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WPBeginner» Blog» Beginners Guide» 85+ Most Useful Time Saving WordPress Keyboard Shortcuts

85+ Most Useful Time Saving WordPress Keyboard Shortcuts

Last updated on May 16th, 2019 by Editorial Staff
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85+ Most Useful Time Saving WordPress Keyboard Shortcuts

Did you know that there are some really useful WordPress keyboard shortcuts that can save you a lot of time?

If you want to write faster, or become more productive in managing your WordPress site, then you need to use these shortcuts.

In this article, we will share the most useful WordPress keyboard shortcuts that can help speed up your workflow. We have also updated this guide to add helpful Gutenberg keyboard shortcuts as well.

Most Useful WordPress Keyboard Shortcuts

WordPress Keyboard Shortcuts for Speed and Efficiency

WordPress is a popular website builder and blogging platform that comes with a robust content editor.

The content editor lets you add various types of content including text, images, audio, videos, etc. to your site. You can also customize the formatting for each content type.

Many WordPress beginners use their mouse to access these formatting and styling buttons on the editor. With WordPress keyboard shortcuts, you can rest your hands on the keyboard and edit your posts faster.

The best thing about using WordPress shortcuts is that many of your computer and Microsoft Word shortcuts work similarly in the WordPress content editor.

Below are some of the standard WordPress keyboard shortcuts that you can use for speed and efficiency. They work with both the WordPress block editor and the old classic editor.

WordPress Keyboard Shortcut for Windows users:

  • Ctrl + c = Copy
  • Ctrl + v = Paste
  • Ctrl + b = Bold
  • Ctrl + i = Italic
  • Ctrl + x = Cut
  • Ctrl + a = Select All
  • Ctrl + z = Undo
  • Ctrl + s = Save your changes
  • Ctrl + p = Print
  • Ctrl + u = Underline the selected text
  • Ctrl + k = Convert the selected text into a link
  • Alt + Shift + x = Display the selected text in a monospaced font
  • Alt + Shift + h = Show keyboard shortcuts (Display this help)

WordPress Keyboard Shortcut for Mac users:

  • Command + c = Copy
  • Command + v = Paste
  • Command + b = Bold
  • Command + i = Italic
  • Command + x = Cut
  • Command + a = Select All
  • Command + z = Undo
  • Command + s = Save your changes
  • Command + p = Print
  • Command + u = Underline the selected text
  • Command + k = Convert the selected text into a link
  • Option + Control + x = Display the selected text in a monospaced font
  • Option + Control + h = Show keyboard shortcuts (Display this help)

When you are working in your WordPress page/post editor, you can try out these keyboard shortcuts and see how they work.

Before moving to the next section, we would like to show you how the last shortcut in the above list works. The shortcut Alt + Shift + h (Option + Control + h for Mac) actually is the most useful shortcut because it shows you all the keyboard shortcuts.

When you are in your WordPress page/post editor, you can use this shortcut to see all available keyboard shortcuts in a popup window.

Display WordPress Keyboard Shortcuts Option

Time Saving Gutenberg Keyboard Shortcuts for WordPress Block Editor

The new WordPress Gutenberg editor is a fully block-based editor in which you use various blocks to create content.

The block editor supports all the standard keyboard shortcuts mentioned earlier, but there are more Gutenberg specific keyboard shortcuts.

Below are the most useful Gutenberg keyboard shortcuts that you can use.

Gutenberg Keyboard Shortcut for Windows users:

  • Enter = Add a new block
  • Ctrl + Shift + d = Duplicate the selected block(s)
  • Alt + Shift + z = Remove the selected block(s)
  • Ctrl + Alt + t = Insert a new block before the selected block(s)
  • Ctrl + Alt + y = Insert a new block after the selected block(s)
  • / = Change the block type after adding a new paragraph
  • Esc = Clear selection
  • Ctrl + Shift + z = Redo your last undo
  • Ctrl + Shift + , = Show or hide the settings bar
  • Alt + Shift + o = Open the block navigation menu
  • Alt + Shift + n = Navigate to the next part of the editor
  • Alt + Shift + p = Navigate to the previous part of the editor
  • Alt + F10 = Navigate to the nearest toolbar
  • Ctrl + Shift + Alt + m = Switch between Visual Editor and Code Editor

Gutenberg Keyboard Shortcut for Mac users:

  • Enter = Add a new block
  • / = Change the block type after adding a new paragraph
  • Command + Shift + d = Duplicate the selected block(s)
  • Control + Option + z = Remove the selected block(s)
  • Command + Option + t = Insert a new block before the selected block(s)
  • Command + Option + y = Insert a new block after the selected block(s)
  • Esc = Clear selection
  • Command+ Shift + z = Redo your last undo
  • Command + Shift + , = Show or hide the settings bar
  • Option + Control + o = Open the block navigation menu
  • Option + Control + n = Navigate to the next part of the editor
  • Option + Control + p = Navigate to the previous part of the editor
  • fn + Option + F10 = Navigate to the nearest toolbar
  • Command + Option + Shift + m = Switch between Visual and Code Editor

Keyboard Shortcuts for Classic WordPress Editor

If you are still using the classic WordPress editor, then you are actually missing out on a lot of cool new features and a faster writing experience. We recommend updating WordPress to the latest version or simply deactivate the classic editor plugin.

However, if you must use the old classic editor, then you can take advantage of these keyboard shortcuts.

The classic WordPress editor supports all the standard WordPress keyboard shortcuts mentioned at the top of this article, and some other shortcuts given below.

Classic Editor Keyboard Shortcut for Windows:

  • Ctrl + y = Redo
  • Alt + Shift + [number] = Insert heading sizes, e.g. Alt + Shift + 1 = <h1>, Alt + Shift + 2 = <h2>.
  • Alt + Shift + l = Align Left
  • Alt + Shift + j = Justify Text
  • Alt + Shift + c = Align Center
  • Alt + Shift + d = Strikethrough
  • Alt + Shift + r = Align Right
  • Alt + Shift + u = Unordered List
  • Alt + Shift + a = Insert link
  • Alt + Shift + o = Numeric List
  • Alt + Shift + s = Remove link
  • Alt + Shift + q = Quote
  • Alt + Shift + m = Insert Image
  • Alt + Shift + t = Insert More Tag
  • Alt + Shift + p = Insert Page Break tag
  • Alt + Shift + w = Full screen distraction free writing mode in visual editor mode
  • Alt + Shift + f = Fullscreen distraction free writing in plain text mode

Classic Editor Keyboard Shortcut for Mac users:

  • Command + y = Redo
  • Command + Option + [number] = Insert heading sizes, e.g. Alt + Shift + 1 = h1, Alt + Shift + 2 = h2
  • Command + Option + l = Align Left
  • Command + Option + j = Justify Text
  • Command + Option + c = Align Center
  • Command + Option + d = Strikethrough
  • Command + Option + r = Align Right
  • Command + Option + u = Unordered List
  • Command + Option + a = Insert link
  • Command + Option + o = Numeric List
  • Command + Option + s = Remove link
  • Command + Option + q = Quote
  • Command + Option + m = Insert Image
  • Command + Option + t = Insert More Tag
  • Command + Option + p = Insert Page Break tag
  • Command + Option + w = Full screen distraction free writing mode in visual editor mode
  • Command + Option + f = Fullscreen distraction free writing in plain text mode

WordPress Keyboard Shortcuts for Comments Screen

If you receive a lot of comments, then you can moderate comments quickly using keyboard shortcuts for comment management. However, these shortcuts are not enabled by default.

To enable these keyboard shortcuts, you need to go to Users » Your Profile and check Keyboard Shortcuts checkbox.

