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Adobe After Effects shortcuts for Mac

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

Projects

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

Panels, Viewers, Workspaces, and Windows

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

Activating Tools

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

Compositions and Work Area

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

Time Navigation

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

Previews

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

Views

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

Footage

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

Effects and Animation Presets

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

Layers

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

Properties and Groups in Timeline Panel

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

Properties and Groups in Effects Controls Panel

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

Modify Layer Properties

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

3D Layers

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

Keyframes and Graph Editor

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

Text

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

Masks

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

Paint Tools

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

Shape Layers

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

Saving, Exporting, and Rendering

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