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Adobe After Effects shortcuts for Mac

248 shortcuts · 21 categories

Adobe After Effects is a professional video editing software that enables users to create stunning visual effects and motion graphics. Download Adobe After Effects

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Mac keyboard shortcuts for Adobe After Effects

Basics

  • Select all⌘ (command) + a Add →
  • Deselect allf2 Add →
  • Rename selected Layer, Composition, Folder, etc↵ Add →
  • Move selected Layers or other elements backwards / forwards in stacking order⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + ↓ Add →
  • Move selected Layers or other elements backwards / forwards in stacking order⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + ↓ Add →
  • Extend selection to next item / to previous item in Project Panel and other Panels⇧ (shift) + ↓ Add →
  • Duplicate selected Layers, Masks, effects, etc.⌘ (command) + d Add →
  • Quit⌘ (command) + q Add →
  • Undo / Redo⌘ (command) + z Add →
  • Interrupt running a scriptesc Add →
  • Display filename corresponding to Frame at current time in Info Panel⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + e Add →
  • Open Preferences dialog box⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + ; Add →
  • Restore default preferences settings (hold while starting ae)⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift)Add →

Projects

  • New Project⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + n Add →
  • Open Project⌘ (command) + o Add →
  • Open most recent Project⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + p Add →
  • New Folder in Project Panel⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + n Add →
  • Open Project Settings dialog box⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + k Add →
  • Find in Project Panel⌘ (command) + f Add →

Panels, Viewers, Workspaces, and Windows

  • Open or close Project Panel⌘ (command) + 0 Add →
  • Open or close Render Queue Panel⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + 0 Add →
  • Open or close Tools Panel⌘ (command) + 1 Add →
  • Open or close Info Panel⌘ (command) + 2 Add →
  • Open or close Preview Panel⌘ (command) + 3 Add →
  • Open or close Audio Panel⌘ (command) + 4 Add →
  • Open or close Effects and Presets Panel⌘ (command) + 5 Add →
  • Open or close Character Panel⌘ (command) + 6 Add →
  • Open or close Paragraph Panel⌘ (command) + 7 Add →
  • Open or close Paint Panel⌘ (command) + 8 Add →
  • Open or close Brushes Panel⌘ (command) + 9 Add →
  • Open Flowchart Panel for Project flowchart⌘ (command) + f11 Add →
  • Switch between Workspaces⇧ (shift) + f10 Add →
  • Close active Viewer or Panel (closes content first)⌘ (command) + w Add →
  • Close active Panel or all Viewers of type of active Viewer⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + w Add →
  • Split the Frame containing the active Viewer and create a new Viewer with opposite locked/unlocked state⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + n Add →
  • Maximize or restore Panel under pointer` Add →
  • Resize application (floating) window to fit screen. Press again to resize window for contents to fill screen⌘ (command) + \ Add →
  • Move (floating) window to main monitor; resize window to fit screen. Press again to resize window for contents to fill screen⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + \ Add →
  • Toggle activation between Composition Panel and Timeline Panel for current Composition\ Add →
  • Cycle to previous / next item in active Viewer⇧ (shift) + , Add →
  • Cycle to previous / next Panel in active Frame⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + , Add →

Activating Tools

  • Activate Selection Toolv Add →
  • Activate Hand Toolh Add →
  • Temporarily activate Hand Toolspace Add →
  • Activate Zoom In / Zoom Out Toolz Add →
  • Activate Rotation Toolw Add →
  • Activate Roto Brush Tool⌥ (option) + w Add →
  • Activate and cycle through Camera Toolsc Add →
  • Activate Pan Behind Tooly Add →
  • Activate and cycle through Mask and Shape Toolsq Add →
  • Activate and cycle through Type Tools⌘ (command) + t Add →
  • Activate and cycle between the Pen and Mask Feather Toolsg Add →
  • Activate and cycle through Brush, Clone Stamp, and Eraser Tools⌘ (command) + b Add →
  • Activate and cycle through Puppet Tools⌘ (command) + p Add →

Compositions and Work Area

  • New Composition⌘ (command) + n Add →
  • Open Composition Settings dialog box for selected Composition⌘ (command) + k Add →
  • Set beginning / set end of work area to current timeb Add →
  • Set work area to duration of selected Layers or to Composition duration if no Layers selected⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + b Add →
  • Open Composition Mini-Flowchart for active Composition⇥ Add →
  • Activate the most recently active Composition that is in the same Composition hierarchy as the currently active Composition⇧ (shift) + esc Add →

