Google Forms Keyboard Shortcuts: Full List
Google Forms has a set of keyboard shortcuts that let you navigate, edit, and send forms without touching the mouse. You can use them while editing a form in Google Forms, and a smaller set works while respondents are filling out a form. This article lists the shortcuts, explains how to enable or disable them, and answers common questions.
Why Keyboard Shortcuts Matter in Google Forms
Google Forms is a web-based tool for creating surveys, quizzes, and registration forms. While it is primarily mouse-driven, the keyboard shortcuts save time for frequent users—especially when you are building a long form with many questions, sections, or answer options. Instead of clicking through menus, you can jump to the next question, add a new one, or open the settings panel with a few keystrokes. The shortcuts are designed for the desktop version of Google Forms in a browser; they do not work on the mobile app or on a touchscreen device with a virtual keyboard.
Full List of Google Forms Editing Shortcuts
These shortcuts work when you are editing a form in Google Forms on a computer. They are similar to shortcuts in Google Docs and Google Slides, but some are specific to Forms.
- Ctrl + / (Windows/ChromeOS) or Cmd + / (Mac): Open the keyboard shortcuts help dialog.
- Ctrl + Enter or Cmd + Enter: Submit the form when you are previewing it as a respondent.
- Ctrl + Shift + C or Cmd + Shift + C: Open the form in a new tab for preview.
- Ctrl + Shift + E or Cmd + Shift + E: Send the form via email (opens the send dialog).
- Ctrl + Shift + P or Cmd + Shift + P: Print the form.
- Ctrl + Shift + S or Cmd + Shift + S: Open the settings panel (the gear icon).
- Ctrl + Z or Cmd + Z: Undo the last action.
- Ctrl + Y or Cmd + Y: Redo the last undone action.
- Ctrl + D or Cmd + D: Duplicate the selected question or item.
- Delete or Backspace: Delete the selected question or item.
- Ctrl + Arrow Up/Down or Cmd + Arrow Up/Down: Move the selected question up or down.
- Ctrl + Shift + Arrow Up/Down or Cmd + Shift + Arrow Up/Down: Move the selected question to the top or bottom of the form.
- Ctrl + Shift + L or Cmd + Shift + L: Add a new question at the end of the form.
- Ctrl + Shift + T or Cmd + Shift + T: Add a new section at the end of the form.
Note: Some shortcuts, like Ctrl+D, may be used by your browser (e.g., bookmarking) if you are not focused on the form editor. Make sure you click on the form area first.
Shortcuts for Respondents Filling Out a Form
When you are answering a Google Form (not editing it), a few keyboard shortcuts are available:
- Ctrl + Enter or Cmd + Enter: Submit the form.
- Tab: Move to the next field or question.
- Shift + Tab: Move to the previous field or question.
- Space: Select a checkbox or radio button when it is focused.
These are standard browser and form behaviors, not unique to Google Forms, but they are useful for respondents who prefer keyboard navigation.
How to Enable or Disable Keyboard Shortcuts
Google Forms keyboard shortcuts are enabled by default. There is no dedicated toggle in the settings menu to turn them off entirely. However, you can disable the global shortcuts in your browser if they conflict with other extensions or if you accidentally trigger them. For example, in Chrome, you can go to chrome://extensions/shortcuts to manage custom shortcuts, but Google Forms shortcuts are not listed there—they are built into the web app. If you find that a shortcut does not work, check that you are not in a text input field (like the question title) where the keystroke is captured as text. For instance, pressing Ctrl + D while typing in a question title will not duplicate the question; it will just type a ‘d’ if you are on a Mac? Actually, on Windows, Ctrl+D is a browser bookmark command, so it may not duplicate unless you are focused on a question element outside the text field.
Common Problems and Misconceptions
One common issue is that shortcuts like Ctrl + D or Ctrl + Shift + L do not work because the browser intercepts them. For example, Ctrl + D bookmarks the page in most browsers, and Ctrl + Shift + L might be used by an extension. To avoid this, click on a question or the form background so that the form editor has focus, then try the shortcut again. Another misconception is that you can use shortcuts to navigate between questions while editing—there is no such shortcut; you must click on a question to select it. Also, the Ctrl + / shortcut only works while editing, not while previewing the form as a respondent.
Comparing Google Forms Shortcuts with Other Google Apps
Google Forms shortcuts share many common actions with Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, such as undo (Ctrl+Z), redo (Ctrl+Y), and print (Ctrl+Shift+P). However, Forms has unique shortcuts for adding questions (Ctrl+Shift+L) and sections (Ctrl+Shift+T), which are not in Docs. The navigation shortcuts (Ctrl+Arrow Up/Down) are similar to moving paragraphs in Docs, but in Forms they move entire questions. If you are already familiar with Google Docs shortcuts, you will find Forms shortcuts intuitive, but be aware of the differences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do keyboard shortcuts work on a Mac?
Yes, but you use the Command (⌘) key instead of Ctrl. For example, Cmd + / opens the shortcuts dialog, and Cmd + Shift + L adds a new question. The rest of the shortcuts are identical.
Can I use keyboard shortcuts on a mobile device?
No. The shortcuts are designed for desktop browsers with a physical keyboard. On a phone or tablet, you can use the on-screen keyboard for typing, but there is no shortcut support for actions like adding questions or opening settings.
Why doesn’t Ctrl+D duplicate my question?
Ctrl+D is a browser shortcut for bookmarking the page. In Google Forms, it should duplicate the selected question, but only if the form editor has focus. Click on a question (not in the text field) and try again. If it still doesn’t work, your browser or an extension may be overriding it.
Is there a shortcut to move to the next question while editing?
No. There is no keyboard shortcut to jump between questions in the editor. You must click on a question to select it. However, you can use Ctrl + Arrow Down to move a selected question down, which can help reorder them quickly.
Can I turn off the shortcuts?
There is no built-in option to disable them. If a shortcut interferes with your work, you can avoid using it, or use a browser extension that remaps keys. Alternatively, you can use the mouse for those specific actions.
Do the shortcuts work in Google Forms for work or school?
Yes, the shortcuts are the same across personal Google accounts and Google Workspace accounts. No special configuration is needed; they are part of the Google Forms web app.
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