Apple Mail is likely one of the apps you spend a lot of time using. While Mail is easy to use with most commands available from the menus, there are times when you can increase your productivity by using keyboard shortcuts to speed things up a bit.

Apple Mail Keyboard Shortcuts Organized by Menu Item

You may want to print this keyboard shortcut list to use as a cheat sheet until the most common shortcuts become second nature. You need to familiarize yourself with the modifier keys and their symbols used in the shortcuts. They are:

These keyboard shortcuts apply to Mail version 14, which ships with macOS Big Sur (11) and earlier versions of the application through Mail version 8, which is included with OS X Yosemite (10.10). Most of these shortcuts work in earlier versions of Mail.

  • ⌘ is the Command key.⌥ represents the Option key (also called Alt).⌃ is the Control key.⇧ symbol is the Shift key,⌫ is the Delete key⎋ is the Escape key.fn represents the Function key.

Mail Menu

Use Mail menu shortcuts to open Mail preferences, hide Mail and others, quit Mail, and quit Mail while keeping current windows.

File Menu

File menu shortcuts bring up a new message or viewer window, open a selected message, close a window or all Mail windows, save as, and print.

Edit Menu

Edit menu shortcuts include actions to undo and redo, select all, delete a selected message, paste as a quotation and add a link. Shortcuts are also available for finding next and previous, starting dictation, and other editing actions.

View Menu

View menu shortcuts include jumping to the Bcc and Reply-to address fields, viewing all headers and raw source, hiding the mailbox list and favorites bar, showing deleted messages, and entering full screen.

Mailbox Menu

Mailbox menu shortcuts include getting all new mail, erasing deleted items for all accounts, and erasing junk mail. Use shortcuts to jump to the inbox, VIPs, drafts, sent, or flagged mail. Shortcuts can also move mail to the inbox, VIPs, drafts, sent, or flagged mailboxes.

Message Menu

Use Message menu shortcuts to reply, reply all, forward or redirect mail. Shortcuts include marking as read, unread, archive, or junk mail and applying rules or sending an email again.

Format Menu

Format menu shortcuts include options to apply bold, italic, and underline, show fonts or colors, make type bigger or smaller, change the alignment, increase and decrease quote levels, and convert to rich text.

Window Menu

Use Window menu shortcuts to minimize a window, bring up the message viewer, or view activity.

Create Custom Keyboard Shortcuts

Even though the list of shortcuts in Mail is extensive, not every menu item in Mail has a keyboard shortcut assigned to it. Moving your cursor to find frequently used menu items can be irksome, especially when you’re doing it all day, every day. Instead of using the mouse for these tasks, add custom keyboard shortcuts for any menu item on your Mac.

To create a custom keyboard shortcut for Mail:

  • Go to System Preferences by selecting it from the Apple menu or clicking its icon on the Dock.
  • Select Keyboard.
  • Choose the Shortcuts tab.
  • Select App Shortcuts in the left panel and select the Add button.
  • Select Mail in the drop-down menu next to Application.
  • In the Menu Title field, type the menu command for which you are creating a shortcut, exactly as it happens in the app, including the > character.
  • In the Keyboard Shortcut field, press the key combination you want to use as your shortcut and select Add. The combination must not be in use elsewhere.

Go to System Preferences by selecting it from the Apple menu or clicking its icon on the Dock.

Select Keyboard.

Choose the Shortcuts tab.

Select App Shortcuts in the left panel and select the Add button.

Select Mail in the drop-down menu next to Application.

In the Menu Title field, type the menu command for which you are creating a shortcut, exactly as it happens in the app, including the > character.

In the Keyboard Shortcut field, press the key combination you want to use as your shortcut and select Add. The combination must not be in use elsewhere.

Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day

  • How to Move Your Apple Mail to a New Mac

  • How to Strikethrough on Google Docs

  • The Best Windows Keyboard Shortcuts in 2023

  • How to Find Where Apple Mail Stores Emails on Your Mac

  • How to Use the GIMP Keyboard Shortcut Editor

  • How to Save and Use Messages as Templates in Apple Mail

  • How to Send a Message Quickly in Apple Mail

  • How to Whitelist a Domain in Mac OS X Mail App

  • How to View a Message in HTML With Express and Live Mail

  • How to Flag a Message for Follow-Up in Yahoo Mail

  • How to Reset Keyboard Shortcuts in Word

  • Adobe Photoshop Menu Bar Options

  • How to Use Text Formatting and Images in Apple Mail Signatures

  • Keyboard Shortcuts for Finder Windows in macOS

  • How to Add a Sender to OS X Mail Contacts Quickly

  • Where Your Computer Stores Attachments from Mac OS X Mail

  • Facebook

  • Twitter

Hit Refresh on Your Tech News

  • About Us

  • Privacy Policy

  • Editorial Guidelines

  • Terms of Use

  • Careers

  • Advertise

  • Contact

  • EU Privacy

  • NEWS

  • HOW TO

  • FEATURES

  • ABOUT US