How to tab in Gmail on a computer or mobile device
- You can easily tab in Gmail to indent a line with a keyboard shortcut.
- The process is entirely different, however, on a mobile device — you'll have to use the Google Docs app to get around the lack of a built-in keyboard shortcut option.
- Here's what you'll need to do to successfully add a tab, or indent, to a line in Gmail.
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If you've ever tried to use the "Tab" key when typing out an email in Gmail, you may have been really confused about why it didn't work. Unfortunately, it's simply not supported by the email platform. Instead, you'll have to use a keyboard shortcut to get it done.
Here's what you need to know to get it done on desktop or mobile.
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How to tab in Gmail on a computer
1. Go to gmail.com and log into your account, if necessary.
2. Navigate to the draft you wish to create a tab within.
3. Click into the line where you would like to insert a tab.
4. Press down the "Command" (Mac) or "CTRL" (PC) as well as the "} / ]" key.
The line will then indent and you can begin typing as usual.
How to tab in Gmail on a mobile device
Unfortunately, phones don't have anything equivalent to a tab key, and there aren't shortcuts that can accomplish this task on the mobile version of Gmail. However, if you use the Google Docs app on your phone, you do have a workaround available to you.
1. Go into a Google Doc on your computer and create a tabbed line.
2. Open the Google Doc via the app on your phone, tap the pencil icon.
3. Tap and hold to highlight the tabbed line, then select "Copy."
4. Open the Gmail app and log in, if needed.
5. Open your draft and navigate to the desired message.
6. Tap and hold the line you want to indent.
7. Select "Paste."
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