Ableton Live keyboard shortcuts
Ableton Live is music software for writing tracks in the studio and playing them on stage, built around Session View and Arrangement View. Its keys switch views, edit clips and devices, draw automation, set the grid and loop, and run tracks, transport, and the browser.
Windows, macOS · 239 shortcutsViews and focus
Show or hide Live's main views, move keyboard focus, and switch between the Session, Arrangement, Device, and Clip areas.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Toggle full-screen mode | WindowsF11 macOSCtrl + Cmd + F |
| Toggle the second window | WindowsCtrl + Shift + W macOSCmd + Shift + W |
| Switch between Session and Arrangement View | Windows / macOSTab |
| Toggle Hot-Swap mode | Windows / macOSQ |
| Toggle Drum Rack or the last selected pad | Windows / macOSD |
| Show or hide Info View | Windows / macOSShift + ? |
| Show or hide the video window | WindowsCtrl + Alt + V macOSCmd + Option + V |
| Show or hide the Overview | WindowsCtrl + Alt + O macOSCmd + Option + O |
| Show or hide In/Out | WindowsCtrl + Alt + I macOSCmd + Option + I |
| Show or hide Sends | WindowsCtrl + Alt + S macOSCmd + Option + S |
| Show or hide the Mixer | WindowsCtrl + Alt + M macOSCmd + Option + M |
| Show or hide Clip View | WindowsCtrl + Alt + 3 macOSCmd + Option + 3 |
| Show or hide Device View | WindowsCtrl + Alt + 4 macOSCmd + Option + 4 |
| Show or hide the Groove Pool | WindowsCtrl + Alt + 6 macOSCmd + Option + 6 |
| Show or hide Learn View | WindowsCtrl + Alt + 7 macOSCmd + Option + 7 |
| Open Settings | WindowsCtrl + , macOSCmd + , |
| Close the current window or dialog | Windows / macOSEsc |
| Move focus to the Control Bar | WindowsAlt + 0 macOSOption + 0 |
| Move focus to Session View | WindowsAlt + 1 macOSOption + 1 |
| Move focus to Arrangement View | WindowsAlt + 2 macOSOption + 2 |
| Move focus to Clip View | WindowsAlt + 3 macOSOption + 3 |
| Move focus to Device View | WindowsAlt + 4 macOSOption + 4 |
| Move focus to the Browser | WindowsAlt + 5 macOSOption + 5 |
| Move focus to the Groove Pool | WindowsAlt + 6 macOSOption + 6 |
| Move focus to Learn View | WindowsAlt + 7 macOSOption + 7 |
| Move focus to the selected clip panel | WindowsAlt + 8 macOSOption + 8 |
| Move focus to the clip panels | WindowsAlt + Shift + P macOSOption + Shift + P |
| Move to the next focusable control | Windows / macOSTab |
| Move to the previous focusable control | Windows / macOSShift + Tab |
| Move to the next neighboring control | WindowsCtrl + Tab macOSOption + Tab |
| Move to the previous neighboring control | WindowsCtrl + Shift + Tab macOSOption + Shift + Tab |
| Switch between Device and Clip View | Windows / macOSShift + TaborF12 |
| Show or hide the Browser | WindowsCtrl + Alt + BorCtrl + Alt + 5 macOSCmd + Option + BorCmd + Option + 5 |
Sets, devices, and editing
Create and save sets, manage devices, use standard editing commands, and change the selected value.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Create a new Live Set | WindowsCtrl + N macOSCmd + N |
| Open a Live Set | WindowsCtrl + O macOSCmd + O |
| Save the Live Set | WindowsCtrl + S macOSCmd + S |
| Save the Live Set as a new file | WindowsCtrl + Shift + S macOSCmd + Shift + S |
| Quit Live | WindowsCtrl + Q macOSCmd + Q |
| Hide Live | WindowsNot documented macOSCmd + H |
| Export audio or video | WindowsCtrl + Shift + R macOSCmd + Shift + R |
| Export a MIDI file | WindowsCtrl + Shift + E macOSCmd + Shift + E |
| Group selected devices | WindowsCtrl + G macOSCmd + G |
| Ungroup selected devices | WindowsCtrl + Shift + G macOSCmd + Shift + G |
| Reset the selected parameter | Windows / macOSDelete |
| Load the selected device from the Browser | Windows / macOSEnter |
| Hot-swap the selected device | Windows / macOSQ |
| Show or hide open plug-in windows | WindowsCtrl + Alt + P macOSCmd + Option + P |
| Switch the A/B device state | Windows / macOSP |
| Cut | WindowsCtrl + X macOSCmd + X |
| Copy | WindowsCtrl + C macOSCmd + C |
| Paste | WindowsCtrl + V macOSCmd + V |
| Duplicate | WindowsCtrl + D macOSCmd + D |
| Delete | Windows / macOSDelete |
| Undo | WindowsCtrl + Z macOSCmd + Z |
| Redo | WindowsCtrl + Y macOSCmd + Shift + Z |
| Rename | WindowsCtrl + R macOSCmd + R |
| Select all | WindowsCtrl + A macOSCmd + A |
| Move to the next track or scene while renaming | Windows / macOSTab |
| Increment or decrement a selected value | Windows / macOSUp/Down |
| Change a value by octaves or fine increments | Windows / macOSShift + Up/Down |
| Return a selected value to its default | Windows / macOSDelete |
| Type a value | Windows / macOS0-9 |
| Move to the next bar, beat, or sixteenth field | Windows / macOS. or , |
| Cancel value entry | Windows / macOSEsc |
| Confirm value entry | Windows / macOSEnter |
Automation, grid, and loop
Edit breakpoint envelopes and loop markers, change the grid, and set Live's global launch quantization.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Toggle Automation Mode | Windows / macOSA |
| Momentarily toggle fade controls | Windows / macOSF |
| Delete the selected breakpoint envelope | WindowsCtrl + Delete macOSCmd + Delete |
| Set the start marker | WindowsCtrl + F9 macOSCmd + F9 |
| Set the loop brace start | WindowsCtrl + F10 macOSCmd + F10 |
| Set the loop brace end | WindowsCtrl + F11 macOSCmd + F11 |
| Set the end marker | WindowsCtrl + F12 macOSCmd + F12 |
| Nudge the loop brace left or right | Windows / macOSLeft/Right |
| Move the loop by its length | Windows / macOSUp/Down |
| Halve or double the loop length | WindowsCtrl + Up/Down macOSCmd + Up/Down |
| Shorten or lengthen the loop | WindowsCtrl + Left/Right macOSCmd + Left/Right |
| Select the material inside the loop | WindowsCtrl + Shift + L macOSCmd + Shift + L |
| Zoom the window in | WindowsCtrl + + macOSCmd + + |
| Zoom the window out | WindowsCtrl + - macOSCmd + - |
| Zoom the time ruler in | Windows / macOS+ |
| Zoom the time ruler out | Windows / macOS- |
| Scroll the display to follow playback | WindowsAlt + Shift + F macOSOption + Shift + F |
| Toggle Draw Mode | Windows / macOSB |
| Narrow the grid | WindowsCtrl + 1 macOSCmd + 1 |
| Widen the grid | WindowsCtrl + 2 macOSCmd + 2 |
| Toggle the triplet grid | WindowsCtrl + 3 macOSCmd + 3 |
| Toggle Snap to Grid | WindowsCtrl + 4 macOSCmd + 4 |
| Switch between fixed and zoom-adaptive grid | WindowsCtrl + 5 macOSCmd + 5 |
| Set sixteenth-note global quantization | WindowsCtrl + 6 macOSCmd + 6 |
| Set eighth-note global quantization | WindowsCtrl + 7 macOSCmd + 7 |
| Set quarter-note global quantization | WindowsCtrl + 8 macOSCmd + 8 |
| Set one-bar global quantization | WindowsCtrl + 9 macOSCmd + 9 |
| Turn global quantization off | WindowsCtrl + 0 macOSCmd + 0 |
Clip editors
Move between Clip View tabs and edit warp markers, transients, MIDI notes, velocity, chance, and note groups.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Switch to the next Clip View editor tab | WindowsCtrl + Tab macOSOption + Tab |
| Switch to the Sample or Notes tab | WindowsAlt + Shift + 1 macOSOption + Shift + 1 |
| Switch to the Envelopes tab | WindowsAlt + Shift + 2 macOSOption + Shift + 2 |
| Switch to the MPE tab | WindowsAlt + Shift + 3 macOSOption + Shift + 3 |
| Quantize | WindowsCtrl + U macOSCmd + U |
| Open Quantize Settings | WindowsCtrl + Shift + U macOSCmd + Shift + U |
| Move the selected warp marker | Windows / macOSLeft/Right |
| Select the previous or next warp marker | WindowsCtrl + Left/Right macOSCmd + Left/Right |
| Zoom to the clip selection | Windows / macOSZ |
| Zoom back from the clip selection | Windows / macOSX |
| Insert a warp marker | WindowsCtrl + I macOSCmd + I |
| Delete a warp marker | Windows / macOSDelete |
| Insert a transient | WindowsCtrl + Shift + I macOSCmd + Shift + I |
| Delete a transient | WindowsCtrl + Shift + Delete macOSCmd + Shift + Delete |
| Fit clip content to the view width | Windows / macOSW |
| Fit clip content to the view height | Windows / macOSH |
| Chop selected notes on the grid | WindowsCtrl + E macOSCmd + E |
| Join selected notes | WindowsCtrl + J macOSCmd + J |
| Fit notes to the selected time range | WindowsCtrl + Alt + J macOSCmd + Option + J |
| Scroll the MIDI editor vertically | Windows / macOSPage Up/Down |
| Scroll the MIDI editor vertically in fine increments | Windows / macOSShift + Page Up/Down |
| Scroll the MIDI editor horizontally | WindowsCtrl + Page Up/Down macOSCmd + Page Up/Down |
| Scroll the Clip View display to follow playback | WindowsCtrl + Shift + F macOSOption + Shift + F |
| Move the clip region with its start marker | Windows / macOSShift + Left/Right |
| Select the previous or next note | WindowsAlt + Up/Down macOSOption + Up/Down |
| Select the previous or next note on the same key track | WindowsAlt + Left/Right macOSOption + Left/Right |
| Adjust the selected note velocity | WindowsCtrl + Up/Down macOSCmd + Up/Down |
| Adjust selected note velocity deviation | WindowsCtrl + Shift + Up/Down macOSCmd + Shift + Up/Down |
| Adjust selected note chance | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Up/Down macOSCmd + Option + Up/Down |
| Toggle full-size Clip View | WindowsCtrl + Alt + E macOSCmd + Option + E |
| Group notes for Play All | WindowsCtrl + G macOSCmd + G |
| Ungroup notes | WindowsCtrl + Shift + G macOSCmd + Shift + G |
| Apply the current MIDI tool settings | WindowsCtrl + Enter macOSCmd + Enter |
| Invert the note selection | WindowsCtrl + Shift + A macOSCmd + Shift + A |
| Highlight the scale | Windows / macOSK |
| Select all notes | WindowsCtrl + A macOSCmd + A |
| Zoom the MIDI editor in or out horizontally | Windows / macOS+/- |
| Set note selection velocity | Windows / macOS0-127 then Enter |
| Split the Arrangement clip at the time selection | WindowsCtrl + Shift + E macOSCmd + Shift + E |
| Show or hide MIDI note filters | WindowsCtrl + Shift + F macOSCmd + Shift + F |
| Move the MIDI insert marker to the beginning | WindowsHome macOSHomeorFn + Left |
| Move the MIDI insert marker to the end | WindowsEnd macOSEndorFn + Right |
Session and Arrangement View
Launch clips and scenes, edit Arrangement time, manage take lanes, and bounce selected material to audio.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Launch the selected clip or slot | Windows / macOSEnter |
| Select a neighboring clip or slot | Windows / macOSArrow keys |
| Select all clips or slots | WindowsCtrl + A macOSCmd + A |
| Add or remove a stop button | WindowsCtrl + E macOSCmd + E |
| Stop clips in the track with the selected slot | WindowsCtrl + Enter macOSCmd + Enter |
| Insert a MIDI clip | WindowsCtrl + Shift + M macOSCmd + Shift + M |
| Insert a scene | WindowsCtrl + I macOSCmd + I |
| Insert a captured scene | WindowsCtrl + Shift + I macOSCmd + Shift + I |
| Move between scenes one at a time | Windows / macOSUp/Down |
| Move between scenes eight at a time | Windows / macOSPage Up/Down |
| Record to Session View | WindowsCtrl + Shift + F9 macOSCmd + Shift + F9 |
| Toggle Follow Actions for selected clips | Windows / macOSShift + Enter |
| Create a Follow Action chain | WindowsCtrl + Shift + Enter macOSCmd + Shift + Enter |
| Move the selected track left or right | WindowsCtrl + Left/Right macOSCmd + Left/Right |
| Move nonadjacent scenes without collapsing them | WindowsCtrl + Up/Down macOSCmd + Up/Down |
| Deactivate the selected clip | Windows / macOS0 |
| Jump to the highlighted track title bar in Session or Arrangement View | Windows / macOSEsc |
| Jump to the first track in the current scene | Windows / macOSHome |
| Jump to the last track or return to the current scene | Windows / macOSEnd |
| Solo the selected chain | Windows / macOSS |
| Split the clip at the selection | WindowsCtrl + E macOSCmd + E |
| Consolidate the selection into a clip | WindowsCtrl + J macOSCmd + J |
| Crop selected clips | WindowsCtrl + Shift + J macOSCmd + Shift + J |
| Resize a clip from the insert marker at its edge | Windows / macOSEnter then Left/Right |
| Create a fade or crossfade | WindowsCtrl + Alt + F macOSCmd + Option + F |
| Delete fades or crossfades in selected clips | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Backspace macOSCmd + Option + Delete |
| Toggle the loop brace | WindowsCtrl + L macOSCmd + L |
| Insert silence | WindowsCtrl + I macOSCmd + I |
| Cut time | WindowsCtrl + Shift + X macOSCmd + Shift + X |
| Copy time | WindowsCtrl + Shift + C macOSCmd + Shift + C |
| Paste time | WindowsCtrl + Shift + V macOSCmd + Shift + V |
| Duplicate time | WindowsCtrl + Shift + D macOSCmd + Shift + D |
| Delete time | WindowsCtrl + Shift + Delete macOSCmd + Shift + Delete |
| Fold or unfold selected tracks | Windows / macOSU or Left/Right |
| Unfold all tracks | WindowsAlt + U macOSOption + U |
| Adjust the height of selected tracks or clips | WindowsAlt + +/- macOSOption + +/- |
| Scroll the Arrangement display to follow playback | WindowsCtrl + Shift + F macOSOption + Shift + F |
| Optimize Arrangement height | Windows / macOSH |
| Optimize Arrangement width | Windows / macOSW |
| Deactivate the selection | Windows / macOS0 |
| Nudge the selection left or right | Windows / macOSLeft/Right |
| Reverse the selected audio clip region | Windows / macOSR |
| Zoom to the Arrangement time selection | Windows / macOSZ |
| Zoom back from the Arrangement time selection | Windows / macOSX |
| Play from the insert marker in the selected clip | WindowsCtrl + Space macOSOption + Space |
| Move the insert marker to the playhead | WindowsCtrl + Shift + Space macOSCmd + Shift + Space |
| Move focus to the Mixer | WindowsAlt + Shift + M macOSOption + Shift + M |
| Show take lanes | WindowsCtrl + Alt + U macOSCmd + Option + U |
| Add the selected take lane area to the main track lane | Windows / macOSEnter |
| Audition the selected take lane | Windows / macOST |
| Add a take lane | WindowsShift + Alt + T macOSShift + Option + T |
| Duplicate the selected take lane | WindowsCtrl + D macOSCmd + D |
| Replace the main take with the next or previous take | WindowsCtrl + Up/Down macOSCmd + Up/Down |
| Bounce to a new track | WindowsCtrl + B macOSCmd + B |
| Paste bounced audio | WindowsCtrl + Alt + V macOSCmd + Option + V |
Tracks, transport, and browser
Create and control tracks, run transport commands, search the Browser, swap similar samples, and enter mapping modes.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Insert an audio track | WindowsCtrl + T macOSCmd + T |
| Insert a MIDI track | WindowsCtrl + Shift + T macOSCmd + Shift + T |
| Insert a return track | WindowsCtrl + Alt + T macOSCmd + Option + T |
| Group selected tracks | WindowsCtrl + G macOSCmd + G |
| Ungroup tracks | WindowsCtrl + Shift + G macOSCmd + Shift + G |
| Show grouped tracks | Windows / macOS+ |
| Hide grouped tracks | Windows / macOS- |
| Collapse or expand grouped tracks | Windows / macOSU |
| Show or hide return tracks | WindowsCtrl + Alt + R macOSCmd + Option + R |
| Move nonadjacent tracks without collapsing them | WindowsCtrl + Arrow keys macOSCmd + Arrow keys |
| Arm selected tracks | Windows / macOSC |
| Solo selected tracks | Windows / macOSS |
| Add the selected device from the Browser | Windows / macOSEnter |
| Deactivate the selected track | Windows / macOS0 |
| Freeze or unfreeze tracks | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Shift + F macOSCmd + Option + Shift + F |
| Delete the track from its title bar | Windows / macOSDelete |
| Play from the start marker or stop | Windows / macOSSpace |
| Continue playback from the stop point | Windows / macOSShift + Space |
| Stop playback at the end of the selection | WindowsCtrl + Space macOSOption + Space |
| Move the insert marker to the beginning | Windows / macOSHome |
| Record | Windows / macOSF9 |
| Arm recording in Arrangement View | Windows / macOSShift + F9 |
| Return to Arrangement | Windows / macOSF10 |
| Toggle track activators 1 through 8 | Windows / macOSF1-F8 |
| Toggle the metronome | Windows / macOSO |
| Turn the audio engine on or off | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Shift + E macOSCmd + Option + Shift + E |
| Move up or down in the Browser | Windows / macOSUp/Down |
| Close or open Browser folders | Windows / macOSLeft/Right |
| Search in the Browser | WindowsCtrl + F macOSCmd + F |
| Jump to Browser search results | Windows / macOSDown or Enter |
| Load the selected Browser item | Windows / macOSEnter |
| Assign Browser color 1 through 7 | Windows / macOS1-7 |
| Clear the assigned Browser color | Windows / macOS0 |
| Show similar files | WindowsCtrl + Shift + F macOSCmd + Shift + F |
| Go back in Browser history | WindowsCtrl + [ macOSCmd + [ |
| Go forward in Browser history | WindowsCtrl + ] macOSCmd + ] |
| Show or hide the Browser Filter View | WindowsCtrl + Alt + G macOSCmd + Option + G |
| Show or hide the Browser Tag Editor | WindowsCtrl + Shift + E macOSCmd + Shift + E |
| Swap to the next similar sample | WindowsCtrl + Right macOSCmd + Right |
| Swap to the previous similar sample | WindowsCtrl + Left macOSCmd + Left |
| Save the sample as the similarity reference | WindowsCtrl + Up macOSCmd + Up |
| Return to the similarity reference | WindowsCtrl + Down macOSCmd + Down |
| Momentarily show similar sample swap controls in Drum Racks | WindowsAlt macOSOption |
| Toggle MIDI Map mode | WindowsCtrl + M macOSCmd + M |
| Toggle Key Map mode | WindowsCtrl + K macOSCmd + K |
| Toggle the Computer MIDI Keyboard | Windows / macOSM |
| Move the Computer MIDI Keyboard octave down or up | Windows / macOSZ/X |
| Move Computer MIDI Keyboard velocity down or up | Windows / macOSC/V |
| Preview the selected Browser file | Windows / macOSShift + EnterorRight |
Source
Ableton Live 12 keyboard shortcuts manual · Checked
Documented defaults for Ableton Live 12 checked October 10, 2026. Single-letter commands are affected by the Computer MIDI Keyboard. When it is active, hold Shift with a single-letter shortcut. User Key Map and MIDI Map assignments are not defaults and are not listed.