Adobe InDesign keyboard shortcuts
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. These are the default shortcuts for InDesign on desktop, from Adobe's own list, which covers tools, type, tables, views and panels; keys for menu commands are shown beside each command in the menus. The default set cannot be edited: to change a key, make a new set under Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts, where Show Set also prints your current list.
Checked against Adobe InDesign User Guide — Keyboard shortcuts. Version: Adobe InDesign on desktop, current release (21.6, September 2026), default shortcut set.
Showing the Windows keyboard. Showing the Mac keyboard.
144 shortcuts
The top 19 are the InDesign 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 19 to learn first: the shortcuts the InDesign page marks as the ones to learn first, in the order they appear on it.
Your own sheet: the InDesign shortcuts you ticked.
Select the Selection tool # Adobe gives both keys.WinVorEscapeMacVorEscape
Select the Direct Selection tool #WinAMacA
Select the Page tool #WinShift plusPMacShift plusP
Select the Gap tool #WinUMacU
Select the Hand tool # Double-click it to fit the spread in the window.WinHMacH
Select the Zoom tool #WinZMacZ
Select the Pen tool #WinPMacP
Select the Add Anchor Point tool # Or = on the numeric keypad.WinEqualsMacEquals
Select the Delete Anchor Point tool # On a Mac, Adobe also gives - on the numeric keypad.WinMinusMacMinus
Select the Convert Direction Point tool #WinShift plusCMacShift plusC
Select the Type tool #WinTMacT
Select the Type on a Path tool #WinShift plusTMacShift plusT
Select the Pencil tool #WinNMacN
Select the Line tool #WinBackslashMacBackslash
Select the Rectangle Frame tool #WinFMacF
Select the Rectangle tool #WinMMacM
Select the Ellipse tool #WinLMacL
Select the horizontal Frame Grid tool #WinYMacY
Select the vertical Frame Grid tool #WinQMacQ
Select the Rotate tool #WinRMacR
Select the Scale tool #WinSMacS
Select the Shear tool #WinOMacO
Select the Free Transform tool #WinEMacE
Select the Eyedropper tool #WinIMacI
Select the Measure tool #WinKMacK
Select the Gradient Swatch tool #WinGMacG
Select the Gradient Feather tool #WinShift plusGMacShift plusG
Select the Scissors tool #WinCMacC
Borrowing a tool for a moment
Hold the key, use the tool, let go, and you are back where you were.
Practise theseSwitch between the Selection and Direct Selection tools #WinControl plusTabMacControl plusCommand plusTab
Use the Hand tool for a moment # When there is no text insertion point.WinSpace barMacSpace bar
Use the Hand tool while typing # When there is a text insertion point.WinAlt plusdragorAlt plusSpace barMacOption plusdragorOption plusSpace bar
Use the Zoom In tool for a moment #WinControl plusSpace barMacCommand plusSpace bar
Use the Zoom Out tool for a moment # Or hold Alt (Option on a Mac) with the Zoom In tool.WinControl plusAlt plusSpace barMacOption plusCommand plusSpace bar
Use the Selection or Direct Selection tool for a moment # Hold it with any tool except the selection tools.WinControl plusMacCommand plus
Use the Group Selection tool for a moment # Hold it with the Direct Selection tool. With the Pen, Add Anchor Point or Delete Anchor Point tool, hold Alt+Ctrl (Option+Command).WinAlt plusMacOption plus
Selecting, moving and resizing
Select the frame around the selected content # Adobe: select the container of selected content. Double-clicking does it too.WinEscapeMacEscape
Select the content inside the selected frame # Adobe: select the content of the selected container. Double-clicking does it too.WinShift plusEscapeMacShift plusEscape
Add to or take away from the selection # With the Selection, Direct Selection or Group Selection tool. Shift+click the centre point to deselect.WinShift plusclickMacShift plusclick
Select the next object behind or in front # With the Selection tool.WinControl plusclickorControl plusAlt plusclickMacCommand plusclickorOption plusCommand plusclick
Select the parent page item from the document page # With the Selection or Direct Selection tool.WinControl plusShift plusclickMacShift plusCommand plusclick
Select all guides #WinControl plusAlt plusGMacOption plusCommand plusG
Move the selection #Winarrow keyMacarrow key
Move the selection ten times as far #WinShift plusarrow keyMacShift plusarrow key
Move the selection a tenth as far #WinControl plusShift plusarrow keyMacShift plusCommand plusarrow key
Duplicate the selection and offset the copy # Add Shift to offset it ten times as far.WinAlt plusarrow keyMacOption plusarrow key
Duplicate the selection by dragging # With the Selection, Direct Selection or Group Selection tool.WinAlt plusdragMacOption plusdrag
Duplicate while you transform # With a transformation tool.WinAlt plusdragMacOption plusdrag
Resize the frame and its content together # With the Selection tool.WinControl plusdragMacCommand plusdrag
Resize the frame and its content in proportion # With the Selection tool.WinControl plusShift plusdragMacShift plusCommand plusdrag
Keep a shape's proportions while drawing # With the Ellipse, Polygon or Rectangle tool.WinShift plusdragMacShift plusdrag
Fill, stroke and colour
Practise theseSwitch between fill and stroke #WinXMacX
Swap fill and stroke #WinShift plusXMacShift plusX
Switch formatting between the frame and the text # Adobe calls it Formatting affects container or text.WinJMacJ
Apply colour #WinCommaMacComma
Apply a gradient #WinFull stopMacFull stop
Apply none #WinSlashMacSlash
Switch between colour modes # On the colour bar in the Color panel.WinShift plusclickMacShift plusclick
Pick a colour for the fill or stroke that is not active # On the colour bar in the Color panel.WinAlt plusclickMacOption plusclick
Move the colour sliders together # Drag one slider.WinShift plusdragMacShift plusdrag
Make a new swatch from the current one # On the New Swatch icon. Add Ctrl (Command on a Mac) to make it a spot colour.WinAlt plusclickMacOption plusclick
Character formatting
Practise theseMake the text bold # Only for fonts with a bold face.WinControl plusShift plusBMacShift plusCommand plusB
Make the text italic # Only for fonts with an italic face.WinControl plusShift plusIMacShift plusCommand plusI
Set the text back to Normal #WinControl plusShift plusYMacShift plusCommand plusY
Underline the text #WinControl plusShift plusUMacShift plusCommand plusU
Strike through the text # The Mac keys add Control.WinControl plusShift plusSlashMacControl plusShift plusCommand plusSlash
Turn all caps on or off #WinControl plusShift plusKMacShift plusCommand plusK
Turn small caps on or off #WinControl plusShift plusHMacShift plusCommand plusH
Make the text superscript #WinControl plusShift plusEqualsMacShift plusCommand plusEquals
Make the text subscript #WinControl plusAlt plusShift plusEqualsMacOption plusShift plusCommand plusEquals
Reset the horizontal or vertical scale to 100% #WinControl plusShift plusXorControl plusAlt plusShift plusXMacShift plusCommand plusXorOption plusShift plusCommand plusX
Increase or decrease the point size # Add Alt (Option on a Mac) for five times the step.WinControl plusShift plus>orControl plusShift plus<MacShift plusCommand plus>orShift plusCommand plus<
Increase or decrease the leading # For horizontal text; Right or Left for vertical text. Add Ctrl (Command on a Mac) for five times the step.WinAlt plusUp arroworAlt plusDown arrowMacOption plusUp arroworOption plusDown arrow
Set the leading to Auto #WinControl plusAlt plusShift plusAMacOption plusShift plusCommand plusA
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 plusLeft arroworAlt plusRight arrowMacOption plusLeft arroworOption plusRight arrow
Clear manual kerning and reset tracking to 0 #WinControl plusAlt plusQMacOption plusCommand plusQ
Increase or decrease the baseline shift # For horizontal text; Right or Left for vertical text. Add Ctrl (Command on a Mac) for five times the step.WinAlt plusShift plusUp arroworAlt plusShift plusDown arrowMacOption plusShift plusUp arroworOption plusShift plusDown arrow
Paragraphs and styles
Practise theseAlign 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 all lines #WinControl plusShift plusFMacShift plusCommand plusF
Justify all but the last line #WinControl plusShift plusJMacShift plusCommand plusJ
Turn Align to grid on or off #WinControl plusAlt plusShift plusGMacOption plusShift plusCommand plusG
Turn auto-hyphenation on or off #WinControl plusAlt plusShift plusHMacOption plusShift plusCommand plusH
Make the character style match the selected text # Select the text first.WinControl plusAlt plusShift plusCMacOption plusShift plusCommand plusC
Make the paragraph style match the selected text # Select the text first.WinControl plusAlt plusShift plusRMacOption plusShift plusCommand plusR
Apply a paragraph style and remove local formatting # On the paragraph style.WinAlt plusclickMacOption plusclick
Apply a paragraph style and clear its overrides # On the paragraph style.WinAlt plusShift plusclickMacOption plusShift plusclick
Change a style's options without applying it # On the style.WinControl plusAlt plusShift plusdouble-clickMacOption plusShift plusCommand plusdouble-click
Moving through and finding text
Practise theseMove one word right or left #WinControl plusRight arroworControl plusLeft arrowMacCommand plusRight arroworCommand plusLeft arrow
Move to the previous or next paragraph #WinControl plusUp arroworControl plusDown arrowMacCommand plusUp arroworCommand plusDown arrow
Move to the start or end of the story #WinControl plusHomeorControl plusEndMacCommand plusHomeorCommand plusEnd
Select the current line #WinControl plusShift plusBackslashMacShift plusCommand plusBackslash
Select one paragraph before or after #WinControl plusShift plusUp arroworControl plusShift plusDown arrowMacShift plusCommand plusUp arroworShift plusCommand plusDown arrow
Select to the start or end of the story #WinControl plusShift plusHomeorControl plusShift plusEndMacShift plusCommand plusHomeorShift plusCommand plusEnd
Select all in the story # With the text insertion point in the story.WinControl plusAMacCommand plusA
