Slack keyboard shortcuts
This searchable reference lists the Slack shortcuts that keep team chat fast — navigation, handling unreads, messaging and formatting, files, and calls — with the correct keys for both macOS and Windows. They apply to the Slack desktop app, where the full set is supported.
How it works
Slack combines Command (macOS) or Ctrl (Windows) with Shift for most commands, such as the quick switcher and jumping between views, while a few actions like marking read use Escape on its own. Message formatting mirrors common editor keys — Command/Ctrl B for bold and Command/Ctrl Shift C for a code block. Pick your operating system, search for an action, and each row shows the exact keys.
Essential shortcuts at a glance
A few of the most-used Slack shortcuts across both systems:
| Action | macOS | Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Open quick switcher | ⌘ K | Ctrl K |
| Mark channel as read | Esc | Esc |
| Mark ALL as read | ⇧ Esc | Shift Esc |
| Start or join a huddle | ⌘ ⇧ H | Ctrl Shift H |
| Bold text | ⌘ B | Ctrl B |
| Inline code | ⌘ ⇧ C | Ctrl Shift C |
| Jump to unreads | ⌘ ⇧ A | Ctrl Shift A |
| Show all shortcuts | ⌘ / | Ctrl / |
| Edit last message | ↑ (in empty box) | ↑ (in empty box) |
| React to a message (hover) | R | R |
Three workflows that save the most time
Navigation without a mouse. Use ⌘ K (or Ctrl K) to open the quick switcher and type the first few letters of any channel or person. Learning this one shortcut alone can cut context-switching time in half for heavy Slack users who otherwise scroll the sidebar.
Clearing notifications fast. Press Esc to mark the current channel as read without scrolling through every message. Press ⇧ Esc once to mark every channel as read in one keystroke — useful first thing in the morning when you need to start fresh rather than work through overnight noise.
Composing and formatting. Slack’s message box supports the same modifier keys as many text editors. ⌘/Ctrl I for italic, ⌘/Ctrl B for bold, ⌘/Ctrl ⇧ X for strikethrough, and ⌘/Ctrl ⇧ C for an inline code span. For a code block that preserves indentation, use ⌘/Ctrl ⇧ ⌥ C (macOS) or Ctrl Shift Alt C (Windows).
Notes
A couple of actions — like reacting to a message — are triggered by hovering over a message and pressing a key, rather than a global key combination. The full reference and its search run in your browser; nothing you type is uploaded. In the Slack browser tab, some shortcuts conflict with browser defaults, so install the desktop app for the complete set.