MusicBee Keyboard Shortcuts: The Complete List & Hotkey Guide (2026)

MusicBee’s most-used keyboard shortcuts are Ctrl+P (play/pause), Ctrl+N (next track), Ctrl+B (previous track), and Ctrl+F (search). MusicBee supports over 150 assignable hotkey commands for playback, ratings, tagging, and library management all of which can be viewed and customized under Preferences → Hotkeys. Some can be set as global hotkeys that work even when MusicBee isn’t the active window.

MusicBee is a free, feature-rich music player for Windows, and learning its keyboard shortcuts is the fastest way to control playback, rate tracks, and manage your library without touching the mouse. Below is the complete list of MusicBee keyboard shortcuts, organized by category, along with how to create your own custom hotkeys and a free downloadable PDF cheat sheet.

Playback Controls Shortcuts

Global Media Keys

Work even when MusicBee isn’t focused.

Volume Shortcuts

File & Library Shortcuts

Edit & Tagging Shortcuts

Tabs Shortcuts

Now Playing Shortcuts

Rating Shortcuts — Now Playing Track

Rating Shortcuts — Selected Tracks

Views Shortcuts

Tools Shortcuts

How to Customize or Create MusicBee Hotkeys

MusicBee lets you reassign any default shortcut or create new ones for over 150 commands. All hotkey settings live in one place: Preferences → Hotkeys.

Steps to assign a custom hotkey

1. Open MusicBee and press Ctrl + O, or go to the menu and choose Edit → Preferences.
2. In the Preferences window, select the Hotkeys tab.
3. Scroll the list and click the command you want to assign or change.
4. Press the key or key combination you want to use for that command.
5. Click Assign. If the keys are already used by another command, MusicBee shows a warning icon and a confirmation dialog confirm to reassign, or pick a different combination.
6. Click Save (or Apply) to keep your changes.

How to set a global hotkey

A global hotkey works even when MusicBee isn’t the active window useful for play/pause or skipping tracks while you’re in another app. In the Hotkeys list, look for commands marked as global (such as the Multimedia play/pause, next, and previous commands), or enable the global option for a command when assigning it. By default, the dedicated media keys on your keyboard already control MusicBee globally.

How to reset MusicBee hotkeys to default

If a custom shortcut causes a conflict, return to Preferences → Hotkeys, select the command, and reassign it to its original key or remove your custom assignment to restore the default. There’s no single “reset all” button, so note any changes you make before customizing heavily.

Does MusicBee Work on Mac or Linux?

MusicBee is a Windows-only application and runs on Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11. There is no official Mac or Linux version, so its keyboard shortcuts apply to Windows only. If you’re on macOS or Linux, you can run MusicBee through a compatibility layer like Wine or CrossOver, or in a Windows virtual machine but expect some performance overhead and occasional instability. For a native experience, popular cross-platform alternatives include foobar2000, Strawberry, and Clementine.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the play/pause shortcut in MusicBee?

The play/pause shortcut in MusicBee is Ctrl + P. You can also use your keyboard’s dedicated media play/pause key, which works globally even when MusicBee isn’t the active window.

How do I change keyboard shortcuts in MusicBee?

Open Preferences → Hotkeys (Ctrl + O), click the command you want to change, press your new key combination, and click Assign. If the keys are already in use, MusicBee warns you before reassigning.

Does MusicBee have global hotkeys?

Yes. MusicBee supports global hotkeys that work even when it isn’t the active window. By default, your keyboard’s media keys control play/pause, next, previous, and stop, and you can make other commands global in Preferences → Hotkeys.

How many keyboard shortcuts does MusicBee have?

MusicBee includes around 50 default keyboard shortcuts and supports over 150 assignable hotkey commands in total, most of which have no key assigned until you set one.

What is the shortcut to edit tags in MusicBee?

The shortcut to edit tags in MusicBee is Shift + Enter. Select one or more tracks first, then press Shift + Enter to open the tag editor.

How do I rate a song using the keyboard in MusicBee?

For the currently playing track, press Ctrl + Alt + 1 through Ctrl + Alt + 5 to set 1–5 stars. For selected tracks, use Alt + 1 through Alt + 5.

Does MusicBee work on Mac?

No. MusicBee is a Windows-only application with no official Mac version. Mac users can run it through a compatibility layer like Wine or CrossOver, or choose a native alternative such as foobar2000 or Strawberry.

Final Thoughts

Mastering MusicBee’s keyboard shortcuts turns a good music player into a fast one. Start with the ten essentials above, then customize any hotkey under Preferences → Hotkeys to match the way you actually work. Bookmark this page or grab the free PDF so the full list is always one keystroke away and once these become muscle memory, you’ll rarely reach for the mouse again.

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