If you’re a LibreOffice Writer user, you already know it’s one of the best free and open-source alternatives to Microsoft Word. With its clean interface, customizable styles, templates, and powerful editing tools, it’s no surprise that LibreOffice has become the go-to word processor for millions worldwide.
But here’s the thing—mastering keyboard shortcuts can supercharge your writing and editing speed. Instead of constantly reaching for the mouse, you can navigate, format, and edit documents with just a few keystrokes.
This guide brings you the most essential LibreOffice Writer keyboard shortcuts for Mac, neatly categorized so you can quickly find what you need. Whether you’re formatting a document, working with tables, or navigating large texts, these shortcuts will help you work faster and smarter.
Function Keys in LibreOffice Writer
| Shortcut | Effect |
|---|---|
| F2 | Open Formula Bar |
| Command + F2 | Insert Fields |
| F3 | Complete AutoText |
| Command + F3 | Edit AutoText |
| Shift + F4 | Select next frame |
| Ctrl + Shift + F4 | Open Data Source View |
| F5 | Toggle Navigator |
| Command + Shift + F5 | Navigator + jump to page |
| F7 | Spellcheck |
| Command + F7 | Thesaurus |
| F8 | Extension mode |
| Command + F8 | Toggle field shading |
| Shift + F8 | Additional selection mode |
| Ctrl + Shift + F8 | Block selection mode |
| F9 | Update fields |
| Command + F9 | Show fields |
| Shift + F9 | Calculate table |
| Command + Shift + F9 | Update input fields/lists |
| Command + F10 | Toggle non-printing characters |
| Command + T | Styles window on/off |
| Shift + F11 | Create style |
| Command + F11 | Focus on Apply Style box |
| Command + Shift + F11 | Update style |
| F12 | Numbering on |
| Command + F12 | Insert or edit table |
| Shift + F12 | Bullets on |
| Command + Shift + F12 | Toggle numbering/bullets off |
Essential Keyboard Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Effect |
|---|---|
| Command + A | Select all text |
| Command + J | Justify text |
| Command + D | Double underline |
| Command + E | Center text |
| Command + H | Find & Replace |
| Command + Shift + P | Superscript |
| Command + L | Align left |
| Command + R | Align right |
| Command + Shift + B | Subscript |
| Command + Shift + Z | Redo last action |
| Command + 0 | Apply Text Body style |
| Command + 1–5 | Apply Heading 1–5 styles |
| Command + Plus (+) | Calculate and copy result |
| Command + Hyphen (-) | Insert soft hyphen |
| Command + Shift + Hyphen (-) | Insert non-breaking hyphen |
| Command + * (Numpad) | Run macro field |
| Command + Shift + Space | Insert non-breaking space |
| Shift + Enter | Line break (no new paragraph) |
| Command + Enter | Manual page break |
| Command + Shift + Enter | Column break |
| Option + Enter | Insert paragraph inside list or section |
Navigation Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Effect |
|---|---|
| Arrow Keys | Move cursor line by line or character by character |
| Option + Arrow Keys | Jump word by word or paragraph by paragraph |
| Command + Arrow Keys | Jump to beginning/end of line or document |
| Command + Shift + Arrow Keys | Select text while navigating |
| PageUp / PageDown | Move up/down screen page |
| Shift + PageUp / PageDown | Select while moving page |
| Command + PageUp | Switch between text & header |
| Command + PageDown | Switch between text & footer |
Paragraph & Heading Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Effect |
|---|---|
| Command + Option + Up Arrow | Move paragraph up |
| Command + Option + Down Arrow | Move paragraph down |
| Tab | Demote heading level |
| Shift + Tab | Promote heading level |
| Command + Tab | Insert tab stop in headings |
Table Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Effect |
|---|---|
| Command + A | Select cell or whole table |
| Command + Home | Jump to beginning of cell/table/document |
| Command + End | Jump to end of cell/table/document |
| Command + Tab | Insert tab inside a table |
| Option + Arrow Keys | Resize column/row |
| Option + Shift + Arrow Keys | Resize from left/top |
| Command + Shift + T | Remove table cell protection |
| Shift + Command + Del | Delete cell contents or table rows |
Frame, Graphics & Object Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Effect |
|---|---|
| Esc | Deselect or clear cursor inside frame |
| F2 / Enter | Activate text cursor inside frame |
| Option + Arrow Keys | Move object |
| Option + Command + Arrow Keys | Resize object |
| Option + Command + Shift + Arrow Keys | Resize from top left corner |
| Command + Tab | Select object anchor |
Conclusion
Mastering these LibreOffice Writer keyboard shortcuts can dramatically boost your productivity. Instead of relying on endless menus and mouse clicks, you’ll be able to edit, format, and navigate documents at lightning speed.
Whether you’re a student working on essays, a professional drafting reports, or simply someone who wants to save time while typing, these shortcuts will help you work more efficiently.
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