---
title: "Outlook Express Shortcut Keys"  
description: "In this article I am trying to explain Shortcut keys for Outlook Express."  
author: "Vijay Shukla"  
published: 2013-04-17  
updated: 2017-11-29  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/articles/1257/outlook-express-shortcut-keys  
category: "shortcut keys"  
tags: ["shortcut keys"]  
reading_time: 10 minutes  

---

# Outlook Express Shortcut Keys

In this article I am trying to explain [Shortcut keys](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/477/shortcut-keys-for-formatting-elements-in-pivottable-view-for-ms-access) for Outlook Express.

##### Main Outlook Features

| ##### Key | ##### Description |
| --- | --- |
| Ctrl+1 | Mail |
| Ctrl+2 | Calendar |
| Ctrl+3 | Contacts |
| Ctrl+4 | Tasks |
| Ctrl+5 | Notes |
| Ctrl+6 | Folder List in Navigation Pane |
| Ctrl+7 | Shortcuts |
| Ctrl+Shift+b | Open [Address Book](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/32485/if-i-add-someone-to-my-contact-list-but-the-other-person-is-not-having-my-number-stored-in-his-address-book-can-i-add-them-to-my-whatsapp-without-waiting-for-them-to-add-me) |

##### Messages in Main View

##### Main Window

| ##### Key | ##### Description |
| --- | --- |
| Tab/Shift+Tab | Cycle forward or backward between screen elements (Navigation Pane, Message List, Search, Reading Pane) |
| Ctrl+Shift+i | For Inbox folder |
| Ctrl+Shift+o | For Outbox folder |
| Ctrl+y | For another folder as specified |
| F3/Ctrl+e | For Search box |
| Ctrl+m/F9 | Check in for new messages |
| Alt+Arrow Left/Alt+Arrow Right | Go back to previous view / forward to next view |
| Ctrl+n | Create new message |
| Ctrl+Shift+m | Create new message (from any Outlook view) |

##### Navigation Pane

| ##### Key | ##### Description |
| --- | --- |
| Arrow Up/Arrow Down | Navigate downward / navigate upward in Navigation Pane. Press space or enter to select. Press shift+tab and/or tab to jump between Message List and Navigation Pane |
| Arrow Left/Arrow Right | [Collapse or expand](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/96547/how-you-can-collapse-or-expand-parts-of-a-document-in-ms-word) group in message list |
| a...z | Jump to folder with letter typed. If more than one folder exists, immediately continue typing second or third letter until reaching folder |
| F2 | Rename folder |
| Delete | Delete folder |

##### Message List and Single Messages

| ##### Key | ##### Description |
| --- | --- |
| Tab/Shift+Tab | Cycle forward / cycle backward between Screen Elements (e.g. Navigation Pane, Message List, Search, Reading Pane) |
| Arrow Down/Arrow Up | Move down / move up between messages |
| Arrow Left/Arrow Right | Collapse / expand groups (e.g. week) |
| Shift+Arrow Down/Shift+Arrow Up | Select multiple adjacent messages |
| press and hold ctrl, arrow up/arrow down and space | Select multiple non-adjacent messages |
| Ctrl+Shift+v | Move message to folder |
| Insert | Add Quick Flag to message |
| Ctrl+Shift+g | Add Custom Flag to message |
| Ctrl+Alt+j | Mark message as not junk |
| Ctrl+q/Ctrl+u | Mark as read or unread |
| Ctrl+Alt+m | Mark for Download |
| Ctrl+Alt+u | Clear Mark for Download |
| Ctrl+Shift+w | Display blocked content menu. Press ctrl+shift+w, then p to download blocked pictures/images. |
| Alt+Enter | Show email properties |
| Ctrl+Shift+s | Post to folder |
| Ctrl+Shift+y | Copy item to folder |
| Space/Shift+Space | Page down / page up through message text in Reading Pane |
| Enter | Open message |
| Ctrl+./Ctrl+, | Jump to next/previous message (in [single message](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/30594/if-you-delete-an-important-single-message-could-you-restore-it) view) |
| Ctrl+p | Print Message |

##### Messages in Compose View

##### Manage Messages

| ##### Key | ##### Description |
| --- | --- |
| Tab | Cycle between To, Cc, Subject, and Message Body |
| Alt+m | Choose From account from which to send message |
| Alt+u | Jump to subject |
| Alt+s | Send |
| Ctrl+s/Shift+F12 | Save Message |
| F12 | Save Message as |
| Ctrl+click | Jump to URI while in edit mode |
| Ctrl+k | Insert hyperlink |
| Alt+n, then a,f | Attach File to message: Insert => Add F |
| Alt+n, then a,s | Add Signature to message: Insert => Add Signature |

##### Format Message Body

| ##### Key | ##### Description |
| --- | --- |
| Ctrl+x/Ctrl+c/Ctrl+v | Cut/ copy/ paste |
| Alt+o | Display Format menu |
| Ctrl+Shift+p | Display Font dialog box |
| Shift+F3 | Switch case between all upper, all lower, and first letter upper. |
| Ctrl+Shift+k | Switch case to/from small capitals |
| Ctrl+b | Switch format to/from bold |
| Ctrl+i | Switch format to/from italic |
| Ctrl+u | Switch format to/from underline |
| Ctrl+Shift+l | Add/remove bullets |
| Ctrl+l | Align left |
| Ctrl+r | Align right |
| Ctrl+e | Align center |
| Ctrl+t/Ctrl+Shift+t | Increase / decrease indent |
| Ctrl+[/Ctrl+] | Increase / decrease font size (or use or ctrl+shift+; |
| Ctrl+Space | Clear formatting (or use ctrl+shift+z) |
| Ctrl+Shift+h | Delete next word |
| Ctrl+Shift+j | Stretch paragraph to fit between margins |
| Ctrl+Shift+s | Apply styles |
| Ctrl+t | Create hanging indent |
| Ctrl+Shift+t | Reduce hanging indent |
| Ctrl+k | Insert hyperlink |
| Ctrl+q | Remove paragraph formatting |

##### Create Items

| ##### Key | ##### Description |
| --- | --- |
| Ctrl+Shift+a | Create appointment |
| Ctrl+Shift+c | Create contact |
| Ctrl+Shift+l | Create distribution list |
| Ctrl+Shift+x | Create fax |
| Ctrl+Shift+e | Create folder |
| Ctrl+Shift+j | Create [Journal entry](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/40832/after-studying-the-flapper-movement-of-the-1920s-imagine-that-you-are-a-flapper-create-a-journal-entry-in-which-you-describe-the-status-of-women-before-the-twenties-and-how-things-have-changed) |
| Ctrl+Shift+q | Create meeting request |
| Ctrl+Shift+m | Create message |
| Ctrl+Shift+n | Create note |
| Ctrl+Shift+h | Create new Microsoft Office document |
| Ctrl+Shift+s | Post to this folder |
| Ctrl+t | Post reply in this folder |
| Ctrl+Shift+p | Create Search Folder |
| Ctrl+Shift+k | Create task |
| Ctrl+Shift+u | Create task request |

##### Calendar Shortcuts

##### Create and Manage Appointments

| ##### Key | ##### Description |
| --- | --- |
| Tab/Shift+Tab | Select next/ [select previous](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/156674/select-previous-sibling-via-jquery) appointment in Calendar View |
| Ctrl+n | Create new appointment (when in Calendar) |
| Ctrl+Shift+a | Create new appointment (in any Outlook view) |
| Ctrl+Shift+q | Create new meeting request |
| Ctrl+g | Set up recurrence for an appointment or task |
| Tab/Shift+Tab | Jump to next / previous input field |
| Ctrl+f | Forward an appointment or meeting |
| Ctrl+r | Reply to meeting request with message |
| Ctrl+Shift+r | Reply All to meeting request with message |

##### Calendar Views

| ##### Key | ##### Description |
| --- | --- |
| Ctrl+Alt+1 | Switch to Day view |
| Ctrl+Alt+2 | Switch to Work Week view |
| Ctrl+Alt+3 | Switch to Full Week view |
| Ctrl+Alt+4 | Switch to Month Week view |
| Alt+1...0 | View from 1 through 10 days |

##### Navigate Calendar

| ##### Key | ##### Description |
| --- | --- |
| Ctrl+Tab/F6 | Move between Calendar, TaskPad, and Folder List |
| Tab/Shift+Tab | Select next/ select previous appointment |
| Arrow Left/Arrow Right | Go to previous / next day |
| Arrow Up/Arrow Down | Go up / down in current view |
| Home/End | Go to beginning/end of current view |
| Page Up/Page Down | Jump one page up/ one page down |
| Shift+Arrow Up/Shift+Arrow Down | Day View: Extend / reduce selected time |
| Alt+Arrow Down/Alt+Arrow Up | Go to same day in next / previous week |
| Alt+Page Down/Alt+Page Up | Go to next or [previous month](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/159363/how-to-write-sql-query-to-get-the-value-of-the-previous-month-and-year) |
| Alt+Home/Alt+End | Go to start or end of week |
| Ctrl+g | Go to date |

