GIMP Keyboard Shortcuts: Complete List for Windows, Mac & Linux
GIMP keyboard shortcuts are key combinations that run commands instantly without clicking through menus for example, Ctrl+N creates a new image and Ctrl+S saves it. They work the same on Windows and Linux; on Mac, Command replaces Ctrl and Option replaces Alt. All shortcuts are customizable through Edit → Keyboard Shortcuts.
The most-used GIMP keyboard shortcuts
| Action | Windows / Linux | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| New image | Ctrl + N | Cmd + N |
| Save (.xcf) | Ctrl + S | Cmd + S |
| Export As | Shift + Ctrl + E | Shift + Cmd + E |
| Undo | Ctrl + Z | Shift + Cmd + E |
| Select none (deselect) | Shift + Ctrl + A | Shift + Cmd + A |
| Invert selection | Ctrl + I | Cmd + I |
| Duplicate image | Ctrl + D | Cmd + D |
| Merge visible layers | Ctrl + M | Cmd + M |
| Crop tool | Shift + C | Shift + C |
| Fullscreen | F11 | F11 |
These work in both GIMP 2.10 and 3.0. Browse the full categorized list below, or download the free PDF cheat sheet.
What’s New in GIMP 3.0 Shortcuts (vs 2.10)
GIMP 3.0 the first major release since 2.10 kept most keyboard shortcuts identical, so muscle memory carries over. A few changes are worth knowing:
- Export shortcuts changed. In GIMP 3.0, Ctrl+E re-exports your image to the last-used format, and Shift+Ctrl+E opens Export As. (Save with Ctrl+S still writes GIMP’s native .xcf format in both versions.)
- New transform tools got default keys: 3D Transform (Shift+W), Handle Transform (Shift+L), and Cage Transform (Shift+G).
- Shrink Wrap is Ctrl+J and Fit Image in Window is Shift+Ctrl+J often misreported in older guides as Ctrl+E.
- Shortcuts remain fully customizable via Edit → Keyboard Shortcuts in both versions, so your setup may differ from these defaults.
File Shortcuts
| Action | Windows / Linux | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| New image | Ctrl + N | Cmd + N |
| Create from clipboard | Shift + Ctrl + V | Shift + Cmd + V |
| Open image | Ctrl + O | Cmd + O |
| Open as layers | Ctrl + Alt + O | Cmd + Opt + O |
| Save (.xcf) | Ctrl + S | Cmd + S |
| Save as | Shift + Ctrl + S | Shift + Cmd + S |
| Export | Ctrl + E | Cmd + E |
| Export As | Shift + Ctrl + E | Shift + Cmd + E |
| Ctrl + P | Cmd + P | |
| Close window | Ctrl + W | Cmd + W |
| Close all | Shift + Ctrl + W | Shift + Cmd + W |
| Quit | Ctrl + Q | Cmd + Q |
Edit Shortcuts
| Action | Windows / Linux | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Undo | Ctrl + Z | Cmd + Z |
| Redo | Ctrl + Y | Cmd + Y |
| Copy | Ctrl + C | Cmd + C |
| Copy visible | Shift + Ctrl + C | Shift + Cmd + C |
| Cut | Ctrl + X | Cmd + X |
| Paste | Ctrl + V | Cmd + V |
| Paste in place | Ctrl + Alt + V | Cmd + Opt + V |
| Paste as new image | Shift + Ctrl + V | Shift + Cmd + V |
| Erase selection | Delete | Delete |
| Fill with FG color | Ctrl + , | Cmd + , |
| Fill with BG color | Ctrl + . | Cmd + . |
| Fill with pattern | Ctrl + ; | Cmd + ; |
Select Shortcuts
| Action | Windows / Linux | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Toggle selection | Ctrl + T | Cmd + T |
| Select all | Ctrl + A | Cmd + A |
| Select none (deselect) | Shift + Ctrl + A | Shift + Cmd + A |
| Invert selection | Ctrl + I | Cmd + I |
| Float selection | Shift + Ctrl + L | Shift + Cmd + L |
| Select by color | Shift + O | Shift + O |
| Path to selection | Shift + V | Shift + V |
| Toggle Quick Mask | Shift + Q | Shift + Q |
How to Select None in GIMP (Shift+Ctrl+A)
To deselect everything in GIMP, press Shift+Ctrl+A (Shift+Command+A on Mac). This runs the Select → None command and clears your active selection. It does not affect floating selections. Note this differs from Photoshop, where deselect is Ctrl+D.