Put the selected text in the Find What box #WinControl plusF1MacCommand plusF1
Put the selected text in Find What and find the next one #WinShift plusF1MacShift plusF1
Find the next occurrence of the Find What text #WinShift plusF2orControl plusAlt plusFMacShift plusF2orOption plusCommand plusF
Put the selected text in the Change To box #WinControl plusF2MacCommand plusF2
Replace the selection with the Change To text #WinControl plusF3MacCommand plusF3
Tables
Move to the next or previous cell #WinTaborShift plusTabMacTaborShift plusTab
Move to the first or last cell in the column #WinAlt plusPage UporAlt plusPage DownMacOption plusPage UporOption plusPage Down
Move to the first or last cell in the row #WinAlt plusHomeorAlt plusEndMacOption plusHomeorOption plusEnd
Insert or delete rows or columns while dragging # Start dragging the border, then hold it.WinAlt plusMacOption plus
Resize rows or columns without changing the table size # Drag an inside border.WinShift plusdragMacShift plusdrag
Resize rows or columns in proportion # Drag the right or bottom border.WinShift plusdragMacShift plusdrag
Views, pages and documents
Practise theseSwitch between Normal and Preview mode #WinWMacW
Zoom to 50% #WinControl plus5MacCommand plus5
Zoom to 200% #WinControl plus2MacCommand plus2
Zoom to 400% #WinControl plus4MacCommand plus4
Go back to the previous zoom level #WinControl plusAlt plus2MacOption plusCommand plus2
Fit the selection in the window #WinControl plusAlt plusEqualsMacOption plusCommand plusEquals
Go to a page # Adobe calls it the Go To command.WinControl plusJMacCommand plusJ
Go to the previous or next spread #WinAlt plusPage UporAlt plusPage DownMacOption plusPage UporOption plusPage Down
Go back or forward to the last page you viewed #WinControl plusPage UporControl plusPage DownMacCommand plusPage UporCommand plusPage Down
Scroll up or down one screen #WinPage UporPage DownMacPage UporPage Down
Switch between High Quality Display and Fast Display #WinControl plusAlt plusShift plusZMacOption plusShift plusCommand plusZ
Redraw the screen #WinShift plusF5MacShift plusF5
Switch to the next or previous document window #WinControl plus~orControl plusShift plusF6orControl plusShift plus~MacCommand plusF6orCommand plus~orShift plusCommand plus~
Open a new default document #WinControl plusAlt plusNMacOption plusCommand plusN
Cycle through the units of measurement #WinControl plusAlt plusShift plusUMacOption plusShift plusCommand plusU
Turn on Overprint Preview # In Separations Preview.WinControl plusAlt plusShift plusYMacOption plusShift plusCommand plusY
Show all plates # In Separations Preview.WinControl plusAlt plusShift plus~MacOption plusShift plusCommand plus~
Show the cyan plate # In Separations Preview. 2, 3 and 4 in place of 1 show magenta, yellow and black; 5, 6 and 7 the first three spot plates.WinControl plusAlt plusShift plus1MacOption plusShift plusCommand plus1
Panels
Practise theseShow or hide all panels # With no text insertion point. Shift+Tab keeps the Tools and Control panels.WinTabMacTab
Open or close all stashed panels #WinControl plusAlt plusTabMacOption plusCommand plusTab
Go to the last option you used in a panel # Adobe: activate the last option in the last panel.WinControl plusAlt plus~MacOption plusCommand plus~
Apply a value and stay in the field #WinShift plusEnterMacShift plusReturn
Activate the Control panel #WinControl plus6MacCommand plus6
Switch the Control panel between Character and Paragraph #WinControl plusAlt plus7MacOption plusCommand plus7
Open the Character panel #WinControl plusTMacCommand plusT
Open the Paragraph panel #WinControl plusAlt plusTMacOption plusCommand plusT
Open the Paragraph Styles panel # Adobe lists the Mac key among its platform-specific variations.WinF11MacCommand plusF11
Open the Character Styles panel # Adobe lists the Mac key among its platform-specific variations.WinShift plusF11MacShift plusCommand plusF11
Open the Tabs panel #WinControl plusShift plusTMacShift plusCommand plusT
Open the Layers panel #WinF7MacF7
Open the Pages panel # Adobe lists the Mac key among its platform-specific variations.WinF12MacCommand plusF12
Open the Color panel #WinF6MacF6
Open the Swatches panel #WinF5MacF5
Open the Stroke panel #WinF10MacCommand plusF10
Open the Drop Shadow panel #WinControl plusAlt plusMMacOption plusCommand plusM
Open Preferences # Adobe lists it only for macOS, among its platform-specific variations.WinNot listedMacCommand plusK
Delete without being asked to confirm # On a panel's Delete icon.WinAlt plusclickMacOption plusclick
Create an item and set its options # On a panel's New icon.WinAlt plusclickMacOption plusclick
Next
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.
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.
Word
Most of Word's shortcuts are decades old, but Microsoft has moved a few, and this page follows its current list, except where a row's note says otherwise.
Adobe InDesign keyboard shortcuts — comboshelf.com. Checked 27 September 2026 against Adobe InDesign User Guide — Keyboard shortcuts.