100 Adobe Premiere Pro Shortcut Keys + PDF Cheat Sheet
Adobe Premiere Pro shortcut keys can save you hours of editing time by helping you cut clips, trim footage, control playback, and export videos without touching the mouse again and again.
In this guide, you’ll find Adobe Premiere Pro keyboard shortcuts for both Windows and Mac, including the most-used timeline shortcuts, editing tools shortcuts, playback controls, and navigation keys. I’ve also added a free PDF download so you can keep this cheat sheet offline.
Whether you’re a beginner or a daily editor, these shortcuts will instantly make your workflow faster and smoother. If you’re comparing editors, here’s my list of the best Premiere Pro alternatives you can try.
Top 10 Premiere Pro Shortcuts (Quick List)
| Action | Windows Shortcut | Mac Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Selection Tool | V | V |
| Razor Tool | C | C |
| Undo | Ctrl + Z | Cmd + Z |
| Add Edit | Ctrl + K | Cmd + K |
| Mark In | I | I |
| Mark Out | O | O |
| Play/Pause | Spacebar | Spacebar |
| Stop | S | S |
| Add Marker | M | M |
| Export Media | Ctrl + M | Cmd + M |
Tip: Press Ctrl + Alt + K (Windows) or Option + Cmd + K (Mac) to open Premiere Pro’s Keyboard Shortcuts menu.
Most Used Premiere Pro Shortcut Keys
These are the most commonly used Adobe Premiere Pro shortcut keys for everyday editing tasks like creating projects, saving work, importing media, and basic copy-paste actions. If you’re just starting out, learn these first they’ll instantly speed up your workflow.
| Action | Windows Shortcut | Mac Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| New Project | Ctrl + Shift + N | Cmd + Shift + N |
| Open Existing Project | Ctrl + O | Cmd + O |
| Save Project | Ctrl + S | Cmd + S |
| Save As | Ctrl + Shift + S | Cmd + Shift + S |
| Save Copy | Ctrl + Alt + S | Cmd + Option + S |
| Close | Ctrl + W | Cmd + W |
| Exit Premiere Pro | Ctrl + Q | Cmd + Q |
| Import | Ctrl + I | Cmd + I |
| Import from Media Browser | Ctrl + Alt + I | Cmd + Option + I |
| Open in Adobe Bridge | Ctrl + Alt + O | Cmd + Option + O |
| Sequence | Ctrl + N | Cmd + N |
| Title | Ctrl + T | Cmd + T |
| Cut | Ctrl + X | Cmd + X |
| Copy | Ctrl + C | Cmd + C |
| Paste | Ctrl + V | Cmd + V |
| Undo | Ctrl + Z | Cmd + Z |
| Redo | Ctrl + Y | Cmd + Y |
| Select All | Ctrl + A | Cmd + A |
| Deselect All | Ctrl + Shift + A | Cmd + Shift + A |
| Find | Ctrl + F | Cmd + F |
| Paste Insert | Ctrl + Shift + V | Cmd + Shift + V |
| Paste Attributes | Ctrl + Alt + V | Cmd + Option + V |
| Clear | Delete | Delete |
| Delete Forever | Shift + Delete | Shift + Delete |
Want to learn the basics first? Read this guide on Adobe Premiere Pro and what it is used for.
Tools Shortcuts
Premiere Pro tool shortcuts help you switch between editing tools like Selection, Razor, Ripple, and Zoom without using the mouse. This makes cutting clips, trimming edges, and navigating the timeline much faster.
| Action | Windows Shortcut | Mac Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Selection Tool | V | V |
| Track Select Tool | A | A |
| Ripple Edit Tool | B | B |
| Razor Tool | C | C |
| Rolling Edit Tool | N | N |
| Pen Tool | P | P |
| Hand Tool | H | H |
| Slide Tool | U | U |
| Slip Tool | Y | Y |
| Zoom Tool | Z | Z |
If you also work with motion graphics, check these Adobe After Effects shortcuts. For better audio editing, you can also use Adobe Audition shortcuts.
