Android Emulator Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows, Mac & Linux
Android Emulator keyboard shortcuts are keys that control the virtual device rotating the screen, taking screenshots, adjusting volume, and simulating hardware buttons without using your mouse. They work in the emulator bundled with Android Studio on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
To see every shortcut for your installed version, press F1 (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + / (Mac) inside the emulator window to open the built-in shortcut panel.
Key takeaways:
- Open the full shortcut list anytime with F1 / Cmd + /
- Rotate the screen with Ctrl + Left/Right (Win/Linux) or Cmd + Left/Right (Mac)
- Take a screenshot with Ctrl + S (Win/Linux) or Cmd + S (Mac)
- All shortcuts below are verified against the official Android Emulator documentation
Most used / General Shortcuts
| Action | Windows / Linux | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Home button | Home | Home |
| Back | Esc | Esc |
| Menu (left softkey) | F2 or Page Up | F2 or Page Up |
| Star (right softkey) | Shift + F2 or Page Down | Shift + F2 or Page Down |
| Call / dial | F3 | F3 |
| End call / hang up | F4 | F4 |
| Search | F5 | F5 |
| Power button | F7 | F7 |
| Volume up | Ctrl + F5 or Keypad + | Cmd + F5 |
| Volume down | Ctrl + F6 or Keypad − | Cmd + F6 |
| Camera button | Ctrl + F3 or Ctrl + Keypad 5 | Cmd + F3 |
| Previous layout orientation (rotate) | Ctrl + F11 or Keypad 7 | Cmd + F11 |
| Next layout orientation (rotate) | Ctrl + F12 or Keypad 9 | Cmd + F12 |
| Toggle cell networking | F8 | F8 |
| Toggle code profiling | F9 (with -trace) | F9 (with -trace) |
| Fullscreen mode | Alt + Enter | Option + Return |
| Toggle trackball mode | F6 | F6 |
| Trackball mode (while held) | Delete | Delete |
| D-Pad left | Keypad 4 | Keypad 4 |
| D-Pad up | Keypad 8 | Keypad 8 |
| D-Pad right | Keypad 6 | Keypad 6 |
| D-Pad down | Keypad 2 | Keypad 2 |
| D-Pad center | Keypad 5 | Keypad 5 |
| Onion alpha increase | Keypad * | Keypad * |
| Onion alpha decrease | Keypad / | Keypad / |
Note: Keypad shortcuts only work when Num Lock is off.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I see all keyboard shortcuts in the Android Emulator?
Press F1 on Windows or Linux, or Cmd + / on Mac, while the emulator window is focused. This opens the built-in shortcut panel listing every available key for your installed version.
How do I rotate the Android Emulator screen with the keyboard?
Use Ctrl + Left or Ctrl + Right on Windows and Linux, or Cmd + Left / Cmd + Right on Mac. Each press rotates the virtual device 90 degrees.
What is the screenshot shortcut for the Android Emulator?
Press Ctrl + S on Windows and Linux, or Cmd + S on Mac. Screenshots are saved to your desktop by default.
Why don’t the function-key (F1–F12) shortcuts work in my emulator?
The F-key and dial-pad shortcuts belong to the older (legacy) emulator. The modern Android Emulator in current Android Studio uses Ctrl/Cmd combinations instead. Press F1 / Cmd + / to see the keys for your version.
Do Android Emulator shortcuts work the same on Windows and Mac?
The actions are the same, but the modifier differs: Windows and Linux use Ctrl and Alt, while Mac uses Cmd and Option. The tables above list both.
Can I customize Android Emulator keyboard shortcuts?
The emulator does not let you remap its core shortcuts directly. You can, however, view and reference them all from the shortcut panel (F1 / Cmd + /) or the extended controls window.
Conclusion
Keyboard shortcuts turn the Android Emulator from a click-heavy tool into something you can drive almost entirely from the keyboard faster app testing, quicker navigation, and less time reaching for the mouse. The device-key mappings above cover the core actions across Windows, Mac, and Linux, and when you need a shortcut that isn’t listed here, pressing F1 (or Cmd + / on Mac) opens the emulator’s built-in panel with the exact keys for your installed version.
Bookmark this page or grab the PDF cheat sheet so the full list is always one keystroke away. For more developer shortcuts, see our guides to Android Studio shortcuts and IntelliJ IDEA shortcuts.
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