Between sorting spam and reading new messages, email can be a time-consuming endeavor. Gmail has a keyboard shortcuts feature that makes managing your inbox much easier as almost every action in Gmail can be done from the keyboard.
In order to use keyboard shortcuts, the feature must be enabled. Go to the gear icon 
at the top right corner of the Gmail page and select Mail settings. From the settings menu, find the keyboard shortcuts section and turn it on.
If you’ve never used keyboard shortcuts with an email application, here’s a good way to start: use the k and j keys to move back and forth between the messages, the x key to select the messages to be deleted, and the # key to delete all the messages selected. See these shortcuts in action in the video and then check out the charts below for even more shortcuts to help you cut down on time spent in your inbox.
*Keyboard shortcuts are case-sensitive.
| u | Returns you to the Inbox. |
| k / j | Moves cursor to newer or older conversations (Google refers to each email message and its replies as a conversation). |
| o or <enter> | Opens a conversation. Also expands or collapses a message in Conversation View (This is when viewing an email message and its replies) |
| p / n | Move cursor to the previous or next message in the list when in Conversation View. |
| c | Opens a new message to compose. |
| / | Moves cursor to the search box. |
| q | Places cursor in the chat search box. |
| ? | Displays list of keyboard shortcuts. |
Jumping to Specific Sections:
| g then i | Returns you to the Inbox. |
| g then s | Goes to the list of all starred conversations. |
| g then t | Goes to the list of sent mail. |
| g then d | Goes to the list of saved drafts. |
| g then a | Goes to the list of all mail that has been sent or received but not deleted. |
| g then c | Goes to the list of contacts. |
| g then l | Moves cursor to the search box with “label:” filled in for you to search specific labels. |
Selecting Conversations:
| * then a | Selects all conversations. |
| * then n | Deselects all conversations. |
| * then r | Selects read conversations. |
| * then u | Selects unread conversations. |
| * then s | Selects starred conversations. |
| * then t | Selects unstarred conversations. |
Actions:
All except “x” require you to select the conversation or message before applying these actions.
| x | Selects and adds a check to a message or conversation. Once checked you can archive, apply a label, or choose an action from the drop-down menu to apply. |
| s | Adds or removes a star on a message or conversation. |
| y | Has a variety of effects, depending on where you are:
|
| e | Archives the message or conversation. |
| m | Archives the conversation and causes all future messages in conversation to skip the Inbox unless sent directly to you. |
| ! | Marks message as spam and removes it from the Inbox. |
| # | Moves conversation or message to the trash. |
| r | Replies to the message sender. |
| a | Replies to all message recipients. |
| f | Forwards a message. |
| <Shift> + n | Updates current conversation to include any new messages. |
| <Tab> then <Enter> | Sends message. |
| <Esc> | Removes cursor from the current input. |
| ] / [ | Removes conversation from the current view and goes to the previous/next conversation. |
| } / { | Archives conversation from the current view and goes to the previous/next conversation. |
| z | Undoes last action. |
| . | Displays the ‘More Actions’ drop-down menu. |
| <Shift> + i | Marks message as read and skips to the next message. |
| <Shift> + u | Marks message as unread. |
| <Ctrl> + s | Saves draft. |
| + / = | Marks message as important/unimportant |