Discord is much easier to use when you know the right keyboard shortcuts. Instead of clicking through servers, channels, settings, and voice controls with the mouse, you can move around the app much faster from your keyboard.
This guide collects 37 useful Discord shortcuts for Windows and Mac, grouped by what they help you do so you can find the ones that matter most for the way you use Discord.
Discord keyboard shortcuts you should know first
Discord uses many of the same shortcut patterns on Windows and Mac, but some keys differ depending on the operating system. In this article, Windows shortcuts use Ctrl, Shift, and Alt, while Mac shortcuts use Cmd and Option where appropriate.
Key Fact
If a shortcut seems not to work, check whether you are using Discord in the desktop app or inside a browser, because some browser key combinations can override app shortcuts.
1. Core Discord navigation shortcuts
- Open the Quick Switcher: Ctrl + K on Windows, Cmd + K on Mac
- Search a server or channel: Ctrl + F on Windows, Cmd + F on Mac
- Jump to the Search box: use Discord's search bar at the top and start typing your query
- Go to Inbox: Ctrl + I on Windows, Cmd + I on Mac
- Open Mentions: Ctrl + Shift + M on Windows, Cmd + Shift + M on Mac
- Open Pinned Messages: Ctrl + P on Windows, Cmd + P on Mac
- Open the Help menu: Ctrl + / on Windows, Cmd + / on Mac
Why It Matters
These shortcuts are the fastest way to move around Discord without hunting through servers and menus. If you spend a lot of time joining different channels, checking mentions, or searching messages, they save a surprising amount of time.
2. Channel and server navigation shortcuts
- Move to the previous server: Alt + Up Arrow on Windows, Option + Up Arrow on Mac
- Move to the next server: Alt + Down Arrow on Windows, Option + Down Arrow on Mac
- Go to the previous unread channel: Alt + Shift + Up Arrow on Windows, Option + Shift + Up Arrow on Mac
- Go to the next unread channel: Alt + Shift + Down Arrow on Windows, Option + Shift + Down Arrow on Mac
- Jump to the first channel with unread messages: Shift + Esc
- Mark a server as read: Esc while focused on the server list or unread area
- Return to the last channel you viewed: Alt + Left Arrow on Windows, Option + Left Arrow on Mac
Quick Tip
If you switch between several servers every day, the server navigation shortcuts are some of the most useful to memorize first.
3. Message and chat shortcuts
- Edit your last message: Arrow Up when the message box is empty
- Reply to a message: Ctrl + R on Windows, Cmd + R on Mac in some Discord contexts, or use the reply action from the message menu
- Mark a message as unread: Ctrl + Shift + U on Windows, Cmd + Shift + U on Mac
- Delete your own message: use the message options menu and choose Delete, or press the keyboard shortcut shown in Discord's message menu if available
- Mark the current channel as read: Esc
- Jump to the newest message in a channel: End, or use Discord's jump-to-present button if available
- Quote or copy a message quickly: right-click the message and use Copy Message Link or Copy Text
Note
Some message actions depend on where your cursor is and whether Discord has updated the shortcut in your version. If a shortcut is inconsistent, use the message menu to confirm the available command.
4. Voice and call shortcuts
- Mute yourself: Ctrl + Shift + M on Windows, Cmd + Shift + M on Mac
- Deafen yourself: Ctrl + Shift + D on Windows, Cmd + Shift + D on Mac
- Disconnect from voice: Ctrl + Shift + H on Windows, Cmd + Shift + H on Mac
- Turn push-to-talk on or off: check your Voice & Video settings for your keybind
- Open Voice & Video settings: Ctrl + , on Windows, Cmd + , on Mac
- Accept an incoming call: use the call notification or the on-screen control prompt
- Decline a call: use the call notification or the on-screen control prompt
Why It Matters
Voice shortcuts matter most in active servers, game chats, and work communities where you need to mute, deafen, or disconnect quickly without searching for buttons on screen.
