Do you like using keyboard shortcuts? I sure do! Whatever software program or application it is, keyboard shortcuts lets you perform actions quicker and let you do your work faster. When I use Adobe Photoshop, I don’t need to click on the Tool palette each time I need to switch tools because I already know the keyboard shortcut for each tool so I only have to press a key and I immediately have access to that tool.
It’s also the same for WordPress. Using keyboard shortcuts on WordPress, my hands don’t have to leave the keyboard to use the mouse and click on the icons. If I need to make a text bold/italics, or insert a link/image or wrap a text in quotes all I need to do is perform the keyboard shortcut. Not only does this enable me to save time but it also helps me to blog more efficiently. But I bet most of you don’t even know they exist. Or if you do, you don’t even use it, right? Today, I’m gonna share with you the different WordPress keyboard shortcuts.
WordPress Keyboard Shortcuts
(These keyboard shortcuts work on the HTML Editor)
Bold: Alt+SHIFT+b
Italics: Alt+SHIFT+i
del (strikethrough): Alt+SHIFT+d
ins (insert date/time): Alt+SHIFT+s
Link: Alt+SHIFT+a
Insert img URL: ALT-SHIFT-m
Blockquote: Alt+SHIFT+q
Code: Alt+SHIFT+c
Read More: Alt+SHIFT+t
Unordered List (ul): Alt+SHIFT+u
Ordered List (ol): Alt+SHIFT+o
List Item (li): Alt+SHIFT+l
Line break: SHIFT+Enter
Undo: CTRL+z
Redo: CTRL+y
Publish the Post: Alt+SHIFT+p
Here are the keyboard shortcuts that only work on the Visual Editor
Advanced Editor (Kitchen Sink): Alt+SHIFT+z
Edit HTML: Alt+SHIFT+e
Align Left: Alt+SHIFT+l
Align Center: Alt+SHIFT+c
Align Right: Alt+SHIFT+r
H1 Header: CTRL+1
H2 Header: CTRL+2
H3 Header: CTRL+3
H4 Header: CTRL+4
H5 Header: CTRL+5
H6 Header: CTRL+6
Paragraph: CTRL+7
Format: CTRL+8
Address: CTRL+9
NOTE: Some of these keyboard shortcuts may not work depending on the web browser you’re using. I’ve only tested these keyboard shortcuts on Firefox.
These WordPress keyboard shortcuts are only available for the Post writing page. But if you have the Fluency Admin theme installed on your WP Dashboard, you can also use keyboard shortcuts to access different parts of the menu.
If for some reason you would want to edit/change the keyboard shortcuts or want to create your own set of shortcuts, you can do it by editing this file – /wp-includes/js/quicktags.js
When WordPress 2.7 was released, it included the ability to use keyboard shortcuts to browse and moderate comments, enabling the user to navigate and perform moderation actions on comments faster. Check out the WordPress 2.7 keyboard shortcuts from WordPress Codex.
Do you like using keyboard shortcuts or not? Anyone of you guys use these WordPress keyboard shortcuts? If you do, what’s your favorite shortcut/s or the shortcut/s you use most frequently?
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April 2nd, 2012 at 11:21 AM
Absolutely great list, my wordpress life is going to be much more easier from now on ehhehe
do you have any shortcuts for reading blogs and liking posts / follow blogs ? like j,k,l as in tumblr and google reader shortcuts ?!?
if you do, plkease post them
October 28th, 2009 at 4:30 AM
@Andy – Yeah, many WordPress users aren’t aware of these keyboard shortcuts and thats one of the reasons why I blogged about so that more people would know about it. :)
October 28th, 2009 at 4:27 AM
Superb I really didn’t know there were keyboard shortcuts in WP that’s fantastic news.
