ArchiCAD Keyboard Shortcuts: Complete List for Windows & Mac (2026)
ArchiCAD keyboard shortcuts are key combinations that let architects and designers execute commands in Graphisoft’s ArchiCAD BIM software without using menus or toolbars. The most essential shortcuts are Ctrl + S (Save), Ctrl + Z (Undo), W (Wall Tool), and 1 (Arrow Tool). This page covers 140+ shortcuts for Windows and Mac, organized by category, with a free PDF download.
If you use ArchiCAD every day, the difference between reaching for the mouse and pressing a key adds up fast. Architects who rely on keyboard shortcuts complete repetitive tasks moving walls, switching tools, adjusting zoom significantly faster than those navigating menus. Over a full project, that gap compounds into hours.
This page gives you the complete ArchiCAD keyboard shortcut reference for both Windows and Mac, organized by category so you can find what you need without scrolling through a seven-page browser list. Every shortcut includes a plain-English description of what it actually does not just the key combination.
These shortcuts are verified for ArchiCAD 26, 27, and 28 on both platforms. If you’re on an older version, the majority still apply.
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File Menu Shortcuts
| Description | Windows Shortcut | Mac Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Create a new, blank ArchiCAD project | Ctrl + N | Command + N |
| Create a new project and reset all settings to default | Ctrl + Alt + N | Command + Option + N |
| Open a previously saved ArchiCAD project file | Ctrl + O | Command + O |
| Close the currently open project file | Ctrl + W | Command + W |
| Save the current project file | Ctrl + S | Command + S |
| Save the project as a new file with a different name or location | Ctrl + Shift + S | Command + Shift + S |
| Plot (send the drawing to a plotter or printer) | Ctrl + P | Command + P |
| Open the Plot Setup / Print Settings dialog | Ctrl + Shift + P | Command + Shift + P |
| Print the current view | Ctrl + P | Command + P |
| Quit / exit ArchiCAD | Ctrl + Q | Command + Q |
| Create a new GDL object file | Ctrl + Shift + N | Command + Shift + N |
| Open an existing GDL object file | Ctrl + Shift + O | Command + Shift + O |
| Save the current project under a new project name | Ctrl + Shift + N | Command + Shift + N |
| Place a saved module (*.mod file) into the current project | Ctrl + ‘ | Command + ‘ |
| Open the Hotlink Manager to manage linked modules and files | Ctrl + Shift + ‘ | Command + Shift + ‘ |
Text Edit Shortcuts
| Description | Windows Shortcut | Mac Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Redo the last action that was undone | Ctrl + Shift + Z | Command + Shift + Z |
| Undo the last action | Ctrl + Z | Command + Z |
| Repeat the last command or action | Ctrl + B | Command + B |
| Select all elements in the current view | Ctrl + A | Command + A |
| Open the Find dialog to search text within a GDL script | Ctrl + F | Command + F |
| Open Find and Replace to search and replace text in a script | Ctrl + H | Command + H |
| Replace the next instance of the found text | Ctrl + T | Command + T |
| Jump to a specific line number in a GDL script | Ctrl + L | Command + L |
| Comment out the selected lines in a GDL script | Ctrl + M | Command + M |
| Uncomment the selected lines in a GDL script | Ctrl + U | Command + U |
Edit Menu Shortcuts
| Description | Windows Shortcut | Mac Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Open Find & Select to locate elements by type or property | Ctrl + Shift + A | Command + Shift + A |
| Copy selected elements to the clipboard | Ctrl + C | Command + C |
| Drag (move) selected elements to a new position | Ctrl + D | Command + D |
| Rotate selected elements around a pivot point | Ctrl + E | Command + E |
| Split a line, arc, or polygon at a specified point | Ctrl + F | Command + F |
| Stretch selected elements by moving one endpoint | Ctrl + H | Command + H |
| Mirror selected elements across an axis | Ctrl + M | Command + M |
| Resize (scale) selected elements proportionally or along one axis | Ctrl + K | Command + K |
| Adjust elements to meet a reference line or edge | Ctrl + – | Command + – |
| Trim elements to the boundary of a roof or slab | Ctrl + 0 | Command + 0 |
| Open the Tool Settings dialog for the active tool | Ctrl + T | Command + T |
| Edit the current selection set properties | Ctrl + Shift + T | Command + Shift + T |
| Drag and create a copy of selected elements | Ctrl + Shift + D | Command + Shift + D |
