Complete Signal keyboard shortcuts reference — 53 shortcuts across 4 categories. Quick reference cheat sheet for Windows & Linux.
Signal Desktop has a fuller keyboard map than most messaging apps, and it is the same on Windows and Linux with Ctrl and on macOS with Cmd. The bindings split into moving between chats, acting on a selected message, and composing; the call shortcuts at the end only apply while a call window is open.
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + T | Navigate by section |
| Alt + Up | Previous chat |
| Alt + Down | Next chat |
| Alt + Shift + Up | Previous unread chat |
| Alt + Shift + Down | Next unread chat |
| Ctrl + 1 | Jump to chat |
| Ctrl + J | Focus oldest unread or last message |
| Ctrl + , | Preferences |
| Ctrl + Shift + L | Open chat menu |
| Ctrl + N | Start new chat |
| Ctrl + F | Search |
| Ctrl + Shift + F | Search in chat |
| Ctrl + Shift + T | Focus composer |
| Ctrl + Shift + M | Open All Media view |
| Ctrl + Shift + J | Open emoji chooser |
| Ctrl + Shift + O | Open sticker chooser |
| Ctrl + Shift + G | Open GIF chooser |
| Ctrl + Shift + Y | Begin recording voice note |
| Ctrl + Shift + A | Archive chat |
| Ctrl + Shift + U | Unarchive chat |
| Ctrl + Up | Scroll to top of list |
| Ctrl + Down | Scroll to bottom of list |
| Ctrl + Shift + C | Close current chat |
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Enter | Default action for selected message |
| Ctrl + D | View selected message details |
| Ctrl + Shift + R | Toggle reply to selected message |
| Ctrl + Shift + E | Toggle emoji-reaction picker for selected message |
| Ctrl + S | Save attachment from selected message |
| Ctrl + Shift + D | Delete selected messages |
| Ctrl + Shift + S | Forward selected messages |
| Shift + F10 | Open context menu for selected message |
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Shift + Enter | Add newline to message |
| Ctrl + Shift + K | Expand composer |
| Ctrl + Enter | Send (in expanded composer) |
| Ctrl + U | Attach file |
| Ctrl + P | Remove draft link preview |
| Ctrl + Shift + P | Remove all draft attachments |
| Up | Edit the previous message |
| Ctrl + B | Mark selected text as bold |
| Ctrl + I | Mark selected text as italic |
| Ctrl + Shift + X | Mark selected text as strikethrough |
| Ctrl + E | Mark selected text as monospace |
| Ctrl + Shift + B | Mark selected text as a spoiler |
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Shift + M | Toggle mute on and off |
| Shift + V | Toggle video on and off |
| Shift + P | Toggle expanded preview on and off |
| Shift + H | Raise or lower your hand (group calls only) |
| Alt + Shift + V | Answer call with video (video calls only) |
| Alt + Shift + A | Answer call without video |
| Alt + Shift + D | Decline call |
| Alt + Shift + C | Start voice call |
| Alt + Shift + Y | Start video call |
| Alt + Shift + E | End call |
Alt + Up and Alt + Down step through the chat list, while the Shift variants (Alt + Shift + Up, Alt + Shift + Down) skip straight to the previous or next unread chat — the pair that clears a morning's messages without the mouse. Ctrl + F searches everything; Ctrl + Shift + F searches within the open chat. Ctrl + N starts a new chat, Ctrl + Shift + A archives the current one and Ctrl + Shift + C closes it. Ctrl + T cycles keyboard focus between the sections of the window.
Select a message with the arrow keys after focusing the message list, then: Ctrl + Shift + R replies, Ctrl + Shift + E opens the reaction picker, Ctrl + Shift + S forwards, Ctrl + S saves an attachment, Ctrl + D shows details (delivery and read receipts) and Ctrl + Shift + D deletes. Shift + F10 opens the same context menu a right-click would.
Shift + Enter inserts a newline and Up in an empty composer edits your previous message. The formatting keys apply to selected text: Ctrl + B, Ctrl + I, Ctrl + Shift + X strikethrough, Ctrl + E monospace and Ctrl + Shift + B spoiler. Ctrl + U attaches a file and Ctrl + Shift + Y starts a voice note. In a call, Shift + M and Shift + V toggle mute and video, and Alt + Shift + E ends it; incoming calls are answered with Alt + Shift + A (audio) or Alt + Shift + V (video).
Alt + Shift + Down. Alt + Shift + Up goes to the previous unread one.
Focus the message list, select the message with the arrow keys, and press Ctrl + Shift + R.
Select the text and press Ctrl + Shift + B. Ctrl + E makes it monospace.
Yes, with Cmd in place of Ctrl. Signal lists the platform-specific set under Help › Keyboard Shortcuts.
Open your assistant with this page preloaded as the source — great for follow-up questions like "which of these work in other apps?"