Using Outlook.com Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts can save you time in Outlook.com

Womans hand typing on keyboard of laptop
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by Heinz Tschabitscher
An independent writer who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997.
Updated June 02, 2019

For many repeated tasks, you may find Outlook.com's keyboard shortcuts particularly effective. You don't have to remember them all, and you may already be familiar with some from other email programs and Windows.

Instructions in this article apply to Outlook.com and Outlook Online.

Enable Outlook.com Keyboard Shortcuts

To turn Outlook.com keyboard shortcuts on or off:

  1. Select Settings.

    Selecting settings in Outlook.com.

  2. Select View all Outlook settings.

    Selecting view all outlook settings in Outlook.com.

  3. Select General > Accessibility.

    Selecting accessibility in Outlook.com.

  4. Select Outlook.com.

    Selecting to use Outlook.com shortcuts in Outlook.com.

  5. If you don't want to use Outlook.com keyboard shortcuts, choose one of the following:

  6. Select Save.

  7. Select the X to close Settings.

Use Outlook.com Keyboard Shortcuts

To handle email swiftly in Outlook.com, use the following keyboard shortcuts:

Compose Emails:

  • N: Start a new message.
  • Ctrl+Enter or Alt+S: Send the selected message.
  • R: Reply to the selected message.
  • A or Shift+R: Reply all to the selected message.
  • Shift+F: Forward the selected message.
  • Ctrl+S: Save the selected message as a draft.
  • Esc: Discard the draft.
  • Ctrl+K: Insert a hyperlink.

Additional Email Actions:

  • Ctrl+Z: Undo the last action.
  • Del or Delete: Delete the selected message.
  • Shift+Delete: Permanently delete the selected message.
  • Shift+E: Create a new folder.
  • Q: Mark the selected message as read.
  • U: Mark the select message as unread.
  • Ins or Insert: Flag the selected message
  • E: Archive
  • J: Mark the selected message as junk
  • V: Move to a folder
  • C: Categorize the selected message

Read Email:

  • O or Enter: Open the selected message.
  • Shift+Enter: Open selected message in a new window.
  • Esc: Close the selected message.
  • Ctrl+. (period): Open the next item.
  • Ctrl+, (comma): Open the previous item.
  • X: Expand or collapse a conversation.

View the Email List:

  • Ctrl+A: Select all messages.
  • Esc: Clear all messages.
  • Home or Ctrl+Home: Select the first message.

Navigation and Miscellaneous:

  • Ctrl+Shift+1: Go to Mail.
  • Ctrl+Shift+2: Go to Calendar.
  • Ctrl+Shift+3: Go to People.
  • Ctrl+Shift+4: Go to Tasks.
  • G then I: Go to Inbox.
  • G then D: Go to Drafts.
  • G then S: Go to Sent.
  • / (forward slash): Search your email.
  • ? (question mark): Show help.