A Gmail shortcut can fail because it is disabled, the cursor is inside a text field, the keyboard layout differs, or a screen reader intercepts the key. Diagnose those conditions before changing the browser or reinstalling anything.
Check the setting and current focus
In desktop Gmail, confirm Keyboard shortcuts on in Settings and save the change. Return focus to the message list rather than the search box, recipient field, or message body. A letter typed into a draft is text, not an inbox navigation command.
Test a harmless action from the built-in question-mark shortcut dialog. If the dialog itself does not open, check how your keyboard produces a question mark. Key labels in an English help page may not match your physical layout.
Check sequences and assistive-technology mode
Commands such as g then i are sequences. Google’s screen-reader guide says to enter the second key within three seconds. Pressing both together or pausing too long can produce a different result.
A screen reader’s browse or virtual-cursor mode may consume letters before Gmail receives them. Follow Google’s configuration for your specific reader, such as NVDA focus mode or the documented JAWS application workflow. Do not disable accessibility features globally just to make a single key work.
Compare custom shortcuts and extensions
If custom keyboard shortcuts are enabled, inspect the assignments in Gmail. Browser extensions and system-wide hotkeys can also claim the same combination. Compare a clean supported browser profile when practical, recording which optional components were absent.
A focused message is not necessarily selected, so an action requiring selection may appear ineffective until x selects it. Test navigation before destructive commands, and preserve any draft before reloading. If the failure persists, report the exact key combination, keyboard layout, browser version, current field, and screen-reader mode. Those details are more useful than saying that all shortcuts are broken.
Browse Gmail & Google Account help
References
Reviewed against the linked product guidance, standards, and identified vendor or public-authority guidance on October 29, 2026. Available options and screen labels can vary by account, device, region, and organization policy.