diff --git a/packages/block-editor/src/components/writing-flow/use-arrow-nav.js b/packages/block-editor/src/components/writing-flow/use-arrow-nav.js
index 2bf7f717f901c8..295b388eb4378c 100644
--- a/packages/block-editor/src/components/writing-flow/use-arrow-nav.js
+++ b/packages/block-editor/src/components/writing-flow/use-arrow-nav.js
@@ -176,11 +176,15 @@ export default function useArrowNav() {
 	const {
 		getMultiSelectedBlocksStartClientId,
 		getMultiSelectedBlocksEndClientId,
+		getNextBlockClientId,
+		getPreviousBlockClientId,
+		getSelectedBlockClientId,
+		getSelectionStart,
 		getSettings,
 		hasMultiSelection,
 		__unstableIsFullySelected,
 	} = useSelect( blockEditorStore );
-	const { selectBlock } = useDispatch( blockEditorStore );
+	const { selectBlock, multiSelect } = useDispatch( blockEditorStore );
 	return useRefEffect( ( node ) => {
 		// Here a DOMRect is stored while moving the caret vertically so
 		// vertical position of the start position can be restored. This is to
@@ -244,6 +248,32 @@ export default function useArrowNav() {
 			// selection to the start or end of the selection.
 			if ( hasMultiSelection() ) {
 				if ( shiftKey ) {
+					// A fully selected multi-selection has no native
+					// selection to extend (use-multi-selection cleared it),
+					// so grow or shrink it by one block at the focus end.
+					// Only without a usable native selection: a selection
+					// that is fully selected because it resolves to a
+					// nesting ancestor keeps its native selection, which
+					// the browser extends natively (and the observer
+					// promotes to the common level).
+					const selection = defaultView.getSelection();
+					if (
+						__unstableIsFullySelected() &&
+						( ! selection.rangeCount || selection.isCollapsed )
+					) {
+						const anchorClientId =
+							getMultiSelectedBlocksStartClientId();
+						const focusClientId =
+							getMultiSelectedBlocksEndClientId();
+						const nextClientId = isReverse
+							? getPreviousBlockClientId( focusClientId )
+							: getNextBlockClientId( focusClientId );
+
+						if ( nextClientId ) {
+							multiSelect( anchorClientId, nextClientId );
+							event.preventDefault();
+						}
+					}
 					return;
 				}
 
@@ -264,6 +294,26 @@ export default function useArrowNav() {
 				return;
 			}
 
+			// A block selected without a text selection within it (e.g. an
+			// image or spacer) has no native selection to extend: start a
+			// block multi-selection with the adjacent block.
+			if (
+				shiftKey &&
+				getSelectedBlockClientId() &&
+				! getSelectionStart().attributeKey
+			) {
+				const selectedClientId = getSelectedBlockClientId();
+				const nextClientId = isReverse
+					? getPreviousBlockClientId( selectedClientId )
+					: getNextBlockClientId( selectedClientId );
+
+				if ( nextClientId ) {
+					multiSelect( selectedClientId, nextClientId );
+					event.preventDefault();
+				}
+				return;
+			}
+
 			// Abort if our current target is not a candidate for navigation
 			// (e.g. preserve native input behaviors).
 			if ( ! isNavigationCandidate( target, keyCode, hasModifier ) ) {
diff --git a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/multi-block-selection.spec.js b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/multi-block-selection.spec.js
index c4abb9a21b31f6..5e1c61783a7c49 100644
--- a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/multi-block-selection.spec.js
+++ b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/multi-block-selection.spec.js
@@ -1677,6 +1677,83 @@ test.describe( 'Multi-block selection (@firefox, @webkit)', () => {
 				] );
 		} );
 
+		test( 'should grow and shrink a full selection with shift+arrow', async ( {
+			editor,
+			page,
+			multiBlockSelectionUtils,
+		} ) => {
+			await editor.insertBlock( { name: 'core/spacer' } );
+			await editor.insertBlock( { name: 'core/spacer' } );
+			await editor.insertBlock( {
+				name: 'core/paragraph',
+				attributes: { content: 'a paragraph' },
+			} );
+
+			const spacerBlocks = editor.canvas.getByRole( 'document', {
+				name: 'Block: Spacer',
+			} );
+
+			await spacerBlocks.nth( 0 ).click();
+			await spacerBlocks.nth( 1 ).click( { modifiers: [ 'Shift' ] } );
+
+			await expect
+				.poll( multiBlockSelectionUtils.getSelectedBlocks )
+				.toMatchObject( [
+					{ name: 'core/spacer' },
+					{ name: 'core/spacer' },
+				] );
+
+			// A fully selected multi-selection grows by one block at the
+			// focus end.
+			await page.keyboard.press( 'Shift+ArrowDown' );
+			await expect
+				.poll( multiBlockSelectionUtils.getSelectedBlocks )
+				.toMatchObject( [
+					{ name: 'core/spacer' },
+					{ name: 'core/spacer' },
+					{
+						name: 'core/paragraph',
+						attributes: { content: 'a paragraph' },
+					},
+				] );
+
+			// And shrinks the same way.
+			await page.keyboard.press( 'Shift+ArrowUp' );
+			await expect
+				.poll( multiBlockSelectionUtils.getSelectedBlocks )
+				.toMatchObject( [
+					{ name: 'core/spacer' },
+					{ name: 'core/spacer' },
+				] );
+		} );
+
+		test( 'should extend the selection from a block without a text selection', async ( {
+			page,
+			editor,
+			multiBlockSelectionUtils,
+		} ) => {
+			await editor.insertBlock( { name: 'core/spacer' } );
+			await editor.insertBlock( {
+				name: 'core/paragraph',
+				attributes: { content: 'a paragraph' },
+			} );
+
+			await editor.canvas
+				.getByRole( 'document', { name: 'Block: Spacer' } )
+				.click();
+
+			await page.keyboard.press( 'Shift+ArrowDown' );
+			await expect
+				.poll( multiBlockSelectionUtils.getSelectedBlocks )
+				.toMatchObject( [
+					{ name: 'core/spacer' },
+					{
+						name: 'core/paragraph',
+						attributes: { content: 'a paragraph' },
+					},
+				] );
+		} );
+
 		test( 'should not scroll the canvas when the selection spans a scrolled page', async ( {
 			editor,
 			page,