Once you spend a lot of time in the Gutenberg editor, small actions start to add up. Reaching for the mouse to add a block, move it or open a settings panel only takes a second, but you do it hundreds of times a week. Learning a handful of keyboard shortcuts and a few workflow habits can make writing and editing noticeably quicker. Here are the ones we find most useful.
In the shortcuts below, Windows users press Ctrl and Mac users press Cmd unless stated otherwise.
Add Blocks Without the Mouse
The fastest way to add a block is the slash inserter. In an empty paragraph, type / followed by the block name, for example /image, /table or /columns, then press Enter. It also works for patterns you have saved, as long as you remember their names.
Gutenberg also understands Markdown-style shortcuts as you type at the start of a new paragraph:
- ## followed by a space creates a level 2 heading, ### a level 3 heading, and so on
- - or * followed by a space starts a bulleted list
- 1. followed by a space starts a numbered list
- > followed by a space creates a quote
For writers who are used to Markdown, this alone removes most trips to the block inserter.
Shortcuts for Working With Blocks
When a block is selected, a few shortcuts let you rearrange content quickly:
- Ctrl + Shift + D duplicates the selected block
- Ctrl + Alt + T inserts a new block before the selected one, and Ctrl + Alt + Y inserts one after it (on a Mac, use Option instead of Alt)
- Ctrl + K turns selected text into a link
- Ctrl + B and Ctrl + I make text bold or italic
- Ctrl + Z undoes the last change, and Ctrl + Shift + Z redoes it
To see the complete list for your version of WordPress, open the editor options menu and choose Keyboard shortcuts, or press Shift + Alt + H on Windows (Ctrl + Option + H on a Mac). Shortcuts are occasionally added or changed between releases, so the built-in list is always the most reliable reference.
Use List View for Complex Layouts
Pages built with groups, columns and nested blocks can be hard to navigate by clicking. The List View, opened from the icon in the top toolbar, shows every block on the page as an outline. You can select a block deep inside a column with one click, drag blocks to a new position and spot empty or forgotten blocks.
The List View is also a quick way to check your heading structure. A clear order of headings helps readers scan the page and is important for people who use screen readers, as we explain in our post on Gutenberg accessibility best practices.
Small Habits That Save Time
Beyond shortcuts, a few habits make day to day editing smoother:
- Write the text first and add layout and images afterwards. Switching between writing and designing slows both down.
- Save repeated sections as patterns instead of copying them from older posts.
- Use the copy styles and paste styles options in the block toolbar menu to give several blocks the same formatting.
- Press Ctrl + S to save a draft regularly while you work.
- Switch to the code editor from the options menu when you need to check or fix the underlying markup.
If you want a refresher on how blocks, toolbars and the settings sidebar fit together, our guide to understanding the Gutenberg WordPress Editor is a good place to start.
Final Thoughts
You do not need to learn every shortcut at once. Pick two or three that match what you do most, such as the slash inserter, duplicating blocks and adding links, and use them until they become automatic. Then add a few more. After a couple of weeks, you will likely find that you spend less time clicking and more time on the content itself.