	Places the cursor on the last change made
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F5`	Opens the Bookmark dialog box
`F6`	Enables you to switch between document, task pane, ribbon and status bar;
`Ctrl`+`F6`	Takes you to the next document window, if you have
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F6`	Takes you to the previous document window if you have multiple documents open.
`Shift`+`F6`	Lets you switch between ribbon, document, task pane, and status bar
`Alt`+`F6`	Switches from an open dialog box to a document, provided that dialog box supports it.
`F7`	Opens the Editor task pane to spot spelling and grammar errors in selected text or entire document
`Shift`+`F7`	Opens the Thesaurus task pane
`Alt`+`Shift`+`F7`	Opens the Translator task pane.
`Alt`+`F7`	Takes you to the next grammatical or spelling error
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F7`	Updates the linked formation in a Word source
`Alt`+`F8`	Opens Macro dialog box, wherein you can create, run, edit, or delete a macro
`F9`	Updates the selected fields
`Shift`+`F9`	Switches between a field code and its result
`Ctrl`+`F9`	Adds an empty field
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F9`	Unlink the current field
`Alt`+`F9`	Lets you switch between all field codes and their results
`Alt`+`Shift`+`F9`	Executes GOTO BUTTON or MACRO BUTTON from a field displaying field results
`F10`	Enables/Disables KeyTips
`Shift`+`F10`	Opens the shortcut menu for the selected item
`Ctrl`+`F10`	Restores or maximizes the document window size
`Alt`+`F10`	Opens the Selection task pane
`Alt`+`Shift`+`F10`	Shows the menu or message for available actions
`F11`	Takes you to the next field
`Shift`+`F11`	Takes you back to the previous field
`Ctrl`+`F11`	Locks the current field
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F11`	Unlocks the current field
`Alt`+`F11`	Opens the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications editor
`F12`	Shows the Save As dialog box.
`Shift`+`F12`	Saves a document
`Ctrl`+`F12`	Opens the Open dialog box
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F12`	Opens the Print tab
`Alt`+`Shift`+`F12`	Let you choose the Table of Contents button in the Table of Contents container when a container is active

This is the complete cheat sheet, which contains frequently used and advanced shortcuts to help you navigate, format, print, review, and edit your documents faster than ever.

Remembering them all is not an easy task, so you can take a print of all the shortcuts or save this guide as a bookmark to keep them handy.

If you want to learn about Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts, we have a separate guide for it; click on the link to check it out.

In case you have issues like Winword.exe application error or if your Microsoft Word has stopped working on your PC, we have detailed guides.

Which are your favorite shortcut keys for Microsoft Word? Share them with our readers in the comments section below.