Ctrl+B

Updated: 12/10/2023 by Computer Hope
Ctrl+B keyboard shortcut

Alternatively written as Control+B, ^b, and C-b, Ctrl+B is a keyboard shortcut most commonly used to toggle bold text on and off. Below are other programs that use this keyboard shortcut and related information.

Tip

On Apple computers, the keyboard shortcut for bold is Command+B or Command+Shift+B.

How to use the Ctrl+B keyboard shortcut

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

In many programs, this keyboard shortcut has two purposes: to change highlighted text to bold or unbold (depending on its current state), or start typing bold text at the cursor's location.

Ctrl+B in an Internet browser

The Ctrl+B keyboard shortcut can serve different purposes depending on the Internet browser. In Firefox and Netscape, Ctrl+B displays the bookmarks. In Internet Explorer, Ctrl+B displays the favorites folder.

Ctrl+B in Excel and other spreadsheet programs

In Microsoft Excel and all other spreadsheet programs, pressing Ctrl+B when a cell(s) is selected will bold or unbold it. If you're editing the contents of a cell with no selected text, Ctrl+B toggles bold on and off.

Ctrl+B in Microsoft PowerPoint

Pressing Ctrl+B in Microsoft PowerPoint bolds the highlighted text.

Ctrl+B in Microsoft Word

In Microsoft Word and other word processors, highlighting text and pressing Ctrl+B makes the text bold. If the text is already bold, pressing Ctrl+B unbolds the text. Pressing Ctrl+B without anything highlighted starts typing bold text at the cursor's location.

Ctrl+B in Google Docs

Pressing Ctrl+B in Google Docs makes the highlighted text bold or unbold.

Control+B in Apple iTunes

With Apple iTunes, pressing control+B shows and hides the file menu bar.

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

B, Bold, Ctrl, Keyboard shortcut, Keyboard terms