Keyboard shortcuts - perform common Thunderbird tasks quickly

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Keyboard shortcuts are quick key combinations that let you perform certain tasks in Thunderbird faster. For example, if you want to archive a message, you can simply strike the "A" key rather than using the mouse to click the option in a menu. Some shortcuts can be customized or disabled with the use of an add-on.

About keyboard shortcuts

In Thunderbird, keyboard shortcuts are context sensitive, which means that they vary according to the area of the Thunderbird interface that is currently "active". For example, when a message is selected in the message list, the Cut, Copy, and Paste keyboard shortcuts are disabled (because it doesn't make sense to cut and paste text into the message list). Similarly, if you select text while you are reading a message, the Copy shortcut is available, but not the Cut or Paste shortcuts (because while it makes sense to copy text from a message you are reading, it doesn't make sense to paste text into or cut text from a message you are reading).

The keyboard shortcut functions themselves may vary depending on the part of the Thunderbird interface that is active. For example, if you are writing a message, the Ctrl + ACommand + A keyboard shortcut selects all the text in the message. However, if a message is highlighted in the message list, Ctrl + ACommand + A selects all the messages in the message list.

Shortcut keys and operating systems

  • On Windows and Linux, the shortcut accelerator key is usually the Ctrl key.
  • On macOS, the shortcut accelerator key is usually the Command key.
  • On macOS laptops, you must hold down the fn key to enable a function key.

List of keyboard shortcuts

View Keyboard Shortcuts for:

Message functions

  ←  |   ↑   |   →

Starting a new message
New messageCtrl + N
Ctrl + M
Ctrl + N
Ctrl + M
Command + N
Reply to Message (sender only)Ctrl + RCommand + R
Reply to All in Message (sender and all recipients)Ctrl + Shift + RCommand + Shift + R
Reply to ListCtrl + Shift + LCommand + Shift + L
Forward MessageCtrl + LCommand + L
Edit Message as NewCtrl + ECommand + E
Starting a new message in non-default format (Plain text vs. HTML)Hold Shift while clicking any one of these buttons:
Write, Reply, Reply All, Reply List, or Forward;
or Right-click existing message, then hold Shift while choosing any one of the following from the context menu:
Reply to Sender Only, Reply to All, Reply to List, or Forward.
For keyboard shortcuts during message composition, see Writing Messages.
Receiving and reading messages
Get New Messages for Current AccountF5F5
F9
F5
Command + Y
Get New Messages for All AccountsShift + F5Shift + F5
Shift + F9
Shift + F5
Command + Shift + Y
Open message (in new window or tab)Ctrl + O
Enter
Command + O
Return
Open message or folder in a new tab in the backgroundMiddle-click the message or folder, or
Right-click the message or folder, then choose Open Message in New Tab or Open in New Tab from the context menu
Open message or folder in a new tab in the foregroundShift + Middle-click the message or folder, or
Right-click the message or folder, then hold Shift while choosing Open Message in New Tab or Open in New Tab from the context menu
Open message in conversationCtrl + Shift + OCommand + Shift + O
Zoom InCtrl + +
Ctrl + =
Ctrl + scroll wheel up
Command + +
Command + =
Command + Control + scroll wheel up
Zoom OutCtrl + -
Ctrl + scroll wheel down
Command + -
Command + Control + scroll wheel down
Reset ZoomCtrl + 0 (zero)Command + 0 (zero)
Expand Collapsed Thread
Collapse Expanded Thread
Expand All Threads*
Collapse All Threads\
Newsgroups: Ignore or Unignore ThreadK
Newsgroups: Ignore or Unignore SubthreadShift + K
Newsgroups: Watch ThreadW
For keyboard shortcuts to move between your messages, see Moving around Thunderbird.
Managing your messages
Print message or selected message textCtrl + PCommand + P
Save Message as FileCtrl + SCommand + S
View Message SourceCtrl + UCommand + U
Select All (messages, text, or attachments)Ctrl + ACommand + A
Select ThreadCtrl + Shift + ACommand + Shift + A
Toggle Caret browsing (select text with keyboard)F7
Copy selected textCtrl + CCommand + C
Cut selected search textCtrl + XCommand + X
Paste text into search or filter fieldsCtrl + VCommand + V
Select multiple adjacent messages
(a continuous set of messages)
Select the first message of your intended selection, and then
either Shift + Click on the last message of your selection,
or hold Shift while using any of the following movement keys to expand your selection: , , Page Down, Page Up, End, or Home.
Select multiple non-adjacent messages
(several separate messages)

