Both the WordPress Visual editor and HTML editor accept keyboard shortcuts. The built in WordPress Visual editor is based on TinyMCE where some of the shortcuts come from.
Since I’m a keyboard guy, I collected some information on keyboard shortcuts over time, and below is a table with what I collected for both editors.
That, combined with distraction free writing really gives WordPress a boost.
Most of the shortcut keys use the modifier keys ALT plus SHIFT.
Note that on a Mac, you will have to use the “command” key in stead of the “CTRL” key.
Visual Editor
You can see what these shortcuts do in the WordPress Visual Editor support page.
| Function |
Shortcut Keys |
Alternative Shortcut Keys |
| Undo |
|
CTRL + z |
| Redo |
|
CTRL + y |
| Headers (H1, H2, H3, …, H6) |
CTRL + 1 … 6 |
|
| Paragraph |
CTRL + 7 |
|
| Format |
CTRL + 8 |
(doesn’t work on a Mac) |
| Address |
CTRL + 9 |
|
| Bold |
ALT + SHIFT + b |
CTRL + b |
| Italic |
ALT + SHIFT + i |
CTRL + i |
| Underline |
|
CTRL + u |
| Strike through with red (delete) |
ALT + SHIFT + d |
|
| Align left |
ALT + SHIFT + l |
|
| Align center |
ALT + SHIFT + c |
|
| Align right |
ALT + SHIFT + r |
|
| Blockquote |
ALT + SHIFT + q |
|
| Unquote/outdent |
ALT + SHITF + w |
(doesn’t work on a Mac) |
| Code |
ALT + SHIFT + c |
(doesn’t work, is “align center”) |
| Unordered List (ul) |
ALT + SHIFT + u |
|
| Ordered List (ol) |
ALT + SHIFT + o |
|
| List item (li) |
ALT + SHIFT + l |
(doesn’t work, is “align left”) |
| A Hyperlink (a) |
ALT + SHIFT + a |
|
| Line break |
SHIFT + Enter |
|
| Read more |
ALT + SHIFT + t |
|
| Next page |
ALT + SHIFT + p |
|
| Media insert (image/video/…) |
ALT + SHIFT + m |
(on a Mac, it also inserts a Ã) |
| ins |
ALT + SHIFT + s |
(doesn’t work on a Mac) |
| del |
ALT + SHIFT + d |
(doesn’t work on a Mac) |
| Distraction free writing |
ALT + SHIFT + g |
|
| Enable “Kitchen Sink” Toolbar |
ALT + SHIFT + z |
|
| View HTML code |
ALT + SHIFT + e |
(doesn’t work on a Mac) |
| Advanced Editor |
ALT + SHIFT + v |
(doesn’t work) |
| Spell check |
ALT + SHIFT + n |
|
| Rich Editor Help |
ALT + SHIFT + h |
|
- Unused ALT + SHIFT + letter combinations: f, y, j, k, x.
HTML editor (don’t work on a Mac)
Though the sources I used (see bullets below) indicate the below table should work, they don’t.
So: no HTML shortcuts on Mac or PC, which is a shame.
The only reason I use the HTML editor once in a while are these:
| Function |
Shortcut Keys |
Alternative Shortcut Keys |
| Bold |
ALT + SHIFT + b |
|
| Italic |
ALT + SHIFT + i |
|
| Strikethrough |
ALT + SHIFT + d |
|
| Blockquote |
ALT + SHIFT + q |
|
| Code |
ALT + SHIFT + c |
|
| Unordered List |
ALT + SHIFT + u |
|
| Ordered List |
ALT + SHIFT + o |
|
| A Hyperlink |
ALT + SHIFT + a |
|
| Read more |
ALT + SHIFT + t |
|
| View HTML code |
ALT + SHIFT + e |
|
| Headers (H1, H2, H3, …) |
Ctrl + corresponding number |
|
| Insert date/time |
ALT + SHIFT + s |
|
| Insert IMG URL |
ALT + SHIFT + m |
|
| List Item (li) |
Alt + SHIFT + l |
|
| Publish the Post |
Alt + SHIFT + p |
|
| Redo |
CTRL + y |
|
| Undo |
CTRL+z |
|
–jeroen
via: