Adobe Illustrator keyboard shortcuts
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. These are the default shortcuts for Illustrator on desktop, Windows and macOS, from Adobe's own list. Every key can be changed under Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts, which also exports your current set as a text file.
Checked against Adobe Illustrator User Guide — Default keyboard shortcuts. Version: Adobe Illustrator on desktop, current release (30.8, August 2026), default shortcuts.
Showing the Windows keyboard. Showing the Mac keyboard.
150 shortcuts
The top 20 are the Illustrator 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 Illustrator page marks as the ones to learn first, in the order they appear on it.
Your own sheet: the Illustrator shortcuts you ticked.
Files, undo and the clipboard
Practise theseUndo #WinControl plusZMacCommand plusZ
Redo #WinControl plusShift plusZMacShift plusCommand plusZ
Cut the selection # F2 does the same on both systems.WinControl plusXMacCommand plusX
Copy the selection # F3 does the same on both systems.WinControl plusCMacCommand plusC
Paste # F4 does the same on both systems.WinControl plusVMacCommand plusV
Paste in front #WinControl plusFMacCommand plusF
Paste at the back #WinControl plusBMacCommand plusB
Paste in place # Adobe's view list gives the same keys for pasting in place on the active artboard.WinControl plusShift plusVMacShift plusCommand plusV
Paste on all artboards #WinControl plusAlt plusShift plusVMacOption plusShift plusCommand plusV
Create a new document #WinControl plusNMacCommand plusN
Open a document #WinControl plusOMacCommand plusO
Place a file in the document #WinControl plusShift plusPMacShift plusCommand plusP
Save the document #WinControl plusSMacCommand plusS
Save as #WinControl plusShift plusSMacShift plusCommand plusS
Open Export for Screens #WinControl plusAlt plusEMacOption plusCommand plusE
Print #WinControl plusPMacCommand plusP
Close the document window #WinControl plusWMacCommand plusW
Open Preferences # The distance an arrow key nudges a selection is set in General Preferences.WinControl plusKMacCommand plusK
Open the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog box # Where keys are changed. Its Export Text button saves the defaults and your own changes as a text file.WinControl plusAlt plusShift plusKMacOption plusShift plusCommand plusK
Tools
One key each, the same on Windows and macOS. Adobe lists them all under Select tools, including the ones that draw and transform.
Practise theseSelect the Selection tool #WinVMacV
Select the Direct Selection tool # Hold Alt (Option on a Mac) to switch between it and the Group Selection tool.WinAMacA
Select the Magic Wand tool # Alt+click (Option+click on a Mac) takes objects out of its selection.WinYMacY
Select the Lasso tool # Shift+drag adds to the selection and Alt+drag (Option+drag) takes away. Caps Lock turns the pointer into a cross hair.WinQMacQ
Select the Artboard tool # Esc leaves Artboard tool mode. Shift+drag draws an artboard inside another.WinShift plusOMacShift plusO
Select the Pen tool # Hold Alt (Option on a Mac) to switch to the Convert Anchor Point tool.WinPMacP
Select the Curvature tool #WinShift plus~MacShift plus~
Select the Add Anchor Point tool # Hold Alt (Option on a Mac) to switch to the Delete Anchor Point tool.WinPlusMacPlus
Select the Line Segment tool # Shift+drag keeps the line to steps of 45°.WinBackslashMacBackslash
Select the Rectangle tool # Shift+drag draws a square. Alt+drag (Option+drag) draws from the centre.WinMMacM
Select the Ellipse tool # Shift+drag draws a circle.WinLMacL
Select the Paintbrush tool #WinBMacB
Select the Blob Brush tool # Hold Alt (Option on a Mac) to switch to the Smooth tool while you use it.WinShift plusBMacShift plusB
Select the Pencil tool # Hold Alt (Option on a Mac) for the Smooth tool, once that option is turned on in Pencil Tool Options.WinNMacN
Select the Eraser tool #WinShift plusEMacShift plusE
Select the Scissors tool # Hold Alt (Option on a Mac) to switch to the Add Anchor Point tool.WinCMacC
Select the Type tool # Shift switches between the horizontal and vertical versions of the type tools.WinTMacT
Select the Rotate tool # Alt+click (Option+click) sets the origin point and opens the dialog box. The same works with Reflect, Scale and Shear.WinRMacR
Select the Reflect tool #WinOMacO
Select the Scale tool #WinSMacS
Select the Width tool # Alt+drag (Option+drag) makes the widths non-uniform. Shift+click selects several width points.WinShift plusWMacShift plusW
Select the Free Transform tool #WinEMacE
Select the Shape Builder tool # Alt+click (Option+click) erases a closed region. Shift+drag draws a marquee to merge several paths.WinShift plusMMacShift plusM
Select the Gradient tool # With a gradient-filled object selected, G shows its gradient annotator.WinGMacG
Select the Eyedropper tool # Shift+click samples a colour from an image, or an intermediate colour from a gradient.WinIMacI
Select the Hand tool #WinHMacH
Select the Zoom tool # Double-click it to view at 100%.WinZMacZ
Selecting
Practise theseSelect all #WinControl plusAMacCommand plusA
Select the artwork on the active artboard #WinControl plusAlt plusAMacOption plusCommand plusA
Deselect #WinControl plusShift plusAMacShift plusCommand plusA
Add to the selection, or take an object out of it # With the Selection, Direct Selection, Group Selection or Live Paint Selection tool. With the Magic Wand, Shift+click adds and Alt+click (Option+click) takes away.WinShift plusclickMacShift plusclick
Switch to the selection tool you used last # Selection, Direct Selection or Group Selection, whichever was last.WinControl plusBacktickMacCommand plusBacktick
Select the object above the current selection #WinControl plusAlt plusRight bracketMacOption plusCommand plusRight bracket
Select the object below the current selection # Adobe's macOS cell stops at "Option + Command +", so the Mac key is not given.WinControl plusAlt plusLeft bracketMacNot listed
Select the object behind # Adobe says to press it twice. It works in isolation mode too.WinControl plusclickMacCommand plusclick
Select only objects wholly inside the marquee # Press it while you drag the selection marquee.WinEMacE
Grouping, locking and stacking
Practise theseGroup the selection #WinControl plusGMacCommand plusG
Ungroup the selection #WinControl plusShift plusGMacShift plusCommand plusG
Lock the selection #WinControl plus2MacCommand plus2
Unlock locked artwork #WinControl plusAlt plus2MacOption plusCommand plus2
Hide the selection #WinControl plus3MacCommand plus3
Bring the selection forward #WinControl plusRight bracketMacCommand plusRight bracket
Bring the selection to the front #WinControl plusShift plusRight bracketMacShift plusCommand plusRight bracket
Send the selection backward #WinControl plusLeft bracketMacCommand plusLeft bracket
Send the selection to the back #WinControl plusShift plusLeft bracketMacShift plusCommand plusLeft bracket
Nudge the selection # By the keyboard increment set in General Preferences.WinRight arroworLeft arroworUp arroworDown arrowMacRight arroworLeft arroworUp arroworDown arrow
Nudge the selection ten times as far #WinShift plusRight arroworShift plusLeft arroworShift plusUp arroworShift plusDown arrowMacShift plusRight arroworShift plusLeft arroworShift plusUp arroworShift plusDown arrow
Constrain a move to 45° angles # Adobe says hold down Shift. Not with the Reflect tool.WinShift plusdragMacShift plusdrag
While you draw
Modifiers and keys that change a shape while the mouse button is still down.
Practise theseKeep a shape's proportions # Equal height and width for rectangles, ellipses and grids; 45° steps for lines and arcs; the original orientation for polygons, stars and flares.WinShift plusdragMacShift plusdrag
Draw from the centre # Not for polygons, stars and flares.WinAlt plusdragMacOption plusdrag
Move a shape while you draw it #WinSpace bardragMacSpace bardrag
Add or remove sides, points or winds # Start dragging first. Changes polygon sides, star points, arc angle, spiral winds or flare rays.WinUp arroworDown arrowMacUp arroworDown arrow
Move the anchor point you are placing with the Pen tool #WinSpace bardragMacSpace bardrag
Make the Blob Brush bigger # Adobe gives the same key for a larger Bristle brush.WinRight bracketMacRight bracket
Make the Blob Brush smaller # Adobe gives the same key for a smaller Bristle brush.WinLeft bracketMacLeft bracket
Cut a straight line with the Knife tool # Add Shift to cut at 45° or 90°.WinAlt plusdragMacOption plusdrag
Switch the active perspective plane # With the Perspective Selection tool: 1 for the left grid, 2 horizontal, 3 right, 4 for no active grid.Win1or2or3or4Mac1or2or3or4
Show or hide the perspective grid # Shift+P selects the Perspective Grid tool and Shift+V the Perspective Selection tool.WinControl plusShift plusIMacShift plusCommand plusI
Paths, masks and transforms
Practise theseJoin two or more paths # Select the paths first.WinControl plusJMacCommand plusJ
Create a corner or smooth join # Adobe's Windows row says to select the paths first, its macOS row the anchor point.WinControl plusAlt plusShift plusJMacOption plusShift plusCommand plusJ
Make a compound path #WinControl plus8MacCommand plus8
Release a compound path #WinControl plusAlt plusShift plus8MacOption plusShift plusCommand plus8
Make a clipping mask #WinControl plus7MacCommand plus7
Release a clipping mask #WinControl plusAlt plus7MacOption plusCommand plus7
Repeat the last transformation # Adobe calls it Transform Again. It also repeats a transformation on the perspective grid.WinControl plusDMacCommand plusD
Duplicate while you transform # With the Selection, Scale, Reflect or Shear tool.WinAlt plusdragMacOption plusdrag
Transform the pattern but not the object # Adobe calls the key Backquote. With the Selection, Scale, Reflect or Shear tool.WinBacktickdragMacBacktickdrag
Open the Move dialog box # Adobe's row reads "Move an object".WinControl plusShift plusMMacShift plusCommand plusM
Apply the last Pathfinder effect #WinControl plus4MacCommand plus4
Apply the last effect again # Alt+Shift+Ctrl+E (Option+Shift+Command+E on a Mac) opens its dialog box so you can change the values first.WinControl plusShift plusEMacShift plusCommand plusE
Blend the selected objects #WinControl plusAlt plusBMacOption plusCommand plusB
Distort with a warp envelope #WinControl plusAlt plusShift plusWMacOption plusShift plusCommand plusW
Fill, stroke and colour
Practise theseSwitch between fill and stroke #WinXMacX
Set fill and stroke to the default #WinDMacD
Swap fill and stroke #WinShift plusXMacShift plusX
Use a colour fill #Win<Mac<
Use a gradient fill #Win>Mac>
Set the fill or stroke to none #WinSlashMacSlash
Add a new fill #WinControl plusSlashMacCommand plusSlash
Add a new stroke #WinControl plusAlt plusSlashMacOption plusCommand plusSlash
Change the colour mode in the Color panel # On the colour bar. Ctrl+click (Command+click) picks the complement of the current colour instead.WinShift plusclickMacShift plusclick
Type
The steps for size, leading, baseline shift and tracking are set in Edit > Preferences > Type on Windows, Illustrator > Preferences > Type on a Mac.
Practise theseMake the text bold #WinControl plusShift plusBMacShift plusCommand plusB
Make the text italic #WinControl plusShift plusIMacShift plusCommand plusI
Align the paragraph left #WinControl plusShift plusLMacShift plusCommand plusL
Centre the paragraph #WinControl plusShift plusCMacShift plusCommand plusC
Align the paragraph right #WinControl plusShift plusRMacShift plusCommand plusR
Justify the paragraph, last line left # Adobe calls it Justify text left.WinControl plusShift plusJMacShift plusCommand plusJ
Justify all lines #WinControl plusShift plusFMacShift plusCommand plusF
Increase or decrease the font size # Add Alt (Option on a Mac) to change it by steps.WinControl plusShift plusFull stoporControl plusShift plusCommaMacShift plusCommand plusFull stoporShift plusCommand plusComma
Increase or decrease the leading # For horizontal text. For vertical text, use Right or Left instead.WinAlt plusUp arroworAlt plusDown arrowMacOption plusUp arroworOption plusDown arrow
Increase or decrease kerning and tracking # For horizontal text; Up or Down for vertical text. Add Ctrl (Command on a Mac) for five times the step.WinAlt plusRight arroworAlt plusLeft arrowMacOption plusRight arroworOption plusLeft arrow
Reset tracking and kerning to 0 #WinControl plusAlt plusQMacOption plusCommand plusQ
Increase or decrease the baseline shift # For horizontal text. For vertical text, use Right or Left instead.WinAlt plusShift plusUp arroworAlt plusShift plusDown arrowMacOption plusShift plusUp arroworOption plusShift plusDown arrow
Insert a soft return #WinShift plusEnterMacShift plusReturn
Insert an em dash #WinAlt plusShift plusMinusMacOption plusShift plusMinus
Insert an en dash #WinAlt plusMinusMacOption plusMinus
Create outlines from type #WinControl plusShift plusOMacShift plusCommand plusO
Open the Character panel #WinControl plusTMacCommand plusT
Open the Paragraph panel #WinControl plusAlt plusTMacOption plusCommand plusT
Jump to the font name in the Character panel #WinControl plusAlt plusShift plusFMacOption plusShift plusCommand plusF
Zoom, views and guides
Practise theseZoom in #WinControl plusEqualsMacCommand plusEquals
Zoom out #WinControl plusMinusMacCommand plusMinus
View at 100% # Double-clicking the Zoom tool does the same.WinControl plus1MacCommand plus1
Fit all artboards in the window #WinControl plusAlt plus0MacOption plusCommand plus0
Switch to the Hand tool for a moment # Hold it. Not while you are editing text.WinSpace barMacSpace bar
Switch to the Zoom tool to magnify # Add Alt (Option on a Mac) for the Zoom tool in reduce mode.WinControl plusSpace barMacCommand plusSpace bar
Switch between Outline and GPU Preview # Ctrl+E (Command+E on a Mac) switches between GPU and CPU Preview.WinControl plusYMacCommand plusY
Turn on Overprint Preview #WinControl plusAlt plusShift plusYMacOption plusShift plusCommand plusY
Cycle through the screen modes # Normal, Full Screen with Menu Bar, then Full Screen. Esc leaves full screen.WinFMacF
Show or hide the artboard rulers # As Adobe gives them: the macOS keys include Option, the Windows keys have no Alt.WinControl plusRMacOption plusCommand plusR
Show or hide smart guides #WinControl plusUMacCommand plusU
Hide guides #WinControl plusSemicolonMacCommand plusSemicolon
Make guides from the selection #WinControl plus5MacCommand plus5
Release guides # The macOS keys are as Adobe gives them, with Control where Make guides uses Command.WinControl plusAlt plus5MacControl plusOption plus5
Show the grid #WinControl plusApostropheMacCommand plusApostrophe
Hide the bounding box # Adobe's type list gives the same keys for Bold.WinControl plusShift plusBMacShift plusCommand plusB
Panels and layers
Practise theseShow or hide all panels # Shift+Tab hides all but the Tools and Control panels.WinTabMacTab
Show or hide the Layers panel #WinF7MacF7
Show or hide the Color panel #WinF6MacF6
Show or hide the Brushes panel #WinF5MacF5
Show or hide the Align panel #WinShift plusF7MacShift plusF7
Show or hide the Transform panel #WinShift plusF8MacShift plusF8
Show or hide the Pathfinder panel #WinControl plusShift plusF9MacShift plusCommand plusF9
Show or hide the Appearance panel #WinShift plusF6MacShift plusF6
Open the Color Guide #WinShift plusF3MacShift plusF3
Add a layer # Alt+Ctrl+L (Option+Command+L on a Mac) opens the New Layer dialog box as well.WinControl plusLMacCommand plusL
Select every object on a layer # On the layer's name in the Layers panel.WinAlt plusclickMacOption plusclick
Show or hide every layer but this one # On the eye icon in the Layers panel.WinAlt plusclickMacOption plusclick
Apply a value and keep the field active # In the Transform panel, Alt+Enter (Option+Return on a Mac) applies the value to a copy of the object.WinShift plusEnterMacShift plusReturn
Next
InDesign
Adobe InDesign treats a frame and what is inside it as two things to select: Esc steps out to the frame, and Shift+Esc steps back in to the content.
Acrobat
Adobe Acrobat's single-letter tool keys, such as V for Select and T for Edit text, stay off until you turn on Use single-key accelerators in Preferences.
macOS
These work in the Finder and, with few exceptions, in every app that follows Apple's conventions.
Adobe Illustrator keyboard shortcuts — comboshelf.com. Checked 27 September 2026 against Adobe Illustrator User Guide — Default keyboard shortcuts.