Google Drive shortcuts: Why use them?
Google Drive shortcuts use combinations of keys to issue commands or perform formatting.
Access Google Docs with a free Google account (for personal use) or G Suite account (for business use). Click the document you want to create a shortcut for. This opens the document in the web browser. If you would rather create a desktop shortcut for Google Docs, instead of a specific document, you can skip this step and stay on the 'Recent Documents' page.
Keyboard shortcuts let users issue commands and perform basic formatting. They can save a lot of time. Instead of moving the cursor with a mouse to select a menu item or toolbar icon, you simply hold down two or more specific keys at the same time.Here is a basic reference list of Google Drive shortcuts. It applies to Google Drive as well as Google Docs, Sheets and Slides.
To get a printed list of Google shortcuts, check out our Google cheat sheets for Drive, Docs, and Sheets — each one costs less than US$5, is printed on high-quality card stock, hole-punched for easy storage, and contains shortcuts, examples, and annotated lists of features.
All of the listed shortcuts work in the Google Chrome browser. Some may not work in Internet Explorer or Firefox. Google recommends the Chrome browser for Google Drive and other Google applications.
Google Drive home screen shortcuts
The following keyboard shortcuts work on Windows and Mac desktops and laptops as well as Chromebooks.
c – Create new file
u – Upload new file
o – Open file
d – Information about file
j or down arrow – Advance to next file
k or up arrow – Go back to previous file
x – Select file
t – Open settings pane
n – Rename selected file
Keyboard shortcuts for Google Docs, Sheets and Slides
Some keyboard shortcuts are identical to those used in Microsoft Office and other programs. For instance, copying and pasting text is the same in Google Docs and Microsoft Word.
Here is a list of shortcuts for Google Docs, Sheets and Slides:
Windows
Control + / – Show all keyboard shortcuts
Control + ‘ – Go to next misspelling (Docs only)
Control + Shift + c – Word count (Docs only)
Control + o – Open file
Control + p – Print file
Control + f – Find text
Control + z – Undo
Control + y – Redo
Control + b – Bold text
Control + i – Italicize text
Control + u – Underline text
Control + a – Select all
Control + x – Cut selected text
Control + c – Copy selected text
Control + v – Paste
Control + k – Create link to Web address
Alt + Shift + f – Open file menu
Alt + Shift + e – Open edit menu
Alt + Shift + v – Open view menu
![Google Docs Application Shortcut For Mac Google Docs Application Shortcut For Mac](/uploads/1/2/6/2/126248434/644693668.png)
Alt + Shift + i – Open insert menu
Alt + Shift + t – Open tools menu
Mac
Command + / – Show all keyboard shortcuts
Command + ‘ – Go to next misspelling (Docs only)
Command + Shift + c – Word count (Docs only)
Command + o – Open file
Command + p – Print file
Command + f – Find text
Command + z – Undo
Command + y – Redo
Command + b – Bold text
Command + i – Italicize text
Command + u – Underline text
Command + a – Select all
Command + x – Cut selected text
Command + c – Copy selected text
Command + v – Paste
Command + k – Create link to Web address
Control + Option + f – Open file menu
Control + Option + e – Open edit menu
Control + Option + v – Open view menu
Control + Option + i – Open insert menu
Control + Option + t – Open tools menu
Each one of our Google Drive, Google Docs and Google Sheets cheat sheets contains lists of keyboard shortcuts.
Related posts:
If you often create and edit documents using Google Docs, then you’ll definitely want an easier way to create new documents. By default, Google Docs isn’t like MS Word. It doesn’t have a keyboard shortcut for creating new documents. You really need to go through its “File” tab and then select “New” > “Document”. The same goes if you want to create a new spreadsheet or presentation.
The good thing is there’s a workaround and it can be done by adding desktop shortcuts. So with a simple desktop shortcut, you’re just a “double-click” away to creating a new Google Docs document. Just read this post to learn how.
How to create desktop shortcuts for Google Docs in Windows
- First and foremost, open your web browser and make sure that you’re already signed in to your Google account. By signing in to your Google account, you can open any Google service or app without being constantly prompted to enter your Google account email and password.
- So once you’re logged in, just minimize your browser and go to your desktop.
- Right-click on your desktop and then on the right-click menu, select “New” > “Shortcut”.
- On the dialog box that appears, paste the following URL on the “Type the location of the item” field:
- For creating new Google Docs documents, use:http://docs.google.com/?action=newdoc
- For creating new Sheets, use:http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?new
- For creating new Presentations, use:http://docs.google.com/?action=new_presentation
- To continue, click “Next”.
- On the next dialog, you will be asked to enter a name for new shortcut. Just enter “Google Docs” or any name that you want.
- Click “Finish” to confirm.
Setting a custom icon for your new Google Docs desktop shortcut
- Now, that your Google Docs desktop shortcut is ready, you may opt to change its icon as well. Just right-click on the shortcut icon and then on the menu that appears, select “Properties”.
- Go to the “Web Document” tab and then click “Change Icon”.
- Select the icon that you want, click “OK” then “Apply” then “OK” again.
That’s it. So every time you click the shortcut icon for Google Docs on your desktop, it will automatically open Google Docs on your default web browser. Just click the “+” icon on the bottom-right side of your Google Docs interface to create a new document and you’re all set.
If you want to create another shortcut for Google Sheets or Presentations, just repeat the steps above but use the given URLs for Sheets and Presentations.