Outlook Express keyboard shortcuts

You can use shortcut keys to choose commands and navigate through the preview pane and the message list. Except where indicated, shortcuts apply to both mail and newsreading.

Main window, view message window, and send message window

To do this Press this
Open Help topics F1
Select all messages CTRL+A
Main window and view message window

To do this Press this
Print the selected message CTRL+P
Send and receive mail CTRL+M
Delete a mail message DEL or CTRL+D
Open or post a new message CTRL+N
Reply to message author CTRL+R
Forward a message CTRL+F
Reply to all CTRL+SHIFT+R or CTRL+G (news only)
Go to your Inbox CTRL+I
Go to the next message in the list CTRL+> or CTRL+SHIFT+> or ALT+RIGHT ARROW
Go to the previous message in the list CTRL+< or CTRL+SHIFT+< or ALT+LEFT ARROW
View properties of a selected message ALT+ENTER
Refresh news messages and headers F5
Go to next unread mail message CTRL+U
Go to next unread news thread CTRL+SHIFT+U
Main window

To do this Press this
Show/hide the folder list CTRL+L
Open a selected message CTRL+O or ENTER
Mark a message as read CTRL+ENTER or CTRL+Q
Move between the message list, folder list (if on), and preview pane TAB
Mark all news messages as read CTRL+SHIFT+A
Go to a newsgroup CTRL+W
Expand a news thread (show all responses) LEFT ARROW or PLUS SIGN (+)
Collapse a news thread (hide messages) RIGHT ARROW OR MINUS SIGN (-)
Go to next unread newsgroup/folder CTRL+J
Download news for offline reading CTRL+SHIFT+M
Message window — viewing or sending

To do this Press this
Close a message ESC
Find text F3 or CTRL+SHIFT+F
Message window — sending only

To do this Press this
Check names CTRL+K or ALT+K
Insert signature CTRL+SHIFT+S
Send (post) a message CTRL+ENTER or ALT+S