What do function keys do in word

The function keys on keyboards don’t get the love they used to, but depending on the app you’re running, they can still be quite handy. Word, in particular, has some interesting features tucked away behind your function keys. Here’s what they do.

F1

  • F1: Get help. How this works depends on what you’re looking at in the Word window. Press F1 in the regular document window, for example, to open Word’s Help pane. Sometimes, though, pressing F1 takes you to Microsoft’s support site and shows you more targeted articles about the feature you’re looking at. This is the case most of the time when you press F1 while a dialog box is open.
  • Shift+F1: Open Word’s “Reveal Formatting” pane, where you can see the character and paragraph formatting of whatever text you have selected.
  • Alt+F1: Jump to the next field if you’ve got fields in your document.
  • Alt+Shift+F1: Jumps to the previous field in your document.

F2

  • F2: Move text or objects. Select the text or object you want to move and then hit F2. Place your insertion point where you’d like to move the item and then hit Enter.
  • Shift+F2: Copy selected text. It’s just like hitting Ctrl+C.
  • Ctrl+F2: Open the Print window, where you can preview and print your document.
  • Alt+Shift+F2: Save your document. If you haven’t saved your document previously, it opens the Save As window.
  • Alt+Ctrl+F2: Pop up the Open window so you can open a document.

F3

  • F3: Expand an AutoText entry. Type at least the first four letters in the name of your AutoText entry and then press F3 to expand it to the full text.
  • Alt+F3: Create an AutoText entry from selected text.
  • Shift+F3: Change the case of selected text. Pressing this combo repeatedly cycles through the following case styles: Initial Letter Case, ALL CAPS CASE, and lower case.
  • Ctrl+F3: Cut selected text to the Spike. You can cut as much text as you want this way and it all accumulates on the Spike.
  • Ctrl+Shift+F3: Insert the contents of the Spike. Performing this action also clears any text in the Spike.

F4

  • F4: Repeat your last action.
  • Shift+F4: Repeat the last “Find” action. This one’s handy because you can use it to browse search results without having the Find and Replace window or Navigation pane open.
  • Ctrl+F4: Close the current document. You’ll be asked to save the document if you’ve made any changes.
  • Alt+F4: Quit Microsoft Word. This closes all open documents (giving you the chance to save changes first) and exits Word.

F5

  • F5: Open “Go To” tab on the Find and Replace window. You can use this to quickly jump to a page, section, bookmark, and so on.
  • Shift+F5: Jump the previous edit you made in your document. Press it again go one more edit back. Word remembers your last two edits. This works even after saving and closing a document, letting you return to where you left off when you open the document again.
  • Ctrl+Shift+F5: Open the Bookmark window so you can edit bookmarks. If your insertion point is in an existing bookmark, pressing this combo opens the Bookmark window and selects that bookmark.

F6

  • F6: Go to the next pane or frame in your Word window. You can use this to navigate the window without using your mouse.
  • Shift+F6: Go to the previous pane or frame.
  • Ctrl+F6: Go to the next open document window.
  • Ctrl+Shift+F6: Go to the previous open document window.

F7

  • F7: Open the Editor pane and start a spelling and grammar check.
  • Shift+F7: Open the thesaurus. If you have a word selected when you press this combo, Word opens the thesaurus and looks up the selected word.
  • Alt+F7: Find the next spelling or grammar error in your document.
  • Alt+Shift+F7: Open the Translation pane.

F8

  • F8: Enter Word’s selection mode and expand a selection. While in this mode, you can use the arrow keys to extend your selection. You can also press F8 up to five times to extend the selection outward. The first press enters selection mode, the second press selects the word next to the insertion point, the third selects the whole sentence, the fourth all the characters in the paragraph, and the fifth the whole document.
  • Shift+F8: Reduce a selection. This works the same way as expanding a selection, but backward.
  • Ctrl+Shift+F8: Selects a column. Once the column is selected, you can use the left and right arrow keys to extend the selection to other columns.

F9

  • F9: Update a field. This is the same as right-clicking a field and choosing the “Update Field” command.
  • Shift+F9: Reveal a field’s code.
  • Ctrl+F9: Insert new Empty Field {} braces.
  • Ctrl+Shift+F9: Unlink a field.
  • Alt+F9: Toggle the display of a field’s code.

F10

  • F10: Show key tips. Pressing this combo reveals single letter shortcuts you can use to access Word’s menu commands.
  • Shift+F10: Display a context menu. This works just like right-clicking.
  • Ctrl+F10: Maximize document window.
  • Alt+Shift+F10: Display a menu or window for an available selection.

F11

  • F11: Jump to the next field in your document.
  • Shift+F11: Jump to the previous field in your document.
  • Ctrl+F11: Lock a field so it cannot be edited.
  • Ctrl+Shift+F11: Unlock a field.
  • Alt+Shift+F11: Start the Microsoft Script Editor.

F12

  • F12: Open the Save As window.
  • Shift+F12: Save your document.
  • Ctrl+F12: Open the Open window.
  • Ctrl+Shift+F12: Open the Print window.

Microsoft Word has loads of great keyboard shortcuts, and its support for the function keys on your keyboard is no exception.

RELATED: All of the Best Microsoft Word Keyboard Shortcuts

READ NEXT

  • › Save Hundreds on Elegoo’s New PHECDA Laser Engraver Through Kickstarter
  • › Android’s Nearby Share Has (Unofficially) Arrived on Mac
  • › Five Types of Phone Damage That Aren’t Covered by Your Free Warranty
  • › How to Get a Refund on the PlayStation Store
  • › This 64 GB Flash Drive From Samsung Is Just $8 Right Now
  • › Spotify Is Shutting Down Its Free Online Game

How-To Geek is where you turn when you want experts to explain technology. Since we launched in 2006, our articles have been read billions of times. Want to know more?

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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)

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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 (<)

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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.

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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.

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

Drawing

To do this

Press

Toggle drawing mode.

The Command button.+Control+Z

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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.

Top of Page

Use footnotes and endnotes

To do this

Press

Insert a footnote.

The Command button.+Option+F

Insert an endnote.

The Command button.+Option+E

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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).

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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 (/)

Top of Page

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

Function keys (F1 to F12) have their own usage on Windows computers. For instance, to adjust the screen brightness, to adjust the volume or to turn on and off the Wi-Fi connection, we normally use function keys. Meanwhile, function keys have something interesting usage when it comes to Microsoft Word. So, in this guide, you’ll learn what can function keys do in Microsoft Word?

Function Keys (F Keys)

The function keys or F keys are arranged along the top of the keyboard and F1 through F12 are numbered. Such keys serve as shortcuts, executing other tasks, such as file saving, data printing, or page refresh.

Below is an overview of a computer keyboard with the function keys (F1 through F12) highlighted in red.

What Can Function Keys Do in Word 2019, 2016, 2013 Etc? (F1-F12 Keys)

Function keys (F1-F12)

You Might Also Like: How to Access and Use Clipboard on Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word 

Microsoft Word is available for Microsoft Windows, Apple macOS, Android, and Apple iOS as well as WINE on the Linux operating system.

Word also called Winword, MS Word, or Word, Microsoft Word It’s a Microsoft published word processor. It is one of Microsoft Office’s productivity applications. It was first released in 1983, originally developed by Charles Simonyi and Richard Brodie.

In the meantime, Microsoft Word allows you to create files, articles, letters, and summaries of professional quality. Microsoft Word has features including spell check, grammar check, text and font formatting, HTML support, image support, advanced page layout, and more, unlike a plain text editor.

What can Function Keys or F Keys Do in Microsoft Word?

Here’s what F or function keys do in Microsoft Word:

F1
  1. F1: Get help. How this works depends on what you’re looking at in the Word window. Press F1 in the regular document window, for example, to open Word’s Help pane. Sometimes, though, pressing F1 takes you to Microsoft’s support site and shows you more targeted articles about the feature you’re looking at. This is the case most of the time when you press F1 while a dialog box is open.
  2. Shift + F1: Open Word’s “Reveal Formatting” pane, where you can see the character and paragraph formatting of whatever text you have selected.
  3. Alt + F1: Jump to the next field if you’ve got fields in your document.
  4. Alt + Shift + F1: Jumps to the previous field in your document.
F2
  1. F2: Move text or objects. Select the text or object you want to move and then hit F2. Place your insertion point where you’d like to move the item and then hit Enter.
  2. Shift + F2: Copy selected text.
  3. Ctrl + F2: Open the Print window, where you can preview and print your document.
  4. Alt + Shift + F2: Save your document. If you haven’t saved your document previously, it opens the Save As window.
  5. Alt + Ctrl + F2: Pop up the Open window so you can open a document.
F3
  1. F3: Expand an AutoText entry. Type at least the first four letters in the name of your AutoText entry and then press F3 to expand it to the full text.
  2. Alt + F3: Create an AutoText entry from the selected text.
  3. Shift + F3: Change the case of the selected text. Pressing this combo repeatedly cycles through the following case styles: Initial Letter Case, ALL CAPS CASE, and lower case.
  4. Ctrl + F3: Cut selected text to the Spike. You can cut as much text as you want this way and it all accumulates on the Spike.
  5. Ctrl + Shift + F3: Insert the contents of the Spike. Performing this action also clears any text in the Spike.
F4
  1. F4: Repeat your last action.
  2. Shift + F4: Repeat the last “Find” action. This one’s handy because you can use it to browse search results without having the Find and Replace window or Navigation pane open.
  3. Ctrl + F4: Close the current document. You’ll be asked to save the document if you’ve made any changes.
  4. Alt + F4: Quit Microsoft Word. This closes all open documents (giving you the chance to save changes first) and exits Word.
F5
  1. F5: Open “Go-To” tab on the Find and Replace window. You can use this to quickly jump to a page, section, bookmark, and so on.
  2. Shift + F5: Jump the previous edit you made in your document. Press it again go one more edit back. Word remembers your last two edits. This works even after saving and closing a document, letting you return to where you left off when you open the document again.
  3. Ctrl + Shift + F5: Open the Bookmark window so you can edit bookmarks. If your insertion point is in an existing bookmark, pressing this combo opens the Bookmark window and selects that bookmark.
F6
  1. F6: Go to the next pane or frame in your Word window. You can use this to navigate the window without using your mouse.
  2. Shift + F6: Go to the previous pane or frame.
  3. Ctrl + F6: Go to the next open document window.
  4. Ctrl + Shift + F6: Go to the previous open document window.
F7
  1. F7: Open the Editor pane and start a spelling and grammar check.
  2. Shift + F7: Open the thesaurus. If you have a word selected when you press this combo, Word opens the thesaurus and looks up the selected word.
  3. Alt + F7: Find the next spelling or grammar error in your document.
  4. Alt + Shift + F7: Open the Translation pane.
F8
  1. F8: Enter Word’s selection mode and expand a selection. While in this mode, you can use the arrow keys to extend your selection. You can also press F8 up to five times to extend the selection outward. The first press enters selection mode, the second press selects the word next to the insertion point, the third select the whole sentence, the fourth all the characters in the paragraph, and the fifth the whole document.
  2. Shift + F8: Reduce selection. This works the same way as expanding a selection, but backward.
  3. Ctrl + Shift + F8: Selects a column. Once the column is selected, you can use the left and right arrow keys to extend the selection to other columns.
F9
  1. F9: Update a field. This is the same as right-clicking a field and choosing the “Update Field” command.
  2. Shift + F9: Reveal a field’s code.
  3. Ctrl + F9: Insert new Empty Field {} braces.
  4. Ctrl + Shift + F9: Unlink a field.
  5. Alt + F9: Toggle the display of a field’s code.
F10
  1. F10: Show key tips. Pressing this combo reveals single letter shortcuts you can use to access Word’s menu commands.
  2. Shift + F10: Display a context menu. This works just like right-clicking.
  3. Ctrl + F10: Maximize document window.
  4. Alt + Shift + F10: Display a menu or window for an available selection.
F11
  1. F11: Jump to the next field in your document.
  2. Shift + F11: Jump to the previous field in your document.
  3. Ctrl + F11: Lock a field so it cannot be edited.
  4. Ctrl + Shift + F11: Unlock a field.
  5. Alt + Shift + F11: Start the Microsoft Script Editor.
F12
  1. F12: Open the Save As window.
  2. Shift + F12: Save your document.
  3. Ctrl + F12: Open the open window.
  4. Ctrl + Shift + F12: Open the Print window.

