Whether you are drafting a report or writing quick notes, keyboard shortcuts cut the time you spend reaching for the mouse. This page lists every shortcut that works in Online WordPad along with the equivalent in the classic Windows WordPad app.
Why Use Keyboard Shortcuts?
Switching between the keyboard and mouse dozens of times per session adds up. Shortcuts keep your hands on the keyboard and your focus on the writing. Once you internalize the five or six most common ones — bold, undo, copy, paste — your editing speed increases noticeably.
Formatting Shortcuts
These are the most frequently used shortcuts. All of them work in Online WordPad and in the original Windows application.
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+B | Bold selected text |
| Ctrl+I | Italic selected text |
| Ctrl+U | Underline selected text |
| Ctrl+Z | Undo last action |
| Ctrl+Y | Redo (reverse an undo) |
| Ctrl+A | Select all text in the document |
| Ctrl+C | Copy selected text or object |
| Ctrl+V | Paste from clipboard |
| Ctrl+X | Cut selected text or object |
| Ctrl+P | Print the document |
| Ctrl+S | Save / trigger export (Online WordPad auto-saves, but Ctrl+S opens the export dialog on some builds) |
Tips for Formatting Shortcuts
- Apply Ctrl+B, Ctrl+I, or Ctrl+U before typing to write in that style from the start, or select existing text first and then press the shortcut.
- Ctrl+Z can be pressed repeatedly to step back through your edit history.
- To redo multiple steps, press Ctrl+Y as many times as needed.
Text Navigation Shortcuts
These shortcuts move your cursor without touching the mouse. Combined with Shift, they also select text.
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Home | Move cursor to the start of the current line |
| End | Move cursor to the end of the current line |
| Ctrl+Home | Jump to the very beginning of the document |
| Ctrl+End | Jump to the very end of the document |
| Ctrl+Left Arrow | Move one word to the left |
| Ctrl+Right Arrow | Move one word to the right |
| Shift+Arrow | Extend selection one character or line at a time |
| Ctrl+Shift+Left/Right | Select one word at a time |
| Ctrl+Shift+Home | Select from cursor to the start of the document |
| Ctrl+Shift+End | Select from cursor to the end of the document |
Using Navigation Shortcuts to Select Text
Hold Shift while pressing any navigation shortcut to select text at the same time. For example:
- Press Ctrl+Home to jump to the top of the document.
- Press Ctrl+Shift+End to select everything from top to bottom.
- Press Ctrl+C to copy it all.
This is faster than clicking and dragging across a long document.
The Slash Command Menu: A Keyboard-First Alternative to the Mouse
In Online WordPad, you can insert any element — headings, lists, tables, images, page breaks — without touching the toolbar. Just type / anywhere in the document.
- Place your cursor in an empty line or at a new paragraph.
- Type /.
- A menu appears. Keep typing to filter: /h2 jumps to Heading 2, /table jumps to the table option, /image opens the image uploader.
- Use the Arrow Keys to navigate the menu and Enter to select.
This workflow is especially useful on laptops where the trackpad slows you down.
Useful Slash Commands
| Command | Inserts |
|---|---|
/h1, /h2, /h3 | Headings |
/bullet | Bullet list |
/numbered | Numbered list |
/table | Table |
/image | Image upload |
/page break | Page break |
/quote | Blockquote |
Tips for Maximum Efficiency
- Learn five shortcuts first. Start with Ctrl+B, Ctrl+Z, Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, and Ctrl+A. Everything else can wait until those feel automatic.
- Use the slash menu instead of the toolbar for inserting structural elements — it is faster once you know the command names.
- Combine navigation and selection shortcuts to move and select large blocks of text in one or two keystrokes.
- Print with Ctrl+P rather than hunting for the menu item — it works in every browser.
Start putting these shortcuts to use right now. Open the editor and try a few — your muscle memory will build faster than you expect.