Summary
In this guide, I’ll share some of the most useful keyboard shortcuts for theMicrosoft Outlook desktop app (v.2401 or newer) on Windows 11.
Outlook lets you access your calendar, contacts, and some of the Microsoft 365 apps. However, in this article, we’ll look at the keyboard shortcuts that specifically apply to the app’s email section. With Outlook open, press Ctrl+1 to navigate to emails (for example, if you’re in the Outlook Calendar section).
Press Ctrl+F to search for a specific command within this article.
Start anew email
Jump betweenTo, CC, Subject, and Message Body
Select textin your email
Make the selected textbold
Make the selected textitalic
Underlinethe selected text
Add ahyperlinkto selected text
Sendan email you have typed
Forwarda selected email
Replyto a selected email
Reply To Allin a selected email
Ctrl+Shift+R
The Three Main Panes
In this section, we’ll look at some of the shortcut keys for the app’s three main panes:
Go to theInboxfolder
Go to theOutboxfolder
Ctrl+Shift+O
Collapse or expanda section that has an arrow next to its title
Left or Right Arrow
Move up and downbetween email folders
Up or Down Arrow (and press Space to select a folder)
Openthe selected folder and activate the Message Pane
Enter
To jump to a folder quickly, press Ctrl+Y, and then type the first few letters of the folder’s title.
Message Pane
Here, you’re able to see the subjects and the first few words of the messages in the selected folder. Use the arrow keys to move up and down between each message, which you can see in full in the Reading Pane on the right as you do.
Move a selected email todeleted items
Permanently deletea selected email or item
Mark a selected email asread
Mark a selected email asunread
Select several adjacent emailsin the selected folder
Shift+Up or Shift+Down
Select several non-adjacent emailsin the selected folder
Hold Ctrl, while pressing the Up or Down arrow to locate the relevant email, and pressing space to select it
Go to thefirst or lastemail in the selected folder
Home or End
Opena selected email in anew window
Shift+Enter (and Esc to close)
Activate the Reading Panefor the selected email
Tab
Reading Pane
This is where you’re able to read a selected email in full.
Go to thestart or endof the email thread
Moveup or downa long email thread quickly
Page Up or Page Down
Jump to a linkin an email
Press Tab repeatedly (and Enter to open)
Only open a link in an email if you are sure you’re able to trust the sender. Alwaysdouble-check that the email isn’t a scam!
Search
Outlook’s Search field lets you find emails in all folders in an instant.
Go to thesearchbox
Navigate betweensearch results
Up or Down, and then Enter
If you’re a fan of keyboard shortcuts, check out ourWindows 11 shortcut alphabet!