Warning
Be careful with mute and deafen shortcuts if you use Discord while gaming or in meetings. It is easy to think you are still audible when you are not, especially if you change keybinds or use multiple audio devices.
5. Text formatting shortcuts for messages
- Bold text: wrap words in double asterisks, for example **text**
- Italic text: wrap words in single asterisks, for example *text*
- Underline text: wrap words in double underscores, for example __text__
- Strikethrough text: wrap words in double tildes, for example ~~text~~
- Spoiler text: wrap words in double vertical bars, for example ||text||
- Code text: wrap words in backticks, for example `text`
- Code block: wrap text in triple backticks, for example ```text```
Best For
Anyone who sends a lot of formatted messages, especially in programming, support, gaming, or community moderation channels.
6. Common Windows-only and Mac-only shortcut differences
- Windows uses Ctrl more often for Discord commands, while Mac uses Cmd for many of the same actions.
- Windows often uses Alt for server switching, while Mac uses Option.
- Some browser-based shortcuts can conflict with Discord on Mac, especially in Safari and Chrome.
- If a shortcut does not work on Mac, try the equivalent Cmd or Option version rather than assuming the shortcut is unavailable.
Key Fact
Discord keyboard shortcuts are not always identical across all platforms, and some commands may be different or unavailable depending on the app version, operating system, and whether you are using the desktop app or browser version.
7. Useful shortcut habits for faster Discord use
- Use Quick Switcher instead of clicking through long server lists.
- Learn the unread-channel shortcuts if you follow active servers.
- Use message formatting shortcuts for clarity in help channels, workspaces, and gaming groups.
- Keep voice shortcuts close to your natural hand position so you can mute quickly when needed.
- Check Discord's own keybind settings if you want to customize the controls instead of using the defaults.
Quick Tip
If you only learn five shortcuts, start with Quick Switcher, search, inbox, mute, and deafen. Those cover the most common actions for many users.
8. Full list of 37 Discord shortcuts and actions
- Quick Switcher: Ctrl/Cmd + K
- Search: Ctrl/Cmd + F
- Inbox: Ctrl/Cmd + I
- Mentions: Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + M
- Pinned Messages: Ctrl/Cmd + P
- Help: Ctrl/Cmd + /
- Previous server: Alt/Option + Up Arrow
- Next server: Alt/Option + Down Arrow
- Previous unread channel: Alt/Option + Shift + Up Arrow
- Next unread channel: Alt/Option + Shift + Down Arrow
- First unread channel: Shift + Esc
- Mark read: Esc
- Return to last channel: Alt/Option + Left Arrow
- Edit last message: Up Arrow in the message box
- Mute: Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + M
- Deafen: Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + D
- Disconnect voice: Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + H
- Open Voice & Video settings: Ctrl/Cmd + ,
- Bold: **text**
- Italic: *text*
- Underline: __text__
- Strikethrough: ~~text~~
- Spoiler: ||text||
- Inline code: `text`
- Code block: ```text```
- Copy message link: use the message menu
- Copy message text: use the message menu
- Reply to message: use the message reply action
- Mark message unread: use the message menu or shortcut if available
- Jump to newest message: End or the jump-to-present button
- Open settings: Ctrl/Cmd + ,
- Open user settings-related options from the gear icon
- Accept call: use the call prompt
- Decline call: use the call prompt
- Switch servers quickly with the keyboard instead of the mouse
- Move between unread channels without scrolling the sidebar
- Use formatting shortcuts to make messages easier to read
Note
Discord updates some labels and shortcut behaviors over time. If one command looks slightly different in your app, use this list as a guide and confirm the exact shortcut in Discord's current Keybinds or settings area.
Which shortcuts are worth learning first?
If you only want the shortcuts that make the biggest difference, start with Quick Switcher, search, inbox, mute, deafen, and the unread-channel navigation shortcuts. Those cover the actions most people repeat every day.
From there, add message editing and formatting shortcuts if you send a lot of text, and voice shortcuts if you spend time in calls or game chats. That way you learn the shortcuts that fit how you actually use Discord instead of trying to memorize everything at once.
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