What does this page cover for After Effects?

It's a comprehensive shortcut reference for After Effects: 748 shortcuts across 24 categories, ranging from timeline navigation and keyframe editing to 3D layers, masks, motion tracking, paint tools, and rendering. Both macOS and Windows are included.

Which categories should a new user focus on first?

Start with Time Navigation, Previews, and General - these get you moving through the timeline and playing back your work quickly. Keyframes and the Graph Editor and Layers come next once you're building animations. The more specialized categories like 3D Layers, Motion Tracking, and Paint Tools can wait until you need them.

Does this page cover different work areas, or is it just the timeline?

It covers multiple work areas: the Timeline panel (keyframes, layer properties, markers), the viewer and workspace panels, the Effect Controls panel, Composition settings, and export and render shortcuts. Paint tools, shape layers, and text each have their own sections too.

Are the shortcuts different between macOS and Windows?

The modifier key swap applies here as usual: Cmd on macOS, Ctrl on Windows. Some shortcuts involving function keys or numpad behavior can diverge more, especially in the Previews and Time Navigation sections.

748 shortcuts is a lot. How should I approach this page without feeling overwhelmed?

Treat it as a lookup tool, not a reading list. Pick two or three categories relevant to your current project and start there. Most experienced users know maybe 30 to 50 shortcuts by heart; the rest they look up as needed.

After Effects Hotkeys and Keyboard Shortcuts

3D Layers

Action	Hotkey
Switch to 3D view 2 (defaults to Custom View 1)	`F11`
Return to previous view	`Esc`
With a camera tool selected, move the camera and its point of interest to look at all 3D layers	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F`
Switch to 3D view 1 (defaults to Front)	`F10`
New light	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`L`
Move the camera and its point of interest to look at selected 3D layers	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`\`
New camera	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`C`
With a camera tool selected, move the camera and its point of interest to look at selected 3D layers	`F`
Turn Casts Shadows property on or off for selected 3D layers	`Alt`+`Shift`+`C`
Switch to 3D view 3 (defaults to Active Camera)	`F12`

Activate

Action	Hotkey
Temporarily convert Selection tool to Shape Duplication tool	`Alt`+`(in`+`Shape`+`Layer)`
Activate Pan Behind tool	`Y`
Activate Zoom In tool	`Z`
Activate Refine Edge tool	`Alt`+`W`
Temporarily activate Hand tool	`Hold`+`↓`+`SpacebarThe`+`Middle`+`Mouse`+`Button`
Activate Roto Brush tool	`Alt`+`W`
Activate and cycle through Type tools (Horizontal and Vertical)	`Ctrl`+`T`
Activate Selection tool	`V`
Activate Rotation tool	`W`
Activate and cycle through Puppet tools	`Ctrl`+`P`
Activate and cycle between the Pen and Mask Feather tools. (Note: You can turn off this setting in the Preferences dialog box.)	`G`
Activate and cycle through mask and shape tools (Rectangle, Rounded Rectangle, Ellipse, Polygon, Star)	`Q`
Temporarily convert Selection tool to Direct Selection tool	`Ctrl`+`(in`+`Shape`+`Layer)`
Activate and cycle through Camera tools (Unified Camera, Orbit Camera, Track XY Camera, and Track Z Camera)	`C`
Cycle through tools	`Alt-click`+`Tool`+`Button`+`In`+`Tools`+`Panel`
Activate Zoom Out tool	`Alt`+`(when`+`Zoom`+`In`+`Tool`+`Is`+`Active)`
Temporarily activate Pen tool when the Selection tool is selected and pointer is over a path (Add Vertex tool when pointer is over a segment; Convert Vertex tool when pointer is over a vertex)	`Ctrl`+`Alt`
Activate and cycle through Brush, Clone Stamp, and Eraser tools	`Ctrl`+`B`
Activate Hand tool	`H`
Temporarily activate Selection tool when a pen tool is selected	`Ctrl`

Composition

Action	Hotkey
Open Composition Settings dialog box for selected composition	`Ctrl`+`K`
New composition	`Ctrl`+`N`
New Composition from selection	`Alt`+`\`
Activate the most recently active composition that is in the same composition hierarchy (network of nested compositions) as the currently active composition	`Shift`+`Esc`
Open Composition Mini-Flowchart for active composition	`Tab`
Set work area to duration of selected layers or, if no layers are selected, set work area to composition duration	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`B`
Set beginning or end of work area to current time	`BN`
Trim Composition to work area	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`X`

Effects and animation presets

Action	Hotkey
Apply most recently applied effect to selected layers	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`E`
Delete all effects from selected layers	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`E`
Apply most recently applied animation preset to selected layers	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`F`

Footage

Action	Hotkey
Replace source for a selected layer	`Alt-drag`+`Footage`+`Item`+`From`+`Project`+`Panel`+`Onto`+`Selected`+`Layer`
Set proxy for selected footage item	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`P`
Delete a footage item without a warning	`Ctrl`+`Backspace`
Replace selected source footage for selected layers with footage item selected in Project panel	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`/`+`(on`+`Main`+`Keyboard)`
Replace selected footage item	`Ctrl`+`H`
Open Interpret Footage dialog box for selected footage item	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`G`
Open movie in an After Effects Footage panel	`Double-click`+`The`+`Footage`+`Item`+`In`+`The`+`Project`+`Panel`
Edit selected footage item in application with which it’s associated (Edit Original)	`Ctrl`+`E`
Add selected items to most recently activated composition	`Ctrl`+`/`+`(on`+`Main`+`Keyboard)`
Import multiple files or image sequences	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`I`
Reload selected footage items	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`L`
Remember footage interpretation	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`C`
Import one file or image sequence	`Ctrl`+`I`

General

Action	Hotkey
Extend selection to next item in Project panel, Render Queue panel, or Effect Controls panel	`Shift`+`↓`+`Arrow`
Move selected layers, masks, effects, or render items down (back) or up (forward) in stacking order	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`↓`+`ArrowCtrl`+`Alt`+`↑`+`Arrow`
Open selected layer, composition, or footage item	`Enter`+`On`+`Numeric`+`Keypad`
Purge All Memory	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`/`+`(on`+`Numeric`+`Keypad)`
Quit	`Ctrl`+`Q`
Display filename corresponding to the frame at the current time in the Info panel	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`E`
Interrupt running a script	`Esc`
Undo	`Ctrl`+`Z`
Extend selection to previous item in Project panel, Render Queue panel, or Effect Controls panel	`Shift`+`↑`+`Arrow`
Move selected layers, masks, effects, or render items to bottom (back) or top (front) of stacking order	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`↓`+`ArrowCtrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`↑`+`Arrow`
Select all	`Ctrl`+`A`
Rename selected layer, composition, folder, effect, group, or mask	`Enter`+`On`+`Main`+`Keyboard`
Redo	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Z`
Duplicate selected layers, masks, effects, text selectors, animators, puppet meshes, shapes, render items, output modules, or compositions	`Ctrl`+`D`
Deselect all	`F2Ctrl`+`Shift`+`A`

Keyframes and the Graph Editor

Action	Hotkey
Toggle between Graph Editor and layer bar modes	`Shift`+`F3`
Select all visible keyframes and properties	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`A`
Move keyframe 1 frame later or earlier	`Alt`+`→`+`ArrowAlt`+`←`+`Arrow`
Set interpolation for selected keyframes (layer bar mode)	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`K`
Set keyframe interpolation method to hold or Auto Bezier	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`H`
Select all keyframes for a property	`Click`+`Property`+`Name`
Easy ease selected keyframes in	`Shift`+`F9`
Easy ease selected keyframes	`F9`
Easy ease selected keyframes out	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F9`
Set keyframe interpolation method to linear or hold	`Ctrl`+`Alt-click`+`In`+`Layer`+`Bar`+`Mode`
Deselect all keyframes, properties, and property groups	`Shift`+`F2Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`A`
Set keyframe interpolation method to linear or Auto Bezier	`Ctrl-click`+`In`+`Layer`+`Bar`+`Mode`
Move keyframe 10 frames later or earlier	`Alt`+`Shift`+`→`+`ArrowAlt`+`Shift`+`←`+`Arrow`
Set velocity for selected keyframes	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`K`
Add or remove keyframe at current time. For property shortcuts, see Showing properties and groups in the Timeline panel (keyboard shortcuts).	`Alt`+`Shift`+`Property`+`ShTcut`

Layers

Action	Hotkey
Open Effect Controls panel for selected layers	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`T`
Cycle forward or backward through blending modes for selected layers	`Shift`+`-`+`(hyphen)Shift`+`=`+`(equal`+`Sign)`+`On`+`The`+`Main`+`Keyboard`
Open layer in Layer panel (opens source composition for precomposition layer in Composition panel)	`Double-click`+`A`+`Layer`
Select previous layer in stacking order	`Ctrl`+`↑`+`Arrow`
Scroll topmost selected layer to top of Timeline panel	`X`
Deselect all layers	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`A`
Precompose selected layers	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`C`
Extend selection to previous layer in stacking order	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`↑`+`Arrow`
Show or hide Parent column	`Shift`+`F4`
Toggle selection of layer (1-999) by its number (enter digits rapidly for two-digit and three-digit numbers)	`Shift`+`0-9`+`On`+`Numeric`+`Keypad*`
Move selected layers so that their In point or Out point is at the current time	`[`+`(left`+`Bracket)]`+`(right`+`Bracket)`
Lock selected layers	`Ctrl`+`L`
Extend selection to next layer in stacking order	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`↓`+`Arrow`
Turn Video (eyeball) switch on or off for selected layers	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`V`
Select next layer in stacking order	`Ctrl`+`↓`+`Arrow`
Trim In point or Out point of selected layers to current time	`Alt`+`[`+`(left`+`Bracket)Alt`+`]`+`(right`+`Bracket)`
Turn off Video switch for all video layers other than selected layers	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`V`
Open source of a layer in Footage panel (opens precomposition layer in Layer panel)	`Alt-double-click`+`A`+`Layer`
Add an effect (or multiple selected effects) to selected layers	`Double-click`+`Effect`+`Selection`+`In`+`Effects`+`&`+`Presets`+`Panel`
Reverse selected layers in time	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`R`
Paste layers at current time	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`V`
New adjustment layer	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Y`
Open settings dialog box for selected solid, light, camera, null, or adjustment layer	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Y`
Add or remove expression for a property	`Alt-click`+`Stopwatch`
Find in Timeline panel	`Ctrl`+`F`
Show or hide Layer Switches and Modes columns	`F4`
Move selected layers so that their Out point is at end of composition	`Alt`+`End`
Turn off all other solo switches	`Alt-click`+`Solo`+`Switch`
Setting the sampling method for selected layers (Best/Bicubic)	`Alt`+`Shift`+`B`
Enable time remapping for selected layers	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`T`
Set Quality to Best, Draft, or Wireframe for selected layers	`Ctrl`+`U`+`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`UCtrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`U`
Unlock all layers	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`L`
New null layer	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`Y`
Setting the sampling method for selected layers (Best/Bilinear)	`Alt`+`B`
Move selected layers so that their In point is at beginning of composition	`Alt`+`Home`
Set In point or Out point by time-stretching	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`(comma)Ctrl`+`Alt`+`(comma)`
Split selected layers. (If no layers are selected, split all layers.)	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`D`
Select layer (1-999) by its number (enter digits rapidly for two-digit and three-digit numbers)	`0-9`+`On`+`Numeric`+`Keypad*`
New solid layer	`Ctrl`+`Y`

Markers

Action	Hotkey
Set marker at current time and open marker dialog box	`Alt`+`*`+`(multiply)`+`On`+`Numeric`+`Keypad`
Set and number a composition marker (0-9) at the current time	`Shift`+`0-9`+`On`+`Main`+`Keyboard`
Go to a composition marker (0-9)	`0-9`+`On`+`Main`+`Keyboard`
Display the duration between two layer markers or keyframes in the Info panel	`Alt-click`+`The`+`MarkersKeyframes`
Set marker at current time (works during preview and audio-only preview)	`*`+`(multiply)`+`On`+`Numeric`+`Keypad`
Remove marker	`Ctrl-click`+`Marker`

Masks

Action	Hotkey
Scale around center point in Free Transform mode	`Ctrl-drag`
Darken mode	`D`
Enter free-transform mask editing mode	`Double-click`+`Mask`+`With`+`Selection`+`ToolSelect`+`Mask`+`In`+`Timeline`+`Panel`+`And`+`Press`+`Ctrl`+`T`
Select next or previous mask	`Alt`+`+`(accent`+`Grave)Alt`+`Shift`+`+`(accent`+`Grave)`
Add mode	`A`
Toggle between smooth and corner points	`Ctrl`+`Alt-click`+`Vertex`
Move selected path points 1 pixel at current magnification	`Arrow`+`Key`
Invert selected mask	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`I`
Exit free-transform mask editing mode	`Esc`
New mask	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`N`
Difference mode	`F`
Intersect mode	`I`
Subtract mode	`S`
Move selected path points 10 pixels at current magnification	`Shift`+`Arrow`+`Key`
Open Mask Shape dialog box for selected mask	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`M`
Redraw Bezier handles	`Ctrl`+`Alt-drag`+`Vertex`
Open Mask Feather dialog box for selected mask	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F`
Select all points in a mask	`Alt-click`+`Mask`
None	`N`

Modifying layer properties

Action	Hotkey
Increase or decrease Rotation (Z Rotation) of selected layers by 10°	`Shift`+`(plus)Shift`+`-`+`(minus)`+`On`+`Numeric`+`Keypad`
Center-selected layers in view (modifies Position property to place anchor points of selected layers in center of current view)	`Ctrl`+`Home`
Move selected layers 10 pixels at current magnification (Position)	`Shift`+`Arrow`+`Key`
Increase Scale of selected layers by 1%	`Ctrl`+`(plus)Alt`+`(plus)`+`On`+`Numeric`+`Keypad`
Modify Rotation or Orientation in 45° increments	`Shift-drag`+`With`+`Rotation`+`Tool`
Open Rotation dialog box for selected layers	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`R`
Open Auto-Orientation dialog box for selected layers	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`O`
Increase or decrease Rotation (Z Rotation) of selected layers by 1°	`(plus)-`+`(minus)`+`On`+`Numeric`+`Keypad`
Scale and reposition selected layers to fit composition width, preserving image aspect ratio for each layer	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`H`
Modify property value by default increments	`Drag`+`Property`+`Value`
Reset Scale to 100%	`Double-click`+`Selection`+`Tool`
Decrease Scale of selected layers by 1%	`Ctrl`+`-`+`(minus)Alt`+`-`+`(minus)`+`On`+`Numeric`+`Keypad`
Center anchor point in the visible content	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Home`
Scale and reposition selected layers to fit composition	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`F`
Move selected layers 1 frame earlier or later	`Alt`+`Page`+`↑Alt`+`Page`+`↓`
Modify property value by 1/10 default increments	`Ctrl-drag`+`Property`+`Value`
Increase or decrease Opacity (or Intensity for light layers) of selected layers by 1%	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`(plus)Ctrl`+`Alt`+`-`+`(minus)`+`On`+`Numeric`+`Keypad`
Increase Scale of selected layers by 10%	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`(plus)Alt`+`Shift`+`(plus)`+`On`+`Numeric`+`Keypad`
Increase or decrease Opacity (or Intensity for light layers) of selected layers by 10%	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`(plus)Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`-`+`(minus)`+`On`+`Numeric`+`Keypad`
Reset Rotation to 0°	`Double-click`+`Rotation`+`Tool`
Modify Scale, constrained to footage frame aspect ratio	`Shift-drag`+`Layer`+`Handle`+`With`+`Selection`+`Tool`
Move selected layers 1 pixel at current magnification (Position)	`Arrow`+`Key`
Scale and reposition selected layers to fit composition height, preserving image aspect ratio for each layer	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`G`
Modify property value by 10x default increments	`Shift-drag`+`Property`+`Value`
Decrease Scale of selected layers by 10%	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`-`+`(minus)Alt`+`Shift`+`-`+`(minus)`+`On`+`Numeric`+`Keypad`
Open Position dialog box for selected layers	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`P`
Move selected layers 10 frames earlier or later	`Alt`+`Shift`+`Page`+`↑Alt`+`Shift`+`Page`+`↓`
Open Opacity dialog box for selected layers	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`O`

Motion Tracking

Action	Hotkey
Move feature region, search region, and attach point 10 pixels at current magnification	`Shift`+`Arrow`+`Key`
Move feature region, search region, and attach point 1 pixel at current magnification	`Arrow`+`Key`
Move feature region and search region 1 pixel at current magnification	`Alt`+`Arrow`+`Key`
Move feature region and search region 10 pixels at current magnification	`Alt`+`Shift`+`Arrow`+`Key`

Paint tools

Action	Hotkey
Swap paint background color and foreground colors	`X`
Show and move overlay (change Offset value of alignedClone Stamp tool or change Source Position value of unaligned Clone Stamp tool)	`Alt`+`Shift-drag`+`With`+`Clone`+`Stamp`+`Tool`
Move earlier or later by number of frames specified for stroke Duration	`Ctrl`+`Page`+`↑Ctrl`+`Page`+`↓`+`(12`+`On`+`The`+`Main`+`Keyboard)`
Join current paint stroke to the previous stroke	`Hold`+`Shift`+`While`+`Beginning`+`Stroke`
Set flow for a paint tool	`Shift`+`A`+`Digit`+`On`+`Numeric`+`Keypad`+`(fExample`+`9=90%`+`1=10%)*`
Set paint foreground color to black and background color to white	`D`
Set flow for a paint tool to 100%	`Shift`+`.`+`(decimal)`+`On`+`Numeric`+`Keypad*`
Momentarily activate Eraser tool with Last Stroke Only option	`Ctrl`+`Shift`
Set brush size for a paint tool	`Ctrl-drag`
Duplicate a Clone Stamp tool preset in Paint panel	`Alt-click`+`The`+`Button`+`FThe`+`Preset`
Activate a specific Clone Stamp tool preset	`3`+`4`+`5`+`67`+`On`+`The`+`Main`+`Keyboard`
Set foreground color to the average color of a 4-pixel x 4-pixel area under any paint tool pointer	`Ctrl`+`Alt-click`
Set brush hardness for a paint tool	`Ctrl-drag`+`Then`+`Release`+`Ctrl`+`While`+`Dragging`
Set starting sample point to point currently under Clone Stamp tool pointer	`Alt-click`
Set opacity for a paint tool	`Digit`+`On`+`Numeric`+`Keypad`+`(fExample`+`9=90%`+`1=10%)*`
Set foreground color to the color currently under any paint tool pointer	`Alt-click`
Set opacity for a paint tool to 100%	`.`+`(decimal)`+`On`+`Numeric`+`Keypad*`

Panels, viewers, workspaces

Action	Hotkey
Resize application window or floating window to fit screen. (Press again to resize window so that contents fill the screen.)	`Ctrl`+`\`+`(backslash)`
Open or close Effect Controls panel for selected layer	`F3Ctrl`+`Shift`+`T`
Open or close Project panel	`Ctrl`+`0`
Open or close Paragraph panel	`Ctrl`+`7`
Open or close Brushes panel	`Ctrl`+`9`
Open or close Effects & Presets panel	`Ctrl`+`5`
Maximize or restore panel under pointer	`+`(accent`+`Grave)`
Open or close Tools panel	`Ctrl`+`1`
Split the frame containing the active viewer and create a viewer with opposite locked/unlocked state	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`N`
Toggle activation between Composition panel and Timeline panel for current composition	`\`+`(backslash)`
Cycle to previous or next panel in active frame (for example, cycle through open Timeline panels)	`Alt`+`Shift`+`(comma)Alt`+`Shift`+`.`+`(period)`
Activate a view in a multi-view layout in the Composition panel without affecting layer selection	`Click`+`With`+`Middle`+`Mouse`+`Button`
Close active panel or all viewers of type of active viewer (closes content first). For example, if a Timeline panel is active, this command closes all Timeline panels.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`W`
Open or close Info panel	`Ctrl`+`2`
Open or close Preview panel	`Ctrl`+`3`
Open or close Render Queue panel	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`0`
Open Flowchart panel for project flowchart	`Ctrl`+`F11`
Close active viewer or panel (closes content first)	`Ctrl`+`W`
Open or close Paint panel	`Ctrl`+`8`
Switch to workspace	`Shift`+`F10`+`Shift`+`F11Shift`+`F12`
Cycle to previous or next item in active viewer (for example, cycle through open compositions)	`Shift`+`(comma)Shift`+`.`+`(period)`
Open or close Audio panel	`Ctrl`+`4`
Move application window or floating window to main monitor; resize window to fit screen. (Press again to resize window so that contents fill the screen.)	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`\`+`(backslash)`
Open or close Character panel	`Ctrl`+`6`

Preferences

Action	Hotkey
Open Preferences dialog box	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`;`+`(semicolon)`
Restore default preferences settings	`Hold`+`↓`+`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`While`+`Starting`+`After`+`Effects`

Previews

Action	Hotkey
Fast Previews > Off	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`1`
Manually preview (scrub) audio	`Ctrl-drag`+`Current-time`+`Indicat`
Manually preview (scrub) video	`DragAlt-drag`+`Current-time`+`IndicatDepending`+`On`+`Live`+`Update`+`Setting`
Fast Previews > Draft	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`3`
Fast Previews > Wireframe	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`5`
Reset preview settings to replicate RAM Preview and Standard Preview behaviors	`Alt-click`+`Reset`+`In`+`Preview`+`Panel`
Display snapshot in active viewer	`F5`+`F6`+`F7F8`
Toggle Mercury Transmit video preview	`/`+`(on`+`Numeric`+`Keypad)`
Fast Previews > Fast Draft	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`4`
Preview only audio, from current time	`.`+`(decimal`+`Point)`+`On`+`Numeric`+`Keypad*`
Fast Previews > Adaptive Resolution	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`2`
Start or stop preview	`Spacebar`+ `0`+`On`+`Numeric`+`Keypad`+ `Shift`+`0`+`On`+`Numeric`+`Keypad`
Preview number of frames specified by Alternate Preview preference (defaults to 5)	`Alt`+`0`+`On`+`Numeric`+`Keypad*`
Purge snapshot	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F5`+`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F6`+`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F7Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F8`
Take snapshot	`Shift`+`F5`+`Shift`+`F6`+`Shift`+`F7Shift`+`F8`
Preview only audio, in work area	`Alt`+`.`+`(decimal`+`Point)`+`On`+`Numeric`+`Keypad*`

Projects

Action	Hotkey
Open Project Settings dialog box	`Click`+`Bit-depth`+`Button`+`At`+`Bottom`+`Of`+`Project`+`Panel`
Open project	`Ctrl`+`O`
New project	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`N`
Open most recent project	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`P`
Cycle through color bit depths for project	`Alt-click`+`Bit-depth`+`Button`+`At`+`Bottom`+`Of`+`Project`+`Panel`
Open Project Settings dialog box	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`K`
Find in Project panel	`Ctrl`+`F`
New folder in Project panel	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`N`

Saving, exporting, and rendering

Action	Hotkey
Add active composition or selected items to render queue	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`/`+`(on`+`Main`+`Keyboard)`
Save project	`Ctrl`+`S`
Add a composition to the Adobe Media Encoder encoding queue	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`M`
Increment and save project	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`S`
Add current frame to render queue	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`S`
Save As	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`S`
Duplicate render item with same output filename as original	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`D`

Shape Layers

Action	Hotkey
Increase number of points for star or polygon; increase roundness for rounded rectangle	`↑`+`Arrow`+`When`+`Dragging`+`To`+`Create`+`Shape`
Constrain rectangles to squares; constrain ellipses to circles; constrain polygons and stars to zero rotation	`Shift`+`When`+`Dragging`+`To`+`Create`+`Shape`
Reposition shape during creation	`Hold`+`Spacebar`+`When`+`Dragging`+`To`+`Create`+`Shape`
Set rounded rectangle roundness to maximum; increase polygon and star outer roundness	`→`+`Arrow`+`When`+`Dragging`+`To`+`Create`+`Shape`
Increase star inner roundness	`Page`+`↑`+`When`+`Dragging`+`To`+`Create`+`Shape`
Change outer radius of star	`Ctrl`+`When`+`Dragging`+`To`+`Create`+`Shape`
Decrease star inner roundness	`Page`+`↓`+`When`+`Dragging`+`To`+`Create`+`Shape`
Set rounded rectangle roundness to 0 (sharp corners); decrease polygon and star outer roundness	`←`+`Arrow`+`When`+`Dragging`+`To`+`Create`+`Shape`
Decrease number of points for star or polygon; decrease roundness for rounded rectangle	`↓`+`Arrow`+`When`+`Dragging`+`To`+`Create`+`Shape`
Group selected shapes	`Ctrl`+`G`
Enter free-transform path editing mode	`Select`+`Path`+`Property`+`In`+`Timeline`+`Panel`+`And`+`Press`+`Ctrl`+`T`
Ungroup selected shapes	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`G`

Showing properties and groups in the Timeline panel

Action	Hotkey
Hide property or group	`Alt`+`Shift-click`+`PropertyGroup`+`Name`
Add or remove property or group from set that is shown	`Shift`+`PropertyGroup`+`ShTcut`
Show only Opacity property (for lights, Intensity)	`T`
Toggle expansion of property group and all child property groups to show all properties	`Ctrl-click`+`Triangle`+`To`+`The`+`←`+`Of`+`The`+`Property`+`Group`+`Name`
Show only Scale property	`S`
Show only Mask Feather property	`F`
Show only Time Remap property	`RR`
Show only Anchor Point property (for lights and cameras, Point Of Interest)	`A`
Show only expressions	`EE`
Show only Effects property group	`E`
Show only audio waveform	`LL`
Show only instances of missing effects	`FF`
Add or remove keyframe at current time	`Alt`+`Shift`+`Property`+`ShTcut`
Show only selected properties and groups	`SS`
Show only Position property	`P`
Show only Mask Opacity property	`TT`
Show only Mask Path property	`M`
Toggle expansion of selected layers to show all properties	`Ctrl`+`+`(accent`+`Grave)`
Show only paint strokes, Roto Brush strokes, and Puppet pins	`PP`
Find in Timeline panel	`Ctrl`+`F`
Show only modified properties	`UU`
Show only mask property groups	`MM`
Show only Material Options property group	`AA`
Show properties with keyframes	`U`
Show only Audio Levels property	`L`
Show only Rotation and Orientation properties	`R`

Showing properties in the Effect Controls panel

Action	Hotkey
Toggle expansion of selected effects to show all properties	`Ctrl`+`+`(accent`+`Grave)`
Toggle expansion of property group and all child property groups to show all properties	`Ctrl-click`+`Triangle`+`To`+`The`+`←`+`Of`+`The`+`Property`+`Group`+`Name`

