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Outlook is the main email platform for many businesses and groups today. It’s easy to connect to third-party email servers, and because it’s a Microsoft tool, it’s popular and well-known. Like other email programs and a lot of other software, Outlook has some Best Outlook Keyboard Shortcuts great options that can make it even easier to use. Before we talk about those, there are a few basics you should know. It’s nice to have a mouse, but with a little practice, you can work faster by doing many of your inbox chores with the keyboard.
In fact, you and your team can save 15 minutes or more every day by taking just a few minutes to learn some techniques. Keyboard shortcuts can not only help you get more done, but they can also keep you from getting the kind of repeated stress injuries that can happen when you use a mouse a lot. Some people who have trouble walking or seeing can also use these short cuts. These short cuts in Word are also very useful to know.
Why Utilize Outlook Keyboard Shortcuts?
Using keyboard shortcuts in Microsoft Outlook can make it much easier to handle your emails and talk to people. Here are a few reasons why it’s helpful to use keyboard tools in Outlook:
- Multitasking: You can switch between different parts of Outlook, like your email, calendar, and tasks, without stopping what you’re doing by using keyboard shortcuts.
- Quick Access to Functions: Shortcuts on the keyboard give you quick access to functions you use often, such as sending new emails, marking messages as read or unread, and removing emails.
- Reduced Reliance on the Mouse: Using the mouse less can make your hands and wrists less tired, which could reduce the risk of repetitive strain injuries.
- Consistency: Many keyboard tools work the same way in Outlook and other Microsoft Office programs. Once you know them, you can use them in other Office programs, which will make you more productive overall.
Best Outlook Keyboard Shortcuts
Because using keyboard shortcuts eliminates the need to navigate through menus and options, you will be able to complete tasks more rapidly with their assistance. When a high volume of emails needs to be processed, the benefits of this efficiency become more readily evident.
General Shortcuts:
Shortcut | Description |
---|---|
Ctrl + 1 | Switch to Mail view |
Ctrl + 2 | Switch to Calendar view |
Ctrl + 3 | Switch to Contacts view |
Ctrl + 4 | Switch to Tasks view |
Ctrl + 5 | Switch to Notes view |
Ctrl + 6 | Switch to Folder List |
Ctrl + Shift + I | Switch to Inbox |
Ctrl + Shift + O | Switch to Outbox |
Ctrl + Shift + M | Create a new email |
Ctrl + N | Create a new item (email, appointment, etc.) |
Ctrl + Shift + A | Create a new appointment |
Ctrl + Shift + C | Create a new contact |
Ctrl + Shift + Q | Create a new meeting request |
Ctrl + Shift + L | Create a new distribution list |
Ctrl + Shift + U | Create a new task |
Task Management:
Shortcut | Description |
---|---|
Ctrl + N | New task |
Ctrl + O | Open the selected task |
Ctrl + S | Save and close the task |
Ctrl + Shift + K | New task request |
Ctrl + Shift + Y | Copy the selected task to a different folder |
Ctrl + Shift + V | Move the selected task to a different folder |
Calendar Shortcuts:
Shortcut | Description |
---|---|
Ctrl + N | Create a new appointment |
Ctrl + Shift + A | Create a new appointment from any view |
Ctrl + Alt + 3 | Switch to 3-day view |
Ctrl + Alt + 5 | Switch to Work Week view |
Ctrl + Alt + 7 | Switch to 7-day view |
Ctrl + Alt + 1 | Switch to 1-day view |
Ctrl + Alt + M | Open the Meeting tab |
Ctrl + G | Go to a specific date |
Ctrl + 1 (within calendar) | Switch to Day view |
Ctrl + 2 (within calendar) | Switch to Work Week view |
Ctrl + 3 (within calendar) | Switch to Month view |
Email Shortcuts:
Shortcut | Description |
---|---|
Ctrl + R | Reply to an email |
Ctrl + Shift + R | Reply to all in an email |
Ctrl + F | Forward an email |
Ctrl + N (within email) | Create a new email while reading an email |
Ctrl + Enter | Send an email |
Ctrl + Shift + K | Add a new task from an email |
Ctrl + Shift + V | Move an email to a folder |
Ctrl + Q | Mark an email as read |
Ctrl + U | Mark an email as unread |
Ctrl + Shift + J | Mark an email as junk |
Contacts Management:
Shortcut | Description |
---|---|
Ctrl + N | New contact |
Ctrl + Shift + C | New contact group |
Ctrl + Shift + Q | New contact from the same company |
Ctrl + D | Delete the selected contact |
Ctrl + Shift + V | Move contact to a folder |
Ctrl + Shift + P | Print the selected contact |
Best Outlook Keyboard Shortcuts for Different Platforms
Whether you use the Windows, Mac, or web-based version of Outlook, you can benefit from learning these time-saving shortcuts. This will improve the quality and efficiency of your Outlook experience. You may adjust Outlook’s default keyboard shortcuts to better suit your needs and productivity.
Mac Outlook Shortcuts:
Shortcut | Description |
---|---|
Cmd + 1 | Switch to Mail view |
Cmd + 2 | Switch to Calendar view |
Cmd + 3 | Switch to Contacts view |
Cmd + R | Reply to an email |
Cmd + F | Forward an email |
Cmd + N | Create a new email |
Cmd + Enter | Send an email |
Cmd + Shift + V | Move an email to a folder |
Cmd + Q | Mark an email as read |
Cmd + U | Mark an email as unread |
Windows Outlook Shortcuts:
Shortcut | Description |
---|---|
Ctrl + 1 | Switch to Mail view |
Ctrl + 2 | Switch to Calendar view |
Ctrl + 3 | Switch to Contacts view |
Ctrl + R | Reply to an email |
Ctrl + F | Forward an email |
Ctrl + N | Create a new email |
Ctrl + Enter | Send an email |
Ctrl + Shift + V | Move an email to a folder |
Ctrl + Q | Mark an email as read |
Ctrl + U | Mark an email as unread |
Outlook on the Web Shortcuts:
Shortcut | Description |
---|---|
Ctrl + 1 (or 1) | Switch to Mail view |
Ctrl + 2 (or 2) | Switch to Calendar view |
Ctrl + 3 (or 3) | Switch to People view |
R (while viewing an email) | Reply to an email |
F (while viewing an email) | Forward an email |
N (while in Mail) | Create a new email |
Ctrl + Enter | Send an email |
Ctrl + Shift + J | Mark an email as junk |
Ctrl + Q | Mark an email as read |
FAQs
A: In Outlook, keyboard shortcuts are sets of keys that let you do different things quickly and without using your mouse or trackpad. They make it easy to move around in the Outlook interface, handle emails, set up meetings, and perform other tasks.
A: Shortcuts on the keyboard are turned on by default in Outlook. Just start Outlook and use the keyboard tools right away. But if you want to change the shortcuts or see a list of them, you can go to the “Options” or “Settings” page in Outlook and choose “Keyboard Shortcuts” or something similar.
A: No, Outlook doesn’t have any built-in ways to make your own computer shortcuts. But you can use software or tools from outside Outlook that let you assign keyboard shortcuts to certain Outlook features. Most of the time, these tools give you more freedom to change methods to suit your needs.