Wrapping Up

This is how F keys or function keys can do in Microsoft Word. Function keys can perform certain things depending on the app or program you’re using.

Related

This content has been archived, and is no longer maintained by Indiana University. Information here may no longer be accurate, and links may no longer be available or reliable.

Function keys are at the top of your keyboard (e.g., F1,
F2) and can serve many functions in a variety of
applications. In Microsoft Word, the function keys have many
automated functions that vary when holding down the
Shift, Ctrl, or Alt
keys. Following is a list of what the function keys do in Word:

This information is from Microsoft knowledge base article 157935.

Function keys

Key Function
F1

Get online help or the Office Assistant.

F2 Move text or graphics.
F3

Insert an AutoText entry (after Word displays the entry).

F4 Repeat the last action.
F5

Choose the Go To command (from the menu).

F6 Go to next pane or frame.
F7

Choose the Spelling command (from the menu).

F8 Extend a selection.
F9 Update selected fields.
F10 Activate the menu bar.
F11 Go to the next field.
F12

Choose the Save As command (from the menu).

Shift+function key

Key Function
Shift-F1

Start
context-sensitive help or reveal formatting.

Shift-F2 Copy text.
Shift-F3 Change the case of letters.
Shift-F4

Repeat a Find or Go To action.

Shift-F5 Move to a previous revision.
Shift-F6

Go to the previous pane or frame.

Shift-F7

Choose the Thesaurus command (from
the menu, select the submenu).

Shift-F8 Shrink a selection.
Shift-F9

Switch between a field code and its
result.

Shift-F10 Display a shortcut menu.
Shift-F11 Go to the previous field.
Shift-F12

Choose the Save command (from the
menu).

Ctrl+function key

Key Function
Ctrl-F1

Open the Task Pane (only available in Word 2003).

Ctrl-F2

Choose the Print Preview command (from the
menu).

Ctrl-F3 Cut to the Spike.
Ctrl-F4 Close the window.
Ctrl-F5

Restore the document window size.

Ctrl-F6 Go to the next window.
Ctrl-F7

Choose the Move command (the Control menu).

Ctrl-F8 Column select.
Ctrl-F9 Insert an empty field.
Ctrl-F10 Maximize the document window.
Ctrl-F11 Lock a field.
Ctrl-F12

Choose the Open command (from the menu).

Ctrl+Shift+function key

Key Function
Ctrl-Shift-F3

Insert the contents of the Spike.

Ctrl-Shift-F5 Edit a bookmark.
Ctrl-Shift-F6 Go to the previous window.
Ctrl-Shift-F7

Update linked information in a Word source document.

Ctrl-Shift-F8

Extend a selection or block (then press an arrow key).

Ctrl-Shift-F9 Unlink a field.
Ctrl-Shift-F10 Activate the ruler.
Ctrl-Shift-F11 Unlock a field.
Ctrl-Shift-F12

Choose the Print command (from the
menu).

