Slack Keyboard Shortcuts: Bold, Italic, Strikethrough & Code (100)

Q: What are the Slack shortcuts for bold, italic, strikethrough, and inline code?

Bold = Ctrl+B (Cmd+B) · Italic = Ctrl+I (Cmd+I) · Strikethrough = Ctrl+Shift+X (Cmd+Shift+X) · Inline Code = Ctrl+Shift+C (Cmd+Shift+C). Select your text first, then press the shortcut.

Q: How do I bold text in Slack?

Select the text and press Ctrl+B on Windows or Cmd+B on Mac. Alternatively, surround text with asterisks: *bold text*

Q: How do I make italic text in Slack?

Select text and press Ctrl+I on Windows or Cmd+I on Mac. Or wrap text in underscores: _italic text_

Q: How do I strikethrough text in Slack?

Select text and press Ctrl+Shift+X on Windows or Cmd+Shift+X on Mac. Or wrap in tildes: ~strikethrough~

Q: What is the Slack shortcut for inline code?

Press Ctrl+Shift+C (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+C (Mac). For a multi-line code block, use Ctrl+Alt+Shift+C or type three backticks ``` and press Enter.

Q: How do I undo in Slack?

Press Ctrl+Z on Windows or Cmd+Z on Mac to undo your last action in the message composer.

Q: How do I edit my last message in Slack?

Press the Up arrow key in any channel or DM to instantly edit your most recently sent message.

Complete Slack keyboard shortcuts for text formatting, navigation, and messaging — for both Windows and Mac.

Slack basics (20)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Ctrl` + `N or Ctrl` + `Shift` + `K`	Compose a new message	Mac: Cmd + N or Cmd + Shift + K.
`Ctrl` + `Z`	Unsend a message	Mac: Cmd + Z.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Y`	Set your status	Mac: Cmd + Shift + Y.
`Ctrl` + `,`	Open your preferences	Mac: Cmd + ,.
`Left/Right`	Resize the left sidebar	Same on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `.`	Hide the right sidebar	Mac: Cmd + ..
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `N`	Create a new canvas	Mac: Cmd + Shift + N.
`Ctrl` + `O`	Upload a file	Mac: Cmd + O.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `J`	View all downloaded files	Mac: Cmd + Shift + J.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Enter`	Create a new snippet	Mac: Cmd + Shift + Enter.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `	Add an emoji reaction to a message	Mac: Cmd + Shift + ` or Cmd + Shift + # or Cmd + Shift + \ or Cmd + Shift + _ or Cmd + Shift + ¡ or Cmd + Shift + à or Cmd + Shift + 、.
`Ctrl` + `G`	Start a search	Mac: Cmd + G.
`Ctrl` + `F`	Search in the current conversation	Mac: Cmd + F.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `H`	Start, join, leave, or end a huddle	Mac: Cmd + Shift + H.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Space`	Toggle mute on a huddle	Mac: Cmd + Shift + Space.
`F11`	Toggle full screen view	Mac: Ctrl + Cmd + F.
`Ctrl` + `W`	Close window	Mac: Cmd + W.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `W`	Reopen last closed window	Mac: Cmd + Shift + W.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `E`	Open the People view	Mac: Cmd + Shift + E.
`Ctrl` + `Q`	Quit Slack	Mac: Cmd + Q.

Navigate conversations and messages (18)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Ctrl` + `K or Ctrl` + `T`	Jump to a conversation	Same on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `J`	Jump to the most recent unread message in a conversation	Mac: Cmd + J.
`Alt` + `Shift` + `Up`	Jump to previous unread channel or direct message (DM)	Mac: Option + Shift + Up.
`Alt` + `Shift` + `Down`	Jump to next unread channel or DM	Mac: Option + Shift + Down.
`Alt` + `Up`	Jump to previous channel or DM in the sidebar	Mac: Option + Up.
`Alt` + `Down`	Jump to next channel or DM in the sidebar	Mac: Option + Down.
`Alt` + `Left`	Go back in history	Mac: Cmd + [.
`Alt` + `Right`	Go forward in history	Mac: Cmd + ].
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `1`	Open the Home view	Mac: Ctrl + 1.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `2`	Browse DMs	Mac: Cmd + Shift + K.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `M`	Open the Activity view	Mac: Cmd + Shift + M.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `0`	Open the More view	Same on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `T`	Open the Threads view	Mac: Cmd + Shift + T.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `L`	Browse channels	Mac: Cmd + Shift + L.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `I`	Open conversation details	Mac: Cmd + Shift + I.
`F6`	Move focus to the next section	Same on Mac.
`Shift` + `F6`	Move focus to the previous section	Same on Mac.
`Alt` + `Click`	Expand or collapse all sidebar sections	Mac: Option + Click.

Mark messages read or unread (3)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Esc`	Mark all messages in current conversation as read	Same on Mac.
`Shift` + `Esc`	Mark all messages as read	Same on Mac.
`Alt` + `Click`	Mark a message as unread	Mac: Option + Click.

Navigate unread messages (5)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `A`	Open the All unreads view	Mac: Cmd + Shift + A.
`Up` + `Down`	Move between messages	Same on Mac.
`Alt` + `Click`	Mark a message as unread	Mac: Option + Click.
`Esc`	Mark a group of messages as read	Same on Mac.
`Left/Right`	Open or collapse a group of messages	Same on Mac.

Switch workspaces (4)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `S`	Expand or collapse the workspace switcher	Mac: Cmd + Shift + S.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Tab`	Switch to previous workspace	Same on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `Tab`	Switch to next workspace	Same on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `[number]`	Switch to a specific workspace (see assigned number under the workspace icon in the left sidebar of the Slack desktop app)	Same on Mac.

Switch tabs (6)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Ctrl` + `Page up`	Switch to the previous tab	Same on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `Page down`	Switch to the next tab	Same on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `[number]`	Switch to a specific tab (hold Ctrl to see a tab's assigned number in the navigation bar)	Same on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `Page up`	Switch to the previous tab	Same on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `Page down`	Switch to the next tab	Same on Mac.
`Shift` + `Ctrl` + `[number]`	Switch to a specific tab (hold Ctrl to see a tab's assigned number in the navigation bar)	Same on Mac.

Take actions on messages (9)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`E`	Edit a message you sent	Same on Mac.
`Delete`	Delete a message you sent	Same on Mac.
`T` + `Right`	Open or reply to a thread	Same on Mac.
`F`	Forward a message	Same on Mac.
`P`	Pin or unpin a message	Same on Mac.
`A`	Save a message (or remove a message from Later )	Same on Mac.
`U`	Mark all messages above the one in focus as unread	Same on Mac.
`M`	Create a reminder about a message	Same on Mac.
`R`	Add an emoji reaction to a message	Same on Mac.

Format messages (15)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Shift` + `Up`	Select text to beginning of current line	Same on Mac.
`Shift` + `Down`	Select text to end of current line	Same on Mac.
`Shift` + `Enter`	Create a new line	Same on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `B`	Bold selected text	Mac: Cmd + B.
`Ctrl` + `I`	Italicize selected text	Mac: Cmd + I.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `X`	Strikethrough selected text	Mac: Cmd + Shift + X.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `U`	Hyperlink selected text	Mac: Cmd + Shift + U.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `9`	Quote selected text	Mac: Cmd + Shift + 9.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `C`	Code selected text	Mac: Cmd + Shift + C.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Shift` + `C`	Codeblock selected text	Mac: Cmd + Alt + Shift + C.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `8`	Format selected text as a bulleted list	Mac: Cmd + Shift + 8.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `7`	Format selected text as a numbered list	Mac: Cmd + Shift + 7.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `F`	Apply markdown formatting	Mac: Cmd + Shift + F.
`Ctrl` + `Z`	Undo formatting	Mac: Cmd + Z.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `	Add an emoji reaction to a message	Same on Mac.

Format text in a canvas (8)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `0`	Format selected text as paragraph	Mac: Cmd + Option + 0.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `1`	Format selected text as big heading	Mac: Cmd + Option + 1.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `2`	Format selected text as medium heading	Mac: Cmd + Option + 2.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `3`	Format selected text as small heading	Mac: Cmd + Option + 3.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `0`	Format selected text as checklist	Mac: Cmd + Shift + 0.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `8`	Format selected text as bulleted list	Mac: Cmd + Shift + 8.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `7`	Format selected text as numbered list	Mac: Cmd + Shift + 7.
`Ctrl` + `	Toggle heading and list styles	Same on Mac.

Navigate a canvas (12)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `T`	View comment thread	Mac: Cmd + Option + T.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `R`	Show reader or edit view	Mac: Cmd + Option + R.
`Shift` + `F10`	Open context menu	Mac: Cmd + Shift + /.
`Ctrl` + `F`	Find text in the canvas	Mac: Cmd + F.
`Ctrl` + `G`	Find next	Mac: Cmd + G.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `G`	Find previous	Mac: Cmd + Shift + G.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `H`	Find and replace	Mac: Cmd + Shift + H.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Q`	Copy anchor link to section	Mac: Ctrl + Option + Q.
`Ctrl` + `Z`	Undo last action	Mac: Cmd + Z.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Z`	Redo last action	Mac: Cmd + Shift + Z.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Up`	Move item in a formatted list up	Mac: Cmd + Option + Up.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Down`	Move item in a formatted list down	Mac: Cmd + Option + Down.

📜 Source: Slack Help Center — Slack keyboard shortcuts. Windows/Linux keys from Slack’s desktop-app article with the Mac key in the last column; message, canvas and navigation tables are all included. Checked 2026-09-06. How we verify ›

What the ten tables cover

Slack documents its desktop shortcuts in one help article split by task, and the tables above follow that split: basics such as Ctrl + N for a new message and Ctrl + K for the quick switcher, moving between conversations with Alt + Up and Alt + Down, marking messages read or unread, switching workspaces with Ctrl + 1-9, the message-action keys that work on a selected message, the formatting keys most people come here for, and the canvas keys that only apply inside a canvas. The Windows/Linux key is in the first column; where Slack lists a different Mac key it is in the last column, otherwise the Mac key swaps Cmd for Ctrl.

Keys that depend on where the cursor is

Formatting keys act on selected text in the composer; the same keys do nothing when a message is merely highlighted in the channel. Message actions are the reverse: E to edit, R to react and T to reply in a thread work after a message is selected with the arrow keys, not while typing. If a shortcut seems dead, check which of the two states you are in. Ctrl + / opens Slack’s own shortcut list for the installed version, which is the reference when the desktop app and the browser version disagree.

Frequently Asked Questions

📄 View Printable Cheat Sheet — Download as PDF or print · 🧩 Combine with other tools

What are the Slack shortcuts for bold, italic, strikethrough, and inline code?

Bold = Ctrl+B (Cmd+B) · Italic = Ctrl+I (Cmd+I) · Strikethrough = Ctrl+Shift+X (Cmd+Shift+X) · Inline Code = Ctrl+Shift+C (Cmd+Shift+C). Select your text first, then press the shortcut.

How do I bold text in Slack?

Select the text and press Ctrl+B on Windows or Cmd+B on Mac. Alternatively, surround text with asterisks: *bold text*

How do I make italic text in Slack?

Select text and press Ctrl+I on Windows or Cmd+I on Mac. Or wrap text in underscores: _italic text_

How do I strikethrough text in Slack?

Select text and press Ctrl+Shift+X on Windows or Cmd+Shift+X on Mac. Or wrap in tildes: ~strikethrough~

What is the Slack shortcut for inline code?

Press Ctrl+Shift+C (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+C (Mac). For a multi-line code block, use Ctrl+Alt+Shift+C or type three backticks ``` and press Enter.

How do I undo in Slack?

Press Ctrl+Z on Windows or Cmd+Z on Mac to undo your last action in the message composer.

How do I edit my last message in Slack?

Press the Up arrow key in any channel or DM to instantly edit your most recently sent message.

Do Slack formatting shortcuts work on mobile?

On mobile, use the formatting toolbar that appears above the keyboard. Tap the Aa button to reveal bold, italic, strikethrough, and code options. Keyboard shortcuts only apply to desktop.

Can I combine Slack shortcuts with other tools?

Yes — use My Stack to combine Slack shortcuts with any other platform on this site into one printable reference, which is useful if your daily workflow spans several tools.

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