| Rotate and create a copy of selected elements | Ctrl + Shift + E | Command + Shift + E |
| Mirror and create a copy of selected elements | Ctrl + Shift + M | Command + Shift + M |
Group Shortcuts
| Description | Windows Shortcut | Mac Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Group selected elements so they move and act as one unit | Ctrl + G | Command + G |
| Ungroup selected groups back into individual elements | Ctrl + Shift + G | Command + Shift + G |
| Temporarily suspend grouping so you can edit individual group members | Alt + G | Option + G |
| Toggle Auto Group on/off (automatically groups elements placed together) | Alt + Shift + G | Option + Shift + G |
| Create a patch (a filled polygon overlay) from the selected area | Ctrl + ; | Command + ; |
| Explode a group, object, or polyline into its individual component elements | Ctrl + = | Command + = |
Tools Shortcuts
| Description | Windows | Mac Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Switch to the Arrow Tool (selection and editing tool) | 1 | 1 |
| Switch to the Marquee Tool (define a region for 3D filtering or operations) | 2 | 3 |
| Switch to the Wall Tool (draw straight or curved walls) | W | W |
| Switch to the Wall End Tool (add a decorative end cap to a wall) | ] | ] |
| Switch to the Column Tool (place structural or decorative columns) | E | E |
| Switch to the Beam Tool (place horizontal structural beams) | F | F |
| Switch to the Window Tool (insert windows into walls) | , | , |
| Switch to the Door Tool (insert doors into walls) | M | M |
| Switch to the Object Tool (place GDL library objects and furniture) | V | V |
| Switch to the Lamp Tool (place light source objects) | . | . |
| Switch to the Stair Tool (place stairs between stories) | Alt + . | Option + . |
| Switch to the Slab Tool (draw floor slabs, ceilings, or terraces) | U | U |
| Switch to the Roof Tool (create single-plane or multi-plane roofs) | I | I |
| Switch to the Mesh Tool (create terrain meshes or irregular surfaces) | [ | [ |
| Switch to the Dimension Tool (place linear dimensions) | J | J |
| Switch to the Radial Dimension Tool (place radius or diameter dimensions) | \ | \ |
| Switch to the Level Dimension Tool (place elevation markers) | Shift + J | Shift + J |
| Switch to the Angle Dimension Tool (place angular dimensions) | Alt + \ | Option + \ |
| Switch to the Text Tool (place text annotations) | K | K |
| Switch to the Label Tool (place smart labels linked to elements) | Shift + K | Shift + K |
| Switch to the Zone Tool (define and calculate room areas) | Alt + ‘ | Option + ‘ |
| Switch to the Fill Tool (draw filled hatch regions) | ‘ | ‘ |
| Switch to the Line Tool (draw straight 2D lines) | Shift + L | Shift + L |
| Switch to the Arc or Circle Tool (draw arcs and full circles) | ; | ; |
| Switch to the Polyline Tool (draw multi-segment lines and closed polygons) | L | L |
| Switch to the Spline Tool (draw smooth curved lines through control points) | Alt + ; | Option + ; |
| Switch to the Figure Tool (insert raster images into the drawing) | Shift + F | Shift + F |
| Switch to the Hotspot Tool (place reference points for snapping) | 0 | 0 |
| Switch to the Section/Elevation Tool (place section or elevation markers) | 7 | 7 |
| Switch to the Detail Tool (place detail drawing markers) | 8 | 8 |
| Switch to the Camera Tool (place 3D camera viewpoints for renders) | 9 | 9 |
Actions Shortcuts
| Description | Windows Shortcut | Mac Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Cycle through available geometry methods for the active tool | G | G |
| Cycle through available construction methods for the active tool | C | C |
| Enter a precise angle value in the Tracker input field | A | A |
| Enter a precise radius value in the Tracker input field | R | R |
| Enter a precise X coordinate value in the Tracker | X | X |
| Enter a precise Y coordinate value in the Tracker | Y | Y |
| Enter a precise Z (elevation) value in the Tracker | Z | Z |
| Set the top elevation of a 3D element via the Tracker | T | T |
| Set the bottom elevation of a 3D element via the Tracker | B | B |
| Cycle through available cursor snap variants | Q | Q |
| Toggle parallel or perpendicular snapping constraint | P | P |
| Activate the angle bisector snapping guide | H | H |
| Activate offset or multiple offset input mode | O | O |
| Activate special snap relative to existing construction elements | D | D |
| Switch to the previous tool in the Toolbox | Page Up | Page Up |
| Switch to the next tool in the Toolbox | Page Down | Page Down |
| Toggle grid snap on/off | S | S |
| Scroll the view upward | Up Arrow | Up Arrow |
| Scroll the view downward | Down Arrow | Down Arrow |
| Scroll the view to the left | Left Arrow | Left Arrow |
| Scroll the view to the right | Right Arrow | Right Arrow |
| Zoom in on the current view | + | + |
| Zoom out on the current view | – | – |
| Input an object parameter value via the Tracker | N | N |
Display Menu Shortcuts
| Description | Windows Shortcut | Mac Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Redraw the current view (refresh without rebuilding geometry) | Ctrl + R | Command + R |
| Rebuild the current view (recalculate and redraw all geometry) | Ctrl + Shift + R | Command + Shift + R |
| Zoom in on the current view | Ctrl + / | Command + / |
| Zoom out on the current view | Ctrl + Shift + / | Command + Shift + / |
| Activate the Pan tool to scroll around the view by dragging | Ctrl + , | Command + , |
| Zoom the view to fit all selected elements | Ctrl + Shift + ‘ | Command + Shift + ‘ |
| Zoom to fit the entire drawing within the window | Ctrl + ‘ | Command + ‘ |
| Toggle full screen mode | Ctrl + \ | Command + \ |
| Return to the home (default) zoom level | Ctrl + Shift + \ | Command + Shift + \ |
| Go back to the previous zoom level | Ctrl + [ | Command + [ |
| Go forward to the next zoom level (after using Previous Zoom) | Ctrl + ] | Command + ] |
Teamwork Shortcuts
| Description | Windows Shortcut | Mac Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Sign in to the BIMcloud / Teamwork server | Ctrl + I | Command + I |
| Receive the latest changes from other team members | Ctrl + J | Command + J |
| Send your changes and receive updates from the server simultaneously | Ctrl + Shift + J | Command + Shift + J |
| Sign out of the BIMcloud / Teamwork session | Ctrl + Shift + W | Command + Shift + W |
| Share the current project with the Teamwork server | Ctrl + Shift + I | Command + Shift + I |
Images / 3D View Shortcuts
| Description | Windows Shortcut | Mac Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Open the PhotoRender Projections window to set up photorealistic rendering | F10 | F10 |
| Create a fly-through animation of the 3D model | F11 | F11 |
| Create a sun study animation showing shadow movement over time | F12 | F12 |
| Apply a 3D cutaway plane to the current 3D view | Ctrl + Y | Command + Y |
| Open 3D Projection Settings (camera angle, perspective, axonometric) | Ctrl + Shift + 3 | Command + Shift + 3 |
| Define which elements are visible in the 3D view | Ctrl + Alt + A | Command + Option + A |
| Set and adjust 3D cutting planes | Ctrl + Shift + Y | Command + Shift + Y |
| Switch 3D view to Shading mode (solid colored surfaces) | F9 | F9 |
| Switch 3D view to Hidden Line mode (outlines only, no fills) | Ctrl + F9 | Command + F9 |
| Switch 3D view to Wireframe mode (all edges visible) | Ctrl + Shift + F9 | Command + Shift + F9 |
Options Shortcuts
| Description | Windows Shortcut | Mac Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Open the Go to Story dialog to jump to a specific floor level | Ctrl + 4 | Command + 4 |
| Navigate to the story below the current one | Ctrl + 5 | Command + 5 |
| Navigate to the story above the current one | Ctrl + 6 | Command + 6 |
| Open Story Settings to manage floor levels and story heights | Ctrl + 7 | Command + 7 |
| Show or hide the ghost story overlay (trace reference from another story) | Ctrl + 8 | Command + 8 |
| Clean up wall and beam intersections (auto-join touching elements) | F7 | F7 |
| Toggle grid snap on/off | F8 | F8 |
| Open Grids and Background settings (grid spacing, origin, appearance) | Shift + F8 | Shift + F8 |
| Open Layer Settings to manage layer visibility and combinations | Ctrl + L | Command + L |
Tools Display Order Shortcuts
| Description | Windows Shortcut | Mac Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Bring the selected element to the very front of the display order | Shift + F6 | Shift + F6 |
| Move the selected element one step forward in the display order | F6 | F6 |
| Move the selected element one step backward in the display order | F5 | F5 |
| Send the selected element to the very back of the display order | Shift + F5 | Shift + F5 |
How to Customize ArchiCAD Keyboard Shortcuts
ArchiCAD lets you reassign almost every command to a key combination of your choice. If the default shortcuts don’t match your workflow or conflict with habits from other software like AutoCAD or Revit you can change them in under a minute.
How to Change an Existing ArchiCAD Shortcut
Follow these steps to reassign any command to a new key:
- Open the Options menu from the top menu bar in ArchiCAD.
- Click Work Environment from the dropdown.
- Select Keyboard Shortcuts under the Shortcut Schemes section in the left panel.
- Browse or search for the command you want to reassign. Use the “List” dropdown to filter by “All Commands in Alphabetical Order” or by category (e.g., “All Commands by Theme”) to find it faster.
- Click the command to select it. Any existing shortcut assigned to it will appear in the “Current Shortcut” field.
- Click inside the “Press New Shortcut Key” field and press the key combination you want to assign (e.g., Ctrl + Shift + W).
- Click Assign to apply the new shortcut.
- Click OK to save and close the dialog.
Tip: If the key combination you choose is already assigned to another command, ArchiCAD will warn you before overwriting it. You can either pick a different key or confirm the reassignment.
How to Create a Completely New Custom Shortcut
You can assign a keyboard shortcut to any command that doesn’t have one by default:
- Go to Options → Work Environment → Keyboard Shortcuts.
- Set the List dropdown to “All Commands in Alphabetical Order.”
- Search for the command you want to assign a shortcut to. For example, “Keyboard Shortcuts” itself can be mapped to F4 for quick access.
- Check the “All Window Types” option so the shortcut works in both 2D floor plan and 3D view windows.
- Click the “Press New Shortcut Key” field and press your desired key or key combination.
- Click Assign, then OK.
How to Save and Share Your Shortcut Scheme
Once you’ve customized your shortcuts, save them as a named scheme so you can restore them after a reinstall or share them with your team:
- Go to Options → Work Environment → Keyboard Shortcuts.
- Click “Save Current Scheme As…” and give it a name (e.g., “My Studio Shortcuts”).
- To export it, go to Options → Work Environment → Save Current Scheme and save the .xml file to your computer.
- To import it on another machine, go to Options → Work Environment → Import Scheme and load the .xml file.
How to Reset ArchiCAD Shortcuts to Default
If your shortcuts get into a broken state or you want to start fresh:
- Go to Options → Work Environment → Keyboard Shortcuts.
- In the Shortcut Schemes dropdown, select “ArchiCAD Default.”
- Click OK.
All shortcuts will revert to ArchiCAD’s factory defaults.
ArchiCAD Shortcut Schemes: What Are They?
ArchiCAD ships with several predefined shortcut schemes. You can switch between them at any time from Options → Work Environment → Keyboard Shortcuts:
| Scheme Name | Best For |
|---|---|
| ArchiCAD Default | Standard ArchiCAD users |
| AutoCAD-compatible | Users migrating from AutoCAD |
| Custom (your saved scheme) | Studio-specific or personal workflows |
Switching schemes instantly changes all active shortcuts useful if you share a workstation with another architect who has different preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions About ArchiCAD Shortcuts
What is the shortcut to undo in ArchiCAD?
The shortcut to undo in ArchiCAD is Ctrl + Z on Windows and Command + Z on Mac. To redo an action you’ve undone, press Ctrl + Shift + Z (Windows) or Command + Shift + Z (Mac). ArchiCAD supports multiple undo steps, so you can press Ctrl + Z repeatedly to step back through your recent actions.
How do I see the full list of ArchiCAD keyboard shortcuts?
You can view every keyboard shortcut assigned in your current ArchiCAD installation directly inside the software:
- Go to Options → Work Environment → Keyboard Shortcuts
- Click “Show Shortcut List in Browser” at the bottom of the dialog
ArchiCAD will open the complete shortcut list in your default web browser. The list is approximately 7 pages long and covers every assignable command. You can also download our free ArchiCAD Shortcuts PDF above for a printable offline reference.
Are ArchiCAD shortcuts the same on Windows and Mac?
Most ArchiCAD shortcuts follow the same pattern across platforms, with one key difference: the Ctrl key on Windows maps to the Command key on Mac, and the Alt key on Windows maps to the Option key on Mac. For example, Save is Ctrl + S on Windows and Command + S on Mac.
A small number of shortcuts differ entirely between platforms due to macOS system-level key conflicts. All Windows and Mac shortcuts are listed side by side in the tables above.
Can I use AutoCAD shortcuts in ArchiCAD?
ArchiCAD ships with an AutoCAD-compatible shortcut scheme that maps common commands to the key combinations AutoCAD users are familiar with. To activate it:
- Go to Options → Work Environment → Keyboard Shortcuts
- In the Shortcut Schemes dropdown, select “AutoCAD-compatible”
- Click OK
Note that the overlap is not complete ArchiCAD and AutoCAD have fundamentally different toolsets and workflows, so some shortcuts will behave differently. Architects migrating from AutoCAD typically use the AutoCAD scheme as a starting point, then customize further over time.
How do I export or share my ArchiCAD shortcut scheme?
To export your custom shortcut scheme so you can share it with colleagues or restore it after a reinstall:
- Go to Options → Work Environment → Keyboard Shortcuts
- Set up or select the scheme you want to export
- Go to Options → Work Environment → Save Current Scheme
- Save the file — ArchiCAD exports it as an .xml file
To import it on another machine, go to Options → Work Environment → Import Scheme and select the .xml file. This works across the same major version of ArchiCAD (e.g., ArchiCAD 27 to ArchiCAD 27).
What is the shortcut to switch between 2D and 3D view in ArchiCAD?
ArchiCAD does not have a single toggle shortcut to switch between 2D and 3D instead you use window-specific shortcuts:
- Press F3 (or go to View → 3D View) to open the 3D window
- Press Ctrl + 2 (Windows) / Command + 2 (Mac) to switch back to the Floor Plan (2D) view
- Use Ctrl + Tab to cycle between open windows in ArchiCAD
You can also assign a custom shortcut to any view-switching command via Options → Work Environment → Keyboard Shortcuts.
Do ArchiCAD shortcuts work the same in ArchiCAD 27 and ArchiCAD 28?
Yes the core keyboard shortcuts listed in this article apply to ArchiCAD 26, 27, and 28 without significant changes. Graphisoft occasionally adds new commands in major releases, but default shortcuts for existing tools remain stable across versions.
If you upgrade from an older version and notice a shortcut has changed, go to Options → Work Environment → Keyboard Shortcuts and check the “All New Commands in Alphabetical Order” filter, which lists only the commands added in the current version.
Is there a printable ArchiCAD shortcuts PDF or cheat sheet?
Yes, you can download our free ArchiCAD Shortcuts PDF using the download button on this page. It contains all 140+ shortcuts for Windows and Mac in a print-friendly format, organized by category. It’s designed to sit next to your monitor as a quick reference while you learn.
Alternatively, ArchiCAD itself can generate a browser-based shortcut list via Options → Work Environment → Keyboard Shortcuts → Show Shortcut List in Browser, though this version is less print-friendly.
What is ArchiCAD and who makes it?
ArchiCAD is a BIM (Building Information Modeling) and CAD software application developed by Graphisoft, a company founded in Budapest, Hungary in 1982. Graphisoft is a subsidiary of the Nemetschek Group. ArchiCAD was one of the first CAD programs capable of creating both 2D drawings and 3D geometry on a personal computer, and is widely credited as the software that introduced BIM concepts to the industry.
Today, ArchiCAD is used by architects, engineers, interior designers, and urban planners worldwide. It runs on both Windows and macOS and supports open BIM workflows through the IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) standard. The current versions are ArchiCAD 27 and ArchiCAD 28.
Conclusion
Mastering ArchiCAD keyboard shortcuts is one of the highest-return investments you can make as an architect or BIM designer. The shortcuts themselves take minutes to look up the time savings compound across every project you work on.
Start small. Pick 5 shortcuts from the tables above that match the tasks you repeat most often saving, undoing, switching tools, zooming and use them exclusively for a week. Once they become automatic, add another five. Within a month, you will no longer think about shortcuts; you will just work faster.
If you take one thing from this page: the shortcut that changes most workflows is Ctrl + T (Windows) or Command + T (Mac) Tool Settings. It opens the settings dialog for whatever tool is currently active, without clicking, without menus. Every ArchiCAD user needs this one from day one.
Download the free PDF to keep the full reference handy offline, print it, or share it with your team.
⬇ Download ArchiCAD Shortcuts PDF Free
Keep Learning:
- SketchUp Keyboard Shortcuts – the most common ArchiCAD alternative for concept modeling
- Blender Keyboard Shortcuts – for 3D visualization and rendering workflows
- CorelDraw Shortcut Keys – for 2D presentation and drawing work
- AutoCAD Shortcuts – (create this page to complete the BIM/CAD cluster)
