WordPress Gutenberg Keyboard Shortcuts: The Complete Cheat Sheet (2026)
WordPress Gutenberg Keyboard Shortcuts: The Complete Cheat Sheet (2026)
WordPress Gutenberg keyboard shortcuts can save you over 64 hours per year — that’s 8 full workdays you’re currently wasting by reaching for your mouse. Whether you’re writing posts, rearranging blocks, or formatting text, there’s a shortcut that does it faster.
The block editor has over 50 shortcuts built in, but most WordPress users know fewer than five. This cheat sheet organizes every WordPress Gutenberg keyboard shortcut by what you’re actually trying to do — not buried in a random list you’ll never revisit. If you’re still getting familiar with the editor itself, our WordPress Block Editor Guide covers the foundations.
We’ll start with the ten shortcuts that save the most time, then cover the full reference. Pin this page. You’ll use it daily.
⚡ Key Takeaways
- Keyboard shortcuts save an average of 64 hours per year for daily computer users
- Press Alt+Shift+H (Win) or Ctrl+Option+H (Mac) to see all shortcuts inside WordPress
- The slash command / is the single fastest way to insert any block type
- Markdown shortcuts like ## for headings work natively — no plugin needed
- New shortcuts for pasting block styles and internal link autocomplete were added in 2025
Why WordPress Gutenberg Keyboard Shortcuts Actually Matter
According to research from Brainscape, people lose an average of 2 seconds every minute by switching between keyboard and mouse. That doesn’t sound like much — until you multiply it across an 8-hour workday, 5 days a week, 50 weeks a year. Once you make the switch to shortcuts, that friction disappears for good.
64 hours
saved per year by using keyboard shortcuts — that’s 8 full workdays
Source: Brainscape
With 87.3 million active Gutenberg installations and over 167,000 posts created daily, the block editor is where WordPress users spend most of their time. Learning these shortcuts isn’t optional anymore — it’s the difference between working fast and working frustrated.
How to View All Shortcuts Inside WordPress
Before memorizing anything, know this: WordPress has a built-in shortcut reference panel (documented in the official keyboard shortcuts reference). You can open it anytime you’re in the block editor. This panel is your best starting point if you’re new to the editor.
🏴☠️ PIRATE TIP: Press Alt+Shift+H on Windows or Ctrl+Option+H on Mac to instantly pull up every shortcut WordPress knows. That’s the one shortcut to rule them all.
You can also find it through the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the editor — click it and select “Keyboard shortcuts” at the bottom. But the keyboard shortcut to open keyboard shortcuts? That’s peak efficiency.
The 10 Essential Shortcuts (Start Here)
Don’t try to learn 50 shortcuts at once. Start with these ten — they cover roughly 80% of what you do in the block editor every day.
| Action | Windows/Linux | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Save your work | Ctrl + S | Cmd + S |
| Undo last action | Ctrl + Z | Cmd + Z |
| Redo | Ctrl + Shift + Z | Shift + Cmd + Z |
| Quick-insert any block | / (slash) | / (slash) |
| Bold text | Ctrl + B | Cmd + B |
| Insert a link | Ctrl + K | Cmd + K |
| Duplicate a block | Ctrl + Shift + D | Shift + Cmd + D |
| Delete a block | Shift + Alt + Z | Ctrl + Option + Z |
| Open List View | Shift + Alt + O | Ctrl + Option + O |
| Select all blocks | Ctrl + A (x2) | Cmd + A (x2) |
Master these ten first. Once they’re muscle memory — usually takes about a week — add the next category that matches your workflow.
Block Manipulation Shortcuts
The block editor is built around blocks, so moving, copying, and managing them fast is where keyboard shortcuts save the most time. These go beyond the basics above. If you find yourself reusing the same block layouts repeatedly, WordPress Reusable Blocks are another powerful way to cut repetitive work.
| Action | Windows/Linux | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Insert block before | Ctrl + Alt + T | Option + Cmd + T |
| Insert block after | Ctrl + Alt + Y | Option + Cmd + Y |
| Move block up | Ctrl + Shift + Alt + T | Shift + Option + Cmd + T |
| Move block down | Ctrl + Shift + Alt + Y | Shift + Option + Cmd + Y |
| Group selected blocks | Ctrl + G | Cmd + G |
| Paste block styles | Ctrl + Alt + V | Cmd + Option + V |
“Every single plugin, every single theme, every single person’s experience with WordPress can be reimagined through Gutenberg’s standardized approach.” — Matt Mullenweg, Co-founder of WordPress
The paste block styles shortcut (Ctrl+Alt+V) is new as of late 2025 — most shortcut guides don’t include it yet. It lets you copy formatting from one block and apply it to another, similar to “Format Painter” in Word.
