If Microsoft Teams is the main tool your business uses for video conferencing and working together, it would be very helpful to learn the best Microsoft Teams Keyboard Shortcuts so you can be more productive every day. Even though the world of work is changing, with new options for hybrid and remote work making it easier to balance work and life, it’s hard to keep a good schedule. As the job market changes and more hybrid and remote jobs become available, it gets harder and harder to find a good balance between work and life.
Modern employees are always juggling long lists of things to do while actively working with their coworkers through meetings and chat features. To get the most out of the Microsoft Teams platform, it’s important for team members to know how to use all of its features. Although using keyboard shortcuts may not initially seem like a significant time-saver, incorporating them into daily workflows can lead to substantial improvements in overall efficiency over time. Below we have mentioned the best Microsoft Teams Keyboard Shortcuts.
Importance of Keyboard Shortcuts in Microsoft Teams
Shortcuts on the keyboard are a key part of making Microsoft Teams more productive and efficient.
Keyboard shortcuts save time because they let people do different things quickly without having to go through multiple menus or use the mouse. They help save time and cut down on the amount of work needed to do tasks in Teams.
Accessibility: Shortcuts on the keyboard make Teams easier to use for people who have trouble moving around or who prefer to use the keyboard instead of a mouse. By giving different ways to interact, keyboard shortcuts make sure that everyone can find their way around Teams and use it well.
Teams often have more than one conversation, channel, or activity going on at the same time. Users can switch between different sections, move through chats and channels, and do other things without having to stop what they’re doing.
Best Microsoft Teams Keyboard Shortcuts
Microsoft Teams has a number of shortcuts that can help boost productivity and make working together easier. Here are a few of the best ways to save time: Press Ctrl+Shift+M to mute or unmute your microphone. Your camera can be turned on or off by pressing Ctrl+Shift+O. To start a new chat, press Ctrl+Shift+C. Access the search bar by pressing Ctrl+E. To open a new tab, press Ctrl+Shift+T. For the command box to appear, press Ctrl+Shift+G. These shortcuts can save time and make it easy to move around in Teams, so users can focus on their work and talk to each other more effectively.
General Shortcuts:
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + N | Start a new chat or conversation |
| Ctrl + Shift + M | Toggle mute |
| Ctrl + Shift + O | Toggle video |
| Ctrl + F | Search within Teams |
| Ctrl + E | Go to the search bar |
| Ctrl + . | Open the command box |
| Ctrl + Shift + L | Switch between calls, chats, and meetings |
| Ctrl + , | Open settings |
| Esc | Close the current menu or dialog box |
| Ctrl + Alt + 1 | Go to Activity feed |
Navigation Shortcuts:
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + 1 | Go to Activity feed |
| Ctrl + 2 | Go to Chat |
| Ctrl + 3 | Go to Teams |
| Ctrl + 4 | Go to Meetings |
| Ctrl + 5 | Go to Calls |
| Ctrl + 6 | Go to Files and SharePoint |
| Ctrl + Shift + Space | Expand or collapse the command list |
| Ctrl + Shift + N | Start a new chat or conversation with a group |
| Ctrl + Shift + C | Start a new channel conversation |
| Ctrl + Shift + B | Open the “Calls” tab |
| Ctrl + Shift + P | Open the “Files” tab |
Chat Shortcuts:
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + K | Open the search box |
| Ctrl + Shift + A | Attach a file or media |
| Ctrl + Shift + T | Start a new chat |
| Ctrl + Shift + R | Reply to a thread |
| Ctrl + Enter | Send the message |
| Ctrl + Backspace | Delete the previous word |
| Alt + Up Arrow | Edit the previous message |
| Alt + Down Arrow | Edit the next message |
| Ctrl + Shift + U | Show all unread messages |
| Ctrl + Shift + F | Go to the next search result |
Messaging and Conversations
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + N | Start a new chat |
| Ctrl + Shift + N | Start a new chat in a separate window |
| Ctrl + Shift + T | Open your most recent chat |
| Ctrl + Shift + U | Mark as unread |
| Alt + Shift + 1 | Go to the next section or item |
| Alt + Shift + 2 | Go to the previous section or item |
| Enter | Send a message |
| Shift + Enter | Start a new line in a message |
Meetings and Calls
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + N | Schedule a meeting |
| Ctrl + Shift + N | Start an unscheduled meeting |
| Ctrl + Shift + D | Decline an incoming call |
| Ctrl + Shift + A | Accept an incoming call |
| Ctrl + Shift + C | Start an audio call |
| Ctrl + Shift + V | Start a video call |
Files and Attachments
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + O | Open files and attachments |
| Ctrl + S | Save files and attachments |
Formatting and Editing
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + B | Bold selected text |
| Ctrl + I | Italicize selected text |
| Ctrl + U | Underline selected text |
| Ctrl + Shift + X | Strikethrough selected text |
| Ctrl + Shift + > | Increase text size |
| Ctrl + Shift + < | Decrease text size |
| Ctrl + Shift + C | Copy formatting |
| Ctrl + Shift + V | Paste formatting |
Accessibility
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + / | Show available keyboard shortcuts |
| Ctrl + Alt + 1 | Toggle High Contrast mode |
| Ctrl + Alt + 2 | Toggle Full Screen mode |
| Ctrl + Alt + 3 | Toggle Compact mode |
| Ctrl + Alt + 4 | Toggle Focus mode |
| Ctrl + Alt + 5 | Toggle Zoom mode |
Best Microsoft Teams Keyboard Shortcuts for Different Platforms
Microsoft Teams has a number of useful shortcuts for different platforms that can help you be more productive and communicate more easily. On Windows and macOS, you can use Ctrl+E to move the focus to the search bar, Ctrl+Shift+M to start a new chat, Ctrl+Shift+A to accept an incoming call, and Ctrl+Shift+D to turn it down. On mobile devices, you can quickly start a new chat or call by pressing the (+) button next to the Compose button. You can also swipe right on a message to reply to it right away.
For Windows:
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+E | Search |
| Ctrl+Shift+M | Start a new chat |
| Ctrl+Shift+G | Go to the next unread group or team |
| Ctrl+1 | Go to Activity |
| Ctrl+2 | Go to Chat |
| Ctrl+3 | Go to Teams |
| Ctrl+4 | Go to Calendar |
| Ctrl+5 | Go to Calls |
| Ctrl+6 | Go to Files |
| Ctrl+Shift+1 | Open the command box |
| Ctrl+Shift+6 | Mark as unread |
For Mac:
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| Command+E | Search |
| Command+Shift+M | Start a new chat |
| Command+Shift+G | Go to the next unread group or team |
| Command+1 | Go to Activity |
| Command+2 | Go to Chat |
| Command+3 | Go to Teams |
| Command+4 | Go to Calendar |
| Command+5 | Go to Calls |
| Command+6 | Go to Files |
| Command+Shift+1 | Open the command box |
| Command+Shift+6 | Mark as unread |
For Web:
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+E | Search |
| Ctrl+Shift+M | Start a new chat |
| Ctrl+Shift+G | Go to the next unread group or team |
| Ctrl+1 | Go to Activity |
| Ctrl+2 | Go to Chat |
| Ctrl+3 | Go to Teams |
| Ctrl+4 | Go to Calendar |
| Ctrl+5 | Go to Calls |
| Ctrl+6 | Go to Files |
| Ctrl+Shift+1 | Open the command box |
| Ctrl+Shift+6 | Mark as unread |
How to Access Microsoft Teams Shortcuts?
To access Microsoft Teams shortcuts, follow these steps:
- Start the Microsoft Teams application on your computer.
- Sign in with your Microsoft Teams account credentials. Create a free account if needed.
- Navigate to your activity feed or default Teams view after signing in.
- Access the command bar by pressing Ctrl + / (Windows) or Command + / (Mac). This will open the command bar at the top of the screen.
- View the available shortcuts by typing a forward slash (/) followed by a letter or word in the command bar. Teams will display a dropdown menu with relevant shortcuts and commands.
- Utilize the shortcuts by either clicking on them in the dropdown menu or using the up and down arrow keys to navigate through the list. Press Enter to select the desired shortcut.
FAQs
Inside Microsoft Teams, it’s easy to get to the list of keyboard shortcuts. Go to the Search field by pressing Ctrl+E in the desktop app or Ctrl+Alt+E in the web app, typing /keys, and then pressing Enter.
Keyboard shortcuts for chats, teams, calls and searching for information: Ctrl + 1+ 2 + 3 – Navigate up and down the left navigation bar. (e.g. Ctrl + 1 = activity feed; Ctrl + 2 = chat; Ctrl + 3 = teams, etc.)
Alt+J is a keyboard shortcut that adjusts the alignment of text in a file. Alt-J is also a band that takes its name from a key combination originally used to create the Greek letter delta (Δ) on an Apple computer.
identified six universal shortcuts: reciprocity, consensus, liking, consistency, scarcity, and authority. 1 (See back for details.) After years of research, Cialdini thinks that marketers can be more persuasive if they understand and use six shortcuts for making decisions. And make more money.
