Google Drive Keyboard Shortcuts That Actually Save Time

Show all shortcuts: Press Ctrl + / (Windows/Chrome OS) or Cmd + / (Mac) while in Google Drive.

Google updated their keyboard shortcuts in 2024 to enable first-letter navigation (typing a letter jumps to files starting with that letter). Some shortcuts now require a modifier key combination first, then a second key.

Essential Shortcuts Everyone Should Know

Action	Windows/Chrome OS	Mac
Search your Drive	/	/
Select all visible items	Ctrl + A	Cmd + A
Open selected file	Enter	Enter
Open in new tab	Ctrl + Enter	Cmd + Enter
Preview file	Ctrl + Alt + P	Cmd + Option + P
Rename	F2	F2
Share	Ctrl + Alt + A	Cmd + Option + A
Move to folder	Ctrl + Alt + M	Cmd + Option + M
Delete	Delete or #	Delete or #
Undo	Ctrl + Z	Cmd + Z

Creating New Items

First press the create modifier, then the item key:

Action	Windows/Chrome OS	Mac
New Document	Alt + C, then T	Ctrl + C, then T
New Spreadsheet	Alt + C, then S	Ctrl + C, then S
New Presentation	Alt + C, then P	Ctrl + C, then P
New Folder	Alt + C, then F	Ctrl + C, then F
New Form	Alt + C, then O	Ctrl + C, then O
New Drawing	Alt + C, then D	Ctrl + C, then D
Upload file	Alt + C, then U	Ctrl + C, then U
Upload folder	Alt + C, then I	Ctrl + C, then I

Note: Release the first key combination before pressing the second key.

Navigation Shortcuts

These use the "go to" modifier:

Action	Windows/Chrome OS	Mac
Go to file list	Alt + G, then I	Option + G, then I
Go to folders panel	Alt + G, then N	Option + G, then N
Go to details pane	Alt + G, then D	Option + G, then D

View Options

These use the "view" modifier:

Action	Windows/Chrome OS	Mac
Toggle list/grid view	Alt + V, then L	Option + V, then L
Show/hide details pane	Alt + V, then D	Option + V, then D
Show/hide activity pane	Alt + V, then A	Option + V, then A

Selection Shortcuts

Action	Windows/Chrome OS	Mac
Select/deselect item	Shift + Space	Shift + Space
Extend selection down	Shift + ↓	Shift + ↓
Extend selection up	Shift + ↑	Shift + ↑
Clear selection	Esc	Esc

First-Letter Navigation (New in 2024)

When in the file list, simply type the first letter(s) of a file name to jump to it. Press the same letter again to move to the next file starting with that letter.

This is why Google changed the old single-letter shortcuts—they now require modifier keys to avoid conflict with first-letter navigation.

File Actions

Action	Windows/Chrome OS	Mac
Star/unstar file	Ctrl + Alt + S	Cmd + Option + S
Create shortcut	Ctrl + Alt + R	Cmd + Option + R
Copy file URL to clipboard	Ctrl + Alt + L	Cmd + Option + L
Copy file title to clipboard	Ctrl + Shift + C	Cmd + Shift + C

Context Menu

Action	Windows/Chrome OS	Mac
Open actions menu	Shift + F10 or Alt + A	Shift + F10 or Ctrl + A
Open folder actions	Alt + Shift + A	Ctrl + Shift + A

Tips for Learning Shortcuts

Start with search — / is the most useful shortcut. Use it constantly.
Learn create shortcuts — Alt + C (or Ctrl + C on Mac) followed by T for Doc, S for Sheet is faster than clicking.
Use preview — Ctrl + Alt + P lets you quickly view files without fully opening them.
Master selection — Shift + Space to select, arrow keys to navigate, Shift + arrows to select multiple.

For power users managing large Drives, keyboard shortcuts help—but so does keeping your Drive organized. Overdrive can help identify clutter so there's less to navigate through in the first place.