Google Docs keyboard shortcuts for Mac
53 shortcuts · Updated
These are the default Google Docs keyboard shortcuts on macOS, taken from Google's official shortcuts reference. Docs is a web app, so they work the same in Chrome, Safari, or any browser on your Mac. Press Cmd+/ inside any document to pull up the full searchable list at any time.
Nothing matches - try fewer letters, or an action word like "close" or "split".
Or stop looking them up. Super Shortcuts puts the Google Docs commands you actually use one hyper key away: hold it, see every command for the app you're in, release a key to run it. No memorizing - the cheat sheet is the shortcut.
Get Super ShortcutsCommon actions13
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Command Shift V⌘⇧V | Paste without formatting |
| Command Z⌘Z | Undo |
| Command Shift Z⌘⇧Z | Redo |
| Command F⌘F | Find in the document |
| Command Shift H⌘⇧H | Find and replace |
| Command G⌘G | Find again |
| Command K⌘K | Insert or edit a link |
| Option Return⌥↩ | Open the link under the cursor |
| Command Return⌘↩ | Insert a page break |
| Command Y⌘Y | Repeat the last action |
| Command P⌘P | |
| Option /⌥/ | Search the menus (tool finder) |
| Command /⌘/ | Show the full keyboard shortcuts list |
Text formatting11
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Command B⌘B | Bold |
| Command I⌘I | Italic |
| Command U⌘U | Underline |
| Command Shift X⌘⇧X | Strikethrough |
| Command .⌘. | Superscript |
| Command ,⌘, | Subscript |
| Command Shift .⌘⇧. | Increase font size |
| Command Shift ,⌘⇧, | Decrease font size |
| Command Option C⌘⌥C | Copy text formatting |
| Command Option V⌘⌥V | Paste text formatting |
| Command \⌘\ | Clear formatting |
Paragraph styles & alignment10
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Command Option 0⌘⌥0 | Apply normal text style |
| Command Option 1⌘⌥1 | Apply Heading 1 (Cmd+Opt+1 through 6 for each level) |
| Command Option 2⌘⌥2 | Apply Heading 2 |
| Command Option 3⌘⌥3 | Apply Heading 3 |
| Command Shift L⌘⇧L | Left align |
| Command Shift E⌘⇧E | Center align |
| Command Shift R⌘⇧R | Right align |
| Command Shift J⌘⇧J | Justify |
| Command ]⌘] | Increase paragraph indentation |
| Command [⌘[ | Decrease paragraph indentation |
Lists3
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Command Shift 7⌘⇧7 | Numbered list |
| Command Shift 8⌘⇧8 | Bulleted list |
| Command Shift 9⌘⇧9 | Checklist |
Comments, footnotes & modes6
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Command Option M⌘⌥M | Insert a comment |
| Command Option Shift A⌘⌥⇧A | Open the discussion thread |
| Command Option F⌘⌥F | Insert a footnote |
| Command Option Shift X⌘⌥⇧X | Switch to suggesting mode |
| Command Option Shift Z⌘⌥⇧Z | Switch to editing mode |
| Command Option Shift C⌘⌥⇧C | Switch to viewing mode |
Navigation & outline3
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Control Command A, then Control Command H⌃⌘A⌃⌘H | Show the document outline (hold Ctrl+Cmd, press A then H) |
| Control Command N, then Control Command H⌃⌘N⌃⌘H | Move to the next heading (hold Ctrl+Cmd, press N then H) |
| Control Command P, then Control Command H⌃⌘P⌃⌘H | Move to the previous heading (hold Ctrl+Cmd, press P then H) |
Menus7
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Control Option F⌃⌥F | Open the File menu |
| Control Option E⌃⌥E | Open the Edit menu |
| Control Option V⌃⌥V | Open the View menu |
| Control Option I⌃⌥I | Open the Insert menu |
| Control Option O⌃⌥O | Open the Format menu |
| Control Option T⌃⌥T | Open the Tools menu |
| Control Option H⌃⌥H | Open the Help menu |
Curated from the official Google Docs keyboard shortcuts (Google Help, Mac). Defaults only - shortcuts you've remapped will differ.
Frequently asked questions
How do I see all keyboard shortcuts in Google Docs?
Press ⌘/ inside any document to open a searchable overlay with every Google Docs shortcut. You can also find the same list under Help → Keyboard shortcuts.
Can I customize keyboard shortcuts in Google Docs?
No - Google Docs does not let you rebind its shortcuts. The closest thing is the tool finder (⌥/), which searches every menu command by name so you can run anything without memorizing its shortcut.
Which Google Docs shortcuts should I learn first?
Start with paste without formatting (⌘⇧V) and the heading styles (⌘⌥1 through ⌘⌥6, ⌘⌥0 for normal text) - they cover most of the formatting work in a typical document. Then add ⌘⌥M to drop comments without touching the mouse.