Microsoft Word Keyboard Shortcuts
85+ Word shortcuts for document formatting, styles, navigation, and review. Mac and Windows reference.
General
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| New document | |
| Open document | |
| Save | |
| Save as | |
| Close document | |
| Undo | |
| Redo | |
| Find | |
| Find and replace | |
| Spelling & Grammar check |
Formatting
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Bold | |
| Italic | |
| Underline | |
| Double underline | |
| Word underline | |
| Subscript | |
| Superscript | |
| All caps | |
| Small caps | |
| Hidden text | |
| Remove formatting | |
| Increase font size | |
| Decrease font size | |
| Increase font size 1pt | |
| Decrease font size 1pt |
Paragraphs
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Center align | |
| Left align | |
| Right align | |
| Justify | |
| Single spacing | |
| Double spacing | |
| 1.5 line spacing | |
| Remove space before paragraph | |
| Increase indent | |
| Decrease indent |
Styles
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Apply Heading 1 | |
| Apply Heading 2 | |
| Apply Heading 3 | |
| Apply Normal style | |
| Apply List Bullet style | |
| Insert footnote | |
| Insert endnote |
Selection
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Select all | |
| Extend selection one character | |
| Extend selection one word | |
| Extend to end of line | |
| Extend to start of line | |
| Extend selection mode | |
| Column selection |
Navigation
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Go to start of document | |
| Go to end of document | |
| Move one word | |
| Go to page/section/line | |
| Go to (bookmarks, pages) | |
| Go to last edit position |
Tables
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Move to next cell | |
| Move to previous cell | |
| First cell in row | |
| Last cell in row | |
| First cell in column | |
| Last cell in column |
Insert
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Insert hyperlink | |
| Insert page break | |
| Insert line break | |
| Insert date field | |
| Insert time field | |
| Insert page number |
Review
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Track changes on/off | |
| Close review pane | |
| Insert comment |
View
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Show/hide formatting marks | |
| Print Layout view | |
| Outline view | |
| Draft view | |
| Toggle ribbon |
Pro tips
Use Styles for Consistency
Apply Heading and paragraph styles instead of manual formatting. This ensures consistency and lets you auto-generate tables of contents, update formatting globally, and navigate via the Navigation Pane.
Quick Parts Save Repetition
Save frequently used text blocks as Quick Parts (Insert → Quick Parts → Save Selection). Insert them instantly with a few keystrokes instead of retyping.
Navigate with F5
Press F5 to open the Go To dialog. Jump to specific pages, sections, headings, bookmarks, comments, or footnotes. Shift+F5 jumps back to your last three edit positions.
F4 Repeats Last Action
Press F4 to repeat your last formatting or editing action. Apply the same formatting to multiple selections without using Format Painter each time.
Selection Tricks
Hold Ctrl+click to select non-contiguous text. Double-click to select a word, triple-click for a paragraph. Press F8 to enter extend selection mode for precise control.
Track Changes for Collaboration
Enable Track Changes (Ctrl+Shift+E) when reviewing documents. Accept/reject changes individually or all at once. Combine with Comments for thorough document review.
Frequently asked questions
How do I recover an unsaved Word document?
Go to File → Info → Manage Document → Recover Unsaved Documents. Word auto-saves to a temporary location. You can also check C:\Users\[name]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles on Windows.
How do I create a table of contents?
Apply Heading styles (Heading 1, 2, 3) to your section titles. Then go to References → Table of Contents and choose a style. Click Update Table when content changes.
How do I use Mail Merge?
Go to Mailings → Start Mail Merge. Choose your document type (letters, emails, labels). Select recipients from Excel, Outlook, or a new list. Insert merge fields and preview before finishing.
Can I collaborate in real-time like Google Docs?
Yes, with Word for the web (Office 365) or the desktop app with OneDrive/SharePoint. Share the document and multiple people can edit simultaneously with real-time co-authoring.
How do I reduce file size?
Compress images (File → Options → Advanced → Image Size). Remove personal information (File → Info → Inspect Document). Save as .docx (not .doc). Remove unused styles and building blocks.
What's the difference between .doc and .docx?
.docx is the modern XML-based format (Word 2007+). It's smaller, more reliable, and supports all modern features. .doc is the legacy binary format. Always use .docx unless you need compatibility with very old software.
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