With a message highlighted in your list, press Enter or O to open it. It is the keyboard alternative to clicking a row, and it pairs with the arrow keys so you can browse and read without the mouse.
CMDK transforms your Gmail into a keyboard first experience, not just transforming existing Gmail keyboard shortcuts but also adding new ones for you to be 2x faster at email. CMDK also adds a command bar, natural language snooze, split inbox with Tabs, one-click email nuke, and easy account switching tools. It reduces your reliance on the mouse, getting you into a state of flow as you use Gmail everyday.
Open conversation Gmail Shortcut Tutorial
To use the Gmail shortcut “Open conversation,” follow these steps:
1. Log in to your Gmail account.
2. In the top right corner, click on the Settings gear icon and select “See all settings” from the dropdown menu.
3. In the Settings menu, click on the “Advanced” tab.
4. Scroll down until you find the “Keyboard shortcuts” section.
5. Make sure the “Keyboard shortcuts on” option is selected.
6. Click on “Save Changes” at the bottom of the page to enable keyboard shortcuts in Gmail.
To use the “Open conversation” shortcut:
1. In your Gmail inbox, select the email conversation you want to open.
2. Press the ‘o’ key on your keyboard to open the selected email conversation.
3. The conversation will open in a new window or tab, allowing you to view the email and any related messages.
If turning Gmail’s shortcuts on by hand feels fiddly, the CMDK extension switches them on for you the moment you install it, so Open Conversation works right away with no setup.
Make every keystroke count
Learning Open Conversation is worth it, but you do not have to stop there. CMDK turns Gmail into an inbox you run entirely from the keyboard: more than 80 shortcuts, a command bar for any action, snooze you can type in plain English, a tabbed split inbox, and one-key sender nuke. Add it to Chrome and keep your hands off the mouse.
Related Gmail keyboard shortcuts
- Gmail Previous Conversation Shortcut
- Gmail Previous Message Shortcut
- Gmail Update Conversation Shortcut
CMDK adds these and 80+ more shortcuts to Gmail, along with a command bar and natural-language snooze. See how CMDK works or check CMDK pricing.