ChatGPT's web app has a compact set of shortcuts that are mostly about managing conversations rather than composing text. They apply to the browser version and the desktop apps, and they use Cmd on macOS and Ctrl elsewhere — the table writes both because the app itself does. The definitive list is inside the app: press Cmd/Ctrl + / and it shows the bindings for your platform.
Chat Management 6
Message Input 6
Response Control 3
Copy & Share 3
Navigation 6
Settings & Other 4
The three you will actually use
Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + O starts a new chat from anywhere, including mid-response, and is the one worth learning first because the alternative is scrolling the sidebar to the top. Shift + Enter inserts a newline in the composer while Enter sends, so multi-line prompts are possible without a mouse. Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + ; hides and shows the sidebar, which matters on a laptop screen where the conversation column is otherwise narrow.
Editing and re-running
Pressing Up Arrow in an empty composer opens your previous message for editing, the same convention as a terminal. Editing creates a new branch of the conversation rather than overwriting, and Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + Up/Down flips between the response versions that result. Cmd/Ctrl + R regenerates the last response, and Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + S stops a response that is heading somewhere useless — stopping early does not delete what was already written.
Copying without the buttons
Cmd/Ctrl + C with nothing selected copies the last code block, which is usually what you want after asking for a script. Cmd/Ctrl + K wraps the composer selection in a code block so pasted code keeps its indentation. Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + L copies a share link for the conversation, and Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + M opens the model picker, which is quicker than the dropdown when you switch models often.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the official list of ChatGPT shortcuts?
Inside the app: press Cmd/Ctrl + / to open the shortcut panel. It reflects the current version and your operating system.
Do these work in the ChatGPT desktop app?
Yes. The desktop apps for macOS and Windows use the same bindings as the web app, plus a global shortcut for the companion window that is set in the app's settings.
How do I send a message without Enter?
You cannot rebind it, but Shift + Enter adds a line without sending, so long prompts are safe to write in the composer.
Does Up Arrow overwrite my previous message?
No. Editing a previous message creates a new branch; the original response is kept and you can switch between versions with Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + Up/Down.