Time Navigation

  • Go to specific time⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + j Add →
  • Go to beginning or end of work area⇧ (shift) + home Add →
  • Go to previous / go to next visible item in time rulerj Add →
  • Go to beginning / go to end of Composition, Layer, or footage item (or Command+Option+←/→)home Add →
  • Go forward / backwards 1 Frame (or Command+→/←)page down Add →
  • Go forward / backwards 10 Frames⇧ (shift) + page down Add →
  • Go to Layer InPoint / Layer OutPointi Add →
  • Go to previous / next InPoint or OutPoint⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + ← Add →
  • Scroll to current time in Timeline Paneld Add →

Previews

  • Start or stop previewspace Add →
  • Take Snapshot⇧ (shift) + f5 Add →
  • Display Snapshot in active Viewerf5 Add →
  • Purge snapshot⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + f5 Add →
  • Fast Previews > Off⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + 1 Add →
  • Fast Previews > Adaptive Resolution⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + 2 Add →
  • Fast Previews > Draft⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + 3 Add →
  • Fast Previews > Fast Draft⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + 4 Add →
  • Fast Previews > WireFrame⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + 5 Add →

Views

  • Turn display color management on or off for active view⇧ (shift)Add →
  • Show red, green, blue, or alpha channel as grayscale⌥ (option) + 1 Add →
  • Show colorized red, green, or blue channel⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + 1 Add →
  • Toggle showing straight RGB color⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + 4 Add →
  • Show alpha boundary in Layer Panel⌥ (option) + 5 Add →
  • Show alpha overlay in Layer Panel⌥ (option) + 6 Add →
  • Show Refine Edge X-ray⌥ (option) + x Add →
  • Zoom in / Zoom out in Composition, Layer, or Footage Panel. Add →
  • Zoom to 100% in Composition, Layer, or Footage Panel/ Add →
  • Set resolution to Full, Half, or Custom in Composition Panel⌘ (command) + j Add →
  • Open View Options dialog box for active Composition Panel⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + u Add →
  • Zoom in / zoom out time= Add →
  • Zoom in / zoom out Timeline Panel to single-Frame units; Add →
  • Prevent images from being rendered for previews in Viewer Panelscaps lock Add →
  • Show or hide safe zones' Add →
  • Show or hide Grid⌘ (command) + ' Add →
  • Show or hide proportional Grid⌥ (option) + ' Add →
  • Show or hide Rulers⌘ (command) + r Add →
  • Show or hide Guides⌘ (command) + ; Add →
  • Turn snapping to Grid on or off⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + ' Add →
  • Turn snapping to Guides on or off⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + ; Add →
  • Lock or unlock Guides⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + ; Add →
  • Show or hide Layer controls⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + h Add →

Footage

  • Import one file or image sequence⌘ (command) + i Add →
  • Import multiple files or image sequences⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + i Add →
  • Delete a Footage item without a warning⌘ (command) + ⌫ Add →
  • Open Interpret Footage dialog box for selected Footage item⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + g Add →
  • Remember Footage interpretation⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + c Add →
  • Edit selected Footage item⌘ (command) + e Add →
  • Replace selected Footage item⌘ (command) + h Add →
  • Reload selected Footage items⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + l Add →
  • Set proxy for selected Footage item⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + p Add →

Effects and Animation Presets

  • Delete all effects from selected Layers⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + e Add →
  • Apply most recently applied effect to selected Layers⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + e Add →
  • Apply most recently applied animation preset to selected Layers⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + f Add →

Layers

  • New solid Layer⌘ (command) + y Add →
  • New null Layer⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + y Add →
  • New adjustment Layer⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + y Add →
  • Select next Layer / previous Layer in stacking order⌘ (command) + ↓ Add →
  • Extend selection to next Layer / previous Layer in stacking order⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + ↓ Add →
  • Deselect all Layers⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + a Add →
  • Scroll topmost selected Layer to top of Timeline Panelx Add →
  • Show or hide Parent column⇧ (shift) + f4 Add →
  • Show or hide Layer Switches and Modes columnsf4 Add →
  • Setting sampling method for selected Layers (Best/Bilinear)⌥ (option) + b Add →
  • Setting sampling method for selected Layers (Best/Bicubic)⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + b Add →
  • Turn Video switch on/off for selected Layers⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + v Add →
  • Turn off Video switch for all video Layers other than selected Layers⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + v Add →
  • Open settings dialog box for selected solid, light, camera, null, or adjustment layers⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + y Add →
  • Paste Layers at current time⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + v Add →
  • Split selected Layers (If no Layers are selected, split all Layers.)⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + d Add →
  • Precompose selected Layers⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + c Add →
  • Open Effect Controls Panel for selected Layers⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + t Add →
  • Reverse selected Layers in time⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + r Add →
  • Enable time remapping for selected Layers⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + t Add →
  • Move selected Layers for InPoint / OutPoint to current time[ Add →
  • Trim InPoint / OutPoint of selected Layers to current time⌥ (option) + [ Add →
  • Set InPoint or OutPoint by time-stretching (or Command+Option+,)⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + , Add →
  • Move selected Layers so that their InPoint is at beginning of Composition⌥ (option) + home Add →
  • Move selected Layers so that their OutPoint is at end of Composition⌥ (option) + end Add →
  • Lock / Unlock all Layers⌘ (command) + l Add →
  • Set Quality to Best, Draft, or WireFrame for selected Layers⌘ (command) + u Add →
  • Cycle forward / backward through blending Modes for selected Layers⇧ (shift) + - Add →
  • Find in Timeline Panel⌘ (command) + f Add →

