Insert key in word

This article describes the keyboard shortcuts and function keys in Word for Windows.

Notes: 

  • To quickly find a shortcut in this article, you can use Search. Press Ctrl+F, and then type your search words.

  • If an action that you use often does not have a shortcut key, you can record a macro to create one. For instructions, go to Create or run a macro or Use a screen reader to create a macro in Word.

  • If you are using Microsoft Word Starter, be aware that not all the features listed for Word are supported in Word Starter. For more information about the features available in Word Starter, go to Word features that are not fully supported in Word Starter.

  • Get these keyboard shortcuts in a Word document at this link: Word 2016 for Windows keyboard shortcuts.

In this topic

  • Frequently used shortcuts

  • Ribbon keyboard shortcuts

  • Navigate the document

  • Preview and print documents

  • Select text and graphics

  • Edit text and graphics

  • Work with web content

  • Work with tables

  • Review a document

  • Work with references, citations, and indexing

  • Work with mail merge and fields

  • Work with text in other languages

  • Work with document views

  • Use function key shortcuts

Frequently used shortcuts

This table shows the most frequently used shortcuts in Microsoft Word.

To do this

Press

Open a document.

Ctrl+O

Create a new document.

Ctrl+N

Save the document.

Ctrl+S

Close the document.

Ctrl+W

Cut the selected content to the Clipboard.

Ctrl+X

Copy the selected content to the Clipboard.

Ctrl+C

Paste the contents of the Clipboard.

Ctrl+V

Select all document content.

Ctrl+A

Apply bold formatting to text.

Ctrl+B

Apply italic formatting to text.

Ctrl+I

Apply underline formatting to text.

Ctrl+U

Decrease the font size by 1 point.

Ctrl+Left bracket ([)

Increase the font size by 1 point.

Ctrl+Right bracket (])

Center the text.

Ctrl+E

Align the text to the left.

Ctrl+L

Align the text to the right.

Ctrl+R

Cancel a command.

Esc

Undo the previous action.

Ctrl+Z

Redo the previous action, if possible.

Ctrl+Y

Adjust the zoom magnification.

Alt+W, Q, then use the Tab key in the Zoom dialog box to go to the value you want.

Split the document window.

Ctrl+Alt+S

Remove the document window split.

Alt+Shift+C or Ctrl+Alt+S

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Close a task pane

To close a task pane using the keyboard:

  1. Press F6 until the task pane is selected.

  2. Press Ctrl+Spacebar.

  3. Use the arrow keys to select Close, and then press Enter.

Ribbon keyboard shortcuts

The ribbon groups related options on tabs. For example, on the Home tab, the Font group includes the Font Color option. Press the Alt key to display the ribbon shortcuts, called Key Tips, as letters in small images next to the tabs and options as shown in the image below.

Key Tips in the ribbon in Word 365

Note: Add-ins and other programs can add new tabs to the ribbon and might provide access keys for those tabs.

You can combine the Key Tips letters with the Alt key to make shortcuts called Access Keys for the ribbon options. For example, press Alt+H to open the Home tab, and Alt+Q to move to the Tell Me or Search field. Press Alt again to see Key Tips for the options for the selected tab.

Depending on the version of Microsoft 365 you are using, the Search text field at the top of the app window might be called Tell Me instead. Both offer a largely similar experience, but some options and search results can vary.

In Office 2013 and Office 2010, most of the old Alt key menu shortcuts still work, too. However, you need to know the full shortcut. For example, press Alt, and then press one of the old menu keys E (Edit), V (View), I (Insert), and so on. A notification pops up saying you’re using an access key from an earlier version of Microsoft 365. If you know the entire key sequence, go ahead and use it. If you don’t know the sequence, press Esc and use Key Tips instead.

Use the Access Keys for ribbon tabs

To go directly to a tab on the ribbon, press one of the following access keys. Additional tabs might appear depending on your selection in the document.

To do this

Press

Move to the Tell Me or Search field on the Ribbon to search for assistance or Help content.

Alt+Q, then enter the search term.

Open the File page to use Backstage view.

Alt+F

Open the Home tab to use common formatting commands, paragraph styles, and the Find tool.

Alt+H

Open the Insert tab to insert tables, pictures and shapes, headers, or text boxes.

Alt+N

Open the Design tab to use themes, colors, and effects, such as page borders.

Alt+G

Open the Layout tab to work with page margins, page orientation, indentation, and spacing.

Alt+P

Open the References tab to add a table of contents, footnotes, or a table of citations.

Alt+S

Open the Mailings tab to manage Mail Merge tasks and to work with envelopes and labels.

Alt+M

Open the Review tab to use Spell Check, set proofing languages, and to track and review changes to your document.

Alt+R

Open the View tab to choose a document view or mode, such as Read Mode or Outline view. You can also set the zoom magnification and manage multiple document windows.

Alt+W

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Work in the ribbon with the keyboard

To do this

Press

Select the active tab on the ribbon and activate the access keys.

Alt or F10. To move to a different tab, use access keys or the arrow keys.

Move the focus to commands on the ribbon.

Tab key or Shift+Tab

Move between command groupings on the ribbon.

Ctrl+Left or Right arrow key

Move among the items on the ribbon.

Arrow keys

Show the tooltip for the ribbon element currently in focus.

Ctrl+Shift+F10

Activate the selected button.

Spacebar or Enter

Open the list for the selected command.

Down arrow key

Open the menu for the selected button.

Alt+Down arrow key

When a menu or submenu is open, move to the next command.

Down arrow key

Expand or collapse the ribbon.

Ctrl+F1

Open the context menu.

Shift+F10

Or, on a Windows keyboard, the Windows Menu key (between the right Alt and right Ctrl keys)

Move to the submenu when a main menu is open or selected.

Left arrow key

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Navigate the document

To do this

Press

Move the cursor one word to the left.

Ctrl+Left arrow key

Move the cursor one word to the right.

Ctrl+Right arrow key

Move the cursor up by one paragraph.

Ctrl+Up arrow key

Move the cursor down by one paragraph.

Ctrl+Down arrow key

Move the cursor to the end of the current line.

End

Move the cursor to the beginning the current line.

Home

Move the cursor to the top of the screen.

Ctrl+Alt+Page up

Move the cursor to the bottom of the screen.

Ctrl+Alt+Page down

Move the cursor by scrolling the document view up by one screen.

Page up

Move the cursor by scrolling the document view down by one screen.

Page down

Move the cursor to the top of the next page.

Ctrl+Page down

Move the cursor to the top of the previous page.

Ctrl+Page up

Move the cursor to the end of the document.

Ctrl+End

Move the cursor to the beginning of the document.

Ctrl+Home

Move the cursor to the location of the previous revision.

Shift+F5

Move the cursor to the location of the last revision made before the document was last closed.

Shift+F5, immediately after opening the document.

Cycle through floating shapes, such as text boxes or images.

Ctrl+Alt+5, and then the Tab key repeatedly

Exit the floating shape navigation and return to the normal navigation.

Esc

Display the Navigation task pane, to search within the document content.

Ctrl+F

Display the Go To dialog box, to navigate to a specific page, bookmark, footnote, table, comment, graphic, or other location.

Ctrl+G

Cycle through the locations of the four previous changes made to the document.

Ctrl+Alt+Z

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Navigate the document using the browse options in Word 2007 and 2010

In Word 2007 and 2010, you can browse the document by various types of objects, such as fields, footnotes, headings, and graphics.

To do this

Press

Open the list of browse options to define the type of object to browse by.

Ctrl+Alt+Home

Move to the previous object of the defined type.

Ctrl+Page up

Move to the next object of the defined type.

Ctrl+Page down

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Preview and print documents

To do this

Press

Print the document.

Ctrl+P

Switch to print preview.

Ctrl+Alt+I

Move around the preview page when zoomed in.

Arrow keys

Move by one preview page when zoomed out.

Page up or Page down

Move to the first preview page when zoomed out.

Ctrl+Home

Move to the last preview page when zoomed out.

Ctrl+End

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Select text and graphics

To do this

Press

Select text.

Shift+Arrow keys

Select the word to the left.

Ctrl+Shift+Left arrow key

Select the word to the right.

Ctrl+Shift+Right arrow key

Select from the current position to the beginning of the current line.

Shift+Home

Select from the current position to the end of the current line.

Shift+End

Select from the current position to the beginning of the current paragraph.

Ctrl+Shift+Up arrow key

Select from the current position to the end of the current paragraph.

Ctrl+Shift+Down arrow key

Select from the current position to the top of the screen.

Shift+Page up

Select from the current position to the bottom of the screen.

Shift+Page down

Select from the current position to the beginning of the document.

Ctrl+Shift+Home

Select from the current position to the end of the document.

Ctrl+Shift+End

Select from the current position to the bottom of the window.

Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Page down

Select all document content.

Ctrl+A

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Extend a selection

To do this

Press

Start extending the selection.

F8

In the extend selection mode, clicking a location in the document extends the current selection to that location.

Select the nearest character to the left or right.

F8, Left or Right arrow key

Expand the selection.

F8 repeatedly to expand the selection to the entire word, sentence, paragraph, section, and document.

Reduce the selection.

Shift+F8

Select a vertical block of text.

Ctrl+Shift+F8, then press the arrow keys

Stop extending the selection.

Esc

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Edit text and graphics

To do this

Press

Delete one word to the left.

Ctrl+Backspace

Delete one word to the right.

Ctrl+Delete

Open the Clipboard task pane and enable the Office Clipboard, which allows you to copy and paste content between Microsoft 365 apps.

Alt+H, F, O

Cut the selected content to the Clipboard.

Ctrl+X

Copy the selected content to the Clipboard.

Ctrl+C

Paste the contents of the Clipboard.

Ctrl+V

Move the selected content to a specific location.

F2, move the cursor to the destination, and then press Enter.

Copy the selected content to a specific location.

Shift+F2, move the cursor to the destination, and then press Enter.

Define an AutoText block with the selected content.

Alt+F3

Insert an AutoText block.

The first few characters of the AutoText block, and then press Enter when the ScreenTip appears.

Cut the selected content to the Spike.

Ctrl+F3

Paste the contents of the Spike.

Ctrl+Shift+F3

Copy the selected formatting.

Ctrl+Shift+C

Paste the selected formatting.

Ctrl+Shift+V

Copy the header or footer used in the previous section of the document.

Alt+Shift+R

Display the Replace dialog box, to find and replace text, specific formatting, or special items.

Ctrl+H

Display the Object dialog box, to insert a file object into the document.

Alt+N, J, J

Insert a SmartArt graphic.

Alt+N, M

Insert a WordArt graphic.

Alt+N, W

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Align and format paragraphs

To do this

Press

Center the paragraph.

Ctrl+E

Justify the paragraph.

Ctrl+J

Align the paragraph to the left.

Ctrl+L

Align the paragraph to the right.

Ctrl+R

Indent the paragraph.

Ctrl+M

Remove a paragraph indent.

Ctrl+Shift+M

Create a hanging indent.

Ctrl+T

Remove a hanging indent.

Ctrl+Shift+T

Remove paragraph formatting.

Ctrl+Q

Apply single spacing to the paragraph.

Ctrl+1

Apply double spacing to the paragraph.

Ctrl+2

Apply 1.5-line spacing to the paragraph.

Ctrl+5

Add or remove space before the paragraph.

Ctrl+0 (zero)

Enable AutoFormat.

Ctrl+Alt+K

Apply the Normal style.

Ctrl+Shift+N

Apply the Heading 1 style.

Ctrl+Alt+1

Apply the Heading 2 style.

Ctrl+Alt+2

Apply the Heading 3 style.

Ctrl+Alt+3

Display the Apply Styles task pane.

Ctrl+Shift+S

Display the Styles task pane.

Ctrl+Alt+Shift+S

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Format characters

To do this

Press

Display the Font dialog box.

Ctrl+D or Ctrl+Shift+F

Increase the font size.

Ctrl+Shift+Right angle bracket (>)

Decrease the font size.

Ctrl+Shift+Left angle bracket (<)

Increase the font size by 1 point.

Ctrl+Right bracket (])

Decrease the font size by 1 point.

Ctrl+Left bracket ([)

Switch the text between upper case, lower case, and title case.

Shift+F3

Change the text to all upper case.

Ctrl+Shift+A

Hide the selected text.

Ctrl+Shift+H

Apply bold formatting.

Ctrl+B

Add a bulleted list.

Ctrl+Shift+L

Apply underline formatting.

Ctrl+U

Apply underline formatting to the words, but not the spaces.

Ctrl+Shift+W

Apply double-underline formatting.

Ctrl+Shift+D

Apply italic formatting.

Ctrl+I

Apply small caps formatting.

Ctrl+Shift+K

Apply subscript formatting.

Ctrl+Equal sign ( = )

Apply superscript formatting.

Ctrl+Shift+Plus sign (+)

Remove manual character formatting.

Ctrl+Spacebar

Change the selected text to the Symbol font.

Ctrl+Shift+Q

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Manage text formatting

To do this

Press

Display all nonprinting characters.

Ctrl+Shift+8 (do not use the numeric keypad)

Display the Reveal Formatting task pane.

Shift+F1

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Insert special characters

To do this

Press

Insert a line break.

Shift+Enter

Insert a page break.

Ctrl+Enter

Insert a column break.

Ctrl+Shift+Enter

Insert an em dash (—).

Ctrl+Alt+Minus sign (on the numeric keypad)

Insert an en dash (–).

Ctrl+Minus sign (on the numeric keypad)

Insert an optional hyphen.

Ctrl+Hyphen (-)

Insert a nonbreaking hyphen.

Ctrl+Shift+Hyphen (-)

Insert a nonbreaking space.

Ctrl+Shift+Spacebar

Insert a copyright symbol (©).

Ctrl+Alt+C

Insert a registered trademark symbol (®).

Ctrl+Alt+R

Insert a trademark symbol (™).

Ctrl+Alt+T

Insert an ellipsis (…)

Ctrl+Alt+Period (.)

Insert the Unicode character for the specified Unicode (hexadecimal) character code. For example, to insert the euro currency symbol (Euro currency symbol), type 20AC, and then hold down Alt and press X.

Tip: To find out the Unicode character code for a selected character, press Alt+X.

The character code, then press Alt+X

Insert the ANSI character for the specified ANSI (decimal) character code. For example, to insert the euro currency symbol, hold down Alt and press 0128 on the numeric keypad.

Alt+the character code (on the numeric keypad)

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Work with web content

To do this

Press

Insert a hyperlink.

Ctrl+K

Go back one page.

Alt+Left arrow key

Go forward one page.

Alt+Right arrow key

Refresh the page.

F9

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Work with tables

Move around in a table

To do this

Press

Move to the next cell in the row and select its content.

Tab key

Move to the previous cell in the row and select its content.

Shift+Tab

Move to the first cell in the row.

Alt+Home

Move to the last cell in the row.

Alt+End

Move to the first cell in the column.

Alt+Page up

Move to the last cell in the column.

Alt+Page down

Move to the previous row.

Up arrow key

Move to the next row.

Down arrow key

Move one row up.

Alt+Shift+Up arrow key

Move one row down.

Alt+Shift+Down arrow key

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Select table content

To do this

Press

Select the content in the next cell.

Tab key

Select the content in the previous cell.

Shift+Tab

Extend a selection to adjacent cells.

Shift+Arrow keys

Select a column.

Select the top or bottom cell of the column, and then press Shift+Up or Down arrow key

Select a row.

Select the first or last cell in the row, and then press Shift+Alt+End or Home.

Select the whole table.

Alt+5 on the numeric keypad, with Num Lock switched off

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Insert paragraphs and tab characters in a table

To do this

Press

Insert a new paragraph in a cell.

Enter

Insert a tab character in a cell.

Ctrl+Tab

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Review a document

To do this

Press

Insert a comment.

Ctrl+Alt+M

Turn change tracking on or off.

Ctrl+Shift+E

Close the Reviewing Pane.

Alt+Shift+C

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Work with references, citations, and indexing

Use the following shortcuts to add references to your document, such as a table of contents, footnotes, and citations.

To do this

Press

Mark a table of contents entry.

Alt+Shift+O

Mark a table of authorities entry (citation).

Alt+Shift+I

Choose citation options.

Alt+Shift+F12, Spacebar

Mark an index entry.

Alt+Shift+X

Insert a footnote.

Ctrl+Alt+F

Insert an endnote.

Ctrl+Alt+D

Go to the next footnote.

Alt+Shift+Right angle bracket (>)

Go to the previous footnote.

Alt+Shift+Left angle bracket (<)

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Work with mail merge and fields

To use the following keyboard shortcuts, the Mailings ribbon tab must be selected. To select the Mailings tab, press Alt+M.

Perform a mail merge

To do this

Press

Preview the mail merge.

Alt+Shift+K

Merge a document.

Alt+Shift+N

Print the merged document.

Alt+Shift+M

Edit a mail-merge data document.

Alt+Shift+E

Insert a merge field.

Alt+Shift+F

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Work with fields

To do this

Press

Insert a DATE field.

Alt+Shift+D

Insert a LISTNUM field.

Ctrl+Alt+L

Insert a PAGE field.

Alt+Shift+P

Insert a TIME field.

Alt+Shift+T

Insert an empty field.

Ctrl+F9

Update the linked information in a Word source document.

Ctrl+Shift+F7

Update the selected fields.

F9

Unlink a field.

Ctrl+Shift+F9

Switch between a selected field code and its result.

Shift+F9

Switch between all field codes and their results.

Alt+F9

Run GOTOBUTTON or MACROBUTTON from a field displaying field results.

Alt+Shift+F9

Go to the next field.

F11

Go to the previous field.

Shift+F11

Lock a field.

Ctrl+F11

Unlock a field.

Ctrl+Shift+F11

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Work with text in other languages

Set the proofing language

Every document has a default language, typically the same default language as your computer’s operating system. If your document also contains words or phrases in a different language, it’s a good idea to set the proofing language for those words. This not only makes it possible to check spelling and grammar for those phrases, but it also enables assistive technologies like screen readers to handle them appropriately.

To do this

Press

Display the Language dialog box to set the proofing language.

Alt+R, U, L

Set default languages.

Alt+R, L

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Insert international characters

To type a lowercase character by using a key combination that includes the Shift key, hold down the Ctrl+Shift+symbol keys simultaneously, and then release them before you type the letter.

Note: If you type extensively in another language, you might prefer to switch to a different keyboard instead.

To insert this

Press

à, è, ì, ò, ù,
À, È, Ì, Ò, Ù

Ctrl+Grave accent (`), the letter

á, é, í, ó, ú, ý
Á, É, Í, Ó, Ú, Ý

Ctrl+Single quotation mark (‘), the letter

â, ê, î, ô, û
Â, Ê, Î, Ô, Û

Ctrl+Shift+Caret (^), the letter

ã, ñ, õ
Ã, Ñ, Õ

Ctrl+Shift+Tilde (~), the letter

ä, ë, ï, ö, ü, ÿ,
Ä, Ë, Ï, Ö, Ü, Ÿ

Ctrl+Shift+Colon (:), the letter

å, Å

Ctrl+Shift+At sign (@), a or A

æ, Æ

Ctrl+Shift+Ampersand (&), a or A

œ, Œ

Ctrl+Shift+Ampersand (&), o or O

ç, Ç

Ctrl+Comma (,), c or C

ð, Ð

Ctrl+Single quotation mark (‘), d or D

ø, Ø

Ctrl+Forward slash (/), o or O

¿

Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Question mark (?)

¡

Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Exclamation point (!)

ß

Ctrl+Shift+Ampersand (&), s

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Use Input Method Editors for East Asian languages

To do this

Press

Switch to the Japanese Input Method Editor (IME) for a 101-key keyboard, if available.

Alt+Tilde (~)

Switch to the Korean Input Method Editor (IME) for a 101-key keyboard, if available.

Right Alt

Switch to the Chinese Input Method Editor (IME) for a 101-key keyboard, if available.

Ctrl+Spacebar

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Work with document views

Word offers several different views of a document. Each view makes it easier to do certain tasks. For example, Read Mode enables you view the document as a horizontal sequence of pages, which you can quickly browse using the Left and Right arrow keys.

Switch the document view

To do this

Press

Switch to the Read Mode view.

In Word 2007 and 2010, this is called Full Screen Reading view.

Alt+W, F

Switch to the Print Layout view.

Ctrl+Alt+P

Switch to the Outline view.

Ctrl+Alt+O

Switch to the Draft view.

Ctrl+Alt+N

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Outline a document

These shortcuts only apply when the document is in the Outline view.

To do this

Press

Promote a paragraph.

Alt+Shift+Left arrow key

Demote a paragraph.

Alt+Shift+Right arrow key

Demote the paragraph to body text.

Ctrl+Shift+N

Move the selected paragraphs up.

Alt+Shift+Up arrow key

Move the selected paragraphs down.

Alt+Shift+Down arrow key

Expand the text under a heading.

Alt+Shift+Plus sign (+)

Collapse the text under a heading.

Alt+Shift+Minus sign (-)

Expand or collapse all text or headings.

Alt+Shift+A

Hide or display the character formatting.

Forward slash (/) (on the numeric keypad)

Switch between showing the first line of body text and showing all body text.

Alt+Shift+L

Show all headings with the Heading 1 style.

Alt+Shift+1

Show all headings with the specified heading level.

Alt+Shift+Heading level number

Insert a tab character.

Ctrl+Tab

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Move through the document in Read Mode

To do this

Press

Move to the beginning of the document.

Home

Move to the end of the document.

End

Go to a specific page.

Type the page number, then press Enter

Exit Read Mode.

Esc

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Use function key shortcuts

Key

Description

F1

  • F1 alone: displays the Word help task pane.

  • Shift+F1: displays or hides context-sensitive help or the Reveal Formatting task pane.

  • Ctrl+F1: displays or hides the ribbon.

  • Alt+F1: moves to the next field.

  • Alt+Shift+F1: moves to the previous field.

F2

  • F2 alone: moves the selected text or graphic. Use the arrow keys to place the cursor where you want to move the text or graphic, and then press Enter to move, or press Esc to cancel.

  • Shift+F2: copies the selected text or graphic. Use the arrow keys to place the cursor where you want to copy the text or graphic, and then press Enter to copy, or press Esc to cancel.

  • Ctrl+F2: displays the print preview area on the Print tab in the Backstage view.

  • Alt+Shift+F2: saves the document.

  • Ctrl+Alt+F2: displays the Open dialog box.

F3

  • Shift+F3: switches the selected text between upper case, lower case, and title case.

  • Ctrl+F3: cuts the selected content to the Spike. You can cut multiple texts and graphics to the Spike, and paste them as a group to another location.

  • Ctrl+Shift+F3: pastes the contents of the Spike.

  • Alt+F3: creates a new Building Block.

F4

  • F4 alone: repeats the last command or action, if possible.

  • Shift+F4: repeats the last Find or Go To action.

  • Ctrl+F4: closes the current document.

  • Alt+F4: closes Word.

F5

  • F5 alone: displays the Go To dialog box.

  • Shift+F5: moves the cursor to the last change.

  • Ctrl+Shift+F5: displays the Bookmark dialog box.

  • Alt+F5: restores the document window size.

F6

  • F6 alone: switch between the document, task pane, status bar, and ribbon. In a document that has been split, F6 includes the split panes when switching between panes and the task pane.

  • Shift+F6: switches between the document, ribbon, status bar, and task pane.

  • Ctrl+F6: switches to the next document window when more than one document is open.

  • Ctrl+Shift+F6: switches to the previous document window when more than one document is open.

  • Alt+F6: moves from an open dialog box back to the document, for dialog boxes that support this behavior.

F7

  • F7 alone: displays the Editor task pane to check spelling and grammar in the document or the selected text.

  • Shift+F7: displays the Thesaurus task pane.

  • Ctrl+Shift+F7: updates the linked information in a Word source document.

  • Alt+F7: finds the next spelling or grammatical error.

  • Alt+Shift+F7: in Word 2013 and newer, displays the Translator task pane. In Word 2007 and 2010, displays the Research task pane.

F8

  • F8 alone: extends the selection. For example, if a word is selected, the selection size is extended to one sentence.

  • Shift+F8: reduces the selection. For example, if a paragraph is selected, the selection size is reduced to one sentence.

  • Ctrl+Shift+F8: turns extend selection mode on and off. In the extend selection mode, the arrow keys extend the selection.

  • Alt+F8: displays the Macro dialog box to create, run, edit, or delete a macro.

F9

  • F9 alone: updates the selected fields.

  • Shift+F9: switches between a field code and its result.

  • Ctrl+F9: inserts an empty field.

  • Ctrl+Shift+F9: unlinks the current field.

  • Alt+F9: switches between all field codes and their results.

  • Alt+Shift+F9: runs GOTOBUTTON or MACROBUTTON from a field displaying field results.

F10

  • F10 alone: turns KeyTips on or off.

  • Shift+F10: displays the shortcut menu for the selected item.

  • Ctrl+F10: maximizes or restores the document window size.

  • Alt+F10: displays the Selection task pane.

  • Alt+Shift+F10: displays the menu or message for available actions, for example, for pasted text or an AutoCorrect change.

F11

  • F11 alone: moves to the next field.

  • Shift+F11: moves to the previous field.

  • Ctrl+F11: locks the current field.

  • Ctrl+Shift+F11: unlocks the current field.

  • Alt+F11: opens the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications editor, in which you can create a macro using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA).

F12

  • F12 alone: displays the Save As dialog box.

  • Shift+F12: saves the document.

  • Ctrl+F12: displays the Open dialog box.

  • Ctrl+Shift+F12: displays the Print tab in the Backstage view.

  • Alt+Shift+F12: selects the Table of Contents button in the Table of Contents container when the container is active.

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See also

Word help center

Basic tasks using a screen reader with Word

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Word

Screen reader support for Word

This article describes the keyboard shortcuts and function keys in Word for Mac.

Notes: 

  • The settings in some versions of the Mac operating system (OS) and some utility applications might conflict with keyboard shortcuts and function key operations in Microsoft 365 for Mac. For information about changing the key assignment for a keyboard shortcut, see Mac Help for your version of macOS, your utility application, or refer to Shortcut conflicts.

  • If you don’t find a keyboard shortcut here that meets your needs, you can create a custom keyboard shortcut. For instructions, go to Create a custom keyboard shortcut for Office for Mac.

  • Many of the shortcuts that use the Ctrl key on a Windows keyboard also work with the Control key in Word for Mac. However, not all do.

  • To quickly find a shortcut in this article, you can use Search. Press Command+F, and then type your search words.

For the best experience using your keyboard with the ribbon, enable your keyboard to access all controls.

  1. To open the System Preferences, press The Command button.+Spacebar, type system preferences, and press Return.

  2. To go to Keyboard Settings, type keyboard and press Return.

  3. In the Shortcuts tab, press Control+F7 to change the Full Keyboard Access setting from Text boxes and lists only to All Controls.

In this topic

  • Frequently used shortcuts

  • Shortcut conflicts

  • Navigate the document

  • Select text and graphics

  • Edit text and graphics

  • Work with tables

  • Drawing

  • Work with fields

  • Outline a document

  • Review a document

  • Use footnotes and endnotes

  • Work with right-to-left languages

  • Use function key shortcuts

Frequently used shortcuts

This table lists frequently used shortcuts in Word for Mac.

To do this

Press

Undo the previous action.

The Command button.+Z or F1

Redo the previous action, if possible.

The Command button.+Y

Cut the selected content to the Clipboard.

The Command button.+X or F2

Copy the selected content to the Clipboard.

The Command button.+C or F3

Paste the contents of the Clipboard.

The Command button.+V or F4

Display the shortcut menu for the selected item. *

Shift+F10

Display the Go To dialog box.

The Command button.+Option+G or F5

Display the Spelling and Grammar dialog box.

The Command button.+Option+L or F7

Enable extended selection mode.

F8

Switch to the next window.

The Command button.+Grave accent ( ` )

Switch to the previous window.

The Command button.+Shift+Grave accent (`)

Display the Save As dialog box.

The Command button.+Shift+S

Find text (move focus to the Search in Document box).

The Command button.+F

Display the Find and Replace pane.

Control+H

Display the Print dialog box.

The Command button.+P

Close the current document.

The Command button.+F4

Expand or minimize the ribbon.

The Command button.+Option+R

Find the next spelling or grammatical error. The Check spelling as you type feature must be enabled.

Option+F7

Open the Dictionary.

In Word 2011, Option+Shift+F7

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Shortcut conflicts

Some Word for Mac keyboard shortcuts conflict with default macOS keyboard shortcuts. This topic flags such shortcuts with an asterisk ( * ). To use these shortcuts, you may have to change your Mac keyboard settings to change the shortcut for the key.

Change system preferences for keyboard shortcuts

  1. From the Apple menu, select System Preferences.

  2. Select Keyboard.

  3. Select the Shortcuts tab.

  4. Select Mission Control.

  5. Clear the check box for the keyboard shortcut conflicting with the Word for Mac shortcut that you want to use.

Navigate the document

To do this

Press

Move the cursor one word to the left.

Option+Left arrow key

Move the cursor one word to the right.

Option+Right arrow key

Move the cursor up by one paragraph.

The Command button.+Up arrow key

Move the cursor down by one paragraph.

The Command button.+Down arrow key

Move the cursor to the beginning of the current line.

The Command button.+Left arrow

Home

Move the cursor to the end of the current line.

The Command button.+Right arrow key

End

Move the cursor to the top of the previous page.

The Command button.+Page up

On a MacBook, press The Command button.+Fn+Up arrow key

Move the cursor to the top of the next page.

The Command button.+Page down

On a MacBook, press The Command button.+Fn+Down arrow key

Move the cursor to the beginning of the document.

The Command button.+Home

On a MacBook, press The Command button.+Fn+Left arrow key

Move the cursor to the end of the document.

The Command button.+End

On a MacBook, press The Command button.+Fn+Right arrow key

Move the cursor to the previous insertion point.

Shift+F5

Move the cursor by scrolling the document view up by one screen.

Page up

Move the cursor by scrolling the document view down by one screen.

Page down

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Select text and graphics

Tip: If you know the key combination to move the cursor, you can generally select the text by using the same key combination while holding down Shift. For example, The Command button.+Right arrow moves the cursor to the next word, and The Command button.+Shift+Right arrow selects the text from the cursor to the beginning of the next word.

To do this

Press

Select multiple items that are not next to each other.

Select the first item that you want, hold down The Command button., and then mouse click the additional items.

Select text.

Shift+Arrow keys

Select the word to the left.

Shift+Option+Left arrow key

Select the word to the right.

Shift+Option+Right arrow key

Select from the current position to the beginning of the current line.

The Command button.+Shift+Left arrow key

Shift+Home

Select from the current position to the end of the current line.

The Command button.+Shift+Right arrow key

Shift+End

Select from the current position to the beginning of the current paragraph.

The Command button.+Shift+Up arrow key

Select from the current position to the end of the current paragraph.

The Command button.+Shift+Down arrow key

Select from the current position to the top of the screen.

Shift+Page up

Select from the current position to the bottom of the screen.

Shift+Page down

Select from the current position to the beginning of the document.

The Command button.+Shift+Home

Select from the current position to the end of the document.

The Command button.+Shift+End

Select from the current position to the bottom of the window.

The Command button.+Shift+Option+Page down

Select all document content.

The Command button.+A

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Extend a selection

To do this

Press

Start extending the selection. *

F8

In the extend selection mode, clicking a location in the document extends the current selection to that location.

Select the nearest character to the left.

F8, Left arrow key

Select the nearest character to the right.

F8, Right arrow key

Expand the selection.

F8 repeatedly to expand the selection to the entire word, sentence, paragraph, section, and document.

Reduce the selection. *

Shift+F8

Select a vertical block of text.

The Command button.+Shift+F8, then press the arrow keys

Stop extending the selection.

Esc

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Edit text and graphics

To do this

Press

Cut the selected content to the Clipboard.

The Command button.+X

F2

Copy the selected content to the Clipboard.

The Command button.+C

F3

Paste the contents of the Clipboard.

The Command button.+V

F4

Display the Paste Special dialog box.

The Command button.+Control+V

Cut the selected content to the Spike.

The Command button.+F3

Paste the contents of the Spike.

The Command button.+Shift+F3

Copy the selected formatting.

The Command button.+Shift+C

Paste the copied formatting.

The Command button.+Shift+V

Create an AutoText entry.

Option+F3

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Align and format paragraphs

To do this

Press

Center the paragraph.

The Command button.+E

Justify the paragraph.

The Command button.+J

Align the paragraph to the left.

The Command button.+L

Align the paragraph to the right.

The Command button.+R

Indent the paragraph.

Control+Shift+M

Remove a paragraph indent.

The Command button.+Shift+M

Create a hanging indent.

The Command button.+T

Remove a hanging indent.

The Command button.+Shift+T

Apply single-spacing to the paragraph.

The Command button.+1

Apply double-spacing to the paragraph.

The Command button.+2

Apply 1.5-line spacing to the paragraph.

The Command button.+5

Enable AutoFormat.

The Command button.+Option+K

Apply the Normal style.

The Command button.+Shift+N

Apply the Heading 1 style.

The Command button.+Option+1

Apply the Heading 2 style.

The Command button.+Option+2

Apply the Heading 3 style.

The Command button.+Option+3

Apply the List style.

The Command button.+Shift+L, when the cursor is at the beginning of a line

Insert a nonbreaking space.

Option+Spacebar

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Format characters

To do this

Press

Increase the font size.

The Command button.+Shift+Right angle bracket (>)

Decrease the font size.

The Command button.+Shift+Left angle bracket (<)

Increase the font size by 1 point.

The Command button.+Right bracket (])

Decrease the font size by 1 point.

The Command button.+Left bracket ([)

Display the Font dialog box.

The Command button.+D

Switch the text between upper case, lower case, and title case.

Shift+F3

Change the text to all upper case.

The Command button.+Shift+A

Apply bold formatting.

The Command button.+B

Add a bulleted list.

The Command button.+Shift+L

Apply underline formatting.

The Command button.+U

Apply underline formatting to the words, but not the spaces.

The Command button.+Shift+W

Apply double-underline formatting.

The Command button.+Shift+D

Apply italics formatting.

The Command button.+I

Apply small caps formatting.

The Command button.+Shift+K

Apply strike-through formatting.

The Command button.+Shift+X

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Insert special characters

To do this

Press

Insert an empty field.

The Command button.+F9

Insert a line break.

Shift+Return

Insert a page break.

The Command button.+Return

Insert a column break.

The Command button.+Shift+Return

Insert a nonbreaking hyphen.

The Command button.+Shift+Hyphen (-)

Insert a registered trademark symbol (®).

Option+R

Insert a trademark symbol (™).

Option+2

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Work with tables

Move around in a table

To do this

Press

Move to the next cell and select its content.

Tab key

Move to the previous cell and select its content.

Shift+Tab

Move to the next row.

Down arrow key

Move to the previous row.

Up arrow key

Move to the first cell in the row.

Control+Home

Move to the last cell in the row.

Control+End

Move to the first cell in the column.

Control+Page up

Move to the last cell in the column.

Control+Page down

Add a new row to the bottom of the table.

Tab key, at the end of the last row

Insert a row.

The Command button.+Control+I

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Select table content

To do this

Press

Select the content in the next cell.

Tab key

Select the content in the previous cell.

Shift+Tab

Extend a selection to adjacent cells.

Shift+Arrow keys

Select a row.

Select the first or last cell in the row, and then press Shift+Alt+End or Home.

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Resize table columns with the ruler

To do this

Press

Retain the column sizes to the right and change the table width.

Drag the column boundary in the ruler

Move a single column line and retain the table width.

Shift+Drag the column boundary in the ruler

Equally resize all columns to the right and retain the table width.

The Command button.+Shift+Drag the column boundary in the ruler

Proportionally resize all columns to the right and retain the table width.

The Command button.+Drag the column boundary in the ruler

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Resize table columns directly in a table

Tip: To finely adjust the column width and display the column’s measurements in the ruler when you resize the column, turn off the snap-to functionality by pressing Option with the shortcut keys.

To do this

Press

Move a single column line and retain the table width.

Drag the column boundary

Retain column sizes to the right and change the table width.

Shift+Drag the column boundary

Equally resize all columns to the right and retain the table width.

The Command button.+Shift+Drag the column boundary

Proportionally resize all columns to the right and retain the table width.

The Command button.+Drag the column boundary

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Insert paragraphs and tab characters in a table

To do this

Press

Insert a new paragraph in a cell.

Return

Insert a Tab character in a cell.

Option+Tab

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Drawing

To do this

Press

Toggle drawing mode.

The Command button.+Control+Z

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Work with fields

To do this

Press

Insert a DATE field.

Control+Shift+D

Insert a LISTNUM field.

The Command button.+Option+Shift+L

Insert a PAGE field.

Control+Shift+P

Insert a TIME field.

Control+Shift+T

Insert an empty field.

The Command button.+F9

Update the selected fields. *

F9

Switch between a field code and its result. *

Shift+F9

Switch between all field codes and their results.

Option+F9

Run GOTOBUTTON or MACROBUTTON from a field displaying field results.

Option+Shift+F9

Lock a field.

The Command button.+F11

Unlock a field.

The Command button.+Shift+F11

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Outline a document

These shortcuts only apply when the document is in the Outline view.

To do this

Press

Promote a paragraph.

Control+Shift+Left arrow key

Demote a paragraph.

Control+Shift+Right arrow key

Demote the paragraph to body text.

The Command button.+Shift+N

Move the selected paragraphs up. *

Control+Shift+Up arrow key

Move the selected paragraphs down. *

Control+Shift+Down arrow key

Expand the text under a heading.

Control+Shift+Plus sign (+)

Collapse text under a heading. *

Control+Shift+Minus sign (-)

Expand all body text and headings, or collapse all body text.

Control+Shift+A

Switch between showing the first line of body text and showing all body text.

Control+Shift+L

Show all headings with the specified heading level.

Control+Shift+Heading level number

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Review a document

To do this

Press

Insert a comment.

The Command button.+Option+A

Turn change tracking on or off.

The Command button.+Shift+E

Move to the beginning of a comment.

Home

Move to the end of a comment.

