- How to read these shortcuts
- The ones to learn first
- Getting around
- Formatting text
- Create blocks without the menu
- Moving and editing blocks
- The slash command still rules
- Markdown-style shortcuts while you type
- Why shortcuts matter so much here
- What to do if a shortcut doesn't work
- How to make shortcuts stick
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
The Notion keyboard shortcuts worth learning first are Ctrl or Cmd plus N for a new page, Ctrl or Cmd plus P to search, Ctrl or Cmd plus D to duplicate blocks, and Tab to indent. Typing / opens the block menu for anything else. Notion uses Cmd on a Mac and Ctrl on Windows, so the same shortcuts work on both.
Notion feels slow until you learn its shortcuts, and then it feels like flying. The slash command gets most of the attention, but a handful of keyboard shortcuts for creating pages, formatting text and moving blocks will save you real time every day. I've picked the ones I use most from Notion's official list and grouped them by what you're trying to do, so you don't have to wade through the whole thing.
How to read these shortcuts
Notion writes shortcuts as cmd/ctrl, which means Cmd on a Mac and Ctrl on Windows or Linux. So cmd/ctrl + N is Cmd+N on a Mac and Ctrl+N on a PC. For the content shortcuts further down, Notion uses Cmd+Option on a Mac and Ctrl+Shift on Windows.
The ones to learn first
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| cmd/ctrl + N | Create a new page |
| cmd/ctrl + P | Search or jump to a recent page |
| / | Open the block menu |
| cmd/ctrl + D | Duplicate selected blocks |
| Tab | Indent and nest a block |
| Shift + Tab | Un-nest a block |
| cmd/ctrl + K | Add a link to selected text |
Getting around
- cmd/ctrl + F searches inside the page you're on.
- cmd/ctrl + [ goes back a page and cmd/ctrl + ] goes forward.
- cmd/ctrl + L copies the page's link, perfect for sharing.
- cmd/ctrl + T opens a new Notion tab, and cmd/ctrl + shift + N opens a new window.
- cmd/ctrl + shift + L switches between dark and light mode.
Formatting text
| Shortcut | Formatting |
|---|---|
| cmd/ctrl + B | Bold |
| cmd/ctrl + I | Italic |
| cmd/ctrl + U | Underline |
| cmd/ctrl + shift + S | Strikethrough |
| cmd/ctrl + E | Inline code |
| cmd/ctrl + shift + M | Add a comment |
| Shift + Enter | Line break within a block |
Create blocks without the menu
These are the hidden gems. Hold Cmd+Option on a Mac, or Ctrl+Shift on Windows, and press a number:
| Number | Creates |
|---|---|
| 0 | Plain text |
| 1, 2 or 3 | Heading 1, 2 or 3 |
| 4 | To-do checkbox |
| 5 | Bulleted list |
| 6 | Numbered list |
| 7 | Toggle list |
| 8 | Code block |
| 9 | A new page, or turns the line into a page |
Notion warns that some Windows computers already use Ctrl+Shift combinations for other things, so if one of these does something odd, that's probably why.
Moving and editing blocks
- cmd/ctrl + D duplicates the blocks you've selected.
- cmd/ctrl + shift + arrow keys move a selected block up or down.
- cmd/ctrl + / lets you change or edit selected blocks, including several database rows at once.
- cmd/ctrl + shift + H applies the last text or highlight colour you used.
- cmd/ctrl + option/alt + T opens or closes every toggle in a toggle list.
The slash command still rules
If you only remember one thing, remember the slash. Notion's writing guide explains you can type / followed by any block type, like /bullet, or an action, like /delete or /duplicate, or a colour, like /red. It does almost everything the shortcuts do, just a tiny bit slower.
Markdown-style shortcuts while you type
You don't always need modifier keys. If you've used other writing tools, you'll find Notion recognises familiar typing patterns: start a line with a hash and a space for a heading, or a hyphen and a space for a bullet. It's the quickest way to format as you write, and you'll soon do it without thinking.
Why shortcuts matter so much here
Notion pages are built from lots of small blocks, so you're constantly creating, moving and formatting. Each mouse trip to a menu is only a second or two, but it adds up across a day, and it breaks your train of thought. Once the shortcuts are in your fingers, you'll find you write and organise far faster, and pages stop feeling fiddly. That's when Notion really clicks, and you start enjoying it.
What to do if a shortcut doesn't work
- Check you're in the right place: some shortcuts only work with text or blocks selected.
- On Windows, another app may already be using the same Ctrl+Shift combination.
- Non-English keyboards can map some keys differently.
- Use the slash command as a fallback; it always works.
How to make shortcuts stick
- Learn three from the first table this week and use them every single day.
- Add the number shortcuts for headings and checkboxes next week, once the first three feel automatic.
- Use the slash command for everything else until it becomes habit.
Shortcuts are one part of getting more from Notion. If you're setting up a workspace, my guide to what to look for in a productivity template helps, and my weekly content batching template works beautifully as a Notion page.
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My verdict
Start with cmd/ctrl + N, cmd/ctrl + P, cmd/ctrl + D and Tab, then learn the Cmd+Option or Ctrl+Shift number shortcuts for headings and checkboxes. Keep the slash command for everything else. A week of deliberate practice is all it takes to make Notion feel much faster.
Frequently asked questions
What does cmd/ctrl mean in Notion shortcuts?
Notion says it means Cmd on a Mac and Ctrl on Windows and Linux.
How do I create a heading with a shortcut in Notion?
Press Cmd+Option+1 on a Mac or Ctrl+Shift+1 on Windows for Heading 1, with 2 and 3 for smaller headings.
How do I duplicate a block in Notion?
Select the block and press cmd/ctrl + D.
How do I search in Notion with the keyboard?
Press cmd/ctrl + P or cmd/ctrl + K to search, or cmd/ctrl + F to search within a page.
How do I indent in Notion?
Press Tab to indent and nest a block, and Shift+Tab to un-nest it.