Editing & Timeline Shortcuts
These Premiere Pro timeline shortcuts are essential for cutting, trimming, inserting, overwriting, and applying transitions while editing. If you work on long videos, mastering these keys will save you a lot of time on every project.
| Action | Windows Shortcut | Mac Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Link | Ctrl + L | Cmd + L |
| Group | Ctrl + G | Cmd + G |
| Ungroup | Ctrl + Shift + G | Cmd + Shift + G |
| Insert | , | , |
| Overwrite | . | . |
| Add Edit | Ctrl + K | Cmd + K |
| Add Edit to All Tracks | Ctrl + Shift + K | Cmd + Shift + K |
| Speed/Duration | Ctrl + R | Cmd + R |
| Capture | F5 | F5 |
| Apply Default Video Transition | Ctrl + D | Cmd + D |
| Apply Default Audio Transition | Ctrl + Shift + D | Cmd + Shift + D |
| Reverse Match Frame | Shift + R | Shift + R |
| Zoom In | + | + |
| Zoom Out | – | – |
| Minimize All Tracks | Shift + – | Shift + – |
| Snap On/Off | S | S |
| Go to Selected Clip Start | Shift + Home | Shift + Home |
| Go to Selected Clip End | Shift + End | Shift + End |
Playback Shortcuts
Playback shortcuts let you preview your edits smoothly by controlling play, pause, stop, rewind, fast forward, and frame-by-frame movement. These are perfect for checking timing, transitions, and audio sync quickly.
| Action | Windows Shortcut | Mac Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Play / Pause | Spacebar | Spacebar |
| Stop | S | S |
| Rewind | R | R |
| Fast Forward | F | F |
| Step Back (1 frame) | Left Arrow | Left Arrow |
| Step Forward (1 frame) | Right Arrow | Right Arrow |
| Next | Down Arrow | Down Arrow |
| Previous | Up Arrow | Up Arrow |
Marker Shortcuts
Marker shortcuts help you place edit points, add reminders, and jump between important moments in your timeline. They are especially useful when working on music videos, tutorials, interviews, or long multi-scene projects.
| Action | Windows Shortcut | Mac Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Mark In | I | I |
| Mark Out | O | O |
| Mark Clip | X | X |
| Mark Selection | / | / |
| Go to In | Shift + I | Shift + I |
| Go to Out | Shift + O | Shift + O |
| Clear In | Ctrl + Shift + I | Cmd + Shift + I |
| Clear Out | Ctrl + Shift + O | Cmd + Shift + O |
| Add Marker | M | M |
| Previous Marker | Ctrl + Shift + M | Cmd + Shift + M |
| Next Marker | Shift + M | Shift + M |
| Clear Current Marker | Ctrl + Alt + M | Cmd + Option + M |
Window / Panel Navigation Shortcuts
These shortcuts help you quickly switch between Premiere Pro panels like Project, Timeline, Source Monitor, and Effects without searching through menus. They are super useful for editors who multitask between editing, effects, and audio mixing.
| Action | Windows Shortcut | Mac Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Project Panel | Shift + 1 | Shift + 1 |
| Source Monitor | Shift + 2 | Shift + 2 |
| Timeline Panel | Shift + 3 | Shift + 3 |
| Program Monitor | Shift + 4 | Shift + 4 |
| Effect Controls | Shift + 5 | Shift + 5 |
| Audio Track Mixer | Shift + 6 | Shift + 6 |
| Effects Panel | Shift + 7 | Shift + 7 |
| Media Browser | Shift + 8 | Shift + 8 |
| Audio Clip Mixer | Shift + 9 | Shift + 9 |
| Select Camera | 1..9 | 1..9 |
| Cut to Camera | Ctrl + 1..9 | Cmd + 1..9 |
| Clear Poster Frame | Ctrl + Shift + P | Cmd + Shift + P |
| Export Frame | Ctrl + Shift + E | Cmd + Shift + E |
Export & Render Shortcuts
Export and render shortcuts help you finish your project faster by opening export settings and speeding up final output tasks. This section is useful when you’re ready to deliver videos for YouTube, Instagram, or client work.
| Action | Windows Shortcut | Mac Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Export Media | Ctrl + M | Cmd + M |
| Media Encoder Queue | Ctrl + Alt + M | Cmd + Option + M |
| Export Frame (Save Frame as Image) | Ctrl + Shift + E | Cmd + Shift + E |
| Render Effects in Work Area | Enter | Return |
| Render In to Out | Enter (after setting In/Out) | Return (after setting In/Out) |
Premiere Pro Shortcuts Not Working?
