Essential Microsoft Word Keyboard Shortcuts Every User Should Know (Download Free)

Reaching for your mouse to format headings, change line spacing, align text, or navigate long documents adds up to dozens of wasted hours every month. Learning essential Microsoft Word keyboard shortcuts can instantly boost your typing speed and document layout productivity.

Microsoft Word Keyboard Shortcuts

Below is a complete reference guide to the most practical Microsoft Word shortcuts, categorized by task for both Windows and Mac.

1. Essential File & Document Operations

These basic shortcuts handle creating, opening, saving, printing, and undoing actions in Word documents.

Action	Windows Shortcut	Mac Shortcut
Create a new document	`Ctrl` + `N`	`Cmd` + `N`
Open an existing document	`Ctrl` + `O`	`Cmd` + `O`
Save active document	`Ctrl` + `S`	`Cmd` + `S`
Open "Save As" dialog	`F12`	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `S`
Print document	`Ctrl` + `P`	`Cmd` + `P`
Close active document	`Ctrl` + `W`	`Cmd` + `W`
Undo previous action	`Ctrl` + `Z`	`Cmd` + `Z`
Redo / Repeat last action	`Ctrl` + `Y` or `F4`	`Cmd` + `Y`
Close Microsoft Word	`Alt` + `F4`	`Cmd` + `Q`

Tip: F4 repeats your very last editing command! For example, if you highlight text and change its color to dark blue, pressing F4 on another selected block of text immediately applies dark blue without opening the font menu again.

2. Fast Navigation & Moving Cursor

Navigating page by page or word by word is much faster using modifier keys.

Action	Windows Shortcut	Mac Shortcut
Move left/right one word	`Ctrl` + `Left` / `Right Arrow`	`Option` + `Left` / `Right Arrow`
Move up/down one paragraph	`Ctrl` + `Up` / `Down Arrow`	`Option` + `Up` / `Down Arrow`
Move to beginning of line	`Home`	`Cmd` + `Left Arrow`
Move to end of line	`End`	`Cmd` + `Right Arrow`
Jump to beginning of document	`Ctrl` + `Home`	`Cmd` + `Home` or `Cmd` + `Fn` + `Left`
Jump to end of document	`Ctrl` + `End`	`Cmd` + `End` or `Cmd` + `Fn` + `Right`
Page Up / Page Down	`Page Up` / `Page Down`	`Fn` + `Up` / `Down Arrow`
Jump to top / bottom of screen	`Ctrl` + `Page Up` / `Page Down`	`Cmd` + `Page Up` / `Page Down`
Go to last edited position	`Shift` + `F5`	`Shift` + `F5`

3. Highlighting and Selecting Text

Selecting text without dragging the mouse gives you exact control over words, sentences, and paragraphs.

Action	Windows Shortcut	Mac Shortcut
Select text character by character	`Shift` + `Left` / `Right Arrow`	`Shift` + `Left` / `Right Arrow`
Select word by word	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Left` / `Right`	`Option` + `Shift` + `Left` / `Right`
Select to beginning / end of line	`Shift` + `Home` / `End`	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `Left` / `Right`
Select line by line (up/down)	`Shift` + `Up` / `Down Arrow`	`Shift` + `Up` / `Down Arrow`
Select to top of document	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Home`	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `Home`
Select to end of document	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `End`	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `End`
Select entire document	`Ctrl` + `A`	`Cmd` + `A`
Vertical rectangular text box selection	`Alt` + `Click & Drag`	`Option` + `Click & Drag`

4. Text Formatting & Styles

Format words and change typography instantly without taking your hands off the keyboard.

Format Action	Windows Shortcut	Mac Shortcut
Apply Bold styling	`Ctrl` + `B`	`Cmd` + `B`
Apply Italic styling	`Ctrl` + `I`	`Cmd` + `I`
Apply Underline	`Ctrl` + `U`	`Cmd` + `U`
Apply Double Underline	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `D`	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `D`
Underline words only (skip spaces)	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `W`	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `W`
Change Text Case (UPPER, lower, Title)	`Shift` + `F3`	`Shift` + `F3`
ALL CAPS format toggle	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `A`	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `A`
Apply Subscript ($X_2$)	`Ctrl` + `=`	`Cmd` + `=`
Apply Superscript ($X^2$)	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `+`	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `+`
Increase Font Size	`Ctrl` + `]` or `Ctrl` + `Shift` + `>`	`Cmd` + `]` or `Cmd` + `Shift` + `>`
Decrease Font Size	`Ctrl` + `[` or `Ctrl` + `Shift` + `<`	`Cmd` + `[` or `Cmd` + `Shift` + `<`
Copy Formatting (Format Painter)	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `C`	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `C`
Paste Formatting	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `V`	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `V`
Clear All Formatting	`Ctrl` + `Space`	`Cmd` + `Option` + `Space`

Pro Tip: Select text and press Shift + F3 repeatedly to cycle between ALL UPPERCASE, all lowercase, and Title Case instantly!

5. Paragraph Alignment, Indents & Spacing

Speed up document design by adjusting line spacing and alignment via shortcuts.

Alignment / Spacing Action	Windows Shortcut	Mac Shortcut
Align Left	`Ctrl` + `L`	`Cmd` + `L`
Center Align	`Ctrl` + `E`	`Cmd` + `E`
Align Right	`Ctrl` + `R`	`Cmd` + `R`
Justify Align	`Ctrl` + `J`	`Cmd` + `J`
Single Line Spacing (1.0)	`Ctrl` + `1`	`Cmd` + `1`
Double Line Spacing (2.0)	`Ctrl` + `2`	`Cmd` + `2`
1.5 Line Spacing	`Ctrl` + `5`	`Cmd` + `5`
Add / Remove 12pt space before paragraph	`Ctrl` + `0`	`Cmd` + `0`
Indent paragraph	`Ctrl` + `M`	`Cmd` + `M`
Remove / Un-indent paragraph	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `M`	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `M`
Create Hanging Indent	`Ctrl` + `T`	`Cmd` + `T`

6. Page Breaks, Links & Special Inserts

Quickly break pages or insert notes, comments, and symbols into your draft.

Action	Windows Shortcut	Mac Shortcut
Insert Page Break	`Ctrl` + `Enter`	`Cmd` + `Return`
Insert Line Break (Soft return)	`Shift` + `Enter`	`Shift` + `Return`
Insert Hyperlink	`Ctrl` + `K`	`Cmd` + `K`
Insert Footnote	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `F`	`Cmd` + `Option` + `F`
Insert Endnote	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `D`	`Cmd` + `Option` + `D`
Insert Comment	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `M`	`Cmd` + `Option` + `M`
Insert Copyright Symbol (`©`)	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `C`	`Cmd` + `Option` + `C`
Insert Registered Symbol (`®`)	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `R`	`Cmd` + `Option` + `R`
Insert Trademark Symbol (`™`)	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `T`	`Cmd` + `Option` + `T`

7. Search, Replace & Table Navigation

Effortlessly locate text or maneuver inside Microsoft Word tables.

Action	Windows Shortcut	Mac Shortcut
Find text in document	`Ctrl` + `F`	`Cmd` + `F`
Replace text in document	`Ctrl` + `H`	`Cmd` + `H`
Open "Go To" dialog	`Ctrl` + `G` or `F5`	`Cmd` + `G` or `F5`
Move to next cell in table	`Tab`	`Tab`
Move to previous cell in table	`Shift` + `Tab`	`Shift` + `Tab`
Jump to first cell in table row	`Alt` + `Home`	`Option` + `Home`
Jump to last cell in table row	`Alt` + `End`	`Option` + `End`
Jump to top cell in table column	`Alt` + `Page Up`	`Option` + `Page Up`
Jump to bottom cell in table column	`Alt` + `Page Down`	`Option` + `Page Down`

Quick Reference Summary Table

Here is a handy summary table of the top 12 most frequently used Word keyboard shortcuts:

Action	Windows Shortcut	Mac Shortcut	Key Benefit
Copy Format	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `C`	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `C`	Copy font, size, & color without text
Paste Format	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `V`	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `V`	Apply copied formatting instantly
Clear Formatting	`Ctrl` + `Space`	`Cmd` + `Option` + `Space`	Reset selected text back to Normal style
Change Case	`Shift` + `F3`	`Shift` + `F3`	Toggle UPPERCASE, lowercase, & Title Case
Repeat Action	`F4`	`Cmd` + `Y`	Repeat your last formatting action
Page Break	`Ctrl` + `Enter`	`Cmd` + `Return`	Cleanly start a new page
Insert Hyperlink	`Ctrl` + `K`	`Cmd` + `K`	Link highlighted text to a web URL
Center Align	`Ctrl` + `E`	`Cmd` + `E`	Instantly center headings or titles
Double Spacing	`Ctrl` + `2`	`Cmd` + `2`	Set paragraph spacing to 2.0
1.5 Spacing	`Ctrl` + `5`	`Cmd` + `5`	Set paragraph spacing to 1.5
Word-by-Word Select	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Arrow`	`Option` + `Shift` + `Arrow`	High-precision text selection
Replace Text	`Ctrl` + `H`	`Cmd` + `H`	Quickly find and replace words

Download Microsoft Word Keyboard Shortcuts

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Summary & Next Steps

Don't feel overwhelmed trying to memorize every shortcut at once. Start by picking 3 to 5 shortcuts each day—such as Shift + F3 for changing text case, Ctrl + Shift + C / V for copying styles, and Ctrl + Enter for page breaks. Incorporating them into your daily editing workflow will save you hours over time!

Essential Microsoft Word Keyboard Shortcuts Every User Should Know (Download Free)

1. Essential File & Document Operations

2. Fast Navigation & Moving Cursor

3. Highlighting and Selecting Text

4. Text Formatting & Styles

5. Paragraph Alignment, Indents & Spacing

6. Page Breaks, Links & Special Inserts

7. Search, Replace & Table Navigation

Quick Reference Summary Table

Download Microsoft Word Keyboard Shortcuts

Summary & Next Steps

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