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.
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.
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.
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%.
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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.
Glad we could bring more shortcuts to your attention
Do you have short cuts for those using chromebook and google docs? If so, please point me to them.
You should be able to use the Windows shortcuts but we will certainly keep an eye out should there be chromebook specific shortcuts
Nice to see the short cuts for Windows or Mac.
Linux seems not to exist…
Linux should be able to use the same commands as Windows
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?
Thanks so much, hope we, the beginners, get more help!
I want to disable all keyboard shortcuts in Wp blog. how it is possible? Help
What is the shortcut key for “underline” and “remove underline”?
Thanks
Matteo
Ctrl + u = Underline
what is the keyboard shortcut for changing the font color ?
Thanks
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.
Hello Team,
Alt + Shift + p = Publish is not valid This one key use for page break option on visual editor.
Thanks.
i agree – alt shift p inserts a page break
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
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!
If you are a shortcut junkie there is only one program and it’s name is TextExpander.
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!
We are glad you found it helpful.
is there a shortcuts for h2?
Alt + Shift + 2 = Heading 2
Thanks for some great tips
Thanks bro for great sharing
Do you know if there is a shortcut for updating or publising a page? That would really help
Hey this is so cool. Thank you
Just Awesome…
TinyMCE generally tells you in the tooltip for that item too. Just hover over it for a reminder.
As a shortcut junkie, this is awesome. I didn’t even know there were any shortcuts for the comment screen.
Never knew that. Thanks for sharing, really useful.
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.
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
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
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.
How to run these keyboard shortcuts in the text editor and not the visual one?