66 of the Most Useful Outlook Keyboard Shortcuts (2024)

If you use Outlook to manage your email, schedule meetings, or delegate projects, you may have wished for better ways to accomplish these administrative tasks. As it turns out, you can save time by using Outlook shortcuts to complete common operations. Instead of scrolling, pointing, and clicking with a mouse, you simply press one or more buttons on your keyboard. While you’re at it, you’ll also want to memorize these Window keyboard shortcuts.

Not only can keyboard shortcuts make you more productive, but they can also prevent the kind of repetitive stress injuries that can occur with heavy mouse usage. These shortcuts are also helpful for some people who have mobility or visual disabilities. These Word shortcuts are also super helpful to know.

Enabling and using shortcuts

Before you can use Outlook shortcuts on your PC, you’ll need to make sure they’re turned on.

1. From your home screen, select “Settings.”

2. Then select “More mail settings.”

3. Go to “Customizing Outlook” and then select “Keyboard Shortcuts.”

4. Select your mode of choice and then click “Save.”

It’s also helpful to understand how shortcuts are commonly written. Some shortcuts use the Ctrl key plus one or more other keys. When keys need to be pressed simultaneously, a plus sign (+) is shown. When you need to press keys sequentially, a comma (,) is used. Below are some of the most helpful keyboard shortcuts to know in Outlook.

Most frequently used Outlook hotkeys

From the main inbox view, you can perform any of the following actions.

Search

While you can always use the basic search command noted above, you can also specify where you want Outlook to search.

Basic navigation

Outlook’s robust features mean you probably spend considerable time moving back and forth among its views. Speed that up with these commands.

Be sure you’re not making any of these email etiquette mistakes.

Navigating to the ribbon

Dial in your Outlook navigation with these additional commands.

Formatting

When you want your email to look professional, you can use the following formatting options.

Working with folders

Organize your messages with these keystrokes.

Managing tasks, appointments, and people

These keyboard shortcuts can help you work nicely with others.

Customizing shortcuts

If you want to change the keys that are assigned to current actions, you can assign new shortcuts in Outlook’s settings. To do so, start in the Categories section —> “File Tab.” Then, in the Commands section, select “File Open.” Navigate to a command, and then “Press new shortcut key.” Type in the key or keys you’d like to use for that command. Click “Assign” and you’re done.

Next, read on for helpful Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts.