Office Settings & Configuration

How to Customize Word Shortcuts for Grouping Objects

Muhammad Talha Sep 30, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to customize and assign specific keyboard shortcuts to the group and ungroup object commands in Microsoft Word.

How to Customize Word Shortcuts for Grouping Objects

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Customizing keyboard shortcuts to improve workflow when manipulating, grouping, and ungrouping multiple objects in a document.
Observed behavior: By default, grouping shortcuts like Ctrl+G are assigned to other commands (like Go To), requiring manual reassignment to the DrawGroup and DrawUngroup commands.

Before you start

Ensure Microsoft Word is open and decide on the key combinations you want to use (such as Ctrl+G and Ctrl+Shift+G), verifying they do not conflict with other essential commands you frequently use.

Solution 1Recommended

Assign Shortcuts via Customize Keyboard Settings

Use the built-in Customize Keyboard dialog to map your preferred shortcut keys directly to the grouping and ungrouping commands.

In Microsoft Word, grouping and ungrouping actions are controlled by the DrawGroup and DrawUngroup commands. You can access the keyboard settings to reassign any keys to these specific functions.

Open Word Options

Click on the 'File' tab in the top left corner, then select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu to open the Word Options dialog.

Access Customize Keyboard

Select 'Customize Ribbon' from the left pane. At the bottom of the right pane, locate the 'Keyboard shortcuts' section and click the 'Customize...' button.

Locate Grouping Commands

In the Categories list, scroll down and select 'All Commands'. In the Commands list on the right, scroll down to find 'DrawGroup' for grouping objects and 'DrawUngroup' for ungrouping objects.

Assign the Shortcut Keys

Select the command (e.g., DrawGroup), click inside the 'Press new shortcut key' box, and press your desired key combination (like Ctrl+G). Finally, click 'Assign' and then 'Close'.

Assign Shortcuts via Customize Keyboard Settings

Finding DrawUngroup: The commands list is very long. If you cannot spot 'DrawUngroup' immediately, continue scrolling carefully near the end of the 'Draw' commands section.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn't Ctrl+G group objects in Word by default?

In Microsoft Word, the Ctrl+G shortcut is historically assigned to the 'Go To' function within the Find and Replace dialog. You must manually reassign it to the 'DrawGroup' command if you prefer to use it for grouping objects.

Can I reset my Word keyboard shortcuts back to default?

Yes. To restore original shortcuts, open the Customize Keyboard dialog via File > Options > Customize Ribbon > Customize, and click the 'Reset All' button at the bottom of the window.

How do I group objects without using a shortcut?

You can group objects using the mouse. Hold the Ctrl or Shift key while clicking to select multiple objects, right-click on one of the selected objects, and choose 'Group' > 'Group' from the context menu.

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