Select any message of your intended selection, and then
either Ctrl + Click on each message that you want to add to your selection,
or hold Ctrl while using any of the movement keys listed below and then pressing Space on each message that you want to add to your selection. The movement keys are , , Page Down, Page Up, End, or Home.

Select any message of your intended selection and then
Ctrl + Click on each message that you want to add to your selection.

Select any message of your intended selection and then
Command + Click on each message that you want to add to your selection.

Copy message to another folderHold CtrlOption while dragging message to destination folder (release mouse button before releasing CtrlOption).
Move message to another folderDrag message to destination folder.
Move/Copy message to previous target folder AgainCtrl + Shift + MCtrl + Shift + MCommand + Option + M
Archive MessageA
Delete message, folder, attachment, or selected search textDel
Delete message bypassing trash (no Undo!)Shift + Del
UndoCtrl + ZCommand + Z
RedoCtrl + YCommand + Y
Rename FolderF2
Tagging and marking your messages
Add/Remove Tag1 to 9
Remove All Tags from Message0 (zero)
Mark Message as Read/UnreadM
Mark Thread as ReadR
Mark All ReadShift + C
Mark as Read By DateC
Mark as JunkJ
Mark as Not JunkShift + J
Add/Remove StarS

Search and filter functions

  ←  |   ↑   |   →

Finding messages
Search All Messages (global fulltext search in all accounts) Ctrl + KCommand + K
Quick Filter (search messages in current folder or view)Ctrl + Shift + KCommand + Shift + K
Clear current Quick Filter; hide Quick Filter BarEsc (as often as needed)
Search Messages (advanced search in folder)Ctrl + Shift + FCommand + Shift + F
Finding text in the current message
Find Text in Current MessageCtrl + FCommand + F
Find Again in Current MessageCtrl + G
F3
Command + G
F3
Find Previous in Current MessageCtrl + Shift + G
Shift + F3
Command + Shift + G
Shift + F3
For a history of search shortcuts across different versions
of Thunderbird, see Keyboard Shortcuts for Searching.

