Microsoft Outlook Keyboard Shortcuts

Windows Ctrl as the modifier in the new Outlook for Windows. Single-key ribbon key tips (press Alt, then a letter) reach any command that has no direct shortcut.

Web Ctrl as the modifier, and most mail actions also answer to a single bare letter (N, R, E) with nothing held down, a lighter shortcut set than the Windows desktop app.

Mac Command as the primary modifier, with Option and Control covering search, formatting, and pane navigation.

iPad Command chords with an external keyboard, a smaller set focused on composing, replying, and moving through the message list.

Composing and replying. A new message, reply, reply all, and forward are each one shortcut (Ctrl+N / Ctrl+R / Ctrl+Shift+R / Ctrl+F on Windows; N / R / Shift+R / Shift+F on the web; Cmd+N / Cmd+R / Shift+Cmd+R / Cmd+J on Mac).

Switching views. Ctrl+1 through Ctrl+4 move between Mail, Calendar, Copilot, and People on Windows, Ctrl+Shift+1 through Ctrl+Shift+4 do the same on the web, and Cmd+1 through Cmd+3 switch between Mail, Calendar, and Contacts on Mac. No need to reach for the mouse to change views.

Calendar navigation. Separate keys move by day, week, and month depending on the active calendar view, and a dedicated shortcut jumps back to today.

Message triage. Read/unread, flag, archive, and permanent delete each have their own binding, distinct from the plain Delete key that moves a message to the deleted-items folder.

A printable PDF of Outlook shortcuts is available for each platform. The compose, reply, and view-switching shortcuts are the ones worth keeping nearby while learning the rest.

Microsoft Teams, OneNote, Excel, Microsoft Edge, and Windows 11 sit near Microsoft Outlook because they're the everyday Microsoft 365 and Windows workflow around it, chat and meetings, notes, spreadsheets, the browser, and the OS itself. They're related by ecosystem and workflow, not because every email task touches all of them.

Does new Outlook for Windows use the same shortcuts as classic Outlook?

No. New Outlook drops the ribbon-chord shortcuts of classic Outlook (Alt+H, R, P and similar sequences) for a simpler set closer to Outlook on the web. HKeys covers the new Outlook for Windows, since it is Microsoft's current default going forward.

Are Outlook keyboard shortcuts the same on Windows and Mac?

No. Windows and web Outlook use Ctrl as the modifier, and the web version also answers to several bare single-letter shortcuts (N, R, E). Outlook for Mac uses Command for the same actions, following the same convention as other Microsoft 365 apps on macOS.

Can I use Outlook keyboard shortcuts on iPad?

Yes, with an external keyboard connected. The iPad shortcut set is smaller than desktop, focused on composing, replying, and moving through the message list. See the iPad page for the full list.

How do I switch between Mail, Calendar, and People in Outlook using the keyboard?

On Windows, Ctrl+1 through Ctrl+4 switch between Mail, Calendar, Copilot, and People. On the web it's Ctrl+Shift+1 through Ctrl+Shift+4 instead. On Mac, Cmd+1 through Cmd+3 switch between Mail, Calendar, and Contacts.

This section lists official sources and documentation for Microsoft Outlook. Use these references to verify shortcut behavior instead of relying on memory, old screenshots, or another person's setup.