Several keyboard shortcuts are available for you in WordPress visual (block) editor. These shortcuts allow you to do simple tasks without reaching for your mouse.
You can access the list of all the available shortcuts by clicking Shift + Alt + H or ⌃ + ⌥ + H
Windows
Global Shortcuts
Switch between visual editor and code editor | Ctrl + Shift + Alt + M |
Toggle fullscreen mode | Ctrl + Shift + Alt + F |
Open the block list view | Shift + Alt + O |
Show or hide the settings sidebar | Ctrl + Shift + , |
Navigate to the next part of the editor | Ctrl + ` Shift + Alt + N |
Navigate to the previous part of the editor | Ctrl + Shift + ` Shift + Alt + P |
Navigate to the nearest toolbar | Alt + F10 |
Save your changes | Ctrl + S |
Undo your last changes | Ctrl + Z |
Redo your last undo | Ctrl + Shift + Z |
Selection shortcuts
Select all text / blocks when typing | Ctrl + A |
Clear selection | escape |
Unselect selected blocks | double escape |
Block shortcuts
Duplicate the selected block(s) | Ctrl + Shift + D |
Unselect selected block(s) | double escape |
Remove the selected block(s) | Shift + Alt + Z |
Insert a new block before the selected block(s) | Ctrl + Alt + T |
Insert a new block after the selected block(s) | Ctrl + Alt + Y |
Remove multiple selected blocks | del backspace |
Move the selected block(s) up | Ctrl + Shift + Alt + T |
Move the selected block(s) down | Ctrl + Shift + Alt + Y |
Change the block type after adding a new paragraph | / |
Text formatting
Make the selected text bold | Ctrl + B |
Make the selected text italic | Ctrl + I |
Convert the selected text into a link | Ctrl + K |
Add a link selected from available links | [[ |
Remove a link | Ctrl + Shift + K |
Underline the selected text | Ctrl + U |
Mac
Global shortcuts
Switch between visual editor and code editor | ⇧ + ⌥ + ⌘ + M |
Toggle fullscreen mode | ⇧ + ⌥ + ⌘ + F |
Open the block list view | ⌃ + ⌥ + O |
Show or hide the settings sidebar | ⇧ + ⌘ + , |
Navigate to the next part of the editor | ⌃ + ` ⌃ + ⌥ + N |
Navigate to the previous part of the editor | ⌃ + ⇧ + ` ⌃ + ⌥ + P |
Navigate to the nearest toolbar | ⌥ + F10 |
Save your changes | ⌘ + S |
Undo your last changes | ⌘ + Z |
Redo your last undo | ⇧ + ⌘ + Z |
Selection shortcuts
Block shortcuts
Duplicate the selected block(s) | ⇧ + ⌘ + D |
Unselect selected blocks | double escape |
Remove the selected block(s) | ⌃ + ⌥ + Z |
Insert a new block before the selected block(s) | ⌥ + ⌘ + T |
Insert a new block after the selected block(s) | ⌥ + ⌘ + Y |
Remove multiple selected blocks | del backspace |
Move the selected block(s) up | ⇧ + ⌥ + ⌘ + T |
Move the selected block(s) down | ⇧ + ⌥ + ⌘ + Y |
Change the block type after adding a new paragraph | / |
Text formatting
Block editor keyboard shortcuts are divided into four parts:
- Global shortcuts
- Selection shortcuts
- Block shortcuts
- Text formatting shortcuts
Global shortcuts
Switch between visual editor and code editor
You can switch between the Visual (Block) Editor and Code editor using :
Ctrl + Shift + Alt + M or ⇧ + ⌥ + ⌘ + M
If you are on your visual editor screen
![Visual editor screen](https://private-user-images.githubusercontent.com/28444463/247707779-d45039d2-af2f-40a7-9289-66b4046dda36.jpg?jwt=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.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.1bmllhR283oFzRiXYzf1bGJJKSLtQJFXI-vDT8V5LtM)
You can press Ctrl + Shift + Alt + M or ⇧ + ⌥ + ⌘ + M, the screen switches to the code editor and vice versa.
