Ctrl+U

Alternatively referred to as Control+U and C-u, ^u, Ctrl+U is a keyboard shortcut most often used to underline text.

Tip

On Apple computers, the shortcut for underline Command+U.

• How to use the Ctrl+U keyboard shortcut.
• Ctrl+U in an Internet browser.
• Ctrl+U with word processors and text.
• Ctrl+U in Excel and other spreadsheet programs.
• Ctrl+U in Microsoft PowerPoint.
• Ctrl+U in Outlook.
• Related keyboard shortcuts and keys.
• Related information.
• Computer keyboard shortcuts.

How to use the Ctrl+U keyboard shortcut

To use this keyboard shortcut, press and hold either Ctrl key, and while continuing to hold, press U.

Ctrl+U in an Internet browser

In Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Opera, pressing Ctrl+U opens the current page's source code in a new browser tab. For example, you could press Ctrl+U to view the source code of this page.

• Firefox shortcuts
• Google Chrome shortcuts

In Internet Explorer, Ctrl+U opens the Debugger tool, that also allows you to view the page's source code.

• Internet Explorer shortcuts

Ctrl+U with word processors and text

With word processors and text editors, Ctrl+U performs different functions based on highlighting. If no text is highlighted, pressing this keyboard shortcut turns the underline feature on or off at the cursor's location. If text is highlighted, pressing Ctrl+U changes that content's appearance between underlined and not underlined.

Ctrl+U in Excel and other spreadsheet programs

For Microsoft Excel and other spreadsheet programs, Ctrl+U performs different functions based on highlighting. If you're working within a cell and no text is highlighted, pressing this keyboard shortcut turns the underline feature on or off at the cursor's location. If text is highlighted, pressing Ctrl+U changes that content's appearance between underlined and not underlined.

• Full list of Excel shortcuts.
• Google Sheets shortcuts.

Ctrl+U in Microsoft PowerPoint

In Microsoft PowerPoint, Ctrl+U performs different functions based on highlighting. If no text is highlighted, pressing this keyboard shortcut turns the underline feature on or off at the cursor's location. If text is highlighted, pressing Ctrl+U changes that content's appearance between underlined and not underlined.

• Full list of PowerPoint shortcuts.

Ctrl+U in Outlook

In Microsoft Outlook, pressing Ctrl+U marks a selected read e-mail as un-read.

Tip

Use the shortcut Ctrl+Q to mark a selected e-mail as read.

• Full list of Outlook shortcuts.

Related keyboard shortcuts and keys

Below are links to related keyboard shortcuts and individual key pages.

• Alt+U
• Ctrl+4
• Ctrl