End

(The End key is not available on all keyboards.)

Move to the beginning of the list of comments.

The Command button.+Home, in the Reviewing Pane.

Move to the end of the list of comments.

The Command button.+End, in the Reviewing Pane.

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Use footnotes and endnotes

To do this

Press

Insert a footnote.

The Command button.+Option+F

Insert an endnote.

The Command button.+Option+E

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Work with right-to-left languages

Word supports right-to-left functionality for languages that work in a right-to-left or a combined right-to-left, left-to-right environment for writing, editing, and displaying text. In this context, right-to-left languages refers to any writing system that is written from right to left and includes languages that require contextual shaping, such as Arabic, and languages that do not.

Before you can use these keyboard shortcuts, you need to ensure keyboard shortcuts are enabled for the language you are using:

  1. Go to Apple > System Preferences > Keyboard.

  2. On the Input Sources tab, select the language for which you want to enable shortcuts.

  3. On the right side of the tab, select the check box for Enable keyboard shortcuts.

To do this

Press

Switch the writing direction to right-to-left.

Control+The Command button.+ Left arrow key

Switch the writing direction to left-to-right.

Control+The Command button.+ Right arrow key

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Use function key shortcuts

Word for Mac uses the function keys for common commands, including Copy and Paste. For quick access to these shortcuts, you can change your Apple system preferences so you don’t have to press the Fn key every time you use a function key shortcut.

Note: Changing system function key preferences affects how the function keys work on your Mac, not just in Word. After changing this setting, you can still perform the special features printed on a function key. Just press the Fn key. For example, to use the F12 key to change your volume, press Fn+F12.

If a function key doesn’t work as you expect it to, press the Fn key in addition to the function key. If you don’t want to press the Fn key each time, you can change your Apple system preferences. For instructions, go to Change function key preferences.

The following table provides the function key shortcuts for Word for Mac.

Key

Description

F1

  • F1 alone: undoes the previous action.

F2

  • F2 alone: cuts the selected content to the Clipboard.

  • Shift+F2: copies the selected text or graphic. Use the arrow keys to place the cursor where you want to copy the text or graphic, and then press Return to copy, or press Esc to cancel.

F3

  • F3 alone: copies the selected content to the Clipboard.

  • Shift+F3: switches the selected text between upper case, lower case, and title case.

  • The Command button.+F3: cuts the selected content to the Spike. You can cut multiple texts and graphics to the Spike, and paste them as a group to another location.

  • The Command button.+Shift+F3: pastes the contents of the Spike.

  • Option+F3: creates an AutoText entry.

F4

  • F4 alone: pastes the content from the Clipboard.

  • Shift+F4: repeats the last Find or Go To action.

  • The Command button. Shift+F4: repeats the last Find or Go To action.

F5

  • F5 alone: displays the Go To dialog box.

  • Shift+F5: moves the cursor to the last change.

  • The Command button.+Shift+F5: displays the Bookmark dialog.

F6

  • F6 alone: switch between the document, task pane, status bar, and ribbon. In a document that has been split, F6 includes the split panes when switching between panes and the task pane.

  • Shift+F6: switches between the document, ribbon, status bar, and task pane.

  • The Command button.+F6: switches to the next document window when more than one document is open.

  • The Command button.+Shift+F6: switches to the previous document window when more than one document is open.

F7

  • F7 alone: displays the Spelling and Grammar dialog box.

  • Shift+F7: displays the Thesaurus task pane.

  • The Command button.+Shift+F7: updates the linked information in a Word source document.

  • Option+F7: finds the next spelling or grammatical error.

  • Option+Shift+F7: opens the Dictionary.

F8

  • F8 alone *: extends the selection. For example, if a word is selected, the selection size is extended to one sentence.

  • Shift+F8 *: reduces the selection. For example, if a paragraph is selected, the selection size is reduced to one sentence.

  • The Command button.+Shift+F8: turns extend selection mode on and off. In the extend selection mode, the arrow keys extend the selection.

  • Option+F8: displays the Macro dialog box to create, run, edit, or delete a macro.

F9

  • F9 alone *: updates the selected fields.

  • Shift+F9 *: switches between a field code and its result.

  • The Command button.+F9: inserts an empty field.

  • The Command button.+Shift+F9: unlinks the current field.

  • Option+F9: switches between all field codes and their results.

  • Option+Shift+F9: runs GOTOBUTTON or MACROBUTTON from a field displaying field results.

F10

  • Shift+F10 *: displays the shortcut menu for the selected item.

F11

  • F11 alone *: moves to the next field.

  • Shift+F11 *: moves to the previous field.

  • The Command button.+F11: locks the current field.

  • The Command button.+Shift+F11: unlocks the current field.

  • Option+F11: opens the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications editor, in which you can create a macro using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA).

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Change function key preferences

  1. In the Apple menu, select System Preferences.

  2. Select Keyboard.

  3. On the Keyboard tab, select the check box for Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys.

See also

Word help center

Basic tasks using a screen reader with Word

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Word

Screen reader support for Word

This article describes the keyboard shortcuts in Word for the web.

Notes: 

  • If you use Narrator with the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, you have to turn off scan mode in order to edit documents, spreadsheets, or presentations with Microsoft 365 for the web. For more information, refer to Turn off virtual or browse mode in screen readers in Windows 10 Fall Creators Update.

  • To quickly find a shortcut in this article, you can use Search. Press Ctrl+F and then type your search words.

  • When you use Word for the web, we recommend that you use Microsoft Edge as your web browser. Because Word for the web runs in your web browser, the keyboard shortcuts are different from those in the desktop program. For example, you’ll use Ctrl+F6 instead of F6 for jumping in and out of the commands. Also, common shortcuts like F1 (Help) and Ctrl+O (Open) apply to the web browser – not Word for the web.

In this topic

  • Frequently used shortcuts

  • Ribbon keyboard shortcuts

  • Navigate the document

  • Edit and format the document

  • Work with comments

Frequently used shortcuts

This table lists the most frequently used shortcuts in Word for the web.

Tip: To quickly create a new document in Word for the web, open your browser, type Word.new in the address bar, and then press Enter.

To do this

Press

In the Reading view, open a PDF-based view tagged to work with screen readers.

Press the Tab key until you reach the Accessibility Mode button, and then press Enter

Find text in the Reading view.

Ctrl+F or F3

Find text in the Editing view.

Ctrl+F or Ctrl+G

Find and replace text in the Editing view.

Ctrl+H

Hide the task pane, if one is open.

Esc

Switch to the Zoom control.

Alt+Period, W, then Q or Alt+Windows logo key, W, then Q

Print the document.

Ctrl+P

Move to the next landmark region.

Ctrl+F6

Go to the Tell Me or Search text field.

Alt+Q

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Ribbon keyboard shortcuts

Word for the web offers shortcuts called access keys to navigate the ribbon. If you’ve used access keys to save time on Word for desktop computers, you’ll find access keys very similar in Word for the web.

On a Windows computer, access keys all start with Alt+Period (.) or Alt+Windows logo key, then add a letter for the ribbon tab. For example, to go to the Review tab, press Alt+Period, R or Alt+Windows logo key, R.

If you’re using Word for the web on a Mac computer, press Control+Period (.) to start.

The ribbon with the access keys in  Word for Web

  • To get to the ribbon, press Alt+Period or Alt+Windows logo key. You can alternatively press Ctrl+F6 until you reach the Home tab.

  • To move between tabs on the ribbon, press the Tab key.

  • To hide the ribbon so you have more room to work, press Ctrl+F3. Repeat to display the ribbon again.

Go to the access keys for the ribbon

To go directly to a tab on the ribbon, press one of the following access keys:

To do this

Press

Open the Tell Me or Search text field on the ribbon to type a search term.

Alt+Period, Q or Alt+Windows logo key, Q

Open the File tab to use the Backstage view.

