Best Browser Keyboard Shortcuts for Chrome and Firefox

Over the years, I’ve spent countless hours browsing the internet, working on projects, researching, and even getting lost in random Wikipedia rabbit holes. One thing that has significantly improved my efficiency is learning and using keyboard shortcuts for Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. Initially, I used to rely heavily on the mouse, but once I got the hang of these shortcuts, my browsing experience became much smoother. Here, I’m sharing the best shortcuts that have saved me time and effort.

My Go-To Navigation Shortcuts

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve needed to quickly open or close a tab while working. Instead of manually clicking around, I now use these shortcuts without even thinking:

• Opening a new tab: Ctrl + T (Windows/Linux), Cmd + T (Mac) – Perfect for when I need to quickly look something up.

• Closing a tab: Ctrl + W (Windows/Linux), Cmd + W (Mac) – Saves me from unnecessary mouse clicks.

• Reopening a closed tab: Ctrl + Shift + T (Windows/Linux), Cmd + Shift + T (Mac) – A lifesaver when I accidentally close something important.

• Switching between tabs: Ctrl + Tab (move right), Ctrl + Shift + Tab (move left) – Super helpful when multitasking.

Shortcuts for Quick Address Bar Access

When I’m searching for something, I don’t waste time dragging the mouse to the address bar anymore. Instead, I use:

• Jumping to the address bar: Ctrl + L or Alt + D (Windows/Linux), Cmd + L (Mac) – This makes searching or typing in a new website so much faster.

• Searching directly from the address bar: Just type and hit Enter – No need to go to Google first.

• Opening search in a new tab: Alt + Enter – Great when I want to keep my current page open.

Effortless Page Navigation

I used to waste a lot of time moving my mouse to go back and forth between pages. But these shortcuts make it so much easier:

• Going back to the previous page: Alt + Left Arrow (Windows/Linux), Cmd + Left Arrow (Mac)

• Going forward to the next page: Alt + Right Arrow (Windows/Linux), Cmd + Right Arrow (Mac)

• Refreshing a page: F5 or Ctrl + R (Windows/Linux), Cmd + R (Mac) – A must for anyone working online.

• Force refreshing (bypassing cache): Ctrl + Shift + R (Windows/Linux), Cmd + Shift + R (Mac) – I use this when websites don’t load properly.

Adjusting Zoom and Visibility

Sometimes, I come across tiny text or large images, and zooming in or out helps a lot. Here’s how I do it:

• Zooming in: Ctrl + Plus (+) (Windows/Linux), Cmd + Plus (+) (Mac)

• Zooming out: Ctrl + Minus (-) (Windows/Linux), Cmd + Minus (-) (Mac)

• Resetting zoom to default: Ctrl + 0 (Windows/Linux), Cmd + 0 (Mac)

• Full-screen mode: F11 (Windows/Linux), Cmd + Shift + F (Mac) – Perfect for distraction-free reading.

Managing Tabs Like a Pro

I often find myself working with multiple tabs open at the same time. Instead of clicking around, I use these:

• Duplicating a tab: Ctrl + Shift + K (Firefox) / Ctrl + Shift + D (Chrome) – Super useful for referencing information.

• Pinning important tabs: Right-click on the tab and select "Pin Tab" – This keeps frequently used tabs organized.

• Moving tabs between windows: Dragging them or using Ctrl + Shift + N – Handy when multitasking.

• Muting/unmuting a tab: Ctrl + M (Firefox) – No more hunting for the mute button on noisy websites.

Bookmarking and History Shortcuts

Saving useful links is important for me, and these shortcuts make it quick and easy:

• Bookmarking the current page: Ctrl + D (Windows/Linux), Cmd + D (Mac)

• Opening bookmarks manager: Ctrl + Shift + O (Chrome) / Ctrl + B (Firefox)

• Opening browsing history: Ctrl + H (Windows/Linux), Cmd + Y (Mac)

• Clearing browsing history: Ctrl + Shift + Delete – A good habit for privacy.

Advanced Shortcuts for Power Users

When I’m troubleshooting or testing something on a website, I often rely on these developer shortcuts:

• Opening Developer Tools: F12 or Ctrl + Shift + I (Windows/Linux), Cmd + Option + I (Mac)

• Viewing the page source: Ctrl + U (Windows/Linux), Cmd + U (Mac)

• Opening the JavaScript Console: Ctrl + Shift + J (Windows/Linux), Cmd + Option + J (Mac)

• Checking browser task manager (Chrome only): Shift + Esc – Useful when a page is slowing down my browser.

Miscellaneous Shortcuts I Use Daily

Here are a few more that I use all the time:

• Playing/pausing media: Spacebar

• Opening the downloads page: Ctrl + J (Windows/Linux), Cmd + Option + L (Mac)

• Printing a page: Ctrl + P (Windows/Linux), Cmd + P (Mac)

• Saving a page as a PDF: Ctrl + S (Windows/Linux), Cmd + S (Mac)