Enable Keyboard Shortcuts for Comments Moderation in WordPress

After that, you need to click the Save Profile button and go back to the comments screen in the admin area. The available shortcuts are:

  • J = Next comment (moves the current selection down)
  • K = Previous comment (moves the current selection up)
  • A = Approve comment
  • U = Unapprove comment
  • D = Delete comment
  • R = Reply comment
  • Q = Quick edit a comment
  • Z = Restore Comment from Trash or Undo if you Delete a comment

To select multiple comments press X to check the selected comment and press J or K keys to move to next or previous comment. Once you have selected multiple comments, you can use these keyboard shortcuts to perform bulk actions:

  • Shift + A = Approve checked comments
  • Shift + D = Delete checked comments
  • Shift + U = Unapprove selected comments
  • Shift + T = Move selected comments to trash
  • Shift + Z = Restore selected comments from trash

It might take some time to get used to of these WordPress keyboard shortcuts, but in the long run they will definitely help you save time and speed up the process.

We hope this article helped you to learn the most useful time-saving WordPress keyboard shortcuts. You may also want to see our guide on how to increase your blog traffic by 406%.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

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35 Comments

Leave a Reply
  1. Miki Abatecola says:
    Jul 9, 2019 at 9:36 pm

    As a shortcut junkie, this is awesome. Didn’t realize there were any shortcuts for the comment screen. Good to know. Wish there was a way to eliminate advertisers for pharma from commenting on our site. Thank goodness for moderation.

    Reply
    • WPBeginner Support says:
      Jul 10, 2019 at 10:53 am

      Glad we could bring more shortcuts to your attention :)

      Reply
  2. Peter Floyd says:
    May 24, 2019 at 3:45 pm

    Do you have short cuts for those using chromebook and google docs? If so, please point me to them.

    Reply
    • WPBeginner Support says:
      May 28, 2019 at 1:30 pm

      You should be able to use the Windows shortcuts but we will certainly keep an eye out should there be chromebook specific shortcuts

      Reply
  3. Rudolf Künzli says:
    May 22, 2019 at 4:11 pm

    Nice to see the short cuts for Windows or Mac.
    Linux seems not to exist…

    Reply
    • WPBeginner Support says:
      May 23, 2019 at 11:34 am

      Linux should be able to use the same commands as Windows :)

      Reply
  4. K Williams says:
    Nov 17, 2018 at 5:35 am

    I am searching for a shortcut key to repeat my last action. I use the Alt+Shift+3 daily, and about 50 times daily. Like MS Word, the F4 key repeats my last action. Is there a repeat key for WordPress?

    Reply
  5. Ajibolah says:
    Aug 3, 2017 at 6:55 am

    Thanks so much, hope we, the beginners, get more help!

    Reply
  6. deep says:
    Jun 19, 2017 at 3:08 am

    I want to disable all keyboard shortcuts in Wp blog. how it is possible? Help

    Reply
  7. Matteo Coné says:
    Mar 11, 2017 at 3:21 pm

    What is the shortcut key for “underline” and “remove underline”?
    Thanks
    Matteo

    Reply
    • Mike M says:
      May 10, 2017 at 6:27 pm

      Ctrl + u = Underline

      Reply
  8. Priyadilsha says:
    Oct 1, 2016 at 1:19 am

    what is the keyboard shortcut for changing the font color ?

    Thanks

    Reply
  9. Sajjad says:
    Jul 25, 2016 at 5:05 am

    Hello, and hanks for useful article.
    Is there any way to add my own custom keyboard shortcut to wordpress editor? for example a shortcut to insert ZWNJ.
    thank you again.

    Reply
  10. Ravi Patel says:
    Jun 14, 2016 at 12:54 am

    Hello Team,

    Alt + Shift + p = Publish is not valid This one key use for page break option on visual editor.

    Thanks.

    Reply
    • steve says:
      Apr 27, 2017 at 7:53 am

      i agree – alt shift p inserts a page break

      Reply
      • steve says:
        Apr 27, 2017 at 7:54 am

        i would like to know if there really is a shortcut to publish/update

        i know ctrl s saves a draft, which helps, but it doesnt publish or update

        Reply
  11. Abdul Rauf Bhatti says:
    Mar 11, 2016 at 2:09 am

    Is there any way in this coming version (WordPress 4.5) if i enter data in editor, publish post then after viewing my post i can undo previous data.
    I am asking because current versions of WordPress do not support this fracture.

    Thanks!

    Reply
  12. Scott Fichter says:
    Oct 9, 2015 at 4:13 pm

    If you are a shortcut junkie there is only one program and it’s name is TextExpander.

    Reply
  13. Sherry Hintze says:
    Jul 9, 2015 at 12:41 pm

    Thank you. Just…thank you. As a blind user, I navigate exclusively by keyboard and can’t even seem to find the formatting bar. I’m so relieved to find a resource that allows me to add basic formatting to my WordPress posts!

    I’ve bookmarked this, and you can be sure I’ll be referring to it often!

    Reply
    • WPBeginner Support says:
      Jul 9, 2015 at 4:49 pm

      We are glad you found it helpful.

      Reply
  14. filo says:
    Oct 14, 2014 at 6:22 am

    is there a shortcuts for h2?

    Reply
    • Mike M says:
      May 10, 2017 at 6:30 pm

      Alt + Shift + 2 = Heading 2

      Reply
  15. Raf says:
    Jul 15, 2014 at 4:47 pm

    Thanks for some great tips

    Reply
  16. Mursaleen says:
    Jan 12, 2014 at 1:34 pm

    Thanks bro for great sharing :D

    Reply
  17. Sjoerd Richmond says:
    Nov 25, 2013 at 6:50 am

    Do you know if there is a shortcut for updating or publising a page? That would really help :-)

    Reply
  18. Emily says:
    Nov 4, 2013 at 11:37 am

    Hey this is so cool. Thank you

    Reply
  19. Faysal Shahi says:
    Sep 24, 2013 at 9:20 pm

    Just Awesome…

    Reply
  20. Joseph Dickson says:
    Sep 23, 2013 at 1:35 pm

    TinyMCE generally tells you in the tooltip for that item too. Just hover over it for a reminder.

    Reply
  21. Ben Sibley says:
    Sep 23, 2013 at 11:02 am

    As a shortcut junkie, this is awesome. I didn’t even know there were any shortcuts for the comment screen.

    Reply
  22. Pete says:
    Sep 23, 2013 at 1:56 am

    Never knew that. Thanks for sharing, really useful.

    Reply
  23. Emily says:
    Sep 22, 2013 at 5:45 pm

    I compose in Open Office, where I use a variety of line spacing and font sizes. When I paste, sometimes the line spacing is ajar and often won’t ‘fix.’ I notice you have no shortcuts for line spacing, just as there’s no such choice to click on in the bar above.

    How come, I wonder.

    Reply
  24. Ben Stern says:
    Sep 22, 2013 at 10:36 am

    Great article. Its like anything else in life. Its all according to what you are used to and comfortable with. I personally love shortcuts and use a few of them but not all. Thanks again for the great article. I always find them helpful.

    Ben Stern

    Reply
  25. Del Syllables says:
    Sep 21, 2013 at 3:30 am

    Never really needed such shortcuts… Only during that time when my WordPress had a bug and the visual editor buttons don’t work. Still a great post. They can be useful at a certain point

    Reply
  26. Nik Cree says:
    Sep 20, 2013 at 5:04 pm

    I have ‘stumbled’ on to some of these shortcuts so great to have this list. For us Mac users use the Cmd key, not the Ctrl key.

    Reply
  27. Hemant Aggarwal says:
    Sep 20, 2013 at 1:14 pm

    How to run these keyboard shortcuts in the text editor and not the visual one?

    Reply

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