Properties and Groups in Timeline Panel

  • Find in Timeline Panel⌘ (command) + f Add →
  • Toggle expansion of selected Layers to show all properties⌘ (command) + ` Add →
  • Show only Anchor Point property (for lights and cameras, Point Of Interest)a Add →
  • Show only Audio Levels propertyl Add →
  • Show only Mask Feather propertyf Add →
  • Show only Mask Path propertym Add →
  • Show only Opacity property for lights and Intensityt Add →
  • Show only Position propertyp Add →
  • Show only Rotation and Orientation propertiesr Add →
  • Show only Scale propertys Add →
  • Show only Time Remap propertyrr Add →
  • Show only instances of missing effectsff Add →
  • Show only Effects property groupe Add →
  • Show only mask property groupsmm Add →
  • Show only Material Options property groupaa Add →
  • Show only expressionsee Add →
  • Show only modified propertiesuu Add →
  • Show only paint strokes, Roto Brush strokes, and Puppet pinspp Add →
  • Show only audio waveformll Add →
  • Show only properties with Keyframes or expressionsu Add →
  • Show only selected properties and groupsss Add →

Properties and Groups in Effects Controls Panel

  • Toggle expansion of selected effects to show all properties⌘ (command) + ` Add →

Modify Layer Properties

  • Open Auto-Orientation dialog box for selected Layers⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + o Add →
  • Open Opacity dialog box for Layers⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + o Add →
  • Open Rotation dialog box for Layers⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + r Add →
  • Open Position dialog box for Layers⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + p Add →
  • Center Layers in view⌘ (command) + home Add →
  • Move Layers 1 Frame earlier / later⌥ (option) + page up Add →
  • Move Layers 10 Frames earlier / later⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + page up Add →
  • Scale and reposition Layers to fit Composition⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + f Add →
  • Scale and reposition Layers to fit Composition width, preserving aspect ratio⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + h Add →
  • Scale and reposition Layers to fit Composition height, preserving aspect ratio⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + g Add →

3D Layers

  • Switch to 3D view 1 (defaults to Front)f10 Add →
  • Switch to 3D view 2 (defaults to Custom View 1)f11 Add →
  • Switch to 3D view 3 (defaults to Active Camera)f12 Add →
  • Return to previous viewesc Add →
  • New Light⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + l Add →
  • New Camera⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + c Add →
  • Move the camera and its point of interest to look at selected 3D Layers⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + \ Add →
  • Look at selected 3D Layers (with a camera Tool selected)f Add →
  • Look at all 3D Layers (with a camera Tool selected)⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + f Add →
  • Turn Casts Shadows property on / off for selected 3D Layers⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + c Add →

Keyframes and Graph Editor

  • Toggle between Graph Editor and Layer bar Modes⇧ (shift) + f3 Add →
  • Select all visible Keyframes and properties⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + a Add →
  • Deselect all Keyframes, properties, and property groups⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + a Add →
  • Move Keyframe 1 Frame later / earlier⌥ (option) + → Add →
  • Move Keyframe 10 Frames later / earlier⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + → Add →
  • Set interpolation for selected Keyframes⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + k Add →
  • Set Keyframe interpolation method to hold or Auto Bezier⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + h Add →
  • Easy ease selected Keyframesf9 Add →
  • Easy ease selected Keyframes in / out⇧ (shift) + f9 Add →
  • Set velocity for selected Keyframes⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + k Add →

