Keyboard shortcuts for Sway

Many users find that using an external keyboard with keyboard shortcuts for Sway helps them work more efficiently. For users with mobility or vision disabilities, keyboard shortcuts can be easier than using the touchscreen and are an essential alternative to using a mouse.

Notes: 

  • The shortcuts in this topic refer to the US keyboard layout. Keys for other layouts might not correspond exactly to the keys on a US keyboard.

  • A plus sign (+) in a shortcut means that you need to press multiple keys at the same time.

  • A comma sign (,) in a shortcut means that you need to press multiple keys in order.

This article describes the keyboard shortcuts in Sway on Windows.

Note: To quickly find a shortcut in this article, you can use the Search. Press Ctrl+F, and then type your search words.

In this topic

Frequently used shortcuts

This table lists the most frequently used shortcuts in Sway.

To do this

Press

Move between the following main regions:

  • Top navigation bar

  • Secondary navigation bar

  • Storyline

  • Design

  • Task pane

Ctrl+F6 (forward)

Shift+Ctrl+F6 (backward)

Cancel the current action, remove the current selection, or exit the Play mode.

Esc

Copy text.

Ctrl+C

Cut text.

Ctrl+X

Paste text.

Ctrl+V

Delete the selected card and all of its contents.

Delete

Undo the last action.

Ctrl+Z

Redo the last action.

Ctrl+Y

Switch to the Accessibility view.

Alt+Shift+V

Turn on Play mode.

Alt+Shift+P

Share the current Sway.

Alt+Shift+S

Zoom in or out.

Ctrl+Plus sign (+) or Minus sign (-)

Top of Page 

Navigate in Sway with only the keyboard

To do this

Press

Move between the following main regions:

  • Top navigation bar

  • Secondary navigation bar

  • Storyline

  • Design

  • Task pane

Ctrl+F6 (forward)

Shift+Ctrl+F6 (backward)

In Storyline, open the Insert pane.

Alt+Shift+I

In Design, open the Styles pane.

Alt+Shift+G

Top of Page  

Format text and cards

To do this

Press

Apply bold formatting to the text.

Ctrl+B

Apply italic formatting to the text.

Ctrl+I

Apply a heading style to the text.

Ctrl+Alt+1

Start or continue a bulleted list.

Ctrl+Period (.)

Start or continue a numbered list.

Ctrl+Forward slash (/)

Add or edit a hyperlink.

Ctrl+K

Follow a hyperlink.

Ctrl+Click the link

Group all cards in a card selection.

Ctrl+G

Ungroup all cards in a card selection.

Ctrl+Shift+G

Copy all cards in a card selection.

Ctrl+C

Cut all cards in a card selection.

Ctrl+X

Paste all cards in a card selection.

Ctrl+V

Top of Page  

Select and navigate in text

To do this

Press

Select a character to the left.

Shift+Left arrow key

Select a character to the right.

Shift+Right arrow key

Select left one word at a time.

Ctrl+Shift+Left arrow key

Select right one word at a time.

Ctrl+Shift+Right arrow key

Select up one line at a time.

Shift+Up arrow key

Select down one line at a time.

Shift+Down arrow key

Select up one paragraph at a time.

Ctrl+Shift+Up arrow key

Select down one paragraph at a time.

Ctrl+Shift+Down arrow key

Go to the previous word.

Ctrl+Left arrow key

Go to the next word.

Ctrl+Right arrow key

Go to the start of the paragraph.

Ctrl+Up arrow key

Go to the start of the next paragraph.

Ctrl+Down arrow key

Top of Page  

Interact with cards

To do this

Press

Select the current card.

Spacebar

Move focus to the next card.

Down arrow key

Move focus to the previous card.

Up arrow key

Expand the selected group or section.

Right arrow key

Collapse the selected group or section.

Left arrow key

Move the current card up in the Storyline.

Alt+Shift+Up arrow key

Move the current card down in the Storyline.

Alt+Shift+Down arrow key

Top of Page  

Play a Sway

When you preview or play your Sway, use these keyboard shortcuts to navigate.

To do this

Press

Go to the previous image.

Left arrow key

Go to the next image.

Right arrow key

Exit the Play mode.

Esc or Alt+Left arrow key

Top of Page  

View a comparison

When you play a Sway that includes a comparison, use these keyboard shortcuts to control the divider line.

To do this

Press

Move the focus to the divider line.

Tab key

Slide left.

Left arrow key or Ctrl+Left arrow key

Slide right.

