What are keyboard shortcuts and how do I use them in Skype?

Keyboard shortcuts are specific combinations of two or more keys on your keyboard. They make it easier and faster for you to use commands that you would otherwise have to access via the menus. You can use keyboard shortcuts to easily quit Skype, send a file, copy text and a lot more.

Global hotkeys allow you to use Skype keyboard shortcuts while Skype is minimized or not in focus. Global hotkeys are enabled by default in Skype.

Available Global Hotkeys

Action

Skype for Windows Desktop, Windows 10 & 11 (version 15), and Linux

Skype for Mac

Toggle Mute

Ctrl+M

Command+Shift+M

Hang up

Ctrl+Shift+H

Command+Shift+H

Answer incoming call

Ctrl+Shift+P

Command+Shift+R

To disable global hotkeys:

  1. Click your Profile picture .

  2. Click Settings .

  3. Click General .

  4. Toggle Enable global hotkeys off.

Key combination

Action

Ctrl+Forward slash

View keyboard shortcuts

Ctrl+Comma

Open app settings

Ctrl+H

Open Help in default browser

Ctrl+O

Send feedback

Ctrl+T

Open themes

Ctrl+Shift+T

Toggle between light and dark mode

Alt+1

Navigate to recent chats

Ctrl+I

Open Notification panel

Ctrl+Shift+S

Search for all contacts, messages and bots

Ctrl+Tab

Next Conversation

Ctrl+Shift+Tab

Previous Conversation

Ctrl+Shift+Plus

Zoom in

Ctrl+Minus

Zoom out

Ctrl+Zero

View actual size

Ctrl+N

Start new conversation

Ctrl+G

New group chat

Alt+2

Open contacts

Ctrl+P

Show conversation profile

Ctrl+Shift+A

Add people to conversation

Ctrl+Shift+F

Send a file

Ctrl+Shift+G

Open gallery

Ctrl+Shift+U

Mark as unread

Alt+Shift+E

Focus the message composer

Ctrl+Shift+L

Multi-select messages

Ctrl+Shift+E

Archive selected conversation

Ctrl+F

Search within selected conversation

Ctrl+Shift+P

Answer incoming call

Ctrl+Shift+H

Hang up

Ctrl+Shift+K

Start video call

Ctrl+Shift+P

Start an audio call

Ctrl+M

Toggle mute

Ctrl+Shift+K

Toggle camera

Ctrl+D

Launch dial pad

Ctrl+Shift+A

Add people to call

Ctrl+S

Take a snapshot

Ctrl+Shift+J

Resize camera preview

Ctrl+Alt+M

Announce microphone status during a call

Ctrl+Alt+Shift+K

Announce own video status during a call

Up arrow after sending a message

Edit the last message sent

Ctrl+R (Windows Desktop only)

Refresh the app

Ctrl+W

Close windows (split view)

Key combination

Action

Command+Comma

Open app settings

Control+H

Open Help in default browser

Command+Option+O

Send feedback

Command+T

Open themes

Command+Shift+T

Toggle between light and dark mode

Option+1

Navigate to recent chats

Command+Shift+O

Open Notification panel

Command+Option+F

Search for contacts, messages and bots

Control+Tab

Next Conversation

Control+Shift+Tab

Previous Conversation

Command+Shift+Plus

Zoom in

Command+Minus

Zoom out

Command+Zero

View actual size

Command+N

Start new conversation

Command+G

New group chat

Command+Shift+C

Open contacts

Command+I

Show conversation profile

Command+Shift+A

Add people to conversation

Command+Shift+F

Send a file

Command+Shift+G

Open gallery

Command+Shift+U

Mark as unread

Control+Shift+E

Focus Message Composer

Command+Shift+L

Multi-select messages

Command+E

Archive selected conversation

Command+F

Search within current conversation

Command+Shift+R

Answer incoming call

Command+Shift+H

Hang up

Command+Shift+K

Start video call

Command+Shift+R

Start an audio call

Command+Shift+M

Toggle mute

Command+Shift+K

Toggle camera

Command+2

Launch dial pad

Command+Shift+A

Add people to call

Command+S

Take a snapshot

Command+Shift+J

Resize camera preview

Command+1

Open the main Skype window

Command+Shift+E

Edit the last message sent

Command+W

Close windows (split view)

Key combination

Action

Ctrl+Shift+Comma

Open app settings

Alt+Shift+H

Open Help in default browser

Alt+1

Navigate to recent chats

Ctrl+I

Open Notification panel

Ctrl+Shift+F

Search for People, Groups and Messages

Ctrl+Shift+Plus

Zoom in

Ctrl+Minus

Zoom out

Ctrl+Zero

View actual size

Ctrl+Shift+G

New group chat

Alt+2

Open contacts

Ctrl+Shift+A

Add people to conversation

Ctrl+Shift+U

Mark as unread

Alt+Shift+E

Focus Message Composer

Ctrl+Shift+E

Archive selected conversation

Ctrl+F

Find in current conversation

Ctrl+Shift+H

Hang up

Ctrl+Shift+K

Start video call

Note : Ctrl+Shift+K will launch Accessibility Insights for Web if you have it installed. It will not start a video call in Skype.

Ctrl+Shift+P

Start an audio call

Ctrl+M

Toggle mute

Ctrl+Shift+K

Toggle camera

Ctrl+Shift+D

Launch dial pad

Ctrl+Shift+A

Add people to call

Alt+Shift+J

Resize camera preview

Ctrl+Shift+R

Refresh the app

Up arrow after sending a message

Edit the last message sent

Key combination

Action

Command+Shift+Comma

Open app settings

Control+Shift+H

Open Help in default browser

Command+Option+O

Send feedback

Option+1

Navigate to recent chats

Command+Shift+O

Open Notification panel

Command+Shift+F

Search for all contacts, messages and bots

Command+Shift+Plus

Zoom in

Command+Minus

Zoom out

Command+Zero

View actual size

Command+Shift+G

New group chat

Command+Shift+C

Open contacts

Command+I

Show conversation profile

Command+Shift+A

Add people to conversation

Command+Shift+U

Mark as unread

Control+Shift+E

Focus the message composer

Command+Shift+L

Multi-select messages

Command+E

Archive selected conversation

Command+F

Search within selected conversation

Command+Shift+H

Hang up

Command+Shift+K

Start video call

Note: Command+Shift+K will launch Accessibility Insights for Web if you have it installed. It will not start a video call in Skype.

Command+Shift+M

Toggle mute

Command+Shift+K

Toggle camera

Command+Shift+2

Launch dial pad

Command+Shift+A

Add people to call

Option+Shift+J

Resize camera preview

Command+Shift+R

Refresh the app

Command+Shift+E

Edit the last message sent

Need more help?

Want more options?

Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.

Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge.