Facebook is one of the most visited websites in the world, and whether you’re scrolling through your news feed, chatting with friends, or managing a business page, you probably spend more time clicking than you need to. That’s where Facebook keyboard shortcuts come in. These handy tricks can help you navigate Facebook more efficiently and make the experience faster and smoother especially for power users and those who prefer to use the keyboard over a mouse.
In this guide, we’ll explore the most useful Facebook shortcuts for PC and Mac users, categorized by function. Whether you’re looking to boost your productivity or simply want to save time on Facebook, this list of shortcuts will change the way you use the platform.
Why Use Facebook Keyboard Shortcuts?
Using Facebook keyboard shortcuts is one of the easiest ways to speed up your social media experience. Instead of moving your hand to your mouse and manually clicking through menus or links, you can jump directly to key parts of the site with just a few keystrokes.
Benefits of using Facebook shortcuts:
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Save time: Get where you need to go in seconds without searching menus.
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Improve productivity: Particularly useful for social media managers who handle multiple tasks daily.
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Accessibility: Keyboard shortcuts offer a better navigation experience for users with limited mobility or those who rely on keyboard navigation.
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Smooth experience: Navigate Facebook while multitasking or when using laptops without touchpads or mice.
Whether you’re scrolling through your timeline, responding to messages, or managing notifications, these shortcuts can make everything more streamlined.
Essential Facebook Keyboard Shortcuts (By Platform)
Facebook uses different keyboard shortcuts depending on your operating system and browser. Below are the main combinations you’ll need to remember.
Facebook Shortcuts for Windows (PC)
Use the following modifier keys along with the designated shortcut key:
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Chrome: Alt + [Key]
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Firefox: Shift + Alt + [Key]
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Internet Explorer: Alt + [Key], then press Enter
Most useful Facebook keyboard shortcuts for PC users:
Action | Shortcut Key |
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Home (News Feed) | Alt + 1 |
Timeline/Profile | Alt + 2 |
Friends | Alt + 3 |
Inbox/Messenger | Alt + 4 |
Notifications | Alt + 5 |
Settings | Alt + 6 |
Activity Log | Alt + 7 |
About | Alt + 8 |
Terms | Alt + 9 |
Help Center | Alt + 0 |
Facebook Shortcuts for Mac
Use Control + Option + [Key] for most browsers on macOS.
Common Facebook shortcuts for Mac users:
Action | Shortcut Key |
---|---|
Home (News Feed) | Control + Option + 1 |
Timeline/Profile | Control + Option + 2 |
Friends | Control + Option + 3 |
Inbox/Messenger | Control + Option + 4 |
Notifications | Control + Option + 5 |
Settings | Control + Option + 6 |
Activity Log | Control + Option + 7 |
About | Control + Option + 8 |
Terms | Control + Option + 9 |
Help Center | Control + Option + 0 |
Shortcut Categories
To help you get the most out of these Facebook shortcuts, we’ve grouped them into different categories based on how they’re used.
Navigation Shortcuts
These let you quickly move between different areas of Facebook.
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Go to Home/News Feed: 1
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Visit your Profile: 2
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Check Friend Requests: 3
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Open Messenger: 4
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See Notifications: 5
Post Interaction Shortcuts
These keyboard shortcuts help you engage with content directly from your News Feed.
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Like a post: L (hover over post first)
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Comment: C
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Share a post: S (opens the share dialog)
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Search: / (places cursor in the search bar)
Note: These shortcuts require the post to be selected or hovered over first.
Messenger Shortcuts
For users who frequently use Facebook Messenger on desktop, these shortcuts are incredibly useful.
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Start a new message: Ctrl + G (or Command + G on Mac)
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Open chat search: Ctrl + / (or Command + / on Mac)
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Mark message as unread: Ctrl + Shift + U
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Archive conversation: Ctrl + E
Other Useful Shortcuts
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Open Help Menu: 0
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Go to Settings: 6
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Open Activity Log: 7
These are some of the best Facebook shortcuts for power users looking to reduce friction during daily social media tasks.
Printable Facebook Keyboard Shortcut Cheat Sheet
Here’s a quick cheat sheet to keep nearby while you learn the ropes:
Facebook Keyboard Cheat Sheet: Alt + 1 (PC) / Control + Option + 1 (Mac) – Home Alt + 2 / Control + Option + 2 – Profile Alt + 3 / Control + Option + 3 – Friends Alt + 4 / Control + Option + 4 – Messenger Alt + 5 / Control + Option + 5 – Notifications Alt + 6 / Control + Option + 6 – Settings Alt + 7 / Control + Option + 7 – Activity Log Alt + 0 / Control + Option + 0 – Help Center
Consider printing this out or saving it to your desktop for quick reference.
Tips for Mastering Facebook Shortcuts
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Practice one category at a time. Start with navigation shortcuts, then move on to Messenger or post interaction.
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Use Facebook in full-screen mode on your browser to ensure compatibility with all shortcut keys.
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Avoid browser conflicts. Some shortcuts may not work if your browser already uses the same combination. Try using another browser or adjusting browser settings if needed.
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Check for updates. Facebook occasionally changes shortcut functionality, so staying updated ensures you don’t miss any new tricks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Facebook shortcuts?
Facebook shortcuts are keyboard combinations that help you navigate and perform actions on Facebook without using a mouse.
Are Facebook keyboard shortcuts customizable?
No, Facebook doesn’t currently allow users to customize shortcuts directly within the platform.
Why don’t Facebook shortcuts work in my browser?
Some browsers use the same key combinations for other functions. Try using a different browser or the correct modifier keys for your specific setup.
Conclusion
Mastering these keyboard shortcuts can turn Facebook from a time-consuming scroll-fest into a streamlined productivity tool. Whether you’re using Facebook for personal updates, business promotions, or community management, keyboard shortcuts save you clicks and make navigation smoother and faster.
Try incorporating just a few of these Facebook shortcuts into your daily routine and see how much time you save. Have a favorite shortcut not listed here? Share it in the comments and help others become Facebook pros too.
I’m Maxwell Warner, a content writer from Austria with 3+ years of experience. With a Media & Communication degree from the University of Vienna, I craft engaging content across tech, lifestyle, travel, and business.