A handheld shower unit with the water outlet state switched through a key, comprises a water outlet assembly mounted at one end of a housing and provided with water outlet channels, a water inlet pipe communicates with the water outlet channels through a switching valve which comprises a valve body, the key, a transmission swing rod, a sliding rod, a reset spring, a driving disc, a driving shaft, a ratchet wheel, a pawl, and a water distribution pan which is provided with water distribution holes corresponding to different water inlets; the key is pressed which rotates the transmission swing rod, which pushes the sliding rod, which rotates the driving disc so that the pawl hinged to the driving disc can drive the ratchet wheel to rotate, which then drives the driving shaft and the water distribution pan to rotate. Single-hand operation, high switching speed and high reliability can be achieved.