If your Adobe Premiere Pro shortcut keys are not working, don’t worry it’s a common issue and usually easy to fix. Most shortcut problems happen because of wrong keyboard layout, focus issues inside panels, or custom keybinding conflicts.
Here are the most common reasons and quick fixes:
1. Check If You’re Typing in a Text Box
Sometimes shortcuts won’t work because your cursor is active inside a text field like:
- Search bar
- Rename clip box
- Essential Graphics text layer
- Any input field inside a panel
✅ Fix: Click once on the Timeline or Program Monitor, then try the shortcut again.
2. Make Sure the Correct Panel is Selected (Panel Focus Issue)
Premiere Pro shortcuts often work based on where your focus is:
- Timeline shortcuts work only when the Timeline panel is active
- Playback shortcuts may require the Program Monitor focus
- Marker shortcuts work better when the Timeline is selected
✅ Fix: Click inside the panel you want to control and retry.
3. Your Keyboard Shortcuts Were Changed (Custom Keybind Conflict)
Many editors accidentally change shortcuts while exploring settings, or after installing presets.
✅ Fix: Open Keyboard Shortcuts and check your mappings:
- Windows: Ctrl + Alt + K
- Mac: Option + Cmd + K
From there, you can search a shortcut and see if it’s assigned correctly.
4. Reset Premiere Pro Shortcuts to Default
If your shortcuts are completely messed up or nothing works properly, resetting is the fastest solution.
✅ Fix: Go to Edit → Keyboard Shortcuts and choose the default preset (or reset your custom layout).
(Exact wording may vary slightly depending on Premiere Pro version.)
5. Wrong Keyboard Layout or Language Settings
Shortcut keys may act differently if your keyboard layout is not English (US), or if you’re using a different language layout.
✅ Fix:
- Switch to English (US) keyboard layout (Windows settings)
- On Mac, check Input Sources and choose the correct keyboard
Then restart Premiere Pro and test again.
6. Some Shortcuts Don’t Work When Caps Lock is ON
In some cases, Caps Lock can affect how certain tools and views behave.
✅ Fix: Turn Caps Lock OFF, click the Timeline, and try again.
7. Third-Party Apps May Block Shortcuts (Windows & Mac)
Apps like screen recorders, keyboard managers, or background utilities can override keys (example: Ctrl, Alt, function keys, etc.).
✅ Fix:
- Close background shortcut tools
- Disable conflicting hotkeys
- Restart Premiere Pro
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Some of the most used Premiere Pro shortcut keys include V (Selection Tool), C (Razor Tool), Ctrl+Z / Cmd+Z (Undo), Ctrl+K / Cmd+K (Add Edit), I (Mark In), O (Mark Out), and Ctrl+M / Cmd+M (Export Media). These shortcuts help you edit faster with less mouse clicking.
You can open the Keyboard Shortcuts menu using: Windows: Ctrl + Alt + K, Mac: Option + Cmd + K.
From here, you can search any command and see its assigned shortcut key.
Yes, Premiere Pro allows you to customize shortcut keys easily. Open the Keyboard Shortcuts panel, search the command you want, and assign a new key combination. You can also save your custom shortcut preset for future projects.
Premiere Pro shortcuts may not work due to panel focus issues, typing inside a text box, keyboard layout problems, or custom shortcut conflicts. Clicking the Timeline panel and checking your shortcut preset usually fixes the issue quickly.
The export shortcut in Premiere Pro is: Ctrl + M/ Cmd + M. This opens the Export Settings / Export Media window for final rendering.
To reset shortcut keys, open the Keyboard Shortcuts menu and switch back to the default preset. This is helpful if your shortcuts were changed accidentally or stopped working due to conflicts.
Many Premiere Pro shortcuts are similar on both systems, but Windows commonly uses Ctrl, while Mac uses Command (Cmd). A few shortcuts may differ depending on your keyboard layout and custom shortcut preset.
That’s it these Adobe Premiere Pro shortcut keys will help you edit faster, cut clips quicker, and finish projects without wasting time switching tools again and again. If you’re serious about improving your workflow, start by learning the “Most Used” shortcuts first, then move to timeline and export shortcuts. Don’t forget to download the PDF so you can keep this cheat sheet saved for quick access anytime.
READ NEXT:
