Save time – QuickBooks Online keyboard shortcuts

tips

There are several shortcuts that can speed up navigation within QuickBooks® Online (QBO).

These will all work in Microsoft Edge, Firefox and Chrome, except where noted.

To search for text in a window: CTRL + F works in Edge, Firefox and Chrome. IE will bring up a pop-up window to do the search, Firefox opens a Find toolbar on the bottom of your screen and Chrome opens a search field at the top right of the screen.

To enter dates:

  • Next day  + (plus key) 
  • Previous day  – (minus key) 
  • Today  T
  • First day of the week  W
  • Last day of the week  K
  • First day of the month  M
  • Last day of the month  H
  • First day of the year  Y
  • Last day of the year  R
  • Press Alt+down arrow to open the pop-up calendar icon to the right of a date field. 

To calculate amounts and rates:

  • In any Amount or Rate field, enter a calculation. When you press Tab, QuickBooks Online calculates the result.
  • Add + 1256.94+356.50 
  • Subtract – 48.95-15 
  • Multiply * 108*1.085 
  • Divide / 89.95/.33 
  • Group ( ) 13.95+(25.95*.75) 

To move around fields on most forms:

  • Use the Tab key to go forward.
  • Use Shift+Tab to go back.
  • Space Bar to check a check box field.

To choose items in drop-down lists:

  • Press Tab until you reach the field. 
  • Press Alt + down arrow to open the list. 
  • Press up arrow or down arrow to move through the items in the list. 
  • Press Tab to select the item you want and move to the next field. 
  • If you don’t want to open the whole list, but just want to scroll through the items in the text box, press Ctrl + down arrow or Ctrl + up arrow.

If a list has sub-items:

  1. Type the first few characters of the parent item until it is selected. 
  • To jump to the list of sub-items, type the first few characters of the sub-item until it is selected. 
  • Press Alt + down arrow to open the list of sub items, and then press down arrow or up arrow to scroll through the sub-items. 
  1. Press Tab to select the item you want and move to the next field.

To save forms: From any form, press Ctrl + Alt + S, instead of clicking Save. For Mac users, it is Ctrl + Option + S.

To respond to messages: Hold down the Alt key. If the button names have underlined letters, you can keep the Alt key held down and type the letter to select the button you want.

To save or edit the selected transaction:

  • Press Alt + S to save. Alt + Shift + S in Firefox and Chrome. 
  • Press Alt + E to edit a saved transaction. This opens the transaction form. 

To move between transactions within the register, selecting the date field as you go:

  • Press up arrow to select the transaction above. 
  • Press down arrow to select the transaction below. 

To move around in journal entries: In the Journal Entry screen, press up arrow to move to the distribution line above, and down arrow to move to the one below.