Text

Action	Hotkey
Decrease or increase font size of selected text by 2 units	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`(comma)Ctrl`+`Shift`+`.`+`(period)`
Justify paragraph; right align last line	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`J`
Turn Superscript on or off for selected text	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`=`+`(equal`+`Sign)`
Decrease or increase font size of selected text by 10 units	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`(comma)Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`.`+`(period)`
Turn Subscript on or off for selected text	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`=`+`(equal`+`Sign)`
Select all text on a layer	`Double-click`+`Text`+`Layer`
Justify paragraph; force last line	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F`
Extend or reduce selection by one line to right or left in vertical text	`Shift`+`→`+`ArrowShift`+`←`+`Arrow`
Select text from insertion point to beginning or end of text frame	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`HomeCtrl`+`Shift`+`End`
Decrease or increase baseline shift by 10 units	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`↓`+`ArrowCtrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`↑`+`Arrow`
Extend or reduce selection by one character to right or left in horizontal text	`Shift`+`→`+`ArrowShift`+`←`+`Arrow`
Set vertical scale to 100% for selected text	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`X`
Align selected vertical text top, center, or bottom	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`LCtrl`+`Shift`+`CCtrl`+`Shift`+`R`
Turn All Caps on or off for selected text	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`K`
Move insertion point to beginning or end of line	`HomeEnd`
Justify paragraph; left align last line	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`J`
In horizontal text, move insertion point one character left or right; one line up or down; one word left or right; or one paragraph up or down	`←`+`Arrow→`+`Arrow;`+`↑`+`Arrow↓`+`Arrow;`+`Ctrl`+`←`+`ArrowCtrl`+`→`+`Arrow;Ctrl`+`↑`+`ArrowCtrl`+`↓`+`Arrow`
In vertical text, move insertion point one character up or down; one left or right; one word up or down; or one paragraph left or right	`↑`+`Arrow↓`+`Arrow;`+`←`+`Arrow→`+`Arrow;`+`Ctrl`+`↑`+`ArrowCtrl`+`↓`+`Arrow;Ctrl`+`←`+`ArrowCtrl`+`→`+`Arrow`
Auto leading for selected text	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`A`
New text layer	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`T`
Extend or reduce selection one word up or down in vertical text	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`↑`+`ArrowCtrl`+`Shift`+`↓`+`Arrow`
Increase or decrease leading by 10 units	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`↓`+`ArrowCtrl`+`Alt`+`↑`+`Arrow`
To mouse-click point, select text from insertion point	`Shift-click`
Extend or reduce selection by one line up or down in horizontal text	`Shift`+`↑`+`ArrowShift`+`↓`+`Arrow`
Reset tracking to 0 for selected text	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Q`
Decrease or increase kerning or tracking 20 units (20/1000 ems)	`Alt`+`←`+`ArrowAlt`+`→`+`Arrow`
Select word, line, paragraph, or entire text frame	`Double-click`+`Triple-click`+`Quadruple-clickQuintuple-click`+`With`+`Type`+`Tool`
Toggle paragraph composer	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`T`
Select text from insertion point to beginning or end of line	`Shift`+`HomeShift`+`End`
Set horizontal scale to 100% for selected text	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`X`
Extend or reduce selection by one character up or down in vertical text	`Shift`+`↑`+`ArrowShift`+`↓`+`Arrow`
Align selected horizontal text left, center, or right	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`LCtrl`+`Shift`+`CCtrl`+`Shift`+`R`
Decrease or increase baseline shift by 2 units	`Alt`+`Shift`+`↓`+`ArrowAlt`+`Shift`+`↑`+`Arrow`
Increase or decrease leading by 2 units	`Alt`+`↓`+`ArrowAlt`+`↑`+`Arrow`
Turn Small Caps on or off for selected text	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`K`
Extend or reduce selection by one word to right or left in horizontal text	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`→`+`ArrowCtrl`+`Shift`+`←`+`Arrow`
Decrease or increase kerning or tracking 100 units (100/1000 ems)	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`←`+`ArrowCtrl`+`Alt`+`→`+`Arrow`

Action	Hotkey
Go backward 10 frames	`Shift`+`Page`+`↑Ctrl`+`Shift`+`←`+`Arrow`
Go to end of composition, layer, or footage item	`EndCtrl`+`Alt`+`→`+`Arrow`
Go to beginning of composition, layer, or footage item	`HomeCtrl`+`Alt`+`←`+`Arrow`
Go to next In point or Out point	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`→`+`Arrow`
Go to previous or next visible item in time ruler (keyframe, layer marker, work area beginning or end)	`JK`
Go backward 1 frame	`Page`+`↑Ctrl`+`←`+`Arrow`
Scroll to current time in Timeline panel	`D`
Go to layer In point	`I`
Go to beginning or end of work area	`Shift`+`HomeShift`+`End`
Go forward 1 frame	`Page`+`↓Ctrl`+`→`+`Arrow`
Go forward 10 frames	`Shift`+`Page`+`↓Ctrl`+`Shift`+`→`+`Arrow`
Go to layer Out point	`O`
(Note: Also goes to beginning, end, or base frame of Roto Brush span if viewing Roto Brush in Layer panel.)
Go to specific time	`Alt`+`Shift`+`J`
Go to previous In point or Out point	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`←`+`Arrow`