Text Formatting Shortcuts
If you’re writing content, these are the shortcuts you’ll use every single session. Most carry over from other text editors, so they’ll feel familiar immediately.
| Action | Windows/Linux | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Bold | Ctrl + B | Cmd + B |
| Italic | Ctrl + I | Cmd + I |
| Underline | Ctrl + U | Cmd + U |
| Insert link | Ctrl + K | Cmd + K |
| Remove link | Ctrl + Shift + K | Shift + Cmd + K |
| Inline code | Ctrl + Alt + X | Cmd + Alt + X |
| Internal link autocomplete | [[ (double bracket) | [[ (double bracket) |
| Convert to Heading 1-6 | Shift + Alt + 1-6 | Cmd + Alt + 1-6 |
💡 Want to master WordPress inside and out? Check our Arsenal for tools that make WordPress work harder for you.
The [[ double bracket shortcut is a hidden gem. Type it in any paragraph block and WordPress will show a dropdown of your existing posts and pages — click one and it inserts the internal link automatically. No more copying URLs from the admin.
Markdown-Style Shortcuts (No Plugin Needed)
The block editor has built-in Markdown support that most WordPress users don’t know exists. These Markdown-style shortcuts transform instantly when you type them in any empty paragraph block.
| What You Type | What It Creates |
|---|---|
## + Space | Heading 2 |
### + Space | Heading 3 |
* or - + Space | Bulleted list |
1. + Space | Numbered list |
> + Space | Blockquote |
``` + Enter | Code block |
--- + Enter | Horizontal separator |
🏴☠️ PIRATE TIP: Combine Markdown shortcuts with the slash command for maximum speed. Type ## My Heading for an instant H2, then hit Enter and type /image to drop in a photo. Your hands never leave the keyboard.
These Markdown shortcuts are one of Gutenberg’s best-kept secrets. Once you get used to typing ## instead of clicking the heading dropdown, you’ll wonder how you ever worked without them.
Navigation and Editor Shortcuts
These navigation shortcuts help you move through the editor interface — toggling panels, switching views, and moving between sections without touching your mouse. If you want even more control over how the editor behaves at a theme level, understanding WordPress Full Site Editing is a natural next step.
| Action | Windows/Linux | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Toggle fullscreen mode | Ctrl + Shift + Alt + F | Shift + Option + Cmd + F |
| Toggle settings sidebar | Ctrl + Shift + , | Shift + Cmd + , |
| Switch visual/code editor | Ctrl + Shift + Alt + M | Shift + Option + Cmd + M |
| Navigate to next editor region | Ctrl + ` or Shift + Alt + N | Ctrl + ` or Ctrl + Option + N |
| Navigate to toolbar | Alt + F10 | Option + F10 |
| Collapse List View items | Alt + L | Option + L |
Pro tip: Toggle fullscreen mode and hide the sidebar when you’re writing a first draft. It removes all distractions — just you and the content. Then toggle the sidebar back when you’re ready to add featured images, categories, and SEO settings.
FAQ — WordPress Gutenberg Keyboard Shortcuts
How do I see all keyboard shortcuts in WordPress?
Press Alt+Shift+H on Windows/Linux or Ctrl+Option+H on Mac while in the block editor. This opens the built-in WordPress Gutenberg keyboard shortcuts reference panel showing every available shortcut.
Do WordPress Gutenberg keyboard shortcuts work on Mac?
Yes. Every Gutenberg shortcut has a Mac equivalent. Replace Ctrl with Cmd and Alt with Option in most cases. The official WordPress documentation lists both Windows and Mac versions.
What is the slash command in WordPress Gutenberg?
The slash command (/) lets you quickly insert any block by typing its name. In an empty paragraph, type / followed by the block name like /image, /heading, or /table and select from the dropdown. It is the fastest way to add blocks.
Can I create custom keyboard shortcuts in WordPress?
WordPress does not natively support custom keyboard shortcuts. However, you can use browser extensions like Shortkeys or plugins to map custom shortcuts. The built-in shortcuts cover most common actions.
What is the shortcut to duplicate a block in WordPress?
Press Ctrl+Shift+D on Windows/Linux or Shift+Cmd+D on Mac to duplicate the currently selected block. The duplicate appears directly below the original.
⚔️ Pirate Verdict
WordPress Gutenberg keyboard shortcuts aren’t a nice-to-have — they’re the difference between fighting the editor and flowing with it. The block editor gets a lot of hate from people who never learned the shortcuts. Learn ten of them. Just ten. You’ll stop reaching for the mouse, stop clicking through menus, and start actually enjoying writing in WordPress. That’s 64 hours of your life back every year. Spend it on something better than clicking buttons.
Start Using These Shortcuts Today
You don’t need to memorize everything on this page. Open your next WordPress post, press Alt+Shift+H to pull up the shortcut panel, and commit to using just five shortcuts this week. Next week, add five more. The more consistently you practice these shortcuts, the faster they become second nature. And if you ever want to customize how WordPress behaves beyond what the editor offers, learning about WordPress Hooks, Actions, and Filters opens up a whole new level of control.
Bookmark this page as your wordpress gutenberg keyboard shortcuts reference — we’ve organized every shortcut by what you’re actually trying to do, not just dumped them in an alphabetical list. For more WordPress fundamentals, head to the AI Or Die Now homepage or browse the Arsenal.
What’s your most-used Gutenberg shortcut? Drop it in the comments below.