Adobe After Effects keyboard shortcuts
Adobe After Effects hides most of a layer behind single letters: P for Position, S for Scale, R for Rotation, T for Opacity, U for what has keyframes. These are the default shortcuts a motion designer reaches for, taken from Adobe's reference of about 380, Windows and Mac side by side. Any of them can be changed in Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts except the property letters, which After Effects does not let you reassign.
Checked against Adobe Help Center — Keyboard shortcuts in After Effects, Adobe Help Center — Selecting and arranging layers (Quick Offset) and Adobe Help Center — Guide creation and management. Version: Adobe After Effects desktop, current release (26.5, September 2026), default shortcuts.
Showing the Windows keyboard. Showing the Mac keyboard.
149 shortcuts
The top 20 are the After Effects shortcuts this page marks as the ones to learn first, in the order they appear here. The drill asks the marked ones first too, shuffled. Or tick your own and print those.
The 20 to learn first: the shortcuts the After Effects page marks as the ones to learn first, in the order they appear on it.
Your own sheet: the After Effects shortcuts you ticked.
Tools
Hold a tool's key to use it for a moment and go back to the last tool when you let go; tap it to keep it. Some only work when there is something to act on: a camera tool needs a camera layer.
Practise theseSelect the Selection tool #WinVMacV
Select the Hand tool #WinHMacH
Pan with the Hand tool while held # Hold the spacebar, or the middle mouse button. Double-click the Hand tool to centre the composition in the panel.WinSpace barMacSpace bar
Select the Zoom tool # Hold Alt (Option on a Mac) while it is active to zoom out.WinZMacZ
Select the Rotation tool #WinWMacW
Select the Roto Brush or Refine Edge tool # Adobe gives the same key for both.WinAlt plusWMacOption plusW
Cycle through the camera tools # Unified Camera, Orbit Camera, Track XY Camera and Track Z Camera. Needs a camera layer in the composition.WinCMacC
Cycle through the mask and shape tools # Rectangle, Rounded Rectangle, Ellipse, Polygon and Star.WinQMacQ
Cycle through the Type tools # Horizontal and Vertical. With a mask or a shape path selected in the Timeline panel, the same key starts free-transform editing instead.WinControl plusTMacCommand plusT
Cycle between the Pen and Mask Feather tools # The cycling can be turned off in Preferences.WinGMacG
Cycle through the Brush, Clone Stamp and Eraser tools #WinControl plusBMacCommand plusB
Cycle through the Puppet tools #WinControl plusPMacCommand plusP
Time, previews and markers
Practise theseStart or stop the preview # 0 or Shift+0 on the numeric keypad does it too, with Num Lock on.WinSpace barMacSpace bar
Go to a specific time #WinAlt plusShift plusJMacOption plusShift plusJ
Go to the previous or next keyframe or marker # Anything visible in the time ruler: keyframes, layer markers and the ends of the work area. With Roto Brush in the Layer panel, also the span's start, end or base frame.WinJorKMacJorK
Go forward one frame #WinPage DownorControl plusRight arrowMacPage DownorCommand plusRight arrow
Go back one frame #WinPage UporControl plusLeft arrowMacPage UporCommand plusLeft arrow
Go forward ten frames #WinShift plusPage DownorControl plusShift plusRight arrowMacShift plusPage DownorShift plusCommand plusRight arrow
Go back ten frames #WinShift plusPage UporControl plusShift plusLeft arrowMacShift plusPage UporShift plusCommand plusLeft arrow
Go to the start of the composition, layer or footage #WinHomeorControl plusAlt plusLeft arrowMacHomeorOption plusCommand plusLeft arrow
Go to the end of the composition, layer or footage #WinEndorControl plusAlt plusRight arrowMacEndorOption plusCommand plusRight arrow
Go to the layer's In point #WinIMacI
Go to the layer's Out point #WinOMacO
Set the start or end of the work area to the current time # B for the beginning, N for the end.WinBorNMacBorN
Set the work area to the selected layers # With no layers selected, it takes the whole composition.WinControl plusAlt plusBMacOption plusCommand plusB
Scroll the Timeline panel to the current time #WinDMacD
Preview only the audio, from the current time # Adobe gives a main-keyboard key on macOS only. On both systems it is also . (decimal point) on the numeric keypad, with Num Lock on.WinNot listedMacControl plusFull stop
Set a marker at the current time # Works during preview. On both systems it is also * on the numeric keypad; Adobe gives a main-keyboard key on macOS only.WinNot listedMacControl plus8
Set composition marker 1 at the current time # Shift with any digit from 0 to 9 on the main keyboard sets that numbered composition marker.WinShift plus1MacShift plus1
Go to composition marker 1 # Any digit from 0 to 9 on the main keyboard.Win1Mac1
Revealing properties
Select one or more layers, then press the letter. A doubled letter means two quick presses. Add Shift to add a property to what is already showing, or take it away.
Practise theseShow only Position #WinPMacP
Show only Scale #WinSMacS
Show only Rotation and Orientation #WinRMacR
Show only Opacity # Intensity, for lights.WinTMacT
Show only Anchor Point # Point of Interest, for lights and cameras.WinAMacA
Show the properties that have keyframes #WinUMacU
Show only the properties you have changed # Adobe writes it UU: press U twice in quick succession.WinUthenUMacUthenU
Show only the Effects group #WinEMacE
Show only expressions # Adobe writes it EE.WinEthenEMacEthenE
Show only Mask Path #WinMMacM
Show all the mask property groups # Adobe writes it MM.WinMthenMMacMthenM
Show only Audio Levels #WinLMacL
Show only the audio waveform # Adobe writes it LL.WinLthenLMacLthenL
Show only Time Remap # Adobe writes it RR.WinRthenRMacRthenR
Expand or collapse every property of the selected layers # In the Effect Controls panel the same key expands the selected effects.WinControl plusBacktickMacCommand plusBacktick
Keyframes and the Graph Editor
Practise theseAdd or remove a Position keyframe at the current time # Adobe gives the pattern: Alt+Shift plus a property's letter on Windows, Option plus the letter on macOS. A, S, R and T work the same way.WinAlt plusShift plusPMacOption plusP
Add or remove an expression # Click the property's stopwatch.WinAlt plusclickMacOption plusclick
Easy ease the selected keyframes # On a Mac, F9 to F12 can clash with system shortcuts; Adobe points to macOS settings to reassign those.WinF9MacF9
Easy ease in #WinShift plusF9MacShift plusF9
Easy ease out #WinControl plusShift plusF9MacShift plusCommand plusF9
Switch between the Graph Editor and layer bars #WinShift plusF3MacShift plusF3
Select all visible keyframes and properties #WinControl plusAlt plusAMacOption plusCommand plusA
Deselect all keyframes, properties and groups #WinShift plusF2orControl plusAlt plusShift plusAMacShift plusF2orOption plusShift plusCommand plusA
Move the keyframe one frame later or earlier #WinAlt plusRight arroworAlt plusLeft arrowMacOption plusRight arroworOption plusLeft arrow
Move the keyframe ten frames later or earlier #WinAlt plusShift plusRight arroworAlt plusShift plusLeft arrowMacOption plusShift plusRight arroworOption plusShift plusLeft arrow
Set the interpolation of the selected keyframes # In layer bar mode.WinControl plusAlt plusKMacOption plusCommand plusK
Switch the interpolation between hold and Auto Bezier #WinControl plusAlt plusHMacOption plusCommand plusH
Set the velocity of the selected keyframes #WinControl plusShift plusKMacShift plusCommand plusK
Paste the copied keyframes in reverse #WinControl plusShift plusVMacShift plusCommand plusV
Stagger the selected layers or keyframes over time # Quick Offset. The first one you selected stays put, the last moves the full distance, and the rest are spaced evenly between, in the order you selected them.WinControl plusAlt plusdragMacOption plusCommand plusdrag
Making and arranging layers
Practise theseCreate a solid layer #WinControl plusYMacCommand plusY
Create a null layer #WinControl plusAlt plusShift plusYMacOption plusShift plusCommand plusY
Create an adjustment layer #WinControl plusAlt plusYMacOption plusCommand plusY
Create a text layer # Adobe's text table gives the same key to Toggle Paragraph Composer while you are editing text.WinControl plusAlt plusShift plusTMacOption plusShift plusCommand plusT
Create a camera #WinControl plusAlt plusShift plusCMacOption plusShift plusCommand plusC
Create a light #WinControl plusAlt plusShift plusLMacOption plusShift plusCommand plusL
Precompose the selected layers #WinControl plusShift plusCMacShift plusCommand plusC
Duplicate # Layers, masks, effects, text selectors, animators, puppet meshes, shapes, render items, output modules or compositions.WinControl plusDMacCommand plusD
Split the selected layers # With no layers selected, it splits every layer. In the Render Queue the same key duplicates a render item with its output filename.WinControl plusShift plusDMacShift plusCommand plusD
Select the next layer down #WinControl plusDown arrowMacCommand plusDown arrow
Select the next layer up #WinControl plusUp arrowMacCommand plusUp arrow
Move the selected layers down or up the stack # Add Shift to send them to the bottom or the top. Works on masks, effects and render items too.WinControl plusAlt plusDown arroworControl plusAlt plusUp arrowMacOption plusCommand plusDown arroworOption plusCommand plusUp arrow
Move the layer so its In or Out point is at the current time # [ brings the In point there, ] the Out point.WinLeft bracketorRight bracketMacLeft bracketorRight bracket
Trim the layer's In or Out point to the current time #WinAlt plusLeft bracketorAlt plusRight bracketMacOption plusLeft bracketorOption plusRight bracket
Move the layer's In point to the start of the composition #WinAlt plusHomeMacOption plusHome
Move the layer's Out point to the end of the composition #WinAlt plusEndMacOption plusEnd
Move the layer one frame earlier or later # Add Shift for ten frames.WinAlt plusPage UporAlt plusPage DownMacOption plusPage UporOption plusPage Down
Reverse the layer in time #WinControl plusAlt plusRMacOption plusCommand plusR
Turn on time remapping #WinControl plusAlt plusTMacOption plusCommand plusT
Solo only this layer # Click its solo switch: every other solo switch turns off.WinAlt plusclickMacOption plusclick
Position, scale and rotation
Practise theseNudge the selected layers one pixel # At the current magnification. The arrow keys move selected mask points the same way.WinUp arroworDown arroworLeft arroworRight arrowMacUp arroworDown arroworLeft arroworRight arrow
Nudge the selected layers ten pixels #WinShift plusUp arroworShift plusDown arroworShift plusLeft arroworShift plusRight arrowMacShift plusUp arroworShift plusDown arroworShift plusLeft arroworShift plusRight arrow
Change a value in steps ten times finer # Drag the property value.WinControl plusdragMacCommand plusdrag
Change a value in steps ten times larger # Drag the property value.WinShift plusdragMacShift plusdrag
Rotate in 15° steps # With the Rotation tool.WinShift plusdragMacShift plusdrag
Centre the anchor point in the layer's visible content #WinControl plusAlt plusHomeMacOption plusCommand plusHome
Centre the selected layers in the view # Changes Position so the layers' anchor points sit in the centre of the current view.WinControl plusHomeMacCommand plusHome
Fit the selected layers to the composition #WinControl plusAlt plusFMacOption plusCommand plusF
Fit the selected layers to the composition's width # Each layer keeps its aspect ratio.WinControl plusAlt plusShift plusHMacOption plusShift plusCommand plusH
Fit the selected layers to the composition's height # Each layer keeps its aspect ratio.WinControl plusAlt plusShift plusGMacOption plusShift plusCommand plusG
Zoom, views and guides
Practise theseZoom in on the composition # In the Composition, Layer or Footage panel. The full stop on the main keyboard.WinFull stopMacFull stop
Zoom out of the composition #WinCommaMacComma
Zoom to 100% # The / on the main keyboard.WinSlashMacSlash
Zoom to fit #WinShift plusSlashMacShift plusSlash
Zoom in on time # The = on the main keyboard.WinEqualsMacEquals
Zoom out of time #WinMinusMacMinus
Zoom the timeline to single frames # Press it again to see the whole composition. Shift+; does the reverse.WinSemicolonMacSemicolon
Set the resolution to Full, Half or Custom #WinControl plusJorControl plusShift plusJorControl plusAlt plusJMacCommand plusJorShift plusCommand plusJorOption plusCommand plusJ
Show the red, green, blue or alpha channel as greyscale #WinAlt plus1orAlt plus2orAlt plus3orAlt plus4MacOption plus1orOption plus2orOption plus3orOption plus4
Show or hide the safe zones #WinApostropheMacApostrophe
Show or hide the grid #WinControl plusApostropheMacCommand plusApostrophe
Show or hide the rulers #WinControl plusRMacCommand plusR
Show or hide the guides #WinControl plusSemicolonMacCommand plusSemicolon
Switch a guide between pixels and percent while dragging it # New in 26.5. Holding Ctrl (Command on a Mac) while dragging pins or unpins the guide instead.WinAlt plusdragMacOption plusdrag
Show or hide the layer controls # Masks, motion paths, light and camera wireframes, effect control points and layer handles.WinControl plusShift plusHMacShift plusCommand plusH
Switch to 3D view 1 or 2 # Front and Custom View 1 by default. View 3 (Active Camera) is F12 on Windows; Adobe's macOS cell for it reads "b".WinF10orF11MacF10orF11
Masks, shapes and text
Practise theseCreate a new mask #WinControl plusShift plusNMacShift plusCommand plusN
Free-transform the selected mask or path # Select the mask, or a shape's Path property, in the Timeline panel first. Double-clicking a mask with the Selection tool does the same, and Esc leaves.WinControl plusTMacCommand plusT
Invert the selected mask #WinControl plusShift plusIMacShift plusCommand plusI
Open the Mask Feather dialogue #WinControl plusShift plusFMacShift plusCommand plusF
Select the next or previous mask #WinAlt plusBacktickorAlt plusShift plusBacktickMacOption plusBacktickorOption plusShift plusBacktick
Switch a vertex between smooth and corner # Click the vertex.WinControl plusAlt plusclickMacOption plusCommand plusclick
Group the selected shapes #WinControl plusGMacCommand plusG
Ungroup the selected shapes #WinControl plusShift plusGMacShift plusCommand plusG
Draw a square, circle or upright star # Hold Shift while dragging to create the shape: rectangles become squares, ellipses circles, and polygons and stars have no rotation.WinShift plusdragMacShift plusdrag
Move a shape while you are still drawing it # Hold the spacebar while dragging to create it.WinSpace bardragMacSpace bardrag
Align the selected text left, centre or right # For vertical text the same keys align top, centre and bottom.WinControl plusShift plusLorControl plusShift plusCorControl plusShift plusRMacShift plusCommand plusLorShift plusCommand plusCorShift plusCommand plusR
Make the selected text 2 units smaller or larger # Add Alt (Option on a Mac) for 10 units.WinControl plusShift plusCommaorControl plusShift plusFull stopMacShift plusCommand plusCommaorShift plusCommand plusFull stop
Tighten or loosen kerning or tracking by 20 units # 20/1000 of an em. Add Ctrl (Command on a Mac) for 100 units.WinAlt plusLeft arroworAlt plusRight arrowMacOption plusLeft arroworOption plusRight arrow
Panels, effects and editing
Practise theseUndo #WinControl plusZMacCommand plusZ
Redo #WinControl plusShift plusZMacShift plusCommand plusZ
Select all #WinControl plusAMacCommand plusA
Deselect all #WinF2orControl plusShift plusAMacF2orShift plusCommand plusA
Rename the selected layer, composition or effect # Enter on the main keyboard (Return on a Mac). Also folders, groups and masks. Enter on the numeric keypad opens the item instead.WinEnterMacReturn
Open the Effect Controls panel # From Adobe's Layers table. Its Panels table gives Cmd+Opt+T on a Mac, which the Layers table gives to time remapping.WinF3orControl plusShift plusTMacF3orShift plusCommand plusT
Remove every effect from the selected layers #WinControl plusShift plusEMacShift plusCommand plusE
Apply the last effect again to the selected layers #WinControl plusAlt plusShift plusEMacOption plusShift plusCommand plusE
Apply the last animation preset again #WinControl plusAlt plusShift plusFMacOption plusShift plusCommand plusF
Open or close the Project panel #WinControl plus0MacCommand plus0
Open or close the Effects & Presets panel #WinControl plus5MacCommand plus5
Maximise or restore the panel under the pointer #WinBacktickMacBacktick
Switch between the Composition and Timeline panels # For the current composition.WinBackslashMacBackslash
Cycle through the compositions open in the viewer # Previous or next item in the active viewer.WinShift plusCommaorShift plusFull stopMacShift plusCommaorShift plusFull stop
Open the keyboard shortcut editor # Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts. It shows which keys are free, and a changed set is kept with Save As.WinControl plusAlt plusApostropheMacOption plusCommand plusApostrophe
Compositions, projects and rendering
Practise theseCreate a new composition #WinControl plusNMacCommand plusN
Open the composition settings #WinControl plusKMacCommand plusK
Make a new composition from the selection # Adobe's panels table also gives Cmd+\ on a Mac to resize the application window to fit the screen.WinAlt plusBackslashMacCommand plusBackslash
Trim the composition to the work area #WinControl plusShift plusXMacShift plusCommand plusX
Open the Composition Mini-Flowchart #WinTabMacTab
Go back to the last composition you were in # Within the same chain of nested compositions.WinShift plusEscapeMacShift plusEscape
Create a new project #WinControl plusAlt plusNMacOption plusCommand plusN
Open a project #WinControl plusOMacCommand plusO
Save the project #WinControl plusSMacCommand plusS
Increment and save the project #WinControl plusAlt plusShift plusSMacOption plusShift plusCommand plusS
Save the project as #WinControl plusShift plusSMacShift plusCommand plusS
Import a file or image sequence #WinControl plusIMacCommand plusI
Add the selected items to the last active composition # The / on the main keyboard.WinControl plusSlashMacCommand plusSlash
Add the composition to the Render Queue # The active composition, or the selected items.WinControl plusShift plusSlashMacShift plusCommand plusSlash
Send the composition to Adobe Media Encoder #WinControl plusAlt plusMMacOption plusCommand plusM
Next
Premiere
Adobe Premiere, formerly Premiere Pro, is cut mostly with single keys: J, K and L to play, I and O to mark, comma and full stop to edit into the sequence.
Illustrator
In Adobe Illustrator nearly every tool has a single letter, so V, A, P and T switch between selecting, editing points, drawing and type without the toolbar.
Lightroom Classic
In Adobe Lightroom Classic, culling runs on single keys: P and X flag picks and rejects, 1 to 5 set stars, and G, E, C and N switch the Library's views.
macOS
These work in the Finder and, with few exceptions, in every app that follows Apple's conventions.
Adobe After Effects keyboard shortcuts — comboshelf.com. Checked 27 September 2026 against Adobe Help Center — Keyboard shortcuts in After Effects.