Right arrow key, Alt+Right arrow key, or Ctrl+Right arrow key

Top of Page  

See also

Accessibility support for Sway

Basic tasks using a screen reader with Sway

This article describes the keyboard shortcuts in Sway on the macOS web app.

Notes: 

  • This topic assumes that function keys work in the standard way. If you have changed this system preference, to use the Sway shortcuts, do not press the Fn key with function keys.

  • To quickly find a shortcut in this article, you can use the Search. Press Command+F, and then type your search words.

In this topic

Frequently used shortcuts

To do this

Press

Move between the following main regions:

  • Top navigation bar

  • Secondary navigation bar

  • Storyline

  • Design

  • Task pane

Control+Fn+F6 (forward)

Control+Shift+Fn+F6 (backward)

Cancel the current action, remove the current selection, or exit the Play mode.

Esc

Copy text.

The Command button on macOS.+C

Cut text.

The Command button on macOS.+X

Paste text.

The Command button on macOS.+V

Delete the selected Card and all of its contents.

Fn+Backspace

Undo the last action.

The Command button on macOS.+Z

Redo the last action.

The Command button on macOS.+Y

Switch to the Accessibility view.

Option+Shift+V

Turn on the Play mode.

Option+Shift+P

Share the current Sway.

Option+Shift+S

Top of Page

Navigate in Sway with only the keyboard

To do this

Press

Move between the following main regions:

  • Top navigation bar

  • Secondary navigation bar

  • Storyline

  • Design

  • Task pane

Control+Fn+F6 (forward)

Control+Shift+Fn+F6 (backward)

Close a help tip or Sway dialog box.

Esc

Open and close the Insert pane.

Option+Shift+I

Open and close the Styles pane.

Option+Shift+G

From Play, return to the Storyline, or from Storyline, return to the Sway home page.

The Command button on macOS.+Left arrow key

Top of Page

Format text and cards

To do this

Press

Apply bold formatting to the text.

The Command button on macOS.+B or Control+B

Apply italic formatting to the text.

The Command button on macOS.+I or Control+I

Apply a heading style to the text.

Control+Option+1

Create a bulleted list.

Control+Period (.)

Create a numbered list.

Control+Forward slash (/)

Add or edit a hyperlink.

Control+K

Follow a hyperlink.

Control+Left-click mouse

Group all cards in a Card selection.

Control+G

Ungroup all cards in a Card selection.

Control+Shift+G

Copy all cards in a Card selection.

Control+C

Cut all cards in a Card selection.

Control+X

Paste all cards in a Card selection.

Control+V

Top of Page

Select and navigate in text

To do this

Press

Select a character to the left.

Shift+Left arrow key

Select a character to the right.

Shift+Right arrow key

Select left, one word at a time.

Shift+Option+Left arrow key

Select right, one word at a time.

Shift+Option+Right arrow key

Select up, one line at a time.

Shift+Up arrow key

Select down, one line at a time.

Shift+Down arrow key

Select up, one paragraph at a time.

Shift+Option+Up arrow key

Select down, one paragraph at a time.

Shift+Option+Down arrow key

Go to the previous word.

Option+Left arrow key

Go to the next word.

Option+Right arrow key

Go to the start of the previous paragraph.

Option+Up arrow key

Go to the end of the next paragraph.

Option+Down arrow key

Top of Page

Interact with cards

To do this

Press

Select the current Card.

Spacebar

Move focus to the next Card.

Down arrow key

Move focus to the previous Card.

Up arrow key

Expand the selected Group or Section.

Right arrow key

Collapse the selected Group or Section.

Left arrow key

Move the current Card up in the Storyline.

Option+Shift+Up arrow key

Move the current Card down in the Storyline.

Option+Shift+Down arrow key

Top of Page

Play a Sway

When you preview or play your Sway, use these keyboard shortcuts to navigate.

To do this

Press

Go to the previous image.

Left arrow key

Go to the next image.

Right arrow key

Exit the slideshow.

Esc or Option+Left arrow key

Top of Page

View a comparison

When you play a Sway that includes a comparison, use these commands to control the divider line.

To do this

Press

Move the focus to the divider line.

Tab key

Slide left by chunks.

Left arrow key

Slide right by chunks.

Right arrow key

Slide left by pixels.

Option+Left arrow key

Slide right by pixels.

Option+Right arrow key

Snap left.

The Command button on macOS.+Left arrow key

Snap right.

The Command button on macOS.+Right arrow key

Top of Page

See also

Accessibility support for Sway

Use a screen reader with Microsoft 365 apps

This article describes the keyboard shortcuts in Sway on the web.

Note: To quickly find a shortcut in this article, you can use the Search. Press Ctrl+F, and then type your search words.