![Code editor screen](https://private-user-images.githubusercontent.com/28444463/247707880-e420a5d8-577d-4c85-afe4-89cfb96e748c.jpg?jwt=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.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.EAkc40GyKWfeew_461BGna5Q-9NIdGTAj7q5gyrFeY4)
Toggle fullscreen mode
You can toggle full screen mode by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Alt + F or ⇧ + ⌥ + ⌘ + F
Open the block list view
You can open the block list view by pressing Shift + Alt + O or ⌃ + ⌥ + O
![Block list view](https://private-user-images.githubusercontent.com/28444463/247707956-8c397474-a244-4f4b-a8fa-406823dba74d.jpg?jwt=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.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.MnUgNKi5ZKPKWRv54_ooMO6iQIaeFnv_iJu5ZUVDeYM)
Show or hide the settings sidebar
You can show or hide the settings sidebar by pressing Ctrl + Shift + , or ⇧ + ⌘ + ,
![Settings sidebar](https://private-user-images.githubusercontent.com/28444463/247708033-ad1b0c2d-878e-4b4d-a31e-67a17e0f573f.jpg?jwt=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpc3MiOiJnaXRodWIuY29tIiwiYXVkIjoicmF3LmdpdGh1YnVzZXJjb250ZW50LmNvbSIsImtleSI6ImtleTEiLCJleHAiOjE3MDIwNTA5MTAsIm5iZiI6MTcwMjA1MDYxMCwicGF0aCI6Ii8yODQ0NDQ2My8yNDc3MDgwMzMtYWQxYjBjMmQtODc4ZS00YjRkLWEzMWUtNjdhMTdlMGY1NzNmLmpwZz9YLUFtei1BbGdvcml0aG09QVdTNC1ITUFDLVNIQTI1NiZYLUFtei1DcmVkZW50aWFsPUFLSUFJV05KWUFYNENTVkVINTNBJTJGMjAyMzEyMDglMkZ1cy1lYXN0LTElMkZzMyUyRmF3czRfcmVxdWVzdCZYLUFtei1EYXRlPTIwMjMxMjA4VDE1NTAxMFomWC1BbXotRXhwaXJlcz0zMDAmWC1BbXotU2lnbmF0dXJlPWY5ZGI2ZGVhMGNmNjJhZDUzYjAzMzEwNWE2N2QzNDA1ZTM2ODUxNWVmYWMzMWZkMGQ3Yzc1Mjk2MjJmYzA3ZGYmWC1BbXotU2lnbmVkSGVhZGVycz1ob3N0JmFjdG9yX2lkPTAma2V5X2lkPTAmcmVwb19pZD0wIn0.JLrv7nuS6ATeeMGgrqT16b5N25-_PJMSnLiB9yZAO-g)
You can navigate to the next part of the editor using two different shortcuts:
- Windows: Ctrl + ` or Shift + Alt + N
- Mac: ⌃ + ` or ⌃ + ⌥ + N
![Visual editor screen with focus on top bar](https://private-user-images.githubusercontent.com/28444463/247708132-a4ef2d15-965f-4d02-96b9-5dfb2a1ef5a7.jpg?jwt=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.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.dK-CxXl_bKenwDZ4N-x33P25r9z-j59lt7-qAqOf0Jc)
![Visual editor screen with focus on editing area](https://private-user-images.githubusercontent.com/28444463/247708133-6a846bda-ad59-4790-b8a1-606fa1fc568b.jpg?jwt=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.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.1hUTM09kQPDzeSfJnFzSaMl6ZrZuOPkOYBqc3FMvxJg)
In the above pictures, the blue highlight shows the block which you are accessing.
You can navigate to the previous part of the editor using two different shortcuts:
- Windows: Ctrl + Shift + ` or Shift + Alt + P
- Mac: ⌃ + ⇧ + ` or ⌃ + ⌥ + P
You can navigate to the nearest toolbar by pressing Alt + F10 or ⌥ + F10
![Nearest toolbar](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/2023/12/247708277-44d93d7d-7fc4-4f5a-b894-7ba81c3a9178.png)
Save your changes
You can save your changes by pressing: Ctrl + S or ⌘ + S
Suppose you are in the visual editor and made some changes.
![Visual editor screen with focus on Publish button](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/2021/01/image2-1024x270.png)
When you press Ctrl + S or ⌘ + S, the Save draft changes to Saved indicating that the changes you made are successfully saved.
![Saved post](https://private-user-images.githubusercontent.com/28444463/247708352-1844b6a1-db90-462c-a72f-82b9c59c12f7.png?jwt=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.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.9RkoCGikxXSEAureoWOO4-olcCDTdQsTvnClblp2zEY)
Undo your last changes
Suppose if you typed or did something which you want to undo immediately, you can do it by pressing Ctrl + Z or ⌘ + Z
![Visual editor screen with text that needs to beremoved](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/2021/01/image2-1-1024x27-1.png)
After using shortcuts:
![Visual editor screen after undo action](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/2021/01/image5-1024x266.png)
Redo your last undo
Similarly, you can redo your last undo by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Z or ⇧ + ⌘ + Z. If you are on Windows you can use the default shortcut as well, Ctrl + Y.