October 20th, 2009 at 1:45 AM
@Photoblogger – Yeah, those are the common shortcuts that most users use or know about. Now you can use more shortcuts with this list. :D
October 20th, 2009 at 1:40 AM
hmm. what I use for my shortcuts I do ctrl+b for bold and i for italics :) Great info on shortcuts though. :)
.-= The Photoblogger´s last blog ..Teen Season Finale: Time starts now =-.
October 19th, 2009 at 8:50 PM
@Sher – Yep, these shortcuts are definitely time savers. :)
October 19th, 2009 at 8:47 PM
that’s excellent, it should def save some time :)
.-= Sher´s last blog ..Dell Studio XPS 1640 Laptop Review – Multimedia Laptop Deals & Specs =-.
October 15th, 2009 at 1:00 AM
@aldrin – Me too. Yeah, some of these shortcuts are not commonly used that’s why. Like I mentioned in the post, some of this shortcuts may not work depending on the browser you’re using because the browser uses those shortcuts for itself but yeah, these all work on Firefox. Another reason why I love Firefox. :D
Btw, are you using the Visual Editor or the HTML Editor? Please take note that some of the shortcuts only work on either Visual or HTML.
October 15th, 2009 at 12:56 AM
a fan of shortcuts. i’ve been using those shortcuts before, some on your list are pretty new. i noticed they all work in Firefox but not all work for IE or Chrome. or maybe I’m pressing wrong buttons.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:30 AM
@DiTesco – Yeah I know but you don’t have to remember/use all of it. You can just memorize the ones that you use most of the time. Or you can write it down on a piece of paper and post it near your computer, kinda like a cheatsheet. :D
You’re welcome my friend. ;)
October 14th, 2009 at 10:26 AM
That’s an awful lot of keyboard shortcuts to remember. Adding them to my present list of keyboard shortcuts will certainly be a good add but I need more “fingers” please, lol. Another post added to my never ending “consult later” list. Thanks Jaypee for the heads up
.-= DiTesco´s last blog ..Google Affiliate Network’s AdSense Payment Integration Complete =-.
October 14th, 2009 at 7:45 AM
@Jhay – Hehe..you’re right, its “to each, his own”. Although you can’t deny the fact that keyboard shortcuts really do save you a lot of time. :D
October 14th, 2009 at 7:40 AM
I’m not a big fan of keyboard shortcuts, not just for WordPress but most applications I use. Save maybe for Photoshop but it has never caught on to me like part of my routine or something.
It’s just me but “to each, his own” right? ;)
.-= Jhay´s last blog ..Automated Elections: A bane to the 2010 Elections? =-.
October 14th, 2009 at 1:00 AM
@genial – It’s all good my friend. Thanks for the kind words and for stopping by! :D
October 14th, 2009 at 12:56 AM
sorry if I’m OOT… just drop by to congratulate you as a winner of Best Technology Blog.. keep up the good work :) happy blogging friend:)
.-= genial´s last blog ..Create a Creepy Bloddy Text =-.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:55 PM
@jan – Haha..guilty as charged! Good thing I blogged about it right? Now that you now about them, you don’t have an excuse on not using these keyboard shortcuts. ;)
October 13th, 2009 at 11:53 PM
Uh-oh. Guilty. Lock me up in detention, Jaypee. I don’t know a single WP shortcut to this day. LOL. Seeing that it will save me time, however, I’d start using them from now on.
.-= jan geronimo´s last blog ..Speed Limit: 500 Words =-.
October 13th, 2009 at 9:20 PM
@Teejay – Don’t worry, you’re not the only one. Hehe ;)
That’s one of the reasons why I blogged about it, I know that there are still a lot of WP users who aren’t aware of these keyboard shortcuts or just don’t realize how useful they can be. Once you start using them and they become a part of your blogging routine, I’m sure you’ll be blogging faster than you did before. :D
October 13th, 2009 at 9:17 PM
You know what? I never knew wordpress had keyboard shorcuts. Knowing this could actually I could actually blog faster.
.-= Teejay´s last blog ..Weekly Roundup: Recovering Week Edition =-.