Why do my Gmail keyboard shortcuts not work?

Single-key shortcuts are off by default. Open Settings, then See all settings, then General, and set Keyboard shortcuts to on, then save. After that the keys in this reference will work.

What is the difference between Reply and Reply all in Gmail?

Press r to reply only to the sender, or a to reply to everyone on the message. Use Shift r or Shift a to open the reply in a separate window.

How do I archive an email with the keyboard?

Press e to archive the open conversation or any selected conversations. Archiving removes them from the inbox without deleting them, so they stay searchable in All mail.

How do I navigate between conversations and labels?

Use j and k to move to older and newer conversations, o or Enter to open one, and u to return to the list. Press g then a letter, such as g then i, to jump to a label like Inbox.

Do these shortcuts work on the Gmail mobile app?

No. Keyboard shortcuts apply to Gmail in a desktop web browser with a physical keyboard. The mobile apps use gestures and on-screen buttons instead.

Gmail Keyboard Shortcuts

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Gmail keyboard shortcuts

This searchable reference lists the Gmail shortcuts that help you clear an inbox without reaching for the mouse — compose and reply keys, navigation, message actions, labels and search. Gmail’s shortcuts are mostly single keys, so they are fast once you learn a handful.

How it works

Gmail uses single-letter keys like c to compose, e to archive and r to reply, plus two-key sequences such as g then i to jump to the Inbox. These only work once you turn shortcuts on under Settings, then General. A few combinations, like sending a message, still use Command or Ctrl with Enter. Type an action to filter the list, and each row shows the exact key or sequence.

Example

A few of the most-used Gmail shortcuts:

Action	Keys
Compose a new message	c
Reply all	a
Archive	e
Go to Inbox	g then i
Search mail	/

Notes

If pressing a key types a letter into a field instead of running a command, shortcuts are still off — enable them in Settings first. The whole reference and its search run in your browser; nothing you type is uploaded.