Moving around Thunderbird

  ←  |   ↑   |   →

Moving between messages
Go to Mail Start PageAlt + HomeOption + Home
Scroll Down Current Message, then Go to Next Unread Message Space
Go to Next MessageF
Go to Previous MessageB
Go to Next Unread MessageN
Go to Previous Unread MessageP
Go to Next Unread Thread (and mark current thread as read) T
Go to Next Viewed Message]
Go to Previous Viewed Message[
Controlling Thunderbird windows and tabs
Move to next UI elementTab
Move to previous UI elementShift + Tab
Move to next main UI area
In the Mail tab, quickly switch between Folder Pane, Message List, Message Pane, and Spaces Toolbar (forwards).
F6
Ctrl + F6
F6F6
Move selected Message List Pane column e.g. Subject to the right
Applies to the Table View of the Mail Tab; does not apply to Card View. Not fully working on macOS due to 1862272. Workarounds: after clicking on a column, hit Tab and then that one column can be reordered; if able, use the mouse to drag and drop the columns.
AltOption+Right
Move selected Message List Pane column e.g. Subject to the left
Applies to the Table View of the Mail Tab; does not apply to Card View. Not fully working on macOS due to 1862272. Workarounds: after clicking on a column, hit Tab and then that one column can be reordered; if able, use the mouse to drag and drop the columns.
AltOption+Left
Move to previous main UI area
In the Mail tab, quickly switch between Folder Pane, Message List, Message Pane, and Spaces Toolbar (backwards).
Shift + F6
Ctrl + Shift + F6
Shift + F6Shift + F6
Next TabCtrl + Tab
Ctrl + Page Down
Control + Tab
Command + Option +
Previous TabCtrl + Shift + Tab
Ctrl + Page Up
Control + Shift + Tab
Command + Option +
Mail & Newsgroups Home Tab (Tab 1)Ctrl + 1Alt + 1Command + 1
Tab 2 to 8Ctrl + 2to8Alt + 2to8Command + 2to8
Last Tab Ctrl + 9Alt + 9Command + 9
Address BookCtrl + Shift + BCommand + Shift + B
Saved FilesCtrl + JCommand + J
HelpF1Command + ?
Developer ToolsCtrl + Shift + ICommand + Option + I
Toggle Message PaneF8
Toggle Menu Bar (if hidden)Alt
F10
Show context menuMenu key
Shift + F10
Minimize current windowWin + Command + M
Hide Thunderbird (Mac only)Command + H
Hide Other Windows (Mac only)Command + Option + H
Close window or tabCtrl + W
Alt + F4 (only for closing a window}
Ctrl + F4 (only for closing a tab)
Ctrl + WCommand + W
Undo close tab (restore and go to most recently closed tab)Ctrl + Shift + TCommand + Shift + T
Quit Thunderbird (Exit Application)File, ExitCtrl + QCommand + Q

Writing messages

  ←  |   ↑   |   →

Creating, saving, and sending a message
New message (see Starting a new message)Ctrl + N
Ctrl + M
Ctrl + N
Ctrl + M
Command + N
Save DraftCtrl + SCommand + S
Print DraftCtrl + PCommand + P
Send Message NowCtrl + EnterCommand + Return
Send Message LaterCtrl + Shift + EnterCommand + Shift + Return
Controlling the compose window
Toggle Contacts SidebarF9
Move to next main UI elementF6
Ctrl + F6
Ctrl + Tab
F6
Ctrl + Tab
F6
Move to previous main UI elementShift + F6
Ctrl + Shift + F6
Ctrl + Shift + Tab
Shift + F6
Ctrl + Shift + Tab
Shift + F6
Zoom InCtrl + +
Ctrl + =
Command + +
Ctrl + scroll wheel upCommand + Control + scroll wheel up
Zoom OutCtrl + -Command + -
Ctrl + scroll wheel downCommand + Control + scroll wheel down
Reset ZoomCtrl + 0 (zero)Command + 0 (zero)
Toggle Attachment PaneAlt + MCtrl + M   New in TB 60
Show Main Mail Window (Mail & Newsgroups)Ctrl + 1Command + 1
Most of the common keyboard shortcuts for
controlling a Thunderbird window
can also be used
in the compose window.
Editing the message text and handling attachments
CopyCtrl + CCommand + C
CutCtrl + XCommand + X
PasteCtrl + VCommand + V
Paste as quotationCtrl + Shift + OCommand + Shift + O
Paste without formattingCtrl + Shift + VCommand + Shift + V
Rewrap message textCtrl + RCommand + R
Delete selected text, attachment, table cell contents, or tableDel
Delete word to the right (from cursor to end of word)Ctrl + DelControl + Del
Delete word to the left (from cursor to start of word)Ctrl + BackspaceOption + Del
Select All (text in a message, or attachments)Ctrl + ACommand + A
Select Table CellCtrl + Click within cellCommand + Click within cell
Select Table Rows or ColumnsDrag across cells of rows or columns
Select TableCtrl + Click on table borderCommand + Click on table border
Insert LinkCtrl + KCommand + K
Discontinue Link, or Remove Links from selectionCtrl + Shift + KCommand + Shift + K
Remove Named AnchorsCtrl + Shift + RCommand + Shift + R
UndoCtrl + ZCommand + Z
RedoCtrl + YCommand + Y
Find and Replace Text in Current MessageCtrl + H
Find Again in Current MessageCtrl + G
F3
Command + G
F3
Find Previous in Current MessageCtrl + Shift + G
Shift + F3
Command + Shift + G
Shift + F3
Check SpellingCtrl + Shift + PCommand + Shift + P
Attach FileCtrl + Shift + ACommand + Shift + A
Rename AttachmentF2
Reorder AttachmentsAlt + XCtrl + X   New in TB 60
Insert a line break instead of a new paragraphShift + EnterShift + Return (EnterReturn inserts a paragraph break in paragraph format mode.)
Reorder Attachments
Move to TopAlt + HomeCommand + Alt + Up
Alt + Home
Move UpAlt + Up
Move togetherAlt + Left
Move DownAlt + Down
Move to BottomAlt + EndCommand + Alt + Down
Alt + End
Sort (All attachments or selected attachments)Alt + Y
Styling the message text
Larger Font Size

