Keyboard shortcuts

Everything in Zulip can be done with the mouse, but mastering a few keyboard shortcuts will change your experience of the app. Start with the basics below, and add more to your repertoire as needed.

The basics

  • Reply to message: r or Enter — Reply to the selected message (outlined in blue).

  • New stream message: c — Start a new topic in the current stream.

  • New private message: x

  • Cancel compose: Esc or Ctrl + [ — Close the compose box and save the unsent message as a draft.

  • View drafts: d — Use the arrow keys and Enter to restore a draft. Press d again to close.

  • Next message: or j

  • Last message: End or G — Also marks all messages in the current view as read.

  • Next unread topic: n

  • Next unread private message: p

  • Search messages: /

  • Toggle keyboard shortcuts view: ?

  • Go to default view: Press Esc or Ctrl + [ until you are in the default view.

  • Search messages: / or Ctrl+k

  • Filter streams: q

  • Search people: w

  • Last message: End or G — Also marks all messages in the current view as read.

  • First message: Home

  • Previous message: or k

  • Next message: or j

  • Scroll up: PgUp or K

  • Scroll down: PgDn, J, or Spacebar

Narrowing

  • Narrow to next unread topic: n

  • Narrow to next unread private message: p

  • Narrow to stream: s

  • Narrow to topic or PM conversation: S

  • Narrow to all private messages: P

  • Cycle between stream narrows: A (previous) and D (next)

  • Narrow to all messages: a — Shows all unmuted messages.

  • Narrow to current compose box recipient: Ctrl + .

Composing messages

  • Reply to message: r or Enter — Reply to the selected message (outlined in blue). Same behavior as clicking on the message.

  • Reply to message, mentioning author: @

  • Reply only to author: R

  • Quote and reply to message: >

  • New stream message: c — For starting a new topic in a stream.

  • New private message: x

In the compose box

  • Send message: Enter, Tab then Enter, and/or Ctrl + Enter, depending on your settings. See enable enter to send.

  • Insert new line: Enter, or Shift + Enter, depending on your settings. See enable enter to send.

  • Insert italic text: *italic* or Ctrl + I

  • Insert bold text: **bold** or Ctrl + B
  • Insert link: [Zulip website](https://zulip.org) or Ctrl + Shift + L

  • Cancel compose: Esc or Ctrl + [ — Close the compose box and save the unsent message as a draft.

Message actions

  • Edit last message: — Open the last editable message in the current view (if any).

For a selected message (outlined in blue)

  • Show sender's profile: u

  • View image: v

  • Edit message: e

  • Star message: Ctrl + s

  • React with :thumbs_up:: +

  • Collapse/show message: -

  • Toggle topic mute: M — Muted topics don't show up in any views (including All messages), and don't contribute to unread counts. Read more about muting topics.

Recent topics

  • View recent topics: t
  • Search recent topics: t
  • Escape from recent topics search: Esc or arrow keys
  • Navigate recent topics: Use arrow keys or vim keys (j, k, l, h).

Use Enter to engage with elements.

Drafts

  • Toggle drafts view: d

Within the drafts view

  • Edit selected draft: Enter

  • Delete selected draft: Backspace

Keyboard navigation (e.g. arrow keys) works as expected.

  • Toggle shortcuts help: ?

  • Toggle gear menu: g

For a selected message (outlined in blue)

  • Toggle emoji reactions menu: :

  • Toggle message actions menu: i

Streams settings page

  • Scroll through streams: and

    Pressing from the first stream in the list moves you to the Filter streams input.

  • Switch between tabs: and — Switch between the Subscribed and All streams tabs.

  • Create new stream: n

For a selected stream

  • View stream messages: V

  • Toggle subscription: S