##### Contacts Shortcuts

| ##### Key | ##### Description |
| --- | --- |
| F3/Ctrl+e | Find contact or other item |
| F11 | Enter name in Search Address Books box |
| Shift+letter | In Table or List view of contacts, go to first contact that starts with specific letter |
| Ctrl+a | Select all contacts |
| Ctrl+f | Create new message addressed to selected contact |
| Ctrl+j | Create Journal entry for selected contact |
| Ctrl+n | Create new contact (when in Contacts) |
| Ctrl+Shift+c | Create new contact (from any Outlook view) |
| Ctrl+o/Ctrl+Shift+Enter | Open [contact form](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/50721/how-to-delete-a-contact-form-your-iphone-8-plus) for selected contact |
| Ctrl+Shift+l | Create new distribution list |
| Ctrl+p | Print |
| F5 | Update list of distribution list members |
| Ctrl+y | Go to different folder |
| Ctrl+Shift+b | Open Address Book |
| Ctrl+Shift+f | Use Advanced Find |
| Ctrl+Shift+. | In an open contact, open next contact listed |
| Esc | Close contact |
| Ctrl+Shift+x | Open Web page for selected contact (if one is included) |
| Alt+d | Open Check Address dialog box |
| Alt+Shift+1 .. 3 | In contact form, under Internet, [display message](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/12797/how-to-show-display-message-box-in-c-sharp-asp-dot-net-forms) 1 .. 3 information |
| Ctrl+Shift+d | Dial new call |

##### Tasks Shortcuts

| ##### Key | ##### Description |
| --- | --- |
| Alt+F2 | Show or hide To-Do Bar |
| Alt+c | Accept task request |
| Alt+d | Decline task request |
| Ctrl+e | Find task or other item |
| Ctrl+y | Open Go to Folder dialog box |
| Ctrl+n | Create new task (when in Tasks) |
| Ctrl+Shift+k | Create new task (from any Outlook view) |
| Ctrl+Shift+u | Create new task request |
| Ctrl+o | Open selected item |
| Ctrl+p | Print selected item |
| Ctrl+a | Select all items |
| Ctrl+d | Delete selected item |
| Ctrl+f | Forward task as an attachment |
| Shift+Tab | Switch between Navigation Pane, Tasks list, and To-Do Bar |
| Ctrl+j | Open selected item as Journal item |
| Ctrl+z | Undo last action |
| Insert | Flag an item or mark complete |

##### Business Card View

| ##### Key | ##### Description |
| --- | --- |
| A-Z | One or more letters of name that card is filed under or name of field that you are sorting by will [select specific](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/12752/how-to-select-specific-columns-from-a-data-table-in-vb-dot-net) card in list |
| Arrow Up/Arrow Down | Select previous / select next card |
| Home/End | Select first / select last card in list |
| Page Up/Page Down | Select first card on current page / next page |
| Arrow Right/Arrow Left | Select closest card in next / previous column |
| Ctrl+Space | Select or cancel selection of active card |
| Shift+Arrow Up/Shift+Arrow Down | Extend selection to previous / next card |
| Ctrl+Shift+Arrow Up/Ctrl+Shift+Arrow Down | Extend selection to previous or next card, regardless of starting point |
| Shift+Home/Shift+End | Extend selection to first / last card in list |
| Shift+Page Up/Shift+Page Down | Extend selection to first / last card on previous page |
| Tab/Shift+Tab | Move to next / move to previous field |
| Enter | Move to next field, or add line to multiline field |
| Shift+Enter | Move to previous field without leaving active card |
| F2 | Display insertion point in active field to edit text |

##### Other Outlook 2010 Shortcut

| ##### Key | ##### Description |
| --- | --- |
| Ctrl+Alt+s | Define Send/Receive groups |
| Shift+F9 | Start send/receive for current folder, retrieving full items (header, item, and any attachments) |
| Ctrl+b | Display Send/Receive progress when send/receive is in progress |
| Ctrl+Alt+Shift+F12 | Save Form Design |
| Ctrl+Shift+F11 | Save Form Data |
| Ctrl+n when on InfoPath folder. | Create new InfoPath form |
| Ctrl+Shift+w | Select Message InfoBar and, if available, show menu of commands |
| Alt+F11 | Open Visual Basic Editor |
| Alt+F8 | Play Macro |

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Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/articles/1257/outlook-express-shortcut-keys

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