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If you use Google Calendar in Chrome on a laptop or desktop, you might not need to use the keyboard or mouse as much as you think. Yes, you got it: No need to click over and over to move through many months. There is no drop-down menu to choose from to change the calendar view. And you don’t have to click or tap more than once to get to the event information.
Right out of the box, Google Calendar is a useful tool. It helps you get more done and stay prepared with the great features of the Calendar. But there’s no tool that keyboard shortcuts can’t make better and more useful. Lucky for us, Google also thought about that. Because of this, Google Calendar has a whole set of shortcut keys to make using the tool as easy as possible.
Importance Of Google Calendar Keyboard Shortcuts
Using keyboard shortcuts for Google Calendar has a number of perks that can make you much more productive and efficient when using the app. Here’s why it’s important to use keyboard tools in Google Calendar:
- Time-saving: Using keyboard shortcuts to do things is much faster than using a mouse to move through choices. This is especially helpful when you need to add events, change views, or do other common tasks fast.
- Efficient Navigation: You can quickly switch between different calendar views, like day, week, month, and agenda views, by using computer shortcuts. This lets you see a bigger picture of your plan without having to click a lot.
- Easy Event Creation: You can quickly add new events to your calendar using keyboard keys. This can include setting event names, places, times, and reminders without having to take your hands off the keyboard.
Best Google Calendar Keyboard Shortcuts
If you rely on the mouse too heavily, you could end up with repetitive strain injuries or just be uncomfortable. The usage of keyboard shortcuts reduces the amount of mouse movement that is required, resulting in improved ergonomics and decreased muscle strain. When using Google Calendar on several devices and operating systems, using keyboard shortcuts offers a standardized method of interacting with the service. The majority of keyboard shortcuts are universal, meaning that you can use them with a desktop computer, a laptop, or even a tablet that has a keyboard attachment.
Navigation Shortcuts:
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| J | Move to the next date range |
| K | Move to the previous date range |
| T | Move to today’s date |
| N or P | Move to the next or previous period |
| L | Switch between day, week, and month view |
| 1 to 4 | Switch to different views (Day, Week, Month, Agenda) |
| G + C | Create a new event |
| G + D | Switch to the “Day” view |
| G + W | Switch to the “Week” view |
| G + M | Switch to the “Month” view |
Event Creation and Editing:
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| C | Create a new event |
| E or Enter | Edit the selected event |
| D | Delete the selected event |
| / | Quick event creation |
| Esc | Cancel event creation/editing |
| S | Save the changes made to an event |
Date and Time Navigation:
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Tab | Move to the next element |
| Shift + Tab | Move to the previous element |
| Space | Select or deselect a checkbox |
| + or – | Increase or decrease the date or time |
| M | Open the date and time picker |
| H | Set the focus to the hours field |
| M | Set the focus to the minutes field |
| AM/PM | Switch between AM and PM |
| / | Move to the next part of the date or time field |
| Esc | Close the date and time picker |
View and Appearance:
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| D | Toggle “Day” view |
| W | Toggle “Week” view |
| M | Toggle “Month” view |
| A | Toggle “Agenda” view |
| X | Toggle “All-Day” events |
| H | Toggle “Hide weekends” |
| T | Toggle “Today” marker |
| Esc | Close pop-up windows |
Best Google Calendar Keyboard Shortcuts for Different Platforms
You are able to personalize the keyboard shortcuts that are used by Google Calendar to suit your own needs. Consider personalizing specific keyboard shortcuts to something that makes more sense to you if you find that you have a hard time remembering them or that they don’t correspond with your muscle memory.
Android:
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| r | Refresh |
| t | Jump to today |
| d | Day view |
| w | Week view |
| m | Month view |
| s | Schedule view |
| l | List view |
| c | Create a new event |
| f | Forward a single day in day view |
| b | Backward a single day in day view |
| n | Move to the next event |
| p | Move to the previous event |
| Alt + s | Search |
| Alt + c | Jump to a specific date |
iOS:
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| r | Refresh |
| t | Jump to today |
| d | Day view |
| w | Week view |
| m | Month view |
| s | Schedule view |
| l | List view |
| c | Create a new event |
| f | Forward a single day in day view |
| b | Backward a single day in day view |
| n | Move to the next event |
| p | Move to the previous event |
| s | Search |
| j | Jump to a specific date |
Web:
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| c | Create a new event |
| d | Day view |
| w | Week view |
| m | Month view |
| x or 3 | Next view |
| p or 1 | Previous view |
| t | Today’s date |
| k or s | Search |
| l | Jump to a specific date |
| n | Create a new event from any view |
| e | Edit an event |
| z or y | Undo |
| a | Calendar settings |
| / | Jump to the search bar |
| , | Move to the previous date range |
| . | Move to the next date range |
| Enter | Open an event or select a task |
| Esc | Close an event or task |
| Tab | Move to the next field in an event |
| Shift + Tab | Move to the previous field in an event |
| Ctrl + S | Save an event or task |
| Ctrl + Shift + 1-6 | Switch between calendar views (day, week, month, custom, year, schedule) |
How to Use Google Calendar Keyboard Shortcuts effectively?
To use Google Calendar keyboard tools well, you need to learn them, use them often, and work them into your normal routine. Here’s a step-by-step guide to using keyboard tools in Google Calendar:
- Print or Show Shortcuts: You can print a list of keyboard shortcuts or keep them open on a different screen while you use Google Calendar. This is a quick guide until you learn the most important steps by heart.
- Practice often: Practice is the key to getting better at anything. When you use Google Calendar, try to use computer shortcuts as often as possible. The more you use them, the easier they will become.
- Start Slowly: At first, focus on just a few important shortcuts that will make the biggest difference in your efficiency. For instance, shortcuts to make events, change views, and move through days and weeks can be a good place to start.
Question and Answers
1. On your computer, open Google Calendar.
2. In the top right corner, click Settings. Settings.
3. In the “Enable keyboard shortcuts” section, select Yes.
4. At the bottom of the page, click Save.
Use the “Enter” or “Return” key on your computer to save an event after making it or making changes to it.
Use “P” for the previous date and “N” for the next date to quickly move between times.