Gmail – How to Select Emails Using Keyboard

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One thing I find myself doing a lot is trying to navigate my e-mails using my keyboard. I have found the "caret" showing current focused e-mail, in Compact dark theme, is a blue indicator and that can be moved up and down using the keyboard. You can also use Enter to read the currently selected e-mail.

What bothers me is that Spacebar isn't used to select the currently focused e-mail. The Spacebar has more of a page down functionality. Nothing has annoyed me more than having to select a group of e-mails using my mousepad on my laptop; not to mention it is very inefficient to have to position the cursor precisely and hope you don't accidentally start dragging the item instead of selecting the check box.

**So my question is, how can I use my keyboard to select e-mails in Gmail -mail? **

Also, how I can delete the selected e-mails using my keyboard without using tab, if possible?

Best Answer

You need to manually enable Shortcuts in Gmail by:

  • Go to Settings > General > Keyboard Shortcuts and check 'Enable Keyboard Shortcuts'. Click Save

Now press ? on your keyboard to see a list of shortcuts you can use, or go here.

By default, press o or Enter to open the 'conversation' or email.

To use Space as the key to open emails:

  • Go to Settings > Labs > Custom Keyboard Shortcuts. Check enable.

  • Go to Settings (again) > Keyboard Shortcuts (it will be a new tab, near to 'Labs').

  • Go to 'Open conversation'. In the 'or' box, type in \32 which is the ASCII code for space bar.

Now, you will be able to open emails with space bar (it worked for me!).

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