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 and save draft: 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 Shift + 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: Ctrl + [ (or Esc, if enabled) until you are in the default view.

  • Search messages: / or Ctrl + K

  • Filter streams: Q

  • Search people: W

  • Last message: End or Shift + 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 Shift + K

  • Scroll down: PgDn, Shift + J, or Spacebar

  • Go back through viewing history: Alt +

  • Go forward through viewing history: Alt +

Narrowing

  • Narrow to next unread topic: N

  • Narrow to next unread private message: P

  • Narrow to stream: S

  • Narrow to topic or PM conversation: Shift + S

  • Narrow to all private messages: Shift + P

  • Cycle between stream narrows: Shift + A (previous) and Shift + 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: Shift + 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 and save draft: 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 message sender's user card: U

  • View image: V

  • Edit message or view message source: E

  • Move message and (optionally) other messages in the same topic: M

  • Star message: Ctrl + S

  • React with :thumbs_up:: +

  • Mark as unread from selected message: Shift + U

  • Collapse/show message: -

  • Toggle topic mute: Shift + 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 conversations

  • View recent conversations: T

  • Search recent conversations: T

  • Escape from recent conversations search: Esc or arrow keys

  • Navigate recent conversations: 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: Shift + V

  • Toggle subscription: Shift + S