Keyboard shortcuts

Finding and customizing keyboard shortcuts
Default keyboard shortcuts

Finding and customizing keyboard shortcuts

Many commands have keyboard shortcut equivalents, so you can complete tasks with minimal use of the mouse. You can also create or edit keyboard shortcuts. The default shortcut set is called Adobe Premiere Pro Factory Defaults.

Find keyboard shortcuts

Find the keyboard shortcuts for a tool, button, or menu command by doing any of the following:

For a tool or button, hold the pointer over the tool or button until its tool tip appears. If available, the keyboard shortcut appears in the tool tip after the tool description.
For menu commands, look for the keyboard shortcut at the right of the command.
For the most-used keyboard shortcuts not shown in tool tips or on menus, see the tables in this chapter. For a complete list of default and current shortcuts , choose Edit > Keyboard Customization. (Windows), (Mac OS in CS5) or Premiere Pro > Keyboard Shortcuts (Mac OS in CS5.5 and later). See Customize or load keyboard shortcuts.
In Premiere Pro CS5.5, there is a search field in the Keyboard Customization dialog box to find specific commands quickly.

For more information about changes to the keyboard shortcut dialog in Premiere Pro CS5.5, see this video from Video2Brain

For more details about improved keyboard shortcut customization in Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.5, see this blog post on the Premiere Pro work area.

For information about using Apple Final Cut Pro or Avid Media Composer keyboard shortcuts in Adobe Premiere Pro, customizing keyboard shortcuts, and to move custom keyboard shortcuts to a different system, see this video by Kevin Monahan and Karl Soule on AdobeTV.

Customize or load keyboard shortcuts

You can set shortcuts to match shortcuts in other software you use. If other sets are available, you can choose them from the Set menu in the Keyboard Customization dialog box.

For customizing the keyboard shortcuts choose one of the following:
- In Windows, choose Edit > Keyboard Customization
- In Mac OS (Adobe Premiere Pro CS5), choose Edit > Keyboard Customization
- In Mac OS (Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.5), choose Premiere Pro > Keyboard Shortcuts
(Optional) From the Set menu in the Keyboard Customization dialog box, choose the set of keyboard shortcuts you want to use in Premiere Pro:
- Adobe Premiere Pro Factory Defaults (Adobe Premiere Pro CS5)
- Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.5 (Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.5)
- Shortcuts For Avid Xpress DV 3.5 (Adobe Premiere Pro CS5)
- Shortcuts For Avid Media Composer 5 (Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.5)
- Shortcuts For Final Cut Pro 7.0
In the Keyboard Customization dialog box, choose an option from the menu:
Application

Displays commands found in the menu bar, organized by category.
Panels

Displays commands associated with panels and menus.
Tools

Displays a list of tool icons.
In the Command column, view the command for which you want to create or change a shortcut. If necessary, click the triangle next to the name of a category to reveal the commands it includes.
Click in the item’s shortcut field to select it.
Type the shortcut you want to use for the item. The Keyboard Customization dialog box displays an alert if the shortcut you choose is already in use.
Do one of the following:
- To erase a shortcut and return it to the command that originally had it, click Undo.
- To jump to the command that previously had the shortcut, click Go To.
- To simply delete the shortcut you typed, click Clear.
- To re-enter the shortcut you typed previously, click Redo.
Repeat the procedure to enter as many shortcuts as you want. When you’re finished, click Save As, type a name for your Key Set, and click Save.
Note: The operating system reserves some commands. You cannot reassign those commands to Premiere Pro. Also, you cannot assign the plus (+) and minus (-) keys on the numeric keypad because they are necessary for entering relative timecode values. You can assign the minus (–) key on the main keyboard, however.

Franklin McMahon provides a video tutorial on the Layers Magazine website that shows how to customize keyboard shortcuts.

This video shows you how to transport your customized keyboard shortcuts to other Premiere Pro editing systems.

Here is a tutorial by Clay Asbury about starting with the Final Cut Pro shortcuts in Premiere Pro CS 5.5, and then saving a custom layout.

Remove shortcuts

Choose Edit > Keyboard Customization.
Do one of the following:
- To remove a shortcut, select the shortcut you want to remove, and click Clear.
- To remove a set of shortcuts, choose the key set from the Set menu and click Delete. When prompted in the warning dialog box, click Delete to confirm your choice.

Print keyboard shortcuts

You can paste the lists of keyboard shortcuts from the Keyboard Customization dialog box into a text document, from which you can print them.

Press Ctrl+Shift-click (Windows) or Command+Shift-click (Mac OS) Keyboard Customization.
Choose Edit > Keyboard Customization. For Premiere Pro CS5.5 (Mac OS), choose Premiere Pro > Keyboard Shortcuts.
Select a set of keyboard shortcuts from the Set drop-down menu in the Keyboard Customization dialog or Keyboard Shortcuts in Premiere Pro CS5.5 (Mac OS).
Click the Clipboard button.
Start a new document in a text editor.
Paste the contents of the clipboard into the document.

Default keyboard shortcuts

Selecting tools (keyboard shortcuts)

Result	Windows and Mac OS
Selection tool	V
Track Select tool	A
Ripple Edit tool	B
Rolling Edit tool	N
Rate Stretch tool	X
Razor tool	C
Slip tool	Y
Slide tool	U
Pen tool	P
Hand tool	H
Zoom tool	Z

Viewing panels (keyboard shortcuts)

Result	Shortcut (Windows and Mac OS)
Activate panels in rotation to left	Ctrl+Shift+, [comma]
Activate panels in rotation to right	Ctrl+Shift+. [period]
Audio Mixer panel	Shift+6
Effect Controls panel	Shift+5
Effects panel	Shift+7
Source Monitor panel	Shift+2
Program Monitor panel	Shift+4
Project panel	Shift+1
Timeline panel	Shift+3
Close active panel	Ctrl+W (Windows), Command+W (Mac OS)
Maximizes the panel under the mouse pointer, regardless of what is active or selected.	‘ [accent] (US English keyboards), or the key to the left of the numeral “1” key (non-US English keyboards), or the “@” key on Japanese keyboards
Maximizes the panel that is acitve or selected, regardless of where the mouse pointer is. (Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.5.)	Shift+‘ [accent] (US English keyboards), or the key to the left of the numeral “1” key (non-US English keyboards), or the “@” key on Japanese keyboards

Capture panel (keyboard shortcuts)

Result	Windows and Mac OS
Navigate through editable fields	Tab
Cancel capture	Esc
Eject	E
Fast forward	F
Go to In point	Q
Go to Out point	W
Record	G
Rewind	R
Step Back	Left Arrow
Step Forward	Right Arrow
Stop	S

Multi-Camera Monitor (keyboard shortcuts)

Result	Windows and Mac OS
Go to next edit point	Page Down
Go to previous edit point	Page Up
Play/Stop	Spacebar
Record On/Off	0
Select Camera 1	1
Select Camera 2	2
Select Camera 3	3
Select Camera 4	4
Step Back	Left Arrow
Step Forward	Right Arrow

Project panel (keyboard shortcuts)

Result	Windows	Mac OS
Delete selection with options	Ctrl+Backspace	Command+Forward Delete
Extend selection down	Shift+Down Arrow	Shift+Down Arrow
Extend selection left	Shift+Left Arrow	Shift+Left Arrow
Extend selection right	Shift+Right Arrow	Shift+Right Arrow
Extend selection up	Shift+Up Arrow	Shift+Up Arrow
Move selection down	Down Arrow	Down Arrow
Move selection to the end	End	End
Move selection to home	Home	Home
Move selection left	Left Arrow	Left Arrow
Move selection a page down	Page Down	Page Down
Move selection a page up	Page Up	Page Up
Move selection right	Right Arrow	Right Arrow
Move selection up	Up Arrow	Up Arrow
Next thumbnail size	Shift +]	Shift +]
Previous thumbnail size	Shift+[	Shift+[
Open Bin	Click disclosure triangle or select the bin and press the Right Arrow	Click disclosure triangle or select the bin and press the Right Arro
Close Bin	Click disclosure triangle or select the bin and press the Left Arrow	Click disclosure triangle or select the bin and press the Left Arrow
Open and Close All Bins	Option-click a Bin to open and close all Bins.	Option-click a Bin to open and close all Bins.

Timeline panel (keyboard shortcuts)

Result	Windows	Mac OS
Add keyframe	Ctrl-click	Command-click
Cut at current-time indicator	Ctrl-k	Command-k
Set work area bar to sequence	Double-click the work area bar	Double-click the work area bar
Set work area bar In point	Alt+[	Option+[
Set work area bar Out point	Alt +]	Option+]
Clear In and Out points	G	G
Clear In point	D	D
Clear selection	Backspace	Delete
Clear Out point	F	F
Edit audio or video In point or Out point independently	Alt-drag In point or Out point	Option-drag In point or Out point
Go to In point	Q	Q
Go to Out point	W	W
Go to next edit point	Page Down	Page Down
Go to previous edit point	Page Up	Page Up
Go to selected clip end	Shift+End	Shift+End
Go to selected clip start	Shift+Home	Shift+Home
Go to sequence end (when a Timeline panel is active)	End	End
Go to sequence start (when a Timeline panel is active)	Home	Home
Go to sequence numbered marker	Ctrl+1	Command+1
Match frame	M	M
Move selected clip forward a specified number of frames	Type +, followed by the number of frames, and then press Enter	Type +, followed by the number of frames, and then press Return
Move selected clip back a specified number of frames	Type -, followed by the number of frames, and then press Enter	Type -, followed by the number of frames, and then press Return
Nudge clip selection 5 frames to the left	Alt+Shift +,	Option+Shift +,
Nudge clip selection one frame to the left	Alt +,	Option +,
Nudge clip selection 5 frames to the right	Alt+Shift +.	Option+ Shift +.
Nudge clip selection one frame to the right	Alt +.	Option +.
Play from current-time indicator to Out point	Ctrl+Spacebar	Ctrl+Spacebar (English keyboards only)
Play In to Out with preroll/postroll	Shift+Spacebar	Shift+Spacebar
Toggle Play/Stop	Spacebar	Spacebar
Play forward at fast speed	Hold down Shift while pressing L repeatedly until playing at the desired speed. Release Shift.	Hold down Shift while pressing L repeatedly until playing at the desired speed. Release Shift.
Play forward at normal speed	L	L
Play forward one frame at a time	Hold K while pressing L	Hold K while pressing L
Play forward slowly (8 fps)	Hold down K+L	Hold down K+L
Play in reverse at fast speed	Hold down Shift while pressing J repeatedly until playing at the desired speed. Release Shift.	Hold down Shift while pressing J repeatedly until playing at the desired speed. Release Shift.
Play in reverse at normal speed	J	J
Play in reverse one frame at a time	Hold K while pressing J	Hold K while pressing J
Play in reverse slowly (8 fps)	Hold down K+J	Hold down K+J
Reveal nested sequence	Shift+T	Shift+T
Ripple delete	Alt+Backspace	Option+Delete
Set In point	I	I
Set next available numbered Timeline marker	Shift+* (use the numeric keypad)	Shift+* (use the numeric keypad)
Set Out point	O	O
Set unnumbered marker	* (use the numeric keypad)	* (use the numeric keypad)
Show next screen	Down Arrow	Down Arrow
Show previous screen	Up Arrow	Up Arrow
Shuttle Slow Left	Shift+J	Shift+J
Shuttle Slow Right	Shift+L	Shift+L
Shuttle Stop	K	K
Slide clip selection 5 frames to the left	Alt+Shift+Left Arrow	Option+Shift+Left Arrow
Slide clip selection one frame to the left	Alt+Left Arrow	Option+Left Arrow
Slide clip selection 5 frames to the right	Alt+Shift+Right Arrow	Option+Shift+Right Arrow
Slide clip selection one frame to the right	Alt+Right Arrow	Option+Right Arrow
Slip audio or video independently	Alt-drag the audio or video portion of the clip with the Selection tool	Option-drag the audio or video portion of the clip with the Selection tool
Step Back	Left Arrow	Left Arrow
Step Back 5 frames-Units	Shift+Left Arrow	Shift+Left Arrow
Step Forward	Right Arrow	Right Arrow
Step Forward 5 frames-Units	Shift+Right Arrow	Shift+Right Arrow
Toggle between available timecode display formats	Ctrl-click timecode hot text	Command-click timecode hot text
Trim	T	T
Zoom in	=	=
Zoom out	-	-
Zoom in/out to/from full-sequence view	\	\ (English keyboards only)

Titler (keyboard shortcuts)

Result	Windows	Mac OS
Arc tool	A	A
Decrease kerning by five units	Alt+Shift+Left Arrow	Option+Shift+Left Arrow
Decrease kerning by one unit	Alt+Left Arrow	Option+Left Arrow
Decrease leading by five units	Alt+Shift+Down Arrow	Option+Shift+Down Arrow
Decrease leading by one unit	Alt+Down Arrow	Option+Down Arrow
Decrease text size by five points	Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Left Arrow	Command+Option+Shift+Left Arrow
Decrease text size by 1-point	Ctrl+Alt+Left Arrow	Command+Option+Left Arrow
Ellipse tool	E	E
Increase kerning by five units	Alt+Shift+Right Arrow	Option+Shift+Right Arrow
Increase kerning by one unit	Alt+Right Arrow	Option+Right Arrow
Increase leading by five units	Alt+Shift+Up Arrow	Option+Shift+Up Arrow
Increase leading by one unit	Alt+Up Arrow	Option+Up Arrow
Increase text size by five points	Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Right Arrow	Command+Option+Shift+Right Arrow
Increase text size by 1-point	Ctrl+Alt+Right Arrow	Command+Option+Right Arrow
Insert copyright symbol	Ctrl+Alt+Shift+C	Command+Option+Shift+C
Insert registered symbol	Ctrl+Alt+Shift+R	Command+Option+Shift+R
Line tool	L	L
New title	Ctrl+T	Command+T
Nudge selected object 5 pixels down	Shift+Down Arrow	Shift+Down Arrow
Nudge selected object 1 pixel down	Down Arrow	Down Arrow
Nudge selected object 5 pixels to the left	Shift+Left Arrow	Shift+Left Arrow
Nudge selected object 1 pixel to the left	Left Arrow	Left Arrow
Nudge selected object 5 pixels to the right	Shift+Right Arrow	Shift+Right Arrow
Nudge selected object 1 pixel to the right	Right Arrow	Right Arrow
Nudge selected object 5 pixels up	Shift+Up Arrow	Shift+Up Arrow
Nudge selected object 1 pixel up	Up Arrow	Up Arrow
Pen tool	P	P
Position objects to the bottom title-safe margin	Ctrl+Shift+D	Command+Shift+D
Position objects to the left title-safe margin	Ctrl+Shift+F	Command+Shift+F
Position objects to the top title-safe margin	Ctrl+Shift+O	Command+Shift+O
Rectangle tool	R	R
Rotation tool	O	O
Selection tool	V	V
Type tool	T	T
Vertical Type tool	C	C
Wedge tool	W	W

Trim panel (keyboard shortcuts)

Result	Windows	Mac OS
Focus on both Outgoing and Incoming sides	Alt+1	Option+1
Focus on Incoming side	Alt+3	Option+3
Focus on Outgoing side	Alt+2	Option+2
Trim backward by large trim offset	Alt+Shift+Left Arrow	Option+Shift+Left Arrow
Trim backward by one frame	Alt+Left Arrow	Option+Left Arrow
Trim forward by large trim offset	Alt+Shift+Right Arrow	Option+Shift+Right Arrow
Trim forward by one frame	Alt+Right Arrow	Option+Right Arrow

Effect Controls panel (keyboard shortcuts)

Result	Windows	Mac OS
Go to selected clip start (when Effect Controls panel is active)	Home	Home
Go to selected clip end (when Effect Controls panel is active)	End	End

Adobe recommends		Have a tutorial you would like to share?

	Switching to Premiere Pro: Shortcut Keys Karl Soule and Kevin Monahan Answers to questions about keyboard shortcuts in Premiere Pro from the perspective of a Final Cut Pro editor.		Changes to keyboard shortcuts in Premiere Pro CS5.5 Todd Kopriva Todd Kopriva shows you the changes to keyboard shortcuts in Premiere Pro CS5.5 with this tutorial video on the Video2Brain website.