Go to a conversation

When using Teams on Windows and Mac, you can go to a specific conversation using your keyboard.

  1. Press CTRL+G while anywhere in Teams.

  2. Type the name of the channel or anyone who was in that conversation.

  3. Select the conversation from the list.

Start a conversation

Start a new chat or channel message by using Ctrl+N on Windows or CMD+N on Mac. 

Move through conversations

Since conversations in channels are grouped into threads, there are a couple extra shortcuts you can use to navigate in-channel messages.

Tip: You have the option to choose how to open and view items in a list. Go to Settings and more  Generic Ellipsis button > Settings  Settings button > General. Scroll down to Use Enter or Spacebar to show content. Use the toggle to turn the setting on and enable using Enter or Spacebar to open an item in a list (like @mentions, chats, or channels) and view its content. This setting is off by default.

  • Use your Tab key to go to the conversation list, then use the Up and Down arrows to move from one conversation to the next.

  • Press Enter to select a conversation, and then use the Up and Down arrows again to read a message or reply to the conversation thread.

  • Press Enter to select a message, then use the Tab key to access different actions (like saving or liking a message, or to follow a link).

  • Use your Esc key to return to navigating your conversations.

These same commands work in private or one-on-one chats as well. Just remember that those conversations are simply one big thread, so they’ll look different than your channel conversations.

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