Gmail · Mark as unread
Actions
Windows · Linux
Shift+UMac
Shift+UBoth systems use the same combination.
Puts the unread mark back so the thread stands out again. It works as a to-do flag, but on an already archived thread it only changes the mark — it does not return to the Inbox.
- Group
- Actions
- Keys held
- 2
Most Gmail shortcuts do nothing until you turn Keyboard shortcuts on in Settings — while it is off, the single-letter keys simply have no effect.
Reading the key names
- Keys joined by + are pressed together: Ctrl+Shift+P means hold Ctrl and Shift, then P.
- On a Mac, Cmd is ⌘, Option is ⌥ (labelled Alt on some keyboards), Control is ⌃ and Shift is ⇧.
- Windows Ctrl usually becomes Cmd on a Mac, but not always — this reference lists both combinations separately.
- With a Korean, Japanese or Chinese input method active, shortcuts built on letter keys may not fire. Switch to Latin input and try again.
- When a combination does nothing, another program has often claimed it as a global shortcut first.
Common questions
Q. What is the shortcut for Mark as unread in Gmail?
Puts the unread mark back so the thread stands out again. It works as a to-do flag, but on an already archived thread it only changes the mark — it does not return to the Inbox. It is Shift+U on Windows and Shift+U on a Mac.
Q. Is it the same on Windows and Mac?
Yes, Shift+U on both.
Q. How many keys is that?
2 pressed together. The combination sits under Actions in Gmail.