Outlook quick tip: Send email without using the mouse

February 1 by | 8 comments | Productivity | Tags: , , , ,

Ditching the mouse can greatly enhance your productivity — especially when it comes to managing your email in Microsoft Outlook. The Cranking Widgets Blog wrote a short post that walks you through sending email in Outlook without using the mouse. Give this a try and see your productivity grow. I use this keystroke method everyday.

  1. Use Alt+Tab to switch to Outlook.
  2. If you’re looking at anything other than one of your mail folders (like your Calendar or Contacts), hit Ctrl+Shift+M to open a new mail message, otherwise just hit Ctrl+N.
  3. You should now be looking at a blank email, with your cursor placed in the To: field. Type the recipients name (and if Outlook is connected to Microsoft Exchange Server and you’re emailing somebody in your organization, you can type their name and hit Ctrl+K, which will verify their address for you).
  4. Use the TAB key to navigate between the CC:, BCC: and Subject fields, filling in as necessary.
  5. Hit TAB to enter the main text area of the email, type the body of your message.
  6. Invoke the SpellCheck utility using the F7 key. Use the TAB key to navigate, making changes as needed.
  7. Once you’re ready to send, hit Ctrl+Enter.

No mouse required – [The Cranking Widgets Blog]

  • http://www.elementaltruths.blogspot.com Reg Adkins

    That is one of the most USEFUL tips I have seen in some time. Nice post!

  • Bill

    Been following these steps for some time…suggest that you enable the option to “Always check spelling before sending” to eliminate the F7 step.

  • jimmy

    I need a tip to insert my Signature via keystroke.

  • http://think.bustedhearts.com stever

    jimmy, when you’re in the message press ALT > I > S then use your arrow keys to pick which one you want to use.

    Another good signature tip is to put commonly used messages in there. I often send people directions to my house or how to map a network drive.

    Instead of typing it out each time, pop it in there!

  • http://www.sridhareena.com/ Sridhar Katakam

    In the last step, one can also use Alt+S (S for send) instead of ctrl+enter.

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  • Raghavendra

    hi,

    i want to send bunch of mail daily in outlook 2007. but i didn’t found any option in it. please help me.

    thank you,
    Raghavendra