Ctrl + >
Ctrl + .
Command + >
Command + .

Smaller Font SizeCtrl + <
Ctrl + ,
Command + <
Command + ,
Text Style BoldCtrl + BCommand + B
Text Style ItalicsCtrl + ICommand + I
Text Style UnderlineCtrl + UCommand + U
Text Style "<tt>Fixed Width</tt>"Ctrl + TCommand + T
Discontinue or Remove Text StylesCtrl + Shift + Y
Ctrl + Space
Command + Shift + Y
Increase IndentCtrl + ]Command + ]
Decrease IndentCtrl + [Command + [

Address Book

  ←  |   ↑   |   →

New Address Book ContactCtrl + NCommand + N
Write new message to selected contact(s)Ctrl + M
Addressbook Quick FilterCtrl + F
Addressbook Advanced SearchCtrl + Shift + FCommand + Shift + F
Edit properties of selected contact or address bookCtrl + ICommand + I
Select all (contacts, or search text)Ctrl + ACommand + A
Print selected contactsCtrl + PCommand + P
Delete (selected text, contact, or address book)Del
Show Main Mail Window (Mail & Newsgroups)Ctrl + 1Command + 1

Calendar

  ←  |   ↑   |   →

Get started
Show or hide Today PaneF11F11
Calendar tabAlt + 3Ctrl + 3Control + 3Ctrl + Shift + CCommand + Shift + C
Tasks tabAlt + 4Ctrl + 4Control + 4Ctrl + Shift + DCommand + Shift + D
Mail & Newsgroups Home Tab (Tab 1)Alt + 1Ctrl + 1Control + 1
Ctrl + 1Alt + 1Command + 1
New EventCtrl + ICommand + I
New TaskCtrl + DCommand + D
Calendar Tab
Show Events Filter barEvents and Tasks ⌈ Find Events
Filter Events(Bug 449018)
Clear current Events FilterEsc
Go to TodayAlt + End

Go to Next Day/Week/Multiweek/Month]
Go to Previous Day/Week/Multiweek/Month[
Tasks Tab
Filter TasksCtrl + Shift + KCommand + Shift + K
Clear current Tasks FilterEsc
General Functions
Copy (selected events, tasks, or text)Ctrl + CCommand + C
Cut (selected events, tasks, or text)Ctrl + XCommand + X
PasteCtrl + VCommand + V
Delete (selected events, tasks, or text)Del
UndoCtrl + ZCommand + Z
RedoCtrl + YCommand + Y
PrintCtrl + PCommand + P
Furthermore, most of the keyboard shortcuts for
moving around Thunderbird still apply.

Miscellaneous

  ←  |   ↑   |

Clear HistoryCtrl + Shift + DelCommand + Shift + Del

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