Microsoft Outlook is quite a complex program so this is a long list here. Normally you only need a fraction of these. Your best bet is to select your tasks from below and then learn those shortcuts. Note: This list applies to Office 2013, though most will work with earlier versions as well.
| Basic navigation | Format text | ||
| To do this | Press | To do this | Press |
| Switch to Mail. | Ctrl+1 | Display the Format menu. | Alt+O |
| Switch to Calendar. | Ctrl+2 | Display the Font dialog box. | Ctrl+Shift+P |
| Switch to Contacts. | Ctrl+3 | Switch case (with text selected). | Shift+F3 |
| Switch to Tasks. | Ctrl+4 | Format letters as small capitals. | Ctrl+Shift+K |
| Switch to Notes. | Ctrl+5 | Make letters bold. | Ctrl+B |
| Switch to Folder List in Folder Pane. | Ctrl+6 | Add bullets. | Ctrl+Shift+L |
| Switch to Shortcuts. | Ctrl+7 | Make letters italic. | Ctrl+I |
| Switch to next message (with message open). | Ctrl+Period | Increase indent. | Ctrl+T |
| Switch to previous message (with message open). | Ctrl+Comma | Decrease indent. | Ctrl+Shift+T |
| Move between the Folder Pane, the main Outlook window, the Reading Pane, and the To-Do Bar. | Ctrl+Shift+Tab or Shift+Tab | Left align. | Ctrl+L |
| Move between the Outlook window, the smaller panes in the Folder Pane, the Reading Pane, and the sections in the To-Do Bar. | Tab | Center. | Ctrl+E |
| Move between the Outlook window, the smaller panes in the Folder Pane, the Reading Pane, and the sections in the To-Do Bar, and show the access keys in the Outlook ribbon. | F6 | Underline. | Ctrl+U |
| Move around message header lines in the Folder Pane or an open message. | Ctrl+Tab | Increase font size. | Ctrl+] or Ctrl+Shift+> |
| Move around within the Folder Pane. | Arrow keys | Decrease font size. | Ctrl+[ or Ctrl+Shift+< |
| Go to a different folder. | Ctrl+Y | Cut. | Ctrl+X or Shift+Delete |
| Go to the Search box. | F3 or Ctrl+E | Copy. | Ctrl+C or Ctrl+Insert |
| In the Reading Pane, go to the previous message. | Alt+Up Arrow or Ctrl+Comma or Alt+Page Up | ||
| In the Reading Pane, page down through text. | Spacebar | Note Ctrl+Insert is not available in the Reading Pane. | |
| In the Reading Pane, page up through text. | Shift+Spacebar | Paste. | Ctrl+V or Shift+Insert |
| Collapse or expand a group in the email message list. | Left Arrow or Right Arrow, respectively | Clear formatting. | Ctrl+Shift+Z or Ctrl+Spacebar |
| Go back to previous view in main Outlook window. | Alt+B or Alt+Left Arrow | Delete the next word. | Ctrl+Shift+H |
| Go forward to next view in main Outlook window. | Alt+Right Arrow | Stretch a paragraph to fit between the margins. | Ctrl+Shift+J |
| Select the InfoBar and, if available, show the menu of commands. | Ctrl+Shift+W | Apply styles. | Ctrl+Shift+S |
| Create a hanging indent. | Ctrl+T | ||
| Search | Insert a hyperlink. | Ctrl+K | |
| Left align a paragraph. | Ctrl+L | ||
| To do this | Press | Right align a paragraph. | Ctrl+R |
| Find a message or other item. | Ctrl+E | Reduce a hanging indent. | Ctrl+Shift+T |
| Clear the search results. | Esc | Remove paragraph formatting. | Ctrl+Q |
| Expand the search to include All Mail Items, All Calendar Items, or All Contact Items, depending on the module you are in. | Ctrl+Alt+A | ||
| Use Advanced Find. | Ctrl+Shift+F | Add web information to items | |
| Create a Search Folder. | Ctrl+Shift+P | ||
| Search for text within an open item. | F4 | To do this | Press |
| Find and replace text, symbols, or some formatting commands. Works in the Reading Pane on an open item. | Ctrl+H | Edit a URL in the body of an item. | Hold down Ctrl and click the mouse button. |
| Expand search to include items from the current folder. | Ctrl+Alt+K | Insert a hyperlink. | Ctrl+K |
| Expand search to include subfolders. | Ctrl+Alt+Z | ||
| Printing | |||
| Flags | |||
| To do this | Press | ||
