Messages keyboard shortcuts for Mac
Find conversations, compose messages and manage replies, notifications and details.
Documentation reviewed 2026-11-05 · 6 task guides · Mac bindings and focus notes
What do you want to do?
Write Messages with line breaks instead of sending early
In Messages, Return sends the message. Option-Return or Shift-Return inserts a line break. Command-N starts a new message.
Steps, keys and context ↗Inspect conversation details and print Messages on Mac
Option-Command-I opens the conversation Info view. Option-Command-B opens the recipient’s contact card, and Command-P prints the conversation.
Steps, keys and context ↗Mute a Messages conversation or mark it unread
Option-Command-M hides or unhides alerts for a conversation. Shift-Command-U marks it unread or read. Notification settings and reading state are independent.
Steps, keys and context ↗Open pinned chats and filter the Messages inbox
Command-1 through Command-9 opens a pinned conversation by its position. Control-Command-number shortcuts select inbox filters such as all or unread conversations.
Steps, keys and context ↗Reply to a specific message or add a Tapback on Mac
Command-R replies to the last incoming or selected message. Command-T opens Tapback choices for the last or selected message; Apple documents number keys 1 through 6 for choosing a reaction.
Steps, keys and context ↗Search Messages and switch between conversations on Mac
Command-F searches conversations in Messages. Control-Tab selects the next conversation, and Control-Shift-Tab selects the previous one.
Steps, keys and context ↗
Quick reference
Selected bindings from the linked task guides. Check the context before pressing a key: the focused control, app version and your custom settings can change what it does. This is a documentation reference, not an exhaustive live menu reading.
| Action | Keys | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Start a message | Command-N | Opens a new-message workflow; verify recipients before entering the body. Source ↗Read the task guide → |
| Conversation Info | Option-Command-I | Opens details for the selected conversation. Source ↗Read the task guide → |
| Hide or unhide alerts | Option-Command-M | Changes the selected conversation’s alert behavior; inspect the result. Source ↗Read the task guide → |
| Pinned conversation | Command-1 through Command-9 | Uses the current pinned position; inspect the destination rather than assuming a fixed person. Source ↗Read the task guide → |
| Reply to message | Command-R | Targets the last incoming or selected message; inspect the target before composing. Source ↗Read the task guide → |
| Search conversations | Command-F | Looks for content across conversations; verify participants and context in the results. Source ↗Read the task guide → |
| Insert a line break | Option-Return or Shift-Return | While typing in the message field, keeps the text in the draft instead of sending it. Source ↗Read the task guide → |
| Recipient contact card | Option-Command-B | Inspect recipient information in the conversation context. Source ↗Read the task guide → |
| Mark unread or read | Shift-Command-U | Changes reading state; it does not set a reminder or modify another person’s read receipts. Source ↗Read the task guide → |
| First unpinned conversation | Option-Command-1 | A separate destination from pinned conversation number one. Source ↗Read the task guide → |
| Open Tapback choices | Command-T | Targets the last or selected message in the conversation. Source ↗Read the task guide → |
| Next conversation | Control-Tab | Changes the selected conversation, not the word or paragraph in the composer. Source ↗Read the task guide → |
| Send message | Return | A send action in Messages; review the draft and recipients before pressing it. Source ↗Read the task guide → |
| Print conversation | Command-P | Review the preview and destination before producing paper or a file. Source ↗Read the task guide → |
| All conversations | Control-Command-1 | Restores the broad conversation list. Source ↗Read the task guide → |
| Choose a documented Tapback | 1 through 6 after Command-T | Use the visible chooser and current documented choices; these are not stand-alone navigation keys. Source ↗Read the task guide → |
| Previous conversation | Control-Shift-Tab | Returns through the conversation selection sequence; confirm the displayed heading. Source ↗Read the task guide → |
| Quick Look selected image | Space | Requires an image selected in the conversation, not a text insertion point in the composer. Source ↗Read the task guide → |
When a shortcut behaves differently
- Confirm you are using the Mac binding, and check whether the guide describes a desktop app or its web version.
- Put focus in the control named in the guide. Editing text, selecting an object and navigating a sidebar can use different keys.
- Look up the command in the app's menu or shortcut settings. Customized keys and non-US keyboard layouts can differ from documented defaults.
The cited documentation was checked for these guides; a documentation review is separate from testing your particular running app. How we verify and update guides →
Official sources
- Keyboard shortcuts in Messages on Mac — Apple Support — checked 2026-11-04