Adobe After Effects keyboard shortcuts
After Effects is where video editors and motion designers build animated titles, effects, and composites. The keys cover tools and panels, compositions and previews, layers and their properties, keyframes, text, masks and shapes, and rendering.
Windows, macOS · 368 shortcutsGeneral commands and projects
These application-wide commands manage selections, projects, preferences, memory, and the visual shortcut editor.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Open the Keyboard Shortcuts editor | WindowsCtrl + Alt + ' macOSOption + Cmd + ' |
| Select all | WindowsCtrl + A macOSCmd + A |
| Deselect all | WindowsF2orCtrl + Shift + A macOSF2orCmd + Shift + A |
| Rename the selected item | WindowsEnter macOSReturn |
| Open the selected layer, composition, or footage item | Windows / macOSNumpad Enter |
| Move selected items one place down or up in stacking order | WindowsCtrl + Alt + DownorCtrl + Alt + Up macOSCmd + Option + DownorCmd + Option + Up |
| Move selected items to the bottom or top of stacking order | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Shift + DownorCtrl + Alt + Shift + Up macOSCmd + Option + Shift + DownorCmd + Option + Shift + Up |
| Extend the Project, Render Queue, or Effect Controls selection to the next item | Windows / macOSShift + Down |
| Extend the Project, Render Queue, or Effect Controls selection to the previous item | Windows / macOSShift + Up |
| Duplicate selected items | WindowsCtrl + D macOSCmd + D |
| Quit After Effects | WindowsCtrl + Q macOSCmd + Q |
| Undo | WindowsCtrl + Z macOSCmd + Z |
| Redo | WindowsCtrl + Shift + Z macOSCmd + Shift + Z |
| Purge all memory | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Numpad / macOSCmd + Option + Numpad / |
| Interrupt a running script | Windows / macOSEsc |
| Show the current frame's source filename in the Info panel | WindowsCtrl + Alt + E macOSCmd + Option + E |
| Create a new project | WindowsCtrl + Alt + N macOSCmd + Option + N |
| Open a project | WindowsCtrl + O macOSCmd + O |
| Open the most recent project | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Shift + P macOSCmd + Option + Shift + P |
| Create a folder in the Project panel | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Shift + N macOSCmd + Option + Shift + N |
| Open Project Settings | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Shift + K macOSCmd + Option + Shift + K |
| Find in the Project panel | WindowsCtrl + F macOSCmd + F |
| Cycle the project color bit depthClick the bit-depth button at the bottom of the Project panel. | WindowsAlt + Click macOSOption + Click |
| Open Preferences | WindowsCtrl + Alt + ; macOSCmd + Option + ; |
Panels, viewers, and workspaces
Panel commands open named panels or change the active frame. F9 to F12 bindings on macOS may need system shortcut changes.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Open or close the Project panel | WindowsCtrl + 0 macOSCmd + 0 |
| Open or close the Render Queue panel | WindowsCtrl + Alt + 0 macOSCmd + Option + 0 |
| Open or close the Tools panel | WindowsCtrl + 1 macOSCmd + 1 |
| Open or close the Info panel | WindowsCtrl + 2 macOSCmd + 2 |
| Open or close the Preview panel | WindowsCtrl + 3 macOSCmd + 3 |
| Open or close the Audio panel | WindowsCtrl + 4 macOSCmd + 4 |
| Open or close Effects & Presets | WindowsCtrl + 5 macOSCmd + 5 |
| Open or close the Character panel | WindowsCtrl + 6 macOSCmd + 6 |
| Open or close the Paragraph panel | WindowsCtrl + 7 macOSCmd + 7 |
| Open or close the Paint panel | WindowsCtrl + 8 macOSCmd + 8 |
| Open or close the Brushes panel | WindowsCtrl + 9 macOSCmd + 9 |
| Open Effect Controls for the selected layer | WindowsF3orCtrl + Shift + T macOSF3orCmd + Option + T |
| Open the project Flowchart panel | WindowsCtrl + F11 macOSCmd + F11 |
| Switch to an assigned workspace | Windows / macOSShift + F10orShift + F11orShift + F12 |
| Close the active viewer or panel | WindowsCtrl + W macOSCmd + W |
| Close the active panel or every viewer of its type | WindowsCtrl + Shift + W macOSCmd + Shift + W |
| Split the active viewer frame with the opposite lock state | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Shift + N macOSCmd + Option + Shift + N |
| Maximize or restore the panel under the pointer | Windows / macOS` |
| Resize the application or floating window to fit the screen | WindowsCtrl + \ macOSCmd + \ |
| Move the application or floating window to the main monitor and fit it to the screen | WindowsCtrl + Alt + \ macOSCmd + Option + \ |
| Switch focus between Composition and Timeline | Windows / macOS\ |
| Move to the previous or next item in the active viewer | Windows / macOSShift + ,orShift + . |
| Move to the previous or next panel in the active frame | WindowsAlt + Shift + ,orAlt + Shift + . macOSOption + Shift + ,orOption + Shift + . |
Tools
Hold a single-letter tool key to use it temporarily, or tap it to keep the tool active. Some tools only activate when the current composition supports them.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Cycle through tools from a Tools-panel button | WindowsAlt + Click macOSOption + Click |
| Activate the Selection tool | Windows / macOSV |
| Activate the Hand tool | Windows / macOSH |
| Temporarily activate the Hand tool | Windows / macOSSpace |
| Activate the Zoom In tool | Windows / macOSZ |
| Temporarily activate Zoom Out | WindowsAlt macOSOption |
| Activate the Rotation tool | Windows / macOSW |
| Activate the Roto Brush tool | WindowsAlt + W macOSOption + W |
| Activate the Refine Edge tool | WindowsAlt + W macOSOption + W |
| Cycle through the Camera tools | Windows / macOSC |
| Activate the Pan Behind tool | Windows / macOSY |
| Cycle through mask and shape tools | Windows / macOSQ |
| Cycle through Horizontal and Vertical Type tools | WindowsCtrl + T macOSCmd + T |
| Cycle between Pen and Mask Feather tools | Windows / macOSG |
| Temporarily activate Selection while a pen tool is active | WindowsCtrl macOSCmd |
| Temporarily activate a path-aware Pen tool while Selection is active | WindowsCtrl + Alt macOSCmd + Option |
| Cycle through Brush, Clone Stamp, and Eraser | WindowsCtrl + B macOSCmd + B |
| Cycle through Puppet tools | WindowsCtrl + P macOSCmd + P |
| Temporarily convert Selection to Shape Duplication on a shape layer | WindowsAlt macOSOption |
| Temporarily convert Selection to Direct Selection on a shape layer | WindowsCtrl macOSCmd |
Compositions and time navigation
Time navigation uses the active composition, layer, or footage item. J and K jump among visible timeline landmarks rather than fixed frame counts.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Create a new composition | WindowsCtrl + N macOSCmd + N |
| Open Composition Settings | WindowsCtrl + K macOSCmd + K |
| Set the work-area beginning to the current time | Windows / macOSB |
| Set the work-area end to the current time | Windows / macOSN |
| Set the work area to selected layers or the full composition | WindowsCtrl + Alt + B macOSCmd + Option + B |
| Open the Composition Mini-Flowchart | Windows / macOSTab |
| Activate the last composition in the same hierarchy | Windows / macOSShift + Esc |
| Trim the composition to the work area | WindowsCtrl + Shift + X macOSCmd + Shift + X |
| Create a composition from the selection | WindowsAlt + \ macOSCmd + \ |
| Go to a specific time | WindowsAlt + Shift + J macOSOption + Shift + J |
| Go to the beginning or end of the work area | Windows / macOSShift + HomeorShift + End |
| Go to the previous or next visible timeline landmark | Windows / macOSJorK |
| Go to the beginning of the active item | WindowsHomeorCtrl + Alt + Left macOSHomeorCmd + Option + Left |
| Go to the end of the active item | WindowsEndorCtrl + Alt + Right macOSEndorCmd + Option + Right |
| Move forward one frame | WindowsPage DownorCtrl + Right macOSPage DownorCmd + Right |
| Move forward ten frames | WindowsShift + Page DownorCtrl + Shift + Right macOSShift + Page DownorCmd + Shift + Right |
| Move back one frame | WindowsPage UporCtrl + Left macOSPage UporCmd + Left |
| Move back ten frames | WindowsShift + Page UporCtrl + Shift + Left macOSShift + Page UporCmd + Shift + Left |
| Go to the selected layer's In point | Windows / macOSI |
| Go to the selected layer's Out point | Windows / macOSO |
| Go to the previous layer In or Out point | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Shift + Left macOSCmd + Option + Shift + Left |
| Go to the next layer In or Out point | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Shift + Right macOSCmd + Option + Shift + Right |
| Scroll the Timeline to the current time | Windows / macOSD |
Previews and viewer display
Numeric-keypad previews need Num Lock on Windows. Snapshot keys use one of four slots, F5 through F8.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Start or stop a preview | Windows / macOSSpaceorNumpad 0orShift + Numpad 0 |
| Reset preview settings to the RAM Preview and Standard Preview defaultsClick Reset in the Preview panel. | WindowsAlt + Click macOSOption + Click |
| Preview only audio from the current time | WindowsNumpad . macOSNumpad .orControl + . |
| Preview only audio in the work area | WindowsAlt + Numpad . macOSOption + Numpad .orControl + Cmd + . |
| Manually preview videoDrag the current-time indicator; whether the modifier is required depends on Live Update. | WindowsAlt + Drag macOSOption + Drag |
| Manually preview audioDrag the current-time indicator. | WindowsCtrl + Drag macOSCmd + Drag |
| Preview the Alternate Preview frame count | WindowsAlt + Numpad 0 macOSOption + Numpad 0orControl + Option + 0 |
| Toggle Mercury Transmit video preview | WindowsNumpad / macOSNumpad /orControl + / |
| Take a snapshot in slot 1 through 4 | Windows / macOSShift + F5-F8 |
| Show snapshot 1 through 4 | Windows / macOSF5-F8 |
| Purge snapshot 1 through 4 | WindowsCtrl + Shift + F5-F8 macOSCmd + Shift + F5-F8 |
| Set Fast Previews to Off | WindowsCtrl + Alt + 1 macOSCmd + Option + 1 |
| Set Fast Previews to Adaptive Resolution | WindowsCtrl + Alt + 2 macOSCmd + Option + 2 |
| Set Fast Previews to Draft | WindowsCtrl + Alt + 3 macOSCmd + Option + 3 |
| Set Fast Previews to Fast Draft | WindowsCtrl + Alt + 4 macOSCmd + Option + 4 |
| Set Fast Previews to Wireframe | WindowsCtrl + Alt + 5 macOSCmd + Option + 5 |
| Toggle display color management for the active view | Windows / macOSShift + Numpad / |
| Show the red, green, blue, or alpha channel as grayscale | WindowsAlt + 1orAlt + 2orAlt + 3orAlt + 4 macOSOption + 1orOption + 2orOption + 3orOption + 4 |
| Show the red, green, or blue channel colorized | WindowsAlt + Shift + 1orAlt + Shift + 2orAlt + Shift + 3 macOSOption + Shift + 1orOption + Shift + 2orOption + Shift + 3 |
| Toggle straight RGB color display | WindowsAlt + Shift + 4 macOSOption + Shift + 4 |
| Show the alpha boundary in the Layer panel | WindowsAlt + 5 macOSOption + 5 |
| Show the alpha overlay in the Layer panel | WindowsAlt + 6 macOSOption + 6 |
| Show Refine Edge X-ray | WindowsAlt + X macOSOption + X |
| Zoom in the Composition, Layer, or Footage panel | Windows / macOS. |
| Zoom out the Composition, Layer, or Footage panel | Windows / macOS, |
| Set viewer zoom to 100% | Windows / macOS/ |
| Fit the active item in its viewer | Windows / macOSShift + / |
| Fit the active item without zooming past 100% | WindowsAlt + / macOSOption + / |
| Set Composition-panel resolution to Full, Half, or Custom | WindowsCtrl + JorCtrl + Shift + JorCtrl + Alt + J macOSCmd + JorCmd + Shift + JorCmd + Option + J |
| Open View Options for the active Composition panel | WindowsCtrl + Alt + U macOSCmd + Option + U |
| Zoom in on time | Windows / macOS= |
| Zoom out on time | Windows / macOS- |
| Toggle Timeline zoom between single frames and the prior range | Windows / macOS; |
| Toggle Timeline zoom between full duration and the prior range | Windows / macOSShift + ; |
| Prevent viewer panels from rendering images | Windows / macOSCaps Lock |
| Show or hide safe zones | Windows / macOS' |
| Show or hide the grid | WindowsCtrl + ' macOSCmd + ' |
| Show or hide the proportional grid | WindowsAlt + ' macOSCmd + ' |
| Show or hide rulers | WindowsCtrl + R macOSCmd + R |
| Show or hide guides | WindowsCtrl + ; macOSCmd + ; |
| Toggle snapping to the grid | WindowsCtrl + Shift + ' macOSCmd + Shift + ' |
| Toggle snapping to guides | WindowsCtrl + Shift + ; macOSCmd + Shift + ; |
| Lock or unlock guides | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Shift + ; macOSCmd + Option + Shift + ; |
| Show or hide layer controls | WindowsCtrl + Shift + H macOSCmd + Shift + H |
Footage, effects, and presets
Footage commands operate on selected Project-panel items or layers. Effect commands apply to the current layer selection.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Import one file or image sequence | WindowsCtrl + I macOSCmd + I |
| Import multiple files or image sequences | WindowsCtrl + Alt + I macOSCmd + Option + I |
| Add selected items to the most recently active composition | WindowsCtrl + / macOSCmd + / |
| Replace selected layer sources with the selected footage item | WindowsCtrl + Alt + / macOSCmd + Option + / |
| Replace a selected layer's source by dragging footage onto it | WindowsAlt + Drag macOSOption + Drag |
| Delete a footage item without a warning | WindowsCtrl + Backspace macOSCmd + Delete |
| Open Interpret Footage | WindowsCtrl + Alt + G macOSCmd + Option + G |
| Remember footage interpretation | WindowsCtrl + Alt + C macOSCmd + Option + C |
| Edit selected footage in its associated application | WindowsCtrl + E macOSCmd + E |
| Replace the selected footage item | WindowsCtrl + H macOSCmd + H |
| Reload selected footage items | WindowsCtrl + Alt + L macOSCmd + Option + L |
| Set a proxy for selected footage | WindowsCtrl + Alt + P macOSCmd + Option + P |
| Delete all effects from selected layers | WindowsCtrl + Shift + E macOSCmd + Shift + E |
| Apply the most recently used effect | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Shift + E macOSCmd + Option + Shift + E |
| Apply the most recently used animation preset | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Shift + F macOSCmd + Option + Shift + F |
Layers
Layer shortcuts use the current Timeline selection. Number selection needs the numeric keypad and does not include shy layers in every operation.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Create a solid layer | WindowsCtrl + Y macOSCmd + Y |
| Create a null layer | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Shift + Y macOSCmd + Option + Shift + Y |
| Create an adjustment layer | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Y macOSCmd + Option + Y |
| Select a layer by number | Windows / macOSNumpad 0-9 |
| Toggle a layer selection by number | Windows / macOSShift + Numpad 0-9 |
| Select the next layer in stacking order | WindowsCtrl + Down macOSCmd + Down |
| Select the previous layer in stacking order | WindowsCtrl + Up macOSCmd + Up |
| Extend the selection to the next layer | WindowsCtrl + Shift + Down macOSCmd + Shift + Down |
| Extend the selection to the previous layer | WindowsCtrl + Shift + Up macOSCmd + Shift + Up |
| Deselect all layers | WindowsCtrl + Shift + A macOSCmd + Shift + A |
| Scroll the top selected layer to the top of the Timeline | Windows / macOSX |
| Show or hide the Parent column | Windows / macOSShift + F4 |
| Show or hide Layer Switches and Modes | Windows / macOSF4 |
| Set selected layers to Best/Bilinear sampling | WindowsAlt + B macOSOption + B |
| Set selected layers to Best/Bicubic sampling | WindowsAlt + Shift + B macOSOption + Shift + B |
| Turn off every solo switch except the clicked one | WindowsAlt + Click macOSOption + Click |
| Toggle the Video switch for selected layers | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Shift + V macOSCmd + Option + Shift + V |
| Open settings for the selected generated layer | WindowsCtrl + Shift + Y macOSCmd + Shift + Y |
| Paste layers at the current time | WindowsCtrl + Alt + V macOSCmd + Option + V |
| Split selected layers at the current time | WindowsCtrl + Shift + D macOSCmd + Shift + D |
| Precompose selected layers | WindowsCtrl + Shift + C macOSCmd + Shift + C |
| Open Effect Controls for selected layers | WindowsCtrl + Shift + T macOSCmd + Shift + T |
| Open a layer's source in the Footage or Layer panel | WindowsAlt + Double-click macOSOption + Double-click |
| Reverse selected layers in time | WindowsCtrl + Alt + R macOSCmd + Option + R |
| Enable time remapping | WindowsCtrl + Alt + T macOSCmd + Option + T |
| Move layer In or Out points to the current time | Windows / macOS[or] |
| Trim layer In or Out points to the current time | WindowsAlt + [orAlt + ] macOSOption + [orOption + ] |
| Add or remove an expression for a propertyClick the property's stopwatch. | WindowsAlt + Click macOSOption + Click |
| Set In or Out point by time-stretching | WindowsCtrl + Shift + ,orCtrl + Alt + , macOSCmd + Shift + ,orCmd + Option + , |
| Move selected layer In points to the composition start | WindowsAlt + Home macOSOption + Home |
| Move selected layer Out points to the composition end | WindowsAlt + End macOSOption + End |
| Lock selected layers | WindowsCtrl + L macOSCmd + L |
| Unlock all layers | WindowsCtrl + Shift + L macOSCmd + Shift + L |
| Set selected layers to Best, Draft, or Wireframe quality | WindowsCtrl + UorCtrl + Shift + UorCtrl + Alt + Shift + U macOSCmd + UorCmd + Shift + UorCmd + Option + Shift + U |
| Cycle backward or forward through blending modes | Windows / macOSShift + -orShift + = |
| Find in the Timeline panel | WindowsCtrl + F macOSCmd + F |
Timeline properties
Double-letter property shortcuts must be typed in quick succession. Shift adds a property to the current set instead of replacing it.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Toggle all properties for selected layers | WindowsCtrl + ` macOSCmd + ` |
| Toggle a Timeline property group and all of its child groupsClick the triangle beside the property-group name. | WindowsCtrl + Click macOSCmd + Click |
| Show only Anchor Point or Point Of Interest | Windows / macOSA |
| Show only Audio Levels | Windows / macOSL |
| Show only Mask Feather | Windows / macOSF |
| Show only Mask Path | Windows / macOSM |
| Show only Mask Opacity | Windows / macOST then T |
| Show only Opacity or light Intensity | Windows / macOST |
| Show only Position | Windows / macOSP |
| Show only Rotation and Orientation | Windows / macOSR |
| Show only Scale | Windows / macOSS |
| Show only Time Remap | Windows / macOSR then R |
| Show only missing effects | Windows / macOSF then F |
| Show only Effects | Windows / macOSE |
| Show only mask groups | Windows / macOSM then M |
| Show only Material Options | Windows / macOSA then A |
| Show only expressions | Windows / macOSE then E |
| Show properties with keyframes | Windows / macOSU |
| Show only modified properties | Windows / macOSU then U |
| Show paint strokes, Roto Brush strokes, and Puppet pins | Windows / macOSP then P |
| Show only the audio waveform | Windows / macOSL then L |
| Show only selected properties and groups | Windows / macOSS then S |
| Hide a Timeline property or groupClick the property or group name. | WindowsAlt + Shift + Click macOSOption + Shift + Click |
| Add or remove a property from the visible set | Windows / macOSShift + Property shortcut |
| Add or remove a keyframe at the current time | WindowsAlt + Shift + Property shortcut macOSOption + Property shortcut |
| Toggle all properties for selected effects in Effect Controls | WindowsCtrl + ` macOSCmd + ` |
| Toggle an Effect Controls property group and all child groupsClick the triangle beside the property-group name. | WindowsCtrl + Click macOSCmd + Click |
Layer property editing
These bindings open exact-value dialogs or nudge selected layers in space, time, rotation, opacity, and scale.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Modify a property by ten times its default increment | Windows / macOSShift + Drag |
| Modify a property by one tenth of its default increment | WindowsCtrl + Drag macOSCmd + Drag |
| Open Auto-Orientation for selected layers | WindowsCtrl + Alt + O macOSCmd + Alt + O |
| Open the Opacity dialog | WindowsCtrl + Shift + O macOSCmd + Shift + O |
| Open the Rotation dialog | WindowsCtrl + Shift + R macOSCmd + Shift + R |
| Open the Position dialog | WindowsCtrl + Shift + P macOSCmd + Shift + P |
| Center selected layers in the view | WindowsCtrl + Home macOSCmd + Home |
| Center anchor points in visible content | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Home macOSCmd + Option + Home |
| Move selected layers one pixel | Windows / macOSArrow keys |
| Move selected layers ten pixels | Windows / macOSShift + Arrow keys |
| Move selected layers one frame earlier or later | WindowsAlt + Page UporAlt + Page Down macOSOption + Page UporOption + Page Down |
| Move selected layers ten frames earlier or later | WindowsAlt + Shift + Page UporAlt + Shift + Page Down macOSOption + Shift + Page UporOption + Shift + Page Down |
| Increase or decrease selected layers' Z Rotation by one degree | Windows / macOSNumpad +orNumpad - |
| Increase or decrease selected layers' Z Rotation by ten degrees | Windows / macOSShift + Numpad +orShift + Numpad - |
| Increase or decrease selected layers' Opacity or light Intensity by one percent | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Numpad +orCtrl + Alt + Numpad - macOSControl + Option + Numpad +orControl + Option + Numpad - |
| Increase or decrease selected layers' Opacity or light Intensity by ten percent | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Shift + Numpad +orCtrl + Alt + Shift + Numpad - macOSControl + Option + Shift + Numpad +orControl + Option + Shift + Numpad - |
| Increase selected layers' Scale by one percent | WindowsCtrl + Numpad +orAlt + Numpad + macOSCmd + Numpad +orOption + Numpad + |
| Decrease selected layers' Scale by one percent | WindowsCtrl + Numpad -orAlt + Numpad - macOSCmd + Numpad -orOption + Numpad - |
| Increase selected layers' Scale by ten percent | WindowsCtrl + Shift + Numpad +orAlt + Shift + Numpad + macOSCmd + Shift + Numpad +orOption + Shift + Numpad + |
| Decrease selected layers' Scale by ten percent | WindowsCtrl + Shift + Numpad -orAlt + Shift + Numpad - macOSCmd + Shift + Numpad -orOption + Shift + Numpad - |
| Modify Rotation or Orientation in 15-degree incrementsDrag with the Rotation tool. | Windows / macOSShift + Drag |
| Modify Scale while preserving the footage aspect ratioDrag a layer handle with the Selection tool. | Windows / macOSShift + Drag |
| Scale and reposition layers to fit the composition | WindowsCtrl + Alt + F macOSCmd + Option + F |
| Fit layers to composition width while preserving aspect ratio | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Shift + H macOSCmd + Option + Shift + H |
| Fit layers to composition height while preserving aspect ratio | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Shift + G macOSCmd + Option + Shift + G |
3D views and keyframes
3D view function keys can conflict with macOS. Keyframe easing commands apply to the current keyframe selection in layer-bar or Graph Editor mode.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Switch to 3D view 1, Front by default | Windows / macOSF10 |
| Switch to 3D view 2, Custom View 1 by default | Windows / macOSF11 |
| Switch to 3D view 3, Active Camera by defaultAdobe's current macOS table renders a malformed value for this command, so no macOS binding is listed. | WindowsF12 macOSNot documented |
| Return to the previous 3D view | Windows / macOSEsc |
| Create a light | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Shift + L macOSCmd + Option + Shift + L |
| Switch to Orbit camera control | Windows / macOS1 |
| Switch to Pan camera control | Windows / macOS2 |
| Switch to Dolly camera control | Windows / macOS3 |
| Create a camera | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Shift + C macOSCmd + Option + Shift + C |
| Switch to the Universal gizmo | Windows / macOSV |
| Switch to the Position gizmo | Windows / macOS4 |
| Switch to the Scale gizmo | Windows / macOS5 |
| Switch to the Rotation gizmo | Windows / macOS6 |
| Frame selected 3D layers with the camera | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Shift + \ macOSCmd + Option + Shift + \ |
| With a camera tool active, move the camera and its point of interest to selected 3D layers | Windows / macOSF |
| With a camera tool active, move the camera and its point of interest to all 3D layers | WindowsCtrl + Shift + F macOSCmd + Shift + F |
| Toggle Casts Shadows for selected 3D layers | WindowsAlt + Shift + C macOSOption + Shift + C |
| Toggle Graph Editor and layer-bar modes | Windows / macOSShift + F3 |
| Select all visible keyframes and properties | WindowsCtrl + Alt + A macOSCmd + Option + A |
| Deselect keyframes, properties, and groups | WindowsShift + F2orCtrl + Alt + Shift + A macOSShift + F2orCmd + Option + Shift + A |
| Move selected keyframes one frame earlier or later | WindowsAlt + LeftorAlt + Right macOSOption + LeftorOption + Right |
| Move selected keyframes ten frames earlier or later | WindowsAlt + Shift + LeftorAlt + Shift + Right macOSOption + Shift + LeftorOption + Shift + Right |
| Open keyframe interpolation | WindowsCtrl + Alt + K macOSCmd + Option + K |
| Toggle Hold and Auto Bezier interpolation | WindowsCtrl + Alt + H macOSCmd + Option + H |
| Toggle Linear and Auto Bezier interpolation in layer-bar mode | WindowsCtrl + Click macOSCmd + Click |
| Toggle Linear and Hold interpolation in layer-bar mode | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Click macOSCmd + Option + Click |
| Easy Ease selected keyframes | Windows / macOSF9 |
| Easy Ease In selected keyframes | Windows / macOSShift + F9 |
| Easy Ease Out selected keyframes | WindowsCtrl + Shift + F9 macOSCmd + Shift + F9 |
| Set velocity for selected keyframes | WindowsCtrl + Shift + K macOSCmd + Shift + K |
| Reverse-paste copied keyframes | WindowsCtrl + Shift + V macOSCmd + Shift + V |
Text
Text commands apply while editing a text layer or to the selected text. Directional alternatives are kept explicit for horizontal and vertical text.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Create a text layer | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Shift + T macOSCmd + Option + Shift + T |
| Align selected text left, center, or right | WindowsCtrl + Shift + LorCtrl + Shift + CorCtrl + Shift + R macOSCmd + Shift + LorCmd + Shift + CorCmd + Shift + R |
| Align selected vertical text top, center, or bottom | WindowsCtrl + Shift + LorCtrl + Shift + CorCtrl + Shift + R macOSCmd + Shift + LorCmd + Shift + CorCmd + Shift + R |
| Extend text selection by one character | Windows / macOSShift + LeftorShift + Right |
| Extend text selection by one word | WindowsCtrl + Shift + LeftorCtrl + Shift + Right macOSCmd + Shift + LeftorCmd + Shift + Right |
| Extend a horizontal-text selection by one line | Windows / macOSShift + UporShift + Down |
| Extend a vertical-text selection by one line | Windows / macOSShift + LeftorShift + Right |
| Extend a vertical-text selection by one word | WindowsCtrl + Shift + UporCtrl + Shift + Down macOSCmd + Shift + UporCmd + Shift + Down |
| Extend a vertical-text selection by one character | Windows / macOSShift + UporShift + Down |
| Select from the insertion point to line start or end | Windows / macOSShift + HomeorShift + End |
| Move to the beginning or end of the line | Windows / macOSHomeorEnd |
| Select to the beginning or end of the text frame | WindowsCtrl + Shift + HomeorCtrl + Shift + End macOSCmd + Shift + HomeorCmd + Shift + End |
| Extend the text selection from the insertion point to a clicked position | Windows / macOSShift + Click |
| Move in horizontal text by character, line, word, or paragraph | WindowsLeft/RightorUp/DownorCtrl + Left/RightorCtrl + Up/Down macOSLeft/RightorUp/DownorCmd + Left/RightorCmd + Up/Down |
| Move in vertical text by character, line, word, or paragraph | WindowsUp/DownorLeft/RightorCtrl + Up/DownorCtrl + Left/Right macOSUp/DownorLeft/RightorCmd + Up/DownorCmd + Left/Right |
| Toggle All Caps | WindowsCtrl + Shift + K macOSCmd + Shift + K |
| Toggle Small Caps | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Shift + K macOSCmd + Option + Shift + K |
| Toggle Superscript | WindowsCtrl + Shift + = macOSCmd + Shift + = |
| Toggle Subscript | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Shift + = macOSCmd + Option + Shift + = |
| Reset horizontal text scale to 100% | WindowsCtrl + Shift + X macOSCmd + Shift + X |
| Reset vertical text scale to 100% | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Shift + X macOSCmd + Option + Shift + X |
| Enable auto leading | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Shift + A macOSCmd + Option + Shift + A |
| Reset tracking to zero | WindowsCtrl + Shift + Q macOSCmd + Shift + Control + Q |
| Justify the paragraph with the last line aligned left | WindowsCtrl + Shift + J macOSCmd + Shift + J |
| Justify the paragraph with the last line aligned right | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Shift + J macOSCmd + Option + Shift + J |
| Justify the paragraph including its last line | WindowsCtrl + Shift + F macOSCmd + Shift + F |
| Decrease or increase font size by two units | WindowsCtrl + Shift + ,orCtrl + Shift + . macOSCmd + Shift + ,orCmd + Shift + . |
| Decrease or increase font size by ten units | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Shift + ,orCtrl + Alt + Shift + . macOSCmd + Option + Shift + ,orCmd + Option + Shift + . |
| Increase or decrease leading by two units | WindowsAlt + UporAlt + Down macOSOption + UporOption + Down |
| Increase or decrease leading by ten units | WindowsCtrl + Alt + UporCtrl + Alt + Down macOSCmd + Option + UporCmd + Option + Down |
| Decrease or increase baseline shift by two units | WindowsAlt + Shift + DownorAlt + Shift + Up macOSOption + Shift + DownorOption + Shift + Up |
| Decrease or increase baseline shift by ten units | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Shift + DownorCtrl + Alt + Shift + Up macOSCmd + Option + Shift + DownorCmd + Option + Shift + Up |
| Decrease or increase kerning or tracking by 20 units | WindowsAlt + LeftorAlt + Right macOSOption + LeftorOption + Right |
| Decrease or increase kerning or tracking by 100 units | WindowsCtrl + Alt + LeftorCtrl + Alt + Right macOSCmd + Option + LeftorCmd + Option + Right |
| Toggle the paragraph composer | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Shift + T macOSCmd + Option + Shift + T |
Masks, paint, and shapes
Mask bindings depend on the active mask. Paint and shape creation modifiers apply while the pointer is dragging or the relevant tool is active.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Create a mask | WindowsCtrl + Shift + N macOSCmd + Shift + N |
| Select all points in a mask | WindowsAlt + Click macOSOption + Click |
| Select the next or previous mask | WindowsAlt + `orAlt + Shift + ` macOSOption + `orOption + Shift + ` |
| Enter free-transform mask editing | WindowsCtrl + T macOSCmd + T |
| Exit free-transform mask editing | Windows / macOSEsc |
| Scale a mask around its center in Free Transform mode | WindowsCtrl + Drag macOSCmd + Drag |
| Move selected mask points one pixel | Windows / macOSArrow keys |
| Move selected mask points ten pixels | Windows / macOSShift + Arrow keys |
| Toggle selected mask points between smooth and corner | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Click macOSCmd + Option + Click |
| Redraw a mask vertex's Bezier handles | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Drag macOSCmd + Option + Drag |
| Invert the selected mask | WindowsCtrl + Shift + I macOSCmd + Shift + I |
| Open Mask Feather | WindowsCtrl + Shift + F macOSCmd + Shift + F |
| Open Mask Shape | WindowsCtrl + Shift + M macOSCmd + Shift + M |
| Set mask mode to Subtract | Windows / macOSS |
| Set mask mode to Darken | Windows / macOSD |
| Set mask mode to Difference | Windows / macOSF |
| Set mask mode to Add | WindowsA macOSS |
| Set mask mode to Intersect | Windows / macOSI |
| Set mask mode to None | Windows / macOSN |
| Swap foreground and background paint colors | Windows / macOSX |
| Set foreground to black and background to white | Windows / macOSD |
| Sample the color under the paint pointer | WindowsAlt + Click macOSOption + Click |
| Sample the average color in a 4 by 4 pixel area | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Click macOSCmd + Option + Click |
| Change a paint tool's brush size | WindowsCtrl + Drag macOSCmd + Drag |
| Change a paint tool's brush hardnessRelease Ctrl or Command while continuing to drag. | WindowsCtrl + Drag macOSCmd + Drag |
| Join a new paint stroke to the previous stroke | Windows / macOSShift + Begin stroke |
| Set the Clone Stamp sample point | WindowsAlt + Click macOSOption + Click |
| Temporarily activate Eraser with Last Stroke Only | WindowsCtrl + Shift macOSCmd + Shift |
| Show and move the Clone Stamp overlay | WindowsAlt + Shift + Drag macOSOption + Shift + Drag |
| Activate Clone Stamp preset 3 through 7 | Windows / macOS3-7 |
| Duplicate a Clone Stamp preset | WindowsAlt + Click macOSOption + Click |
| Set paint opacity in ten-percent steps | Windows / macOSNumpad 0-9 |
| Set paint opacity to 100% | Windows / macOSNumpad . |
| Set paint flow in ten-percent steps | Windows / macOSShift + Numpad 0-9 |
| Set paint flow to 100% | Windows / macOSShift + Numpad . |
| Move earlier or later by the paint stroke Duration frame count | WindowsCtrl + Page UporCtrl + Page Downor1or2 macOSCmd + Page UporCmd + Page Downor1or2 |
| Group selected shapes | WindowsCtrl + G macOSCmd + G |
| Ungroup selected shapes | WindowsCtrl + Shift + G macOSCmd + Shift + G |
| Enter free-transform path editing for the selected Path property | WindowsCtrl + T macOSCmd + T |
| Increase a star's inner roundness while drawing | Windows / macOSPage Up |
| Decrease a star's inner roundness while drawing | Windows / macOSPage Down |
| Increase star or polygon points while drawing | Windows / macOSUp |
| Decrease star or polygon points while drawing | Windows / macOSDown |
| Reposition a shape while drawing | Windows / macOSSpace |
| Decrease outer roundness or make rounded-rectangle corners sharp while drawing | Windows / macOSLeft |
| Increase outer roundness or maximize rounded-rectangle corners while drawing | Windows / macOSRight |
| Constrain a shape while drawing | Windows / macOSShift |
| Change a star's outer radius while drawing | WindowsCtrl macOSCmd |
Markers, motion tracking, and rendering
Marker shortcuts act at the current time. Motion-tracking arrows nudge the selected tracking region at the current magnification.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Set a marker at the current time | WindowsNumpad * macOSNumpad *orControl + 8 |
| Set a marker and open its dialog | WindowsAlt + Numpad * macOSOption + Numpad *orControl + Option + 8 |
| Set and number a composition marker | Windows / macOSShift + 0-9 |
| Go to a numbered composition marker | Windows / macOS0-9 |
| Show the duration between two markers or keyframes in the Info panel | WindowsAlt + Click macOSOption + Click |
| Remove a marker | WindowsCtrl + Click macOSCmd + Click |
| Move the tracking regions and attach point one pixel | Windows / macOSArrow keys |
| Move the tracking regions and attach point ten pixels | Windows / macOSShift + Arrow keys |
| Move the feature and search regions one pixel | WindowsAlt + Arrow keys macOSOption + Arrow keys |
| Move the feature and search regions ten pixels | WindowsAlt + Shift + Arrow keys macOSOption + Shift + Arrow keys |
| Save the project | WindowsCtrl + S macOSCmd + S |
| Increment and save the project | WindowsCtrl + Alt + Shift + S macOSCmd + Option + Shift + S |
| Save the project as a new file | WindowsCtrl + Shift + S macOSCmd + Shift + S |
| Add active or selected compositions to the render queue | WindowsCtrl + Shift + / macOSCmd + Shift + / |
| Add the current frame to the render queue | WindowsCtrl + Alt + S macOSCmd + Option + S |
| Duplicate a render item with the same output filename | WindowsCtrl + Shift + D macOSCmd + Shift + D |
| Add a composition to the Adobe Media Encoder queue | WindowsCtrl + Alt + M macOSCmd + Option + M |
Source
Adobe After Effects keyboard shortcuts reference · Checked
After Effects Default preset on a supported U.S. English keyboard, from Adobe's May 5, 2026 reference and checked August 31, 2026. Custom shortcut sets are not listed. Numeric-keypad commands need Num Lock on Windows. macOS function keys can conflict with system shortcuts, and panel shortcuts override application shortcuts while that panel has focus.