Every time you reach for the mouse, you lose a second or two. Over hundreds of posts, that adds up to hours. WordPress has keyboard shortcuts for almost everything in the block editor, plus shortcuts for moderating comments, and many of them are the same ones you already use in Word or Google Docs.
This is the complete, up-to-date list for 2026, organized so you can find what you need quickly. Tip: you do not need to memorize them. Press Shift + Alt + H (Windows) or Ctrl + Option + H (Mac) inside the editor at any time to see the full list.
Essential Block Editor Shortcuts
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Show all keyboard shortcuts | Shift + Alt + H | Ctrl + Option + H |
| Open the command palette | Ctrl + K | Cmd + K |
| Save your changes | Ctrl + S | Cmd + S |
| Undo | Ctrl + Z | Cmd + Z |
| Redo | Ctrl + Shift + Z | Cmd + Shift + Z |
| Show or hide the settings sidebar | Ctrl + Shift + , | Cmd + Shift + , |
| Open List View (document outline) | Shift + Alt + O | Ctrl + Option + O |
| Switch between visual and code editor | Ctrl + Shift + Alt + M | Cmd + Shift + Option + M |
| Toggle distraction free mode | Ctrl + Shift + \ | Cmd + Shift + \ |
| Toggle fullscreen mode | Ctrl + Shift + Alt + F | Cmd + Shift + Option + F |
| Jump to the next part of the editor | Ctrl + ` | Ctrl + ` |
| Jump to the previous part of the editor | Ctrl + Shift + ` | Ctrl + Shift + ` |
| Move to the block toolbar | Alt + F10 | Fn + Option + F10 |
Block Shortcuts
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Add a new block (in an empty paragraph) | / | / |
| Duplicate selected block(s) | Ctrl + Shift + D | Cmd + Shift + D |
| Remove selected block(s) | Shift + Alt + Z | Ctrl + Option + Z |
| Insert a block before | Ctrl + Alt + T | Cmd + Option + T |
| Insert a block after | Ctrl + Alt + Y | Cmd + Option + Y |
| Move block(s) up | Ctrl + Shift + Alt + T | Cmd + Shift + Option + T |
| Move block(s) down | Ctrl + Shift + Alt + Y | Cmd + Shift + Option + Y |
| Group selected blocks | Ctrl + G | Cmd + G |
| Select all text in a block (press again for all blocks) | Ctrl + A | Cmd + A |
| Clear selection | Esc | Esc |
| Copy, cut, or paste whole blocks | Ctrl + C / X / V | Cmd + C / X / V |
Text Formatting Shortcuts
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Bold | Ctrl + B | Cmd + B |
| Italic | Ctrl + I | Cmd + I |
| Underline | Ctrl + U | Cmd + U |
| Add a link | Ctrl + K | Cmd + K |
| Remove a link | Ctrl + Shift + K | Cmd + Shift + K |
| Strikethrough | Shift + Alt + D | Ctrl + Option + D |
| Inline code | Shift + Alt + X | Ctrl + Option + X |
| Paste without formatting | Ctrl + Shift + V | Cmd + Shift + V |
| Line break without a new block | Shift + Enter | Shift + Enter |
When text is selected, Ctrl + K adds a link; with nothing selected, it opens the command palette, where you can type actions like “Add new post” or “Toggle List View.”
Markdown-Style Typing Shortcuts
These are my favorites. Type them at the start of a new paragraph and WordPress converts the block automatically:
| Type | Result |
|---|---|
## + space | Heading 2 (### for H3, and so on) |
* or - + space | Bulleted list |
1. + space | Numbered list |
> + space | Quote |
``` | Code block |
--- + Enter | Separator line |
[[ | Search and link to one of your posts or pages |
`text` | Inline code |
Text Selection Shortcuts
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Select one character left or right | Shift + Left/Right | Shift + Left/Right |
| Select one word left or right | Ctrl + Shift + Left/Right | Option + Shift + Left/Right |
| Select to the start of the line | Shift + Home | Cmd + Shift + Left |
| Select to the end of the line | Shift + End | Cmd + Shift + Right |
| Select a line up or down | Shift + Up/Down | Shift + Up/Down |
Comment Moderation Shortcuts
These are turned off by default. To enable them, go to Users > Profile, check Enable keyboard shortcuts for comment moderation, and save. Then, on the Comments screen:
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| J / K | Move to the next / previous comment |
| A | Approve |
| U | Unapprove |
| D | Delete |
| S | Mark as spam |
| R | Reply |
| Q | Quick edit |
| Z | Undo delete or restore from trash |
| X | Select (check) a comment |
| Shift + A / D / U | Approve / delete / unapprove all selected |
| Shift + T | Move selected to trash |
| Shift + Z | Restore selected from trash |
Classic Editor Shortcuts
Still using the Classic Editor plugin? The basic formatting shortcuts (bold, italic, link, undo) are the same. These are specific to the classic editor:
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Heading 1 to 6 | Shift + Alt + 1 to 6 | Ctrl + Option + 1 to 6 |
| Bulleted list | Shift + Alt + U | Ctrl + Option + U |
| Numbered list | Shift + Alt + O | Ctrl + Option + O |
| Blockquote | Shift + Alt + Q | Ctrl + Option + Q |
| Align left / center / right | Shift + Alt + L / C / R | Ctrl + Option + L / C / R |
| Insert Read More tag | Shift + Alt + T | Ctrl + Option + T |
| Add media | Shift + Alt + M | Ctrl + Option + M |
| Distraction free mode | Shift + Alt + W | Ctrl + Option + W |
| Show shortcut help | Shift + Alt + H | Ctrl + Option + H |
How to Learn Shortcuts Without Overwhelm
- Start with five:
/for blocks,##for headings, Ctrl + K for links, Ctrl + Shift + D to duplicate, and Ctrl + S to save. - Add one or two new shortcuts each week.
- Keep this page bookmarked, or press the help shortcut in the editor.
Want to save even more time? See our productivity tips for bloggers and the best writing tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I see all keyboard shortcuts in WordPress?
In the block editor, press Shift + Alt + H on Windows or Ctrl + Option + H on Mac, or open the Options menu (three dots) and choose Keyboard shortcuts.
Why is a shortcut not working?
Your browser, an extension, or your operating system may use the same keys. Try disabling extensions, or check that you are in the right editor (block vs classic).
Can I create custom shortcuts?
Not in WordPress itself, but text expander tools such as your operating system’s text replacement can insert common phrases for you.
Which shortcuts do you use most? Share them in the comments.
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