| To do this | Press | Open Print tab in Backstage view. | Press Alt+F, and then press P |
| Open the Flag for Follow Up dialog box to assign a flag. | Ctrl+Shift+G | To print an item from an open window. | Alt+F, press P, and then press F and press 1 |
| Open Page Setup from Print Preview. | Alt+S or Alt+U | ||
| Color Categories | To select a printer from Print Preview. | Alt+F, press P, and then press I | |
| To Define Print Styles. | Alt+F, press P, and then press L | ||
| To do this | Press | To open Print Options. | Alt+F, press P, and then press R |
| Delete the selected category from the list in the Color Categories dialog box. | Alt+D | ||
| Send/Receive | |||
| Create an item or file | |||
| To do this | Press | ||
| To do this | Press | Start a send/receive for all defined Send/Receive groups with Include this group in Send/Receive (F9) selected. This can include headers, full items, specified folders, items less than a specific size, or any combination that you define. | F9 |
| Create an appointment. | Ctrl+Shift+A | Start a send/receive for the current folder, retrieving full items (header, item, and any attachments). | Shift+F9 |
| Create a contact. | Ctrl+Shift+C | Start a send/receive. | Ctrl+M |
| Create a contact group. | Ctrl+Shift+L | Define Send/Receive groups. | Ctrl+Alt+S |
| Create a fax. | Ctrl+Shift+X | ||
| Create a folder. | Ctrl+Shift+E | Visual Basic Editor | |
| Create a meeting request. | Ctrl+Shift+Q | ||
| Create a message. | Ctrl+Shift+M | To do this | Press |
| Create a note. | Ctrl+Shift+N | Open Visual Basic Editor. | Alt+F11 |
| Create a Microsoft Office document. | Ctrl+Shift+H | ||
| Post to this folder. | Ctrl+Shift+S | Macros | |
| Post a reply in this folder. | Ctrl+T | ||
| Create a Search Folder. | Ctrl+Shift+P | To do this | Press |
| Create a task. | Ctrl+Shift+K | Play macro. | Alt+F8 |
| Create a task request. | Ctrl+Shift+U | ||
| Forms | |||
| Command commands in most items | |||
| To do this | Press | ||
| To do this | Press | Create an Office InfoPath form. | Click in an InfoPath folder, and then Ctrl+N. |
| Save (except in Tasks). | Ctrl+S or Shift+F12 | Choose a Microsoft InfoPath form. | Ctrl+Shift+Alt+T |
| Save and close (except in Mail). | Alt+S | ||
| Save as (only in Mail). | F12 | Views | |
| Undo. | Ctrl+Z or Alt+Backspace | ||
| Delete an item. | Ctrl+D | Table view | |
| Print. | Ctrl+P | ||
| Copy an item. | Ctrl+Shift+Y | To do this | Press |
| Move an item. | Ctrl+Shift+V | Open an item. | Enter |
| Check names. | Ctrl+K | Select all items. | Ctrl+A |
| Check spelling. | F7 | Go to the item at the bottom of the screen. | Page Down |
| Flag for follow-up. | Ctrl+Shift+G | Go to the item at the top of the screen. | Page Up |
| Forward. | Ctrl+F | Extend or reduce the selected items by one item. | Shift+Up Arrow or Shift+Down Arrow, respectively |
| Send or post or invite all. | Alt+S | Go to the next or previous item without extending the selection. | Ctrl+Up Arrow or Ctrl+Down Arrow, respectively |
| Enable editing in a field (except in Mail or Icon view). | F2 | Select or cancel selection of the active item. | Ctrl+Spacebar |
| Left align text. | Ctrl+L | ||
| Center text. | Ctrl+E | With a group selected | |
| Right align text. | Ctrl+R | ||
| To do this | Press | ||
| Expand a single selected group. | Right Arrow | ||
| Collapse a single selected group. | Left Arrow | ||
| To do this | Press | Select the previous group. | Up Arrow |
| Switch to Inbox. | Ctrl+Shift+I | Select the next group. | Down Arrow |
| Switch to Outbox. | Ctrl+Shift+O | Select the first group. | Home |
| Choose the account from which to send a message. | Ctrl+Tab (with focus on the To box), and then Tab to the Accounts button | Select the last group. | End |
| Check names. | Ctrl+K | Select the first item on screen in an expanded group or the first item off screen to the right. | Right Arrow |
| Send. | Alt+S | ||
| Reply to a message. | Ctrl+R | Calendar Day/Week/Month view | |
| Reply all to a message. | Ctrl+Shift+R | ||
| Reply with meeting request. | Ctrl+Alt+R | To do this | Press |
| Forward a message. | Ctrl+F | View from 1 through 9 days. | Alt+key for number of days |
| Mark a message as not junk. | Ctrl+ Alt+J | View 10 days. | Alt+0 (zero) |
| Display blocked external content (in a message). | Ctrl+Shift+I | Switch to weeks. | Alt+Minus Sign |
| Post to a folder. | Ctrl+ Shift+S | Switch to months. | Alt+= |
| Apply Normal style. | Ctrl+Shift+N | Move between Calendar, TaskPad, and the Folder List. | Ctrl+Tab or F6 |
| Check for new messages. | Ctrl+M or F9 | Select the previous appointment. | Shift+Tab |
| Go to the previous message. | Up Arrow | Go to the previous day. | Left Arrow |
| Go to the next message. | Down Arrow | Go to the next day. | Right Arrow |
| Create a message (when in Mail). | Ctrl+N | Go to the same day in the next week. | Alt+Down Arrow |
| Create a message (from any Outlook view). | Ctrl+Shift+M | Go to the same day in the previous week. | Alt+Up Arrow |
| Open a received message. | Ctrl+O | ||
| Delete and Ignore a Conversation. | Ctrl+Shift+D | Day view | |
| Open the Address Book. | Ctrl+Shift+B | ||
| Add a Quick Flag to an unopened message. | Insert | To do this | Press |
| Display the Flag for Follow Up dialog box. | Ctrl+Shift+G | Select the time that begins your work day. | HOME |
| Mark as read. | Ctrl+Q | Select the time that ends your work day. | END |
| Mark as unread. | Ctrl+U | Select the previous block of time. | Up Arrow |
| Open the Mail Tip in the selected message. | Ctrl+Shift+W | Select the next block of time. | Down Arrow |
| Find or replace. | F4 | Select the block of time at the top of the screen. | Page Up |
| Find next. | Shift+F4 | Select the block of time at the bottom of the screen. | Page Down |
| Send. | Ctrl+Enter | Extend or reduce the selected time. | Shift+Up Arrow or Shift+Down Arrow, respectively |
| Print. | Ctrl+P | Move an appointment up or down. | With the cursor in the appointment, Alt+Up Arrow or Alt+Down Arrow, respectively |
| Forward. | Ctrl+F | Change an appointment’s start or end time. | With the cursor in the appointment, Alt+Shift+Up Arrow or Alt+Shift+Down Arrow, respectively |
| Forward as attachment. | Ctrl+Alt+F | Move selected item to the same day in the next week. | Alt+Down Arrow |
| Show the properties for the selected item. | Alt+Enter | Move selected item to the same day in the previous week. | Alt+Up Arrow |
| Create a multimedia message | Ctrl+Shift+U | ||
| Mark for Download. | Ctrl+Alt+M | Week view | |
| Clear Mark for Download. | Ctrl+Alt+U | ||
| Display Send/Receive progress. | Ctrl+B (when a Send/Receive is in progress) | To do this | Press |
| Go to the start of work hours for the selected day. | Home | ||
| Calendar | Go to the end of work hours for the selected day. | End | |
| Go up one page view in the selected day. | Page Up | ||
| To do this | Press | Go down one page view in the selected day. | Page Down |
| Create an appointment (when in Calendar). | Ctrl+N | Change the duration of the selected block of time. | Shift+Left Arrow, Shift+Right Arrow, Shift+Up Arrow, or Shift+Down Arrow; or Shift+Home or Shift+End |
| Create an appointment (in any Outlook view). | Ctrl+Shift+A | ||
| Create a meeting request. | Ctrl+Shift+Q | Month view | |
| Forward an appointment or meeting. | Ctrl+F | ||
| Reply to a meeting request with a message. | Ctrl+R | To do this | Press |
| Reply All to a meeting request with a message. | Ctrl+Shift+R | Go to the first day of the week. | Home |
| Show 1 day in the calendar. | Alt+1 | Go to the same day of the week in the previous page. | Page Up |
| Show 2 days in the calendar. | Alt+2 | Go to the same day of the week in the next page. | Page Down |
| Show 3 days in the calendar. | Alt+3 | ||
| Show 4 days in the calendar. | Alt+4 | Date Navigator | |
| Show 5 days in the calendar. | Alt+5 | ||
| Show 6 days in the calendar. | Alt+6 | To do this | Press |
| Show 7 days in the calendar. | Alt+7 | Go to the first day of the current week. | Alt+Home |
| Show 8 days in the calendar. | Alt+8 | Go to the last day of the current week. | Alt+End |
| Show 9 days in the calendar. | Alt+9 | Go to the same day in the previous week. | Alt+Up Arrow |
| Show 10 days in the calendar. | Alt+0 | Go to the same day in the next week. | Alt+Down Arrow |
| Go to a date. | Ctrl+G | ||
| Switch to Month view. | Alt+= or Ctrl+Alt+4 | Business Cards view or Address Cards view | |
| Go to the next day. | Ctrl+Right Arrow | ||
| Go to the next week. | Alt+Down Arrow | To do this | Press |
| Go to the next month. | Alt+Page Down | Select a specific card in the list. | One or more letters of the name that the card is filed under or the name of the field that you are sorting by |
| Go to the previous day. | Ctrl+Left Arrow | Select the previous card. | Up Arrow |
| Go to the previous week. | Alt+Up Arrow | Select the next card. | Down Arrow |
| Go to the previous month. | Alt+Page Up | Select the first card in the list. | Home |
| Go to the start of the week. | Alt+Home | Select the last card in the list. | End |
| Go to the end of the week. | Alt+End | Select the first card on the current page. | Page Up |
| Switch to Full Week view. | Alt+Minus Sign or Ctrl+Alt+3 | Select the first card on the next page. | Page Down |
| Switch to Work Week view. | Ctrl+Alt+2 | Select the closest card in the next column. | Right Arrow |
| Go to previous appointment. | Ctrl+Comma or Ctrl+Shift+Comma | Select the closest card in the previous column. | Left Arrow |
| Go to next appointment. | Ctrl+Period or Ctrl+Shift+Period | Select or cancel selection of the active card. | Ctrl+Spacebar |
| Set up recurrence for an open appointment or meeting. | Ctrl+G | Extend the selection to the previous card and cancel selection of cards after the starting point. | Shift+Up Arrow |
| Extend the selection to the next card and cancel selection of cards before the starting point. | Shift+Down Arrow | ||
| See also under Views, Calendar Day/Week/Month view, and Date Navigator. | Extend the selection to the previous card, regardless of the starting point. | Ctrl+Shift+Up Arrow | |
| Extend the selection to the next card, regardless of the starting point. | Ctrl+Shift+Down Arrow | ||
| People | Extend the selection to the first card in the list. | Shift+Home | |
| Extend the selection to the last card in the list. | Shift+End | ||
| To do this | Press | Extend the selection to the first card on the previous page. | Shift+Page Up |
| Dial a new call. | Ctrl+Shift+D | Extend the selection to the last card on the last page. | Shift+Page Down |
| Find a contact or other item (Search). | F3 or Ctrl+E | ||
| Enter a name in the Search Address Books box. | F11 | Move between fields in an open card | |
| In Table or List view of contacts, go to first contact that starts with a specific letter. | Shift+letter | ||
| Select all contacts. | Ctrl+A | To use the following keys, make sure a field in a card is selected. To select a field when a card is selected, click the field. | |
| Create a message with selected contact as subject. | Ctrl+F | ||
| Create a contact (when in Contacts). | Ctrl+N | To do this | Press |
| Create a contact (from any Outlook view). | Ctrl+Shift+C | Move to the next field and control. | Tab |
| Open a contact form for the selected contact. | Ctrl+O | Move to the previous field and control. | Shift+Tab |
| Create a contact group. | Ctrl+Shift+L | Close the active card. | Enter |
| Print. | Ctrl+P | ||
| Update a list of contact group members. | F5 | Move between characters in a field | |
| Go to a different folder. | Ctrl+Y | ||
| Open the Address Book. | Ctrl+Shift+B | To use the following keys, make sure a field in a card is selected. To select a field when a card is selected, click the field. | |