Alt+function key

Key Function
Alt-F1 Go to the next field.
Alt-F3 Create an AutoText entry.
Alt-F4 Quit Word.
Alt-F5

Restore the program window size.

Alt-F6 Go to the next window.
Alt-F7

Find the next misspelling or grammatical
error. You must select the check
box for this to work. To do this, from the menu, select
, and then the tab.

Alt-F8 Run a macro.
Alt-F9

Switch between all field codes and their results.

Alt-F10 Maximize the program window.
Alt-F11

Display Microsoft Visual Basic code.

Alt+Shift+function key

Key Function
Alt-Shift-F1 Go to the previous field.
Alt-Shift-F2

Choose the Save command (from the menu).

Alt-Shift-F7

Open the language translation pane in Word 2000 and later.

Alt-Shift-F9 Do field click.
Alt-Shift-F11

Display Microsoft Visual Studio code.

Ctrl+Alt+function key

Key Function
Ctrl-Alt-F1

Display Microsoft System Information.

Ctrl-Alt-F2

Choose the Open command (from the menu).

This is document airw in the Knowledge Base.

Last modified on 2018-01-18 12:46:46.

Practically all processes and commands on the computer can be controlled using your mouse. However, you can perform many of the same actions much more quickly and easily using a keyboard. This process is simplified by using the F1 to F12 function keys. The F keys are located in the top row of the keyboard and can provide many helpful functions that will save you time.

Contents

  1. Where are the function keys on Windows and Mac keyboards?
  2. F keys: the most important function key commands
    1. The F1 key
    2. The F2 key
    3. The F3 key
    4. The F4 key
    5. The F5 key
    6. The F6 key
    7. The F7 key
    8. The F8 key
    9. The F9 key
    10. The F10 key
    11. The F11 key
    12. The F12 key

$1 Domain Names

Register great TLDs for less than $1 for the first year.

Why wait? Grab your favorite domain name today!

Matching email

SSL certificate

24/7/365 support

Where are the function keys on Windows and Mac keyboards?

The F keys are located in the top row on both Windows and Mac keyboards.

Function keys on a Windows keyboard
The function keys are located in the top row on a Windows keyboard.
Function keys on a Mac keyboard
The F keys are also located in the top row on Mac keyboards.

On some Windows keyboards, and particularly on Mac keyboards, the function keys are also used to control music, volume, and screen brightness levels. Since these functions are used more frequently than the actual functions of the F keys, you will need to press the Fn key to activate the function keys to be able to use them.

Keyboard with an Fn key to activate function keys
The Fn key used to activate the function keys is usually located in the bottom left-hand corner of the keyboard.

Tip

You can activate the function keys on both Mac and Windows keyboards without using the Fn key. On a Mac, you can find the “Keyboard” settings via the System Preferences. In Windows, restart your computer and press the key displayed before the startup to open the BIOS/UEFI and activate the corresponding function.

F keys: the most important function key commands

A keyboard shortcut is used to perform individual actions that would otherwise take multiple clicks or keyboard shortcuts to achieve. Therefore, learning more about the functions assigned to the individual function keys is well worth your time. In macOS, the F keys are used less frequently since the commands can be accessed using other keyboard shortcuts. As such, will focus on the functions for Windows keyboards in the following sections.

The F1 key

Let’s assume you are editing an Excel spreadsheet and wish to use the Excel AND function. If you’re not sure how to use the function, all you need to do is press the F1 key and Excel’s help menu will pop up. The shortcut to quickly open the help menu works in many other programs, making the F1 key particularly useful for new users. In Office programs, you can also show and hide the menu bar by combining the F1 key with the Ctrl key.

The F2 key

When renaming a file or folder, you can avoid having to use the roundabout method of right-clicking it and selecting the “Rename” option. Simply click on the file or folder while pressing the F2 key. This will launch the text field for you to enter a new name.

The F3 key

Assume you are searching for a specific keyword on a website. All you need to do is press the F3 function key, and the search field will open in your browser. All you’ll need to do is enter the desired search term.