Alt+Period, F or Alt+Windows logo key, F

Open the Home tab to format text and use the Find tool.

Alt+Period, H or Alt+Windows logo key, H

Open the Insert tab to insert a picture, link, comment, header or footer, or a page number. You can also access the Symbol gallery.

Alt+Period, N or Alt+Windows logo key, N

Open the Page Layout tab to set page margins, orientation, and size, and paragraph spacing.

Alt+Period, A or Alt+Windows logo key, A

Open the References tab to insert a table of contents, footnotes, or endnotes.

Alt+Period, S or Alt+Windows logo key, S

Open the Review tab to check spelling, add comments, or track and review changes to your document.

Alt+Period, R or Alt+Windows logo key, R

Open the View tab to choose a view, open the Navigation pane, edit the Header & Footer, and to Zoom the document view.

Alt+Period, W or Alt+Windows logo key, W

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Use Search

To find an option or perform an action quickly, use the Search text field. To learn more about the Search feature, go to Find what you need with Microsoft Search.

Note: Depending on the version of Microsoft 365 you are using, the Search text field at the top of the app window might be called Tell Me instead. Both offer a largely similar experience, but some options and search results can vary.

  1. Select the item or place in your document, presentation, or spreadsheet where you want to perform an action.

  2. To go to the Search text field, press Alt+Q.

  3. Type the search words for the action that you want to perform. For example, if you want to add a bulleted list, type bullets.

  4. Press the Down arrow key to browse through the search results.

  5. Once you’ve found the result that you want, press Enter to select it and to perform the action.

Work in the ribbon tabs and menus

The following shortcuts can save time when you work with the ribbon tabs and ribbon menus.

To do this

Press

Select the active tab on the ribbon, and activate the access keys.

Alt+Period or Alt+Windows logo key. To move to a different tab, use an access key or the Tab key.

When a Ribbon tab is selected, move the focus to the tab commands.

Enter, then Tab key or Shift+Tab

Activate a selected button.

Spacebar or Enter

Open the list for a selected command.

Spacebar or Enter

Open the menu for a selected button.

Alt+Down arrow key

When a menu or submenu is open, move to the next command.

Down arrow key

Collapse or expand the ribbon.

Ctrl+F3

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Navigate the document

To do this

Press

Move the cursor right by one word.

Ctrl+Right arrow key

Move the cursor left by one word.

Ctrl+Left arrow key

Move the cursor up by one paragraph.

Ctrl+Up arrow key

Move the cursor down by one paragraph.

Ctrl+Down arrow key

Move the cursor to the beginning of the current line.

Home

Move the cursor to the end of the current line.

End

Move the cursor to the beginning of the document.

Ctrl+Home

Move the cursor to the end of the document.

Ctrl+End

Select text.

Shift+Arrow keys

Select the word to the right.

Shift+Ctrl+Right arrow key

Select the word to the left.

Shift+Ctrl+Left arrow key

Select the paragraph above.

Shift+Ctrl+Up arrow key

Select the paragraph below.

Shift+Ctrl+Down arrow key

Select from the current position to the beginning of the line.

Shift+Home

Select from the current position to the end of the line.

Shift+End

Select from the current position to the beginning of the document.

Shift+Ctrl+Home

Select from the current position to the end of the document.

Shift+Ctrl+End

Select all document content.

Ctrl+A

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Edit and format the document

To do this

Press

Cut the selected content to the Clipboard.

Ctrl+X

Copy the selected content to the Clipboard.

Ctrl+C

Paste the content from the Clipboard.

Ctrl+V

Undo the previous action.

Ctrl+Z

Redo the previous action.

Ctrl+Y

Shrink the font size.

Ctrl+Left bracket ([)

Grow the font size.

Ctrl+Right bracket (])

Apply bold formatting to the selected text.

Ctrl+B

Apply italic formatting to the selected text.

Ctrl+I

Underline the selected text.

Ctrl+U

Align the paragraph to the left.

Ctrl+L

Align the paragraph to the right.

Ctrl+R

Center the paragraph.

Ctrl+E

Justify the paragraph.

Ctrl+J

Create a bulleted list.

Ctrl+Period (.)

Create a numbered list.

Ctrl+Slash (/)

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See also

Word help center

Basic tasks using a screen reader with Word

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Word

Screen reader support for Word

The Insert key Insert (often abbreviated Ins) is a key commonly found on computer keyboards. It is primarily used to switch between the two text-entering modes on a personal computer (PC) or word processor: overtype mode, in which the cursor, when typing, overwrites any text that is present in the current location; and.

Contents

  • 1 How do I activate the Insert key?
  • 2 How do I use the Insert key on my laptop?
  • 3 What is the Insert key on Mac?
  • 4 What is insert in computer?
  • 5 Why is insert disabled in Word?
  • 6 How do you insert on a Mac?
  • 7 What is Insert key on Chromebook?
  • 8 How do I get rid of Insert key?
  • 9 What does home key do?
  • 10 How do I turn off Insert on Macbook Air?
  • 11 What is Ctrl Alt insert on a Mac?
  • 12 How do you insert text on a Mac?
  • 13 What are insert words?
  • 14 Why is my word doc all GREY?
  • 15 How do I GREY out text in Word?
  • 16 Why does my Word document have a GREY background?
  • 17 How do I insert a file in Mac terminal?
  • 18 What does Ctrl Shift Alt R do on a school Chromebook?
  • 19 What does Ctrl Shift Alt R do on Chromebook?
  • 20 What does Ctrl N do on Chromebook?

How do I activate the Insert key?

How to Enable the Insert key in Microsoft Word:

  1. Go to file > word options > advanced > editing options.
  2. Check the box that says, “use the Insert key to control overtype mode”
  3. Now the insert key works.

How do I use the Insert key on my laptop?

Note that the Shift Key can act as a temporary toggle for Num Lock when you press one of the keypad keys (just like the Shift Key acts as a toggle for capital letters). Therefore, when Num Lock is on, pressing Shift + Numpad-0 will function as an Insert Key.

What is the Insert key on Mac?

Mac laptops do not have the INSERT key. CAPS LOCK cannot be easily used as a replacement, due to the different (to Windows) way that Mac keyboards handle it.

What is insert in computer?

Insert or Ins is a key on a computer keyboard.Insert is a file menu and Ribbon section in software that allows the user to add something (e.g., picture) into a document or file. For example, in Microsoft Word, the user may use the Insert tab in the Ribbon to insert a picture of themselves into their document.

Why is insert disabled in Word?

It will be greyed out if you are using the old 1997-2004 “doc” binary format for your document. Switch to using the “docx” format and you can insert shapes.

How do you insert on a Mac?

The ‘insert’ function can be recreated on a macOS system by clicking on ‘Fn’ and ‘Enter. ‘ EDIT: The ‘insert’ function can be recreated on a macOS system by clicking on ‘Fn’ and ‘Enter. ‘

What is Insert key on Chromebook?

The Insert key toggles how text is inserted by inserting or adding text in front of other text or overwriting text after the cursor as you type.

How do I get rid of Insert key?

Press the “Ins” key to toggle overtype mode off. Depending on your keyboard model, this key may also be labeled “Insert.” If you simply want to disable overtype mode but keep the ability to toggle it back on, you are done.

In modern Microsoft Windows text editing applications, it is primarily used to return the cursor to the beginning of the line where the cursor is located.The Home key can also be used to select all the characters before the cursor in a certain line if pressed along with ⇧ Shift in selectable text.

How do I turn off Insert on Macbook Air?

If you have a Mac keyboard, press the Help key to toggle between insert and replace mode. If you have a Windows keyboard, press the Insert (or Ins ) key to toggle between insert and replace mode. Restart Slack (quit and relaunch); refreshing no longer works.

What is Ctrl Alt insert on a Mac?

It is CTRL + I . In both IntelliJ or Android Studio you can set it to whatever you want. I use an Apple keyboard and a KVM to switch between my Mac and PC. The keyboard doesn’t have an insert key so I had to change it to simply the ‘Back Quote’ which is just below the esc key on my Apple keyboard.

How do you insert text on a Mac?

Insert a text box in Office for Mac

  1. On the Insert menu, click Text Box.
  2. Click in your file where you’d like to insert the text box, hold your mouse button down, then drag to draw the text box the size that you want.
  3. After you’ve drawn the text box click inside it to add text.

What are insert words?

Inserts are, as their name implies , inserted remarks. Inserts can, appropriately enough , appear anywhere within a sentence, including at the beginning or ending of a sentence. Or, using the notation of parentheses to mark the inserts, Inserts are, ( as their name implies ) , inserted remarks.

Why is my word doc all GREY?

Answer: It is because the text is within a field.If you do not want the text to be in a field, you can unlink the field by pressing Ctrl+Shift+F9 when you have the text selected.

How do I GREY out text in Word?

Select and highlight the text box, and then select your preferred shape style for the text box. To apply a gray fill color, click the “Shape Fill” button and click on your preferred shade of gray in the color-picker tool.

Why does my Word document have a GREY background?

Because Ctrl+spacebar removed the grey “background”, it must have been shading applied to the text. It would have been possible to remove that shading without affecting other font formatting. To do that, select the shaded text and click the down arrow on the Shading button. Then click No Color in the dropdown.

How do I insert a file in Mac terminal?

  1. Type “vi file.txt” at command prompt.
  2. Move cursor to where new text will be added.
  3. Type “i” to change to insert mode.
  4. Type new text.
  5. Type ESC to go back to command mode.
  6. type “:wq” and ENTER to write the file and quit.

What does Ctrl Shift Alt R do on a school Chromebook?

Edit Edit: I did find a link that said when you are at the login screen hold down Alt + Ctrl + Shift + R then tap the Restart Button. This brings up the Power Wash option. This link gives a step by step on reinstalling the OS.

What does Ctrl Shift Alt R do on Chromebook?

Page & web browser

Page up Alt + Up arrow
Reload your current page Ctrl + r
Reload your current page without using cached content Shift + Ctrl + r
Zoom in on the page Ctrl and +
Zoom out on the page Ctrl and – (minus)

What does Ctrl N do on Chromebook?

The Chromebook Keyboard Shortcuts Cheat Sheet

Shortcut Action
Ctrl + N Open new window
Ctrl + Shift + N Open new incognito window
Ctrl + T Open new tab
Ctrl + W Close current tab

How to Enable the Insert Key in Microsoft Word

Have you had problems using the insert key on your PC keyboard while typing in Microsoft Word? Thanks to Kirk M., our attention was brought to this insert key/Word issue with all PC keyboards (Das Keyboard included). Follow these instructions to enable your insert key.

How to Enable the Insert key in Microsoft Word:

  • Go to file > word options > advanced > editing options
  • Check the box that says, “use the Insert key to control overtype mode”
  • Now the insert key works.

Download PC Repair Tool to quickly find & fix Windows errors automatically

If you want to quickly paste Text into Word, you can use the Insert key instead of Ctrl+V. Although it is not enabled by default, you can turn this feature using Word Options, Local Group Policy Editor, and Registry Editor. Let us see how to do this.

How to use Insert key to paste Text into Word quickly

To use the Insert key to paste texts in Word documents, you need to enable this setting. As it is not turned on by default, you need to do that manually. As said earlier, there are three ways to do that, and this article contains all the methods. You can follow any one of them according to your requirements.

To use the Insert key to paste text into Word, you need to enable it first using any one of these methods:

  1. Using Word Options
  2. Using Local Group Policy Editor
  3. Using Registry Editor

To know more about these steps, continue reading.

1] Using Word Options

How to use Insert key to paste into Word

To use the Insert key to paste text into Word, follow these steps:

  • Open Microsoft Word on your computer.
  • Click on the File menu.
  • Click on the Options button visible in the bottom-left corner.
  • Switch to the Advanced tab.
  • Head to the Cut, copy, and paste section.
  • Tick the Use the Insert key for paste checkbox.
  • Click the OK button to save the change.
  • Copy the text you want to paste and press the Insert key.

Your text will be pasted into the document automatically. In other words, you do not need to press Ctrl+V or use the right-click menu to do the same. The best thing is that you can paste multiple times by pressing the same Insert key.

2] Using Local Group Policy Editor

How to use Insert key to paste into Word

As said earlier, you can enable or disable this setting using the Local Group Policy Editor. However, you must install the Group Policy template for Office. Following that, follow these steps to enable pasting using Insert key:

  • Press Win+R to open the Run prompt.
  • Type gpedit.msc and hit the Enter button.
  • Go to this path: User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Microsoft Word 2016 > Word Options > Advanced
  • Double-click on the Use the Insert key for paste setting.
  • Choose the Enabled option.
  • Click the OK button to save the change.
  • Restart the Microsoft Word.
  • Press the Insert key to paste copied texts.

If you want to revert this change, you need to open the same setting as mentioned above and choose the Not Configured option.

3] Using Registry Editor

How to use Insert key to paste into Word

If you want to enable the paste using the Insert key feature in Word using Registry Editor, follow these steps:

  • Search for regedit in the Taskbar search box.
  • Click on the individual search result.
  • Click the Yes button.
  • Navigate to this path: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwarePoliciesMicrosoftoffice16.0
  • Right-click on 16.0 > New > Key and name it as word.
  • Right-click on word > New > key and set the name as options.
  • Right-click on options > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
  • Name it as inforpaste.
  • Double-click on it to set the Value data as 1.
  • Click the OK button.
  • Restart your computer.

After that, you can open the Word document and press the Insert button to start pasting. However, if you do not want this feature anymore, you can open the same REG_DWORD value and set the Value data as 0. Alternatively, you can delete the same as well. For that, right-click on it, select the Delete option and click the Yes button.

Read: How to reverse or mirror Text in Word

How do you paste with the Insert key?

To paste with the Insert key, you need to enable the aforementioned setting. There are three ways to turn on or off this feature in Microsoft Word. In simple terms, open the Word Options panel first, and go to the Advanced tab. Then, find the Use the Insert key for paste option and tick the corresponding checkbox. Finally, click the OK button to save the change.

How do I use the Insert key in Word?

You can use the Insert key in Word to paste texts into the documents. Whether you need to paste once or multiple times, you can use this key to get the job done. However, you must enable this setting using the guide mentioned above. You can use Word Options, Local Group Policy Editor, or Registry Editor.

Read: How to use Ink to Shape in Word, PowerPoint, Excel.

When he is not writing about Microsoft Windows or Office, Sudip likes to work with Photoshop. He has managed the front end and back end of many websites over the years. He is currently pursuing his Bachelor’s degree.

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Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: Using the Insert Key to Insert Text.

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated February 13, 2021)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003


When you first install Word, the Insert key is used to turn overtype mode on and off. To some people this is very awkward, particularly if they are used to working with other word processors that use the Insert key differently. In some word processors the Delete key is used to delete text, and the Insert key is used to place the text at the current cursor position.

Word can work in this way, as well. You can set the Insert key to function the same as the Ctrl+V key combination—it will insert the contents of the Clipboard. To control the way the Insert key works, use the following steps:

  1. Select Options from the Tools menu. Word displays the Options dialog box.
  2. Click on the Edit tab. (See Figure 1.)
  3. Figure 1. The Edit tab of the Options dialog box.

  4. Make sure the Use INS Key for Paste check box is selected.
  5. Click OK.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training.
(Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.)
This tip (1079) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Using the Insert Key to Insert Text.

Author Bio

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. Learn more about Allen…

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