Gmail’s Delete shortcut (Shift + 3) sends the selected email straight to Trash, where it sits for 30 days before it is gone for good. Use it for mail you never want to see again, rather than Archive, which keeps everything.
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.
Delete Gmail Shortcut Tutorial
To use the Gmail shortcut Delete, follow these steps:
1. Open Gmail in your web browser and log into your account.
2. In the top right corner, click on the gear icon to open the settings menu.
3. Select “See all settings” from the drop-down menu.
4. Go to the “General” tab, and scroll down to find the “Keyboard shortcuts” section.
5. Make sure the keyboard shortcuts are enabled by selecting the radio button next to “Keyboard shortcuts on.”
6. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the “Save changes” button.
7. To delete an email using the shortcut, select the email you want to delete by clicking on the checkbox next to it.
8. Press the “Shift” and “3” keys on your keyboard simultaneously to delete the selected email.
9. You should see the email disappear from your inbox, moving it to the trash folder.
Not keen on digging through Gmail’s settings? CMDK enables keyboard shortcuts for you the instant it is installed, so Delete is available without any manual steps.
Make every keystroke count
Learning Delete 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
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.