Tip

In Microsoft Word, you can combine the Shift and F3 key to automatically start a lowercase word with an uppercase letter. Pressing these two keys again will change the entire word to uppercase letters.

The F4 key

The F4 key also has multiple functions. For example, it can be used to access the address bar in the Microsoft browser Internet Explorer. If you combine it with the Alt key, it will close an active window. When using Word, the F4 provides an excellent way to save time: By pressing the function key, you can repeat the most recent action performed as many times as you need to.

The F5 key

The F5 key’s function varies depending on the program you are suing. For example, you can use it to refresh the current page in your browser, to access the “Find and Replace” function in Word or Excel or to start a slide show in PowerPoint.

The F6 key

The F6 key eliminates the need to click on the address bar in the browser and highlight the full URL in order to enter a new website address. Simply click the F6 key to enter a new URL. By combining it with the Ctrl key, you can call up all active documents in Word.

Note

In some browsers such as Google Chrome, the F6 key allows you to switch between the address bar and bookmarks. Therefore, you may need to press the F6 key more than once to get to the address bar.

The F7 key

The F7 key has no functions on its own. It has to be used in conjunction with other keys and provides some useful features for Word users. For example, you can combine the Alt key with F7 to fully check your text for spelling and grammar mistakes. In addition, combining F7 with the Shift key will launch the thesaurus to provide synonym suggestions for the last word you wrote or a selected word.

The F8 key

Are you having trouble launching Windows? When you start up your computer, press the F8 function key right before the Windows logo appears. Your computer will then start in safe mode.

Tip

In Microsoft Excel, you can use the F8 key to select the entire range of cells that lies between two cells you selected.

The F9 key

Similar to the F7 key, the F9 key only has a function if you combine it with another key. For example, in Office programs the F9 key can be used with the Ctrl key to insert curly brackets.

The F10 key

To access a browser’s menu bar, simply press the F10 function key. If you combine it with the Shift key, you can perform the function of a right-click without using a mouse. In Word, you can use F10 with the Ctrl key to maximize or minimize a window.

The F11 key

The F11 key allows you to activate full-screen mode in your browser. By pressing it again, you will return to the standard view with the menu bar.

Tip

In Microsoft Excel, you can use the Shift key with F11 to quickly create a new spreadsheet in a new tab.

The F12 key

The F12 function key only has a function when used in Office programs. If you press the F12 key in one of these programs, the “Save as” menu will open. You can save your file directly by combining this key with the Shift key. By holding the Ctrl key when you press F12, you can open a saved document.

Related articles

Windows button

Windows button: an overview of the main functions and key combinations

The Windows logo key not only opens the Windows start menu at the press of a button, it also performs important functions as part of numerous keyboard combinations when using the Windows operating system. Navigate faster through your system, launch key functions or work more productively.

Windows button: an overview of the main functions and key combinations

Caps Lock

Caps Lock: how to turn the “all caps” key on and off

The Caps Lock key switches all the letters on your keyboard from lowercase to uppercase until you turn it off. This is often useful, but it can also be annoying if you accidentally press the key. In this article, we’ll explain the function of the Caps Lock key in detail and show you where it’s located on your keyboard. We’ll also explain how to temporarily or permanently disable the Caps Lock key….

Caps Lock: how to turn the “all caps” key on and off

Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts

Windows 11 Keyboard shortcuts

The keyboard shortcuts which are available in Windows 11 and in older versions of Windows are a convenient way to open Windows Settings and perform various actions. Many shortcuts in Windows 10 and 11 have remained the same, but there have been some changes to several shortcuts. We will be providing you with an overview of all the important keyboard shortcuts.

Windows 11 Keyboard shortcuts

Like this post? Please share to your friends:
  • What can i do with word 2013
  • What do 1 word texts mean
  • What can i do with microsoft word 2010
  • What definitions of the word law do you know
  • What can i do when word freezes