| Use Advanced Find. | Ctrl+Shift+F | ||
| In an open contact, open the next contact listed. | Ctrl+Shift+Period | To do this | Press |
| Find a contact. | F11 | Add a line in a multiline field. | Enter |
| Close a contact. | ESC | Move to the beginning of a line. | Home |
| Send a fax to the selected contact. | Ctrl+Shift+X | Move to the end of a line. | End |
| Open the Check Address dialog box. | Alt+D | Move to the beginning of a multiline field. | Page Up |
| In a contact form, under Internet, display the Email 1 information. | Alt+Shift+1 | Move to the end of a multiline field. | Page Down |
| In a contact form, under Internet, display the Email 2 information. | Alt+Shift+2 | Move to the previous line in a multiline field. | Up Arrow |
| In a contact form, under Internet, display the Email 3 information. | Alt+Shift+3 | Move to the next line in a multiline field. | Down Arrow |
| Move to the previous character in a field. | Left Arrow | ||
| In the Electronic Business Cards dialog box | Move to the next character in a field. | Right Arrow | |
| To do this | Press | Timeline view (Tasks) | |
| Open the Add list. | Alt+A | ||
| Select text in Label box when the field with a label assigned is selected. | Alt+B | When an item is selected | |
| Open the Add Card Picture dialog box. | Alt+C | ||
| To do this | Press | ||
| Place cursor at beginning of Edit box. | Alt+E | Select the previous item. | Left Arrow |
| Select the Fields box. | Alt+F | Select the next item. | Right Arrow |
| Select the Image Align drop-down list. | Alt+G | Select several adjacent items. | Shift+Left Arrow or Shift+Right Arrow |
| Select color palette for background. | Alt+K, then Enter | Select several nonadjacent items. | Ctrl+Left Arrow+Spacebar or Ctrl+Right Arrow+Spacebar |
| Select Layout drop-down list. | Alt+L | Open the selected items. | Enter |
| Remove a selected field from the Fields box. | Alt+R | Select the first item on the timeline (if items are not grouped) or the first item in the group. | Home |
| Select the last item on the timeline (if items are not grouped) or the last item in the group. | End | ||
| Tasks | Display (without selecting) the first item on the timeline (if items are not grouped) or the first item in the group. | Ctrl+Home | |
| Display (without selecting) the last item on the timeline (if items are not grouped) or the last item in the group. | Ctrl+End | ||
| To do this | Press | ||
| Accept a task request. | Alt+C | When a group is selected | |
| Decline a task request. | Alt+D | ||
| Find a task or other item. | Ctrl+E | To do this | Press |
| Open the Go to Folder dialog box. | Ctrl+Y | Expand the group. | Enter or Right Arrow |
| Create a task (when in Tasks). | Ctrl+N | Collapse the group. | Enter or Left Arrow |
| Create a task (from any Outlook view). | Ctrl+Shift+K | Select the previous group. | Up Arrow |
| Open selected item. | Ctrl+O | Select the next group. | Down Arrow |
| Print selected item. | Ctrl+P | Select the first group on the timeline. | Home |
| Select all items. | Ctrl+A | Select the last group on the timeline. | End |
| Delete selected item. | Ctrl+D | Select the first item on screen in an expanded group or the first item off screen to the right. | Right Arrow |
| Forward a task as an attachment. | Ctrl+F | ||
| Create a task request. | Ctrl+Shift+Alt+U | When a unit of time on the time scale for days is selected | |
| Switch between the Folder Pane, Tasks list, and To-Do Bar. | Tab or Shift+Tab | ||
| Undo last action. | Ctrl+Z | To do this | Press |
| Flag an item or mark complete. | Insert | Move back in increments of time that are the same as those shown on the time scale. | Left Arrow |
| Move forward in increments of time that are the same as those shown on the time scale. | Right Arrow | ||
| Switch between active view, To-Do Bar, Search and back to active view. | Tab and Shift+Tab |