In this topic

Frequently used shortcuts

This table lists the most frequently used shortcuts in Sway.

To do this

Press

Move between the following main regions:

  • Top navigation bar

  • Secondary navigation bar

  • Storyline

  • Design

  • Task pane

Ctrl+F6 (forward)

Shift+Ctrl+F6 (backward)

Cancel the current action, remove the current selection, or exit the Play mode.

Esc

Copy text.

Ctrl+C

Cut text.

Ctrl+X

Paste text.

Ctrl+V

Delete the selected Card and all of its contents.

Delete

Undo the last action.

Ctrl+Z

Redo the last action.

Ctrl+Y

Switch to the Accessibility view.

Alt+Shift+V

Turn on Play mode.

Alt+Shift+P

Share the current Sway.

Alt+Shift+S

Zoom in or out.

Ctrl+Plus sign (+) or Minus sign (-)

Top of Page

Navigate in Sway with only the keyboard

To do this

Press

Move between the following main regions:

  • Top navigation bar

  • Secondary navigation bar

  • Storyline

  • Design

  • Task pane

Ctrl+F6 (forward)

Shift+Ctrl+F6 (backward)

Open the Insert pane.

Alt+Shift+I

Open the Styles pane.

Alt+Shift+G

Top of Page

Format text and cards

To do this

Press

Apply bold formatting to the text.

Ctrl+B

Apply italic formatting to the text.

Ctrl+I

Apply a heading style to the text.

Ctrl+Alt+1

Start or continue a bulleted list.

Ctrl+Period (.)

Start or continue a numbered list.

Ctrl+Forward slash (/)

Add or edit a hyperlink.

Ctrl+K

Follow a hyperlink.

Ctrl+click the link

Group all cards in a Card selection.

Ctrl+G

Ungroup all cards in a Card selection.

Ctrl+Shift+G

Copy all cards in a Card selection.

Ctrl+C

Cut all cards in a Card selection.

Ctrl+X

Paste all cards in a Card selection.

Ctrl+V

Top of Page

Select and navigate in text

To do this

Press

Select a character to the left.

Shift+Left arrow key

Select a character to the right.

Shift+Right arrow key

Select left, one word at a time.

Ctrl+Shift+Left arrow key

Select right, one word at a time.

Ctrl+Shift+Right arrow key

Select up, one line at a time.

Shift+Up arrow key

Select down, one line at a time.

Shift+Down arrow key

Select up, one paragraph at a time.

Ctrl+Shift+Up arrow key

Select down, one paragraph at a time.

Ctrl+Shift+Down arrow key

Go to the previous word.

Ctrl+Left arrow key

Go to the next word.

Ctrl+Right arrow key

Go to the start of the paragraph.

Ctrl+Up arrow key

Go to the start of the next paragraph.

Ctrl+Down arrow key

Top of Page

Interact with cards

To do this

Press

Select the current Card.

Spacebar

Move focus to the next Card.

Down arrow key

Move focus to the previous Card.

Up arrow key

Expand the selected Group or Section.

Right arrow key

Collapse the selected Group or Section.

Left arrow key

Move the current Card up in the Storyline.

Alt+Shift+Up arrow key

Move the current Card down in the Storyline.

Alt+Shift+Down arrow key

Top of Page

Play a Sway

When you preview or play your Sway, use these keyboard shortcuts to navigate.

To do this

Press

Go to the previous image.

Left arrow key

Go to the next image.

Right arrow key

Exit the slideshow.

Esc or Alt+Left arrow key

Top of Page

View a comparison

When you play a Sway that includes a comparison, use these keyboard shortcuts to control the divider line.

To do this

Press

Move the focus to the divider line.

Tab key

Slide left by chunks.

Left arrow key

Slide right by chunks.

Right arrow key

Slide left by pixels.

Alt+Left arrow key

Slide right by pixels.

Alt+Right arrow key

Snap left.

Ctrl+Left arrow key

Snap right.

Ctrl+Right arrow key

Top of Page

See also

Accessibility support for Sway

Basic tasks using a screen reader with Sway

Use a screen reader with Microsoft 365 apps

Technical support for customers with disabilities

Microsoft wants to provide the best possible experience for all our customers. If you have a disability or questions related to accessibility, please contact the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk for technical assistance. The Disability Answer Desk support team is trained in using many popular assistive technologies and can offer assistance in English, Spanish, French, and American Sign Language. Please go to the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk site to find out the contact details for your region.

If you are a government, commercial, or enterprise user, please contact the enterprise Disability Answer Desk.

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