{"id":34969,"date":"2013-08-27T22:25:35","date_gmt":"2013-08-27T16:55:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/?p=34969"},"modified":"2026-10-13T13:42:25","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T08:12:25","slug":"moderate-wordpress-comments-quickly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2013\/08\/moderate-wordpress-comments-quickly\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Moderate WordPress Comments Quickly with Keyboard Shortcuts"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Did you know you can moderate WordPress comments quickly with keyboard shortcuts? For years I moderated QuickOnlineTips&#8217; comments (and millions of spam attempts) the slow way, hovering over each comment and clicking Approve, Spam or Trash. Then I switched on WordPress&#8217;s hidden comment shortcuts and the moderation queue started flying by. Here&#8217;s how to <strong>moderate WordPress comments<\/strong> much faster in 2026.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-64180\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/moderate-wordpress-comments-shortcuts-1024x538.webp\" alt=\"Moderate WordPress comments quickly with keyboard shortcuts\" width=\"1024\" height=\"538\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/moderate-wordpress-comments-shortcuts-1024x538.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/moderate-wordpress-comments-shortcuts-300x158.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/moderate-wordpress-comments-shortcuts-150x79.webp 150w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/moderate-wordpress-comments-shortcuts-768x403.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/moderate-wordpress-comments-shortcuts.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Quick answer:<\/strong> Go to Users &gt; Profile and tick <strong>Enable keyboard shortcuts for comment moderation<\/strong>. On the Comments screen press <strong>J<\/strong> and <strong>K<\/strong> to move down and up, then <strong>A<\/strong> to approve, <strong>S<\/strong> to mark spam, <strong>D<\/strong> to trash and <strong>Z<\/strong> to undo. Tick several comments and use <strong>Shift + A\/S\/D\/U\/Z<\/strong> to act on them all at once.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ad837d28b359\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ad837d28b359\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2013\/08\/moderate-wordpress-comments-quickly\/#1_Turn_on_keyboard_shortcuts\" >1. Turn on keyboard shortcuts<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2013\/08\/moderate-wordpress-comments-quickly\/#2_Move_between_comments\" >2. Move between comments<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2013\/08\/moderate-wordpress-comments-quickly\/#3_Moderate_with_one_key\" >3. Moderate with one key<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2013\/08\/moderate-wordpress-comments-quickly\/#4_Reply_and_edit\" >4. Reply and edit<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2013\/08\/moderate-wordpress-comments-quickly\/#5_Bulk_moderate_with_Shift\" >5. Bulk moderate with Shift<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2013\/08\/moderate-wordpress-comments-quickly\/#More_ways_to_save_moderation_time\" >More ways to save moderation time<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2013\/08\/moderate-wordpress-comments-quickly\/#FAQ\" >FAQ<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2013\/08\/moderate-wordpress-comments-quickly\/#Why_dont_the_keyboard_shortcuts_work\" >Why don&#8217;t the keyboard shortcuts work?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2013\/08\/moderate-wordpress-comments-quickly\/#Do_these_shortcuts_work_on_the_Pending_tab\" >Do these shortcuts work on the Pending tab?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2013\/08\/moderate-wordpress-comments-quickly\/#Can_I_empty_all_spam_at_once\" >Can I empty all spam at once?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Turn_on_keyboard_shortcuts\"><\/span>1. Turn on keyboard shortcuts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The option is off by default. In WordPress admin go to <strong>Users &gt; Profile<\/strong> (each user sets their own), tick <strong>Keyboard Shortcuts: Enable keyboard shortcuts for comment moderation<\/strong>, and click Update Profile.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Move_between_comments\"><\/span>2. Move between comments<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Open <strong>Comments<\/strong> (or the Pending tab). Nothing is selected at first.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>J<\/strong>: select the next comment (press it once to select the first one).<\/li>\n<li><strong>K<\/strong>: select the previous comment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The keys work like Gmail and many feed readers, so they quickly become second nature.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Moderate_with_one_key\"><\/span>3. Moderate with one key<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>A<\/strong>: approve<\/li>\n<li><strong>S<\/strong>: mark as spam<\/li>\n<li><strong>D<\/strong>: move to trash<\/li>\n<li><strong>Z<\/strong>: undo (restore)<\/li>\n<li><strong>U<\/strong>: unapprove<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>With your left hand on A, S, D and Z and your right on J and K, you can clear a long queue in a few minutes.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-34976\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/keyboard-shortcuts.png\" alt=\"WordPress comment moderation keyboard shortcuts\" width=\"500\" height=\"193\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/keyboard-shortcuts.png 500w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/keyboard-shortcuts-300x115.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Reply_and_edit\"><\/span>4. Reply and edit<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>R<\/strong>: reply to the selected comment inline.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Q<\/strong>: quick edit the comment text, name or URL.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Bulk_moderate_with_Shift\"><\/span>5. Bulk moderate with Shift<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Tick the checkboxes of several comments (or all on the page), then press:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Shift + A<\/strong>: approve all checked<\/li>\n<li><strong>Shift + S<\/strong>: mark all as spam<\/li>\n<li><strong>Shift + D<\/strong>: trash all<\/li>\n<li><strong>Shift + U<\/strong>: unapprove all<\/li>\n<li><strong>Shift + Z<\/strong>: restore all<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Raise <em>Number of items per page<\/em> in Screen Options to handle more comments in one go.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"More_ways_to_save_moderation_time\"><\/span>More ways to save moderation time<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Stop spam before it arrives<\/strong> with Akismet or Antispam Bee; see the best <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2014\/09\/4-best-wordpress-plugins-to-stop-comment-spam\/\">WordPress plugins to stop comment spam<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hold comments with links:<\/strong> in Settings &gt; Discussion, set &#8220;Hold a comment in the queue if it contains 1 or more links&#8221;. We hold every comment with a web address for review.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Use the Disallowed Comment Keys<\/strong> box to send common spam words straight to trash.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Edit from the front end:<\/strong> add an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2014\/06\/edit-all-comments-link-to-wordpress-posts\/\">edit all comments link<\/a> to your posts.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Moderate on the go<\/strong> with the WordPress or Jetpack mobile app.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_dont_the_keyboard_shortcuts_work\"><\/span>Why don&#8217;t the keyboard shortcuts work?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Make sure the option is ticked in your own profile, click on the comments list first, and don&#8217;t have a text box focused.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_these_shortcuts_work_on_the_Pending_tab\"><\/span>Do these shortcuts work on the Pending tab?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes, on every Comments screen view, including Pending and Spam.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_I_empty_all_spam_at_once\"><\/span>Can I empty all spam at once?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes. Open the Spam tab and click <strong>Empty Spam<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Did you know you can moderate WordPress comments quickly with keyboard shortcuts? For years I moderated QuickOnlineTips&#8217; comments (and millions&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":64180,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[49,17],"class_list":["post-34969","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blogging","tag-tutorials","tag-wordpress"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34969","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34969"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34969\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65494,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34969\/revisions\/65494"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/64180"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34969"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34969"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34969"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}