130 Affinity Photo Keyboard Shortcuts

If you use Affinity Photo regularly, learning keyboard shortcuts is one of the easiest ways to edit faster and reduce repetitive clicks. Instead of searching through menus every time, simple key combinations let you switch tools, manage layers, zoom, retouch images, and format text in seconds. Whether you’re resizing a canvas, using Liquify tools, or adjusting typography, the right shortcuts can significantly improve your workflow.

Affinity Photo shortcuts are built to speed up common editing tasks like Duplicate (Ctrl + J), Brush Tool (B), Move Tool (V), and Zoom In (Ctrl + =) making them essential for beginners and advanced users alike. If you’re coming from Photoshop, you’ll notice many familiar hotkeys, but Affinity Photo also includes its own unique Persona-based shortcuts.

In this guide, you’ll find a complete, organized list of Affinity Photo shortcuts for Windows (and similar Mac equivalents), along with tips, fixes, and a printable PDF cheat sheet.

Most Used Affinity Photo Shortcuts

These are the most commonly used Affinity Photo shortcuts that help speed up everyday editing tasks like creating documents, switching tools, duplicating layers, zooming, and saving work quickly. If you’re new to Affinity Photo, start by memorizing these hotkeys they cover the majority of actions you’ll use during photo editing and design workflows.

File & Document Shortcuts

These Affinity Photo file and document shortcuts help you manage projects faster from creating new files to exporting finished designs. Instead of navigating through menus, these hotkeys allow quick saving, resizing, and switching between documents while maintaining an efficient editing workflow.

Tool Shortcuts (Photo Persona Tools)

These Affinity Photo tool shortcuts let you quickly switch between editing tools without using the toolbar. Whether you’re painting, retouching, selecting objects, or cropping images, using keyboard shortcuts helps maintain a smooth editing workflow and improves overall productivity.

Liquify Persona Shortcuts

The Liquify Persona in Affinity Photo allows you to reshape, distort, and refine images using specialized tools. These shortcuts help you quickly switch between liquify brushes, zoom controls, and navigation tools making detailed retouching faster and more precise without constantly changing panels.

Selection & Editing Shortcuts

These Affinity Photo selection and editing shortcuts help you modify images quickly from undoing actions to filling areas, copying merged layers, and applying styles. Using these hotkeys allows you to perform precise edits without interrupting your creative flow.

Layer & Object Shortcuts

These Affinity Photo layer shortcuts help you organize, duplicate, merge, and control the stacking order of objects quickly. Instead of navigating the Layers panel repeatedly, you can manage complex compositions using simple keyboard combinations which is especially useful when working with multi-layer designs or photo edits.

Text & Typography Shortcuts

These Affinity Photo text and typography shortcuts help you format characters, adjust spacing, and control paragraph alignment directly from the keyboard. Whether you’re designing posters, social media graphics, or photo captions, these hotkeys make text editing faster and more precise.

View, Zoom & Navigation Shortcuts

These Affinity Photo view and navigation shortcuts help you move around your workspace faster, control zoom levels, and toggle layout guides without interrupting your editing process. Whether you’re working on detailed retouching or checking full-canvas layouts, these hotkeys make navigation smoother and more efficient.

Advanced Productivity Shortcuts

These advanced Affinity Photo shortcuts are designed to improve workflow efficiency by speeding up color swapping, snapping, selection adjustments, and overlay controls. While they may not be used as frequently as basic tool shortcuts, mastering them can significantly reduce editing time during complex photo manipulation or design projects.

Affinity Photo Shortcuts Not Working? (Quick Fixes)

Sometimes keyboard shortcuts in Affinity Photo may not respond as expected. This usually happens due to tool conflicts, incorrect Persona selection, or system-level shortcut issues. If your hotkeys stop working, try these quick fixes before reinstalling the software.

1. Check the Active Persona

Affinity Photo uses different Personas like Photo Persona and Liquify Persona, and some shortcuts only work inside a specific workspace. Switch back to the correct Persona and test the shortcut again.

2. Make Sure the Right Tool Is Selected

Certain hotkeys are context-based. For example, Crop overlay shortcuts only work when the Crop Tool is active. Select the correct tool before using its shortcut.

3. Disable Conflicting System Shortcuts

Windows or third-party apps may override key combinations like Ctrl + Alt or Alt + Shift. Close background apps or check keyboard manager settings.

4. Check Keyboard Layout or Language Settings

If you’re using a non-standard keyboard layout, some keys like ;, ‘, or “` may behave differently. Switch to a standard layout (like English US) and try again.

5. Restart Affinity Photo

Temporary glitches can prevent shortcuts from working correctly. Restart the app to refresh keyboard input detection.

Affinity Photo vs Photoshop Shortcuts (Quick Comparison)

If you’re moving from Adobe Photoshop to Affinity Photo, you’ll notice that many keyboard shortcuts feel familiar, but some tools and Personas use different hotkeys. Understanding these differences helps reduce the learning curve and allows you to work faster without constantly searching menus.

Affinity Photo Shortcuts — FAQs

Learning Affinity Photo shortcuts is one of the simplest ways to improve your editing speed and stay focused on your creative work. Instead of relying on menus for every action, these keyboard commands let you switch tools, manage layers, adjust text, and navigate your workspace more efficiently. Whether you’re using Photo Persona tools, Liquify shortcuts, or typography controls, mastering the right hotkeys can make a noticeable difference in your daily workflow.

If you’re just getting started, begin with the most used shortcuts like Ctrl + J (Duplicate), B (Brush Tool), and Ctrl + = (Zoom In), then gradually explore advanced and Persona-based commands. You can also download the printable PDF cheat sheet to practice regularly and build muscle memory over time.

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