What is the Slack quick switcher shortcut?

Press Command K on macOS or Ctrl K on Windows to open the quick switcher, then type a channel or person's name to jump straight to that conversation.

How do I mark a channel or all messages as read?

Press Escape to mark the current channel as read, or Shift Escape to mark every message in every channel as read at once.

How do I start a huddle with the keyboard?

Press Command Shift H on macOS or Ctrl Shift H on Windows while viewing a channel or direct message to start or join a huddle in that conversation.

How do I edit my last message quickly?

With the message box empty, press the up arrow to open your most recent message for editing. Make your change and press Enter to save it.

Do these shortcuts work in the Slack browser version?

Most do, but the desktop app supports the full set most reliably. Some combinations may clash with browser shortcuts when you use Slack in a tab, so the desktop app is preferred.

Slack Keyboard Shortcuts

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Slack keyboard shortcuts

This searchable reference lists the Slack shortcuts that keep team chat fast — navigation, handling unreads, messaging and formatting, files, and calls — with the correct keys for both macOS and Windows. They apply to the Slack desktop app, where the full set is supported.

How it works

Slack combines Command (macOS) or Ctrl (Windows) with Shift for most commands, such as the quick switcher and jumping between views, while a few actions like marking read use Escape on its own. Message formatting mirrors common editor keys — Command/Ctrl B for bold and Command/Ctrl Shift C for a code block. Pick your operating system, search for an action, and each row shows the exact keys.

Example

A few of the most-used Slack shortcuts across both systems:

Action	macOS	Windows
Open quick switcher	⌘ K	Ctrl K
Mark channel as read	Esc	Esc
Start a huddle	⌘ ⇧ H	Ctrl Shift H
Bold text	⌘ B	Ctrl B
Show all shortcuts	⌘ /	Ctrl /

Notes

A couple of actions, like reacting to a message, are triggered while hovering over a message rather than by a global key. The whole reference and its search run in your browser; nothing you type is uploaded.