This brings back what you just undo.
Selection shortcuts
Select all text / blocks when typing
You can use these shortcuts to select text.
You can select all text in current block when typing Ctrl + A or ⌘ + A. Press again to select parent block or all blocks (if no parrent).
![Visual editor screen with all content selected](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/2021/01/image11-1024x501.png)
Clear selection
You can clear the selection by pressing Esc
![Visual editor screen with all content being deselected](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/2021/01/image16-1024x502.png)
Block shortcuts
These shortcuts are specific to the block which you are accessing them.
Duplicate the selected block(s)
Suppose you are typing in a block.
![Visual editor screen with image and text block](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/2021/01/image23-1024x501.png)
If you press Ctrl + Shift + D or ⇧ + ⌘ + D, the whole block is duplicated and appears just underneath the block which you were typing.
![Visual editor screen with duplicated text block](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/2021/01/image36-1024x504.png)
Remove the selected block(s)
You can remove the selected block(s) by pressing Shift + Alt + Z or ⌃ + ⌥ + Z
Unselect selected block(s)
You can unselect the selected block(s) by pressing Esc twice
Insert a new block before the selected block(s)
You can insert a new block before the selected block(s) by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T or ⌥ + ⌘ + T
![Visual editor screen with inserter in between blocks](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/2021/01/image26-1024x502.png)
Insert a new block after the selected block(s)
You can insert a new block after the selected block(s) by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Y or ⌥ + ⌘ + Y
![Visual editor screen with inserted after the selected blocks](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/2021/01/image10-1024x500.png)
Remove multiple selected blocks
Suppose you have selected multiple blocks.
![Visual editor screen with selected multiple blocks](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/2021/01/image38-1024x503.png)
If you press del / backspace, all the selected blocks are removed.
![Visual editor screen with multiple blocks deleted](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/2021/01/image20-1024x502.png)
Move the selected block(s) up
Suppose you have selected a block.
![Visual editor screen with selected blocks moving](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/2021/01/image1-1024x502.png)
If you press Ctrl + Shift + Alt + T or ⇧ + ⌥ + ⌘ + T, the whole block moves one step upward.
![Visual editor screen with selected block moved](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/2021/01/image17-1024x500.png)
You can use this shortcut multiple times to bring the block further upwards.
Move the selected block(s) down
Similarly, you can move the selected block(s) down by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Alt + Y or ⌥ + ⌘ + ⇧ + Y
You can use this shortcut multiple times to bring the block further downwards.
Change the block type after adding a new paragraph
Suppose you have added paragraph to a block and selected that block.
![Visual editor screen with focus on block toolbar](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/2021/01/image1-1-1024x502.png)
If you press / the menu to change the block type appears.
![Visual editor screen with focus on block inserter](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/2021/01/image14-1024x503.png)
Insert links to existing posts and pages
Typing [[ trigger autocompleter for internal links.
Text formatting
These shortcuts can be used for formatting the text within a block.
Make the selected text bold
You can make the selected text bold by pressing Ctrl + B or ⌘ + B
Example: This is the bold text.
Make the selected text italic
You can make the selected text italic by pressing Ctrl + I or ⌘ + I
Example: This is a italic text.
Convert the selected text into a link
You can convert the selected text into a link by pressing Ctrl + K or ⌘ + K
Example: This is link text.
Remove a link
Suppose you have selected a text with a link.
![Text with selected link](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/2021/01/Screenshot54554.png)
If you press Ctrl + Shift + K or ⇧ + ⌘ + K, the selected link is removed.
![Unlinked text](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/2021/01/Screenshot565465645.png)
Underline the selected text
You can underline the selected text by pressing Ctrl + U or ⌘ + U
Example: This is underline text.
Inline code
Convert selected text to inline code with Ctrl + Alt + X or ⌘ + Alt + X
Transform blocks
Convert the current paragraph or heading to a heading of level 1 to 6 with Shift + Alt + 1-6 or ⌘ + Alt + 1-6.
Convert the current heading to a paragraph with Shift + Alt + 0.
Changelog
- 2023-12-08
- Update screenshots
- Add ALT attributes to all images
- Updates for 6.0 version
- Updates for 6.1 version
- Updates for 6.2 version
- Updated up to WordPress 5.7
- Created 2021-01-31
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