View & Navigation Shortcuts
| Action | Windows / Linux | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Main menu | F10 | F10 |
| Toggle fullscreen | F11 | F11 |
| Toggle docks | Tab | Tab |
| Toggle selection outline | Ctrl + T | Cmd + T |
| Center image | Shift + J | Shift + J |
| Fit image in window | Shift + Ctrl + J | Shift + Cmd + J |
| Shrink wrap | Ctrl + J | Cmd + J |
| Zoom in / out | + / – | + / – |
| Zoom 1:1 | 1 | 1 |
| Toggle rulers | Shift + Ctrl + R | Shift + Cmd + R |
| Toggle guides | Shift + Ctrl + T | Shift + Cmd + T |
Layer Shortcuts
| Action | Windows / Linux | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| New layer | Shift + Ctrl + N | Shift + Cmd + N |
| Duplicate layer | Shift + Ctrl + D | Shift + Cmd + D |
| Select layer above | Page Up | Page Up |
| Select layer below | Page Down | Page Down |
| Select first layer | Home | Home |
| Select last layer | End | End |
| Merge visible layers | Ctrl + M | Cmd + M |
| Anchor layer | Ctrl + H | Cmd + H |
Image Shortcuts
| Action | Windows / Linux | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate image | Ctrl + D | Cmd + D |
What Does Ctrl+D Do in GIMP?
Ctrl+D (Command+D on Mac) duplicates the current image, opening an exact copy in a new window. This differs from Photoshop, where Ctrl+D deselects in GIMP, deselect is Shift+Ctrl+A.
Tool Shortcuts
Single-key tool shortcuts are the same on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
| Tool | Key |
|---|---|
| Rectangle Select | R |
| Ellipse Select | E |
| Free Select | F |
| Fuzzy Select | U |
| Select by Color | Shift + O |
| Scissors Select | I |
| Bucket Fill | Shift + B |
| Gradient | G |
| Pencil | N |
| Dodge / Burn | Shift + D |
| Move | M |
| Align | Q |
| Crop | Shift + C |
| Rotate | Shift + R |
| Scale | Shift + S |
| Shear | Shift + H |
| Perspective | Shift + P |
| Flip | Shift + F |
| Unified Transform | Shift + T |
| Paintbrush | P |
| Eraser | Shift + E |
| Airbrush | A |
| Ink | K |
| MyPaint Brush | Y |
| Clone | C |
| Heal | H |
| Blur / Sharpen | Shift + U |
| Smudge | S |
| Paths | B |
| Text | T |
| Color Picker | O |
| Measure | Shift + M |
| Zoom | Z |
| Toolbox | Ctrl + B |
| Default colors | D |
| Swap colors | X |
| 3D Transform | Shift + W |
| Handle Transform | Shift + L |
GIMP vs Photoshop Keyboard Shortcuts
Most GIMP and Photoshop shortcuts overlap, but a few common actions use different keys the ones most likely to trip up Photoshop users switching to GIMP:
| Action | GIMP | Photoshop |
|---|---|---|
| Deselect / Select none | Shift + Ctrl + A | Ctrl + D |
| Duplicate image | Ctrl + D | Image → Duplicate (no default) |
| Duplicate layer | Shift + Ctrl + D | Ctrl + J |
| Free / Unified Transform | Shift + T | Ctrl + T |
| Merge visible layers | Ctrl + M | Shift + Ctrl + E |
| Move tool | M | V |
| Eraser tool | Shift + E | E |
| Rectangle / Marquee select | R | M |
| Free / Lasso select | F | L |
| Bucket fill | Shift + B | G |
| Color picker / Eyedropper | O | I |
| Crop tool | Shift + C | C |
| Clone tool | C | S |
| Brush tool | P | B |
Shortcuts identical in both programs: Undo (Ctrl+Z), Copy (Ctrl+C), Cut (Ctrl+X), Paste (Ctrl+V), Select all (Ctrl+A), New (Ctrl+N), Open (Ctrl+O), Save (Ctrl+S), Print (Ctrl+P).
On Mac, replace Ctrl with Command and Alt with Option in both programs. Photoshop shortcuts shown are CC defaults.
How to View All Keyboard Shortcuts in GIMP
GIMP only assigns default shortcuts to common commands but every command can have one. To see the complete, searchable list for your installation:
- Open GIMP.
- Go to Edit → Keyboard Shortcuts (on Mac, GIMP → Keyboard Shortcuts).
- GIMP opens the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog showing every command, grouped by category, with its assigned shortcut (or “Disabled” if none is set).
- Use the search field at the top to filter for a specific command.
This is also the most accurate reference for your setup, since shortcuts can be customized and may differ from the defaults listed on this page.
How to Create Custom Keyboard Shortcuts in GIMP
You can assign a shortcut to any GIMP command useful for commands you use often that have no default. There are two methods.
Method 1: Keyboard Shortcuts dialog (recommended):
- Go to Edit → Keyboard Shortcuts.
- Use the search field to find the command you want.
- Click the command’s row, then click its Shortcut column it changes to “New accelerator…”.
- Press your desired key combination. It’s assigned immediately.
- If that combination is already in use, GIMP asks whether to reassign it choose Reassign Shortcut, or press Esc to cancel.
- To remove a shortcut, select the command and press Backspace.
Method 2: Dynamic shortcuts (on the fly):
- Go to Edit → Preferences → Interface and enable Use dynamic keyboard shortcuts.
- Open any menu and hover over the command you want don’t click.
- With the command highlighted, press your key combination. It’s assigned instantly.
Tip: GIMP recommends the Ctrl+Alt+[key] pattern for custom shortcuts, since that combination is rarely already taken. Custom shortcuts are saved when you quit GIMP. To undo all changes, click Reset Saved Keyboard Shortcuts to Default Values in the same dialog.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I deselect everything in GIMP?
Press Shift+Ctrl+A (or Shift+Command+A on Mac). This runs the Select → None command and clears your active selection. It does not affect floating selections.
What does Ctrl+D do in GIMP?
Ctrl+D (Command+D on Mac) duplicates the current image, opening an exact copy in a new window. This differs from Photoshop, where Ctrl+D deselects in GIMP, deselect is Shift+Ctrl+A.
What is the shortcut to merge layers in GIMP?
Press Ctrl+M (Command+M on Mac) to merge all visible layers into one. To anchor a floating layer instead, use Ctrl+H.
Are GIMP keyboard shortcuts the same on Mac?
Mostly yes. They’re identical across platforms except that Mac uses Command in place of Ctrl, and Option in place of Alt. For example, save is Ctrl+S on Windows/Linux and Command+S on Mac.
Do GIMP shortcuts work the same on Linux?
Yes. GIMP keyboard shortcuts on Linux are identical to Windows both use the Ctrl and Alt keys the same way. GIMP originated as a Linux application, so all default shortcuts are designed for that layout.
How do I create custom keyboard shortcuts in GIMP?
Go to Edit → Keyboard Shortcuts, find the command, click its shortcut field, and press your desired key combination. GIMP saves changes on exit, and you can reset all shortcuts to default from the same dialog.
Is there a GIMP shortcuts cheat sheet PDF?
Yes you can download the free printable GIMP shortcuts cheat sheet PDF. It covers all file, edit, layer, selection, and tool shortcuts for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Final Thoughts
Keyboard shortcuts are the fastest way to speed up your GIMP workflow and you don’t need to memorize all of them at once. Start with the handful you’ll use every session: Ctrl+S to save, Ctrl+Z to undo, Shift+Ctrl+A to deselect, and single-key tool switches like M (Move) and Shift+C (Crop). The rest become second nature as you edit.
Two things worth remembering: every shortcut here is a GIMP default, so if a key doesn’t respond as expected, check Edit → Keyboard Shortcuts to see your current setup. And if you’re coming from Photoshop, keep the difference table handy Ctrl+D duplicates the image in GIMP, it doesn