Views

Action	Hotkey
Show alpha boundary (outline between transparent and opaque regions) in Layer panel	`Alt`+`5`
Turn snapping to guides on or off	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`;`+`(semicolon)`
Show or hide layer controls (masks, motion paths, light and camera wireframes, effect control points, and layer handles)	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`H`
Zoom in Timeline panel to single-frame units (Press again to zoom out to show entire composition duration.)	`;`+`(semicolon)`
Show or hide proportional grid	`Alt`+`'` +`(apostrophe)`
Show alpha overlay (colored overlay on transparent regions) in Layer panel	`Alt`+`6`
Open View Options dialog box for active Composition panel	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`U`
Zoom to fit in Composition, Layer, or Footage panel	`Shift`+`/`+`(on`+`Main`+`Keyboard)`
Zoom out in Timeline panel to show the entire composition duration (Press again to zoom back in to the duration specified by the Time Navigator.)	`Shift`+`;`+`(semicolon)`
Zoom-in in Composition, Layer, or Footage panel	`.`+`(period)`+`On`+`Main`+`Keyboard`
Show red, green, blue, or alpha channel as grayscale	`Alt`+`1`+`Alt`+`2`+`Alt`+`3`+`Alt`+`4`
Show or hide rulers	`Ctrl` + `R`
Show or hide guides	`Ctrl` +`;`+`(semicolon)`
Show Refine Edge X-ray	`Alt`+`X`
Turn snapping to grid on or off	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `'`+`(apostrophe)`
Show or hide safe zones	`'` +`(apostrophe)`
Zoom-out in Composition, Layer, or Footage panel	`(comma)`
Zoom out time	`-`+`(hyphen)`+`On`+`Main`+`Keyboard`
Prevent images from being rendered for previews in viewer panels	`Caps`+`Lock`
Zoom up to 100% to fit in Composition, Layer, or Footage panel	`Alt`+`/`+`(on`+`Main`+`Keyboard)`
Center composition in the panel	`Double-click`+`Hand`+`Tool`
Set resolution to Full, Half, or Custom in Composition panel	`Ctrl`+`JCtrl`+`Shift`+`JCtrl`+`Alt`+`J`
Lock or unlock guides	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`;`+`(semicolon)`
Toggle showing straight RGB color	`Alt`+`Shift`+`4`
Zoom to 100% in Composition, Layer, or Footage panel	`/`+`(on`+`Main`+`Keyboard)`
Show or hide grid	`Ctrl` + `'`+`(apostrophe)`
Show colorized red, green, or blue channel	`Alt`+`Shift`+`1`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`2`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`3`
Turn display color management on or off for active view	`Shift`+`/`+`(on`+`Numeric`+`Keypad)`

3D Layers

Activate

Composition

Effects and animation presets

Footage

General

Keyframes and the Graph Editor

Layers

Markers

Masks

Modifying layer properties

Motion Tracking

Paint tools

Panels, viewers, workspaces

Preferences

Previews

Projects

Saving, exporting, and rendering

Shape Layers

Showing properties and groups in the Timeline panel

Showing properties in the Effect Controls panel

Text

Time navigation

Views

After Effects Hotkeys

Frequently Asked Questions

Premiere Pro

DaVinci Resolve

Logic Pro

Blender

VLC

Final Cut Pro

3D Layers10

Activate20

Composition8

Effects and animation presets3

Footage13

General15

Keyframes and the Graph Editor15

Layers39

Markers6

Masks19

Modifying layer properties28

Motion Tracking4

Paint tools17

Panels, viewers, workspaces24

Preferences2

Previews16

Projects8

Saving, exporting, and rendering7

Shape Layers12

Showing properties and groups in the Timeline panel26

Showing properties in the Effect Controls panel2

Text37

Time navigation15

Views28

After Effects Hotkeys

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this page cover for After Effects?

Which categories should a new user focus on first?

Does this page cover different work areas, or is it just the timeline?

Are the shortcuts different between macOS and Windows?

748 shortcuts is a lot. How should I approach this page without feeling overwhelmed?

Related Apps

Premiere Pro

DaVinci Resolve

Logic Pro

Blender

VLC

Final Cut Pro

3D Layers

Activate

Composition

Effects and animation presets

Footage

General

Keyframes and the Graph Editor

Layers

Markers

Masks

Modifying layer properties

Motion Tracking

Paint tools

Panels, viewers, workspaces

Preferences

Previews

Projects

Saving, exporting, and rendering

Shape Layers

Showing properties and groups in the Timeline panel

Showing properties in the Effect Controls panel

Text

Time navigation

Views