Text

  • New text Layer⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + t Add →
  • Align horizontal text Left⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + l Add →
  • Align horizontal text Center⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + c Add →
  • Align horizontal text Right align⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + r Add →
  • Align vertical text Top⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + l Add →
  • Align vertical text Bottom⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + r Add →
  • Extend selection one character to the right / left⇧ (shift) + → Add →
  • Extend selection one word to right / left⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + → Add →
  • Extend selection one line up / down in horizontal text⇧ (shift) + ↑ Add →
  • Extend selection one line to the right / left in vertical text⇧ (shift) + → Add →
  • Extend selection one word up / down in vertical text⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + ↑ Add →
  • Extend selection one character up / down in vertical text⇧ (shift) + ↑ Add →
  • Select text from insertion point to beginning / end of line⇧ (shift) + home Add →
  • Move cursor to beginning / end of linehome Add →
  • Select text from cursor to beginning / end of text Frame⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + home Add →
  • Turn All Caps on or off for selected text⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + k Add →
  • Turn Small Caps on or off for selected text⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + k Add →
  • Turn Superscript on or off for selected text⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + = Add →
  • Turn Subscript on or off for selected text⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + = Add →
  • Set horizontal scale to 100% for selected text⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + x Add →
  • Set vertical scale to 100% for selected text⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + x Add →
  • Auto leading for selected text⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + a Add →
  • Reset tracking to 0 for selected text⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + ⌃ (control) + q Add →
  • Justify paragraph; left align last line⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + j Add →
  • Justify paragraph; right align last line⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + j Add →
  • Justify paragraph; force last line⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + f Add →
  • Decrease / increase font size of selected text by 2 units⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + , Add →
  • Decrease / increase font size of selected text by 10 units⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + , Add →
  • Increase or decrease leading by 2 units⌥ (option) + ↓ Add →
  • Increase or decrease leading by 10 units⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + ↓ Add →
  • Decrease / increase baseline shift by 2 units⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + ↓ Add →
  • Decrease / increase baseline shift by 10 units⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + ↓ Add →
  • Decrease / increase kerning or tracking 20 units (20/1000 ems)⌥ (option) + ← Add →
  • Decrease / increase kerning or tracking 100 units (100/1000 ems)⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + ← Add →
  • Toggle paragraph composer⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + t Add →

Masks

  • New Mask⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + n Add →
  • Select next / previous Mask⌥ (option) + ` Add →
  • Exit free-transform Mask editing Modeesc Add →
  • Invert selected Mask⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + i Add →
  • Open Mask Feather dialog box⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + f Add →
  • Open Mask Shape dialog box⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + m Add →

Paint Tools

  • Swap paint background and foreground colorsx Add →
  • Set paint foreground color to black and background to whited Add →
  • Momentarily activate Eraser Tool with Last Stroke Only option⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift)Add →
  • Move earlier or later by number of Frames specified for stroke Duration⌘ (command) + page up Add →

Shape Layers

  • Group / ungroup selected Shapes⌘ (command) + g Add →
  • Increase/ decrease star inner roundnesspage up Add →
  • Increase / decrease number of points for star and polygon or roundness for rounded rectangle↑ Add →

Saving, Exporting, and Rendering

  • Save Project⌘ (command) + s Add →
  • Increment and save Project⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + s Add →
  • Save As⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + s Add →
  • Add active Composition or selected items to render queue⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift)Add →
  • Add current Frame to render queue⌘ (command) + ⌥ (option) + s Add →
  • Duplicate render item with same output filename as original⌘ (command) + ⇧ (shift) + d Add →

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FAQ

What are the most useful After Effects shortcuts?

Essential After Effects shortcuts include Space to play/pause, Cmd+K for composition settings, and U to reveal all modified properties on a layer. Press Cmd+Y to create a new solid layer, T to open the Opacity property, P for Position, S for Scale, and R for Rotation. Use Cmd+D to duplicate layers and Cmd+Shift+D to split them at the current time.

How do I navigate the timeline in After Effects?

Press Home to jump to the beginning of the timeline and End to go to the end. Use Page Down to move forward one frame and Page Up to go back one frame. Hold Shift with these keys to jump 10 frames at a time. Press B to set the work area start and N for the end, then Shift+Home to preview only that range.

How do I work with layers faster in After Effects?

Press Cmd+Option+Shift+Y to create a new adjustment layer, Cmd+Alt+Home to align a layer to the composition start, and [ or ] to trim the layer in/out points to the current time. Use Ctrl+Alt+F to fit the composition to the window, and ' (apostrophe) to solo the selected layer. To parent layers quickly, hold Shift while dragging the pick whip icon.

After Effects keyboard shortcuts not working - how to fix?

If After Effects shortcuts stop working, first ensure no text tool is active and no input field is focused — press V to activate the Selection tool. Some shortcuts are context-sensitive and only work when a composition is open. Check Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts to verify your current keymap preset. Resetting to the Default set can resolve conflicts. Also ensure macOS hasn't overridden shortcuts in System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts.