Many users find that using an external keyboard with keyboard shortcuts for Microsoft Whiteboard helps them work more efficiently. For users with mobility or vision disabilities, keyboard shortcuts can be easier than using the touchscreen, and are an essential alternative to using a mouse.

The following is a list of common keyboard shortcuts in Whiteboard.

Notes: 

  • The shortcuts in this topic refer to the US keyboard layout. Keys for other layouts might not correspond exactly to the keys on a US keyboard.

  • A plus sign (+) in a shortcut means that you need to press multiple keys at the same time.

Universal Shortcuts

Press

To do this

Alt + S 

Change the pointer to selecting mode, allowing you to select objects on the canvas. 

Alt + W

Open the ink toolbar and select the most recently used pen.

Alt + W + 1

Open the ink toolbar and select the first pen.

Alt + W + 2

Open the ink toolbar and select the second pen.

Alt + W + 3

Open the ink toolbar and select the third pen.

Alt + X 

Open the ink toolbar and select the Eraser tool. 

Alt + Q 

Open the ink toolbar and select the Lasso tool. 

Alt + H

Open the ink toolbar and select the Highlighter pen.

Alt + L 

Open the ink toolbar and select the Laser pointer.

Alt + A

Open the ink toolbar and select the most recently used pen in single arrow mode. If you are already in ink mode, Alt + A will toggle single arrow mode on/off.  

Alt + Shift + A

Open the ink toolbar and select the most recently used pen in double arrow mode. If you are already in ink mode, Alt + Shift + A will toggle double arrow mode on/off.  

Alt + R

Toggle the canvas Ruler tool.

Alt + Plus

 Zoom the canvas in.

Alt + Minus

Zoom the canvas out. 

Ctrl + A

Select all objects on the canvas. 

Ctrl + V

Paste an object from the clipboard onto the canvas. 

Ctrl + Z/Y

 Undo/redo the most recent canvas edit. 

Shortcuts for selecting objects

These shortcuts only work when the keyboard focus is on the object you're trying to select.

Press

To do this

Enter/Spacebar

Select the object.

Ctrl+Enter/Spacebar

Add (or remove) the focused object to a multi-selection.

Shortcuts that work with a single selection

These shortcuts only work when the keyboard focus is on a selected object.

Press

To do this

Alt + B 

Convert the selected ink object into an ink shape.  

Ctrl + C

Copy the selected object. 

Ctrl + Shift + ]

Bring the select object to the front of other objects on the canvas.

Ctrl + Shift + [

Put the selected object behind other objects on the canvas.

Esc

Deselects the object.

Del 

Delete the selected object.

Arrow keys

Moves the selected object a fixed amount in the direction of the arrow key. 

Shift + arrow keys

Increase/decrease the size of the selected object.

Alt + Left/Right arrow keys

Rotate the selected object clockwise/anti-clockwise.

Shift + Alt + arrow keys 

For an object that supports non-proportional sizing, increase or decrease the object's width/height. 

Shortcuts that work with a multi-selection 

These shortcuts work if the keyboard focus is on the multi-selection.

Press

To do this

Ctrl + C

Copy the selected object. 

Del

Delete the selected object.

Esc

Deselects the object.

Arrow keys

Moves the selected object a fixed amount in the direction of the arrow key. 

Mouse keyboard modifiers

Press

To do this

Spacebar + drag on canvas

Hold down the Spacebar to temporarily switch to pan mode. 

Shift + drag on canvas 

Hold down the Shift key to enable multi-select with mouse drag.  

Ctrl + left-click

Add (or remove) the clicked object to a multi-selection.

Ctrl + right-click

Summon the browser context menu (right-click normally summons the canvas context menu).

Shift + drag (on shape size handle)

Hold down the Shift key while dragging on a shape size handle to make the resize proportional.

Shift + drag (while inserting a shape)

Hold the Shift key while inserting a shape to temporarily switch from moving the shape rather than resizing it.

Shortcuts for editing a text object (sticky note or text box)

The text object needs to be selected and have keyboard focus for these shortcuts to work.

Press this key

To do this

Enter/Spacebar

Open the text object for text editing.

Shortcuts for zooming and panning the canvas

The keyboard focus needs to be on the canvas for these shortcuts to work.

Press this key

To do this

Arrow keys

Pan the canvas in the direction of the arrow key.

Shift + Up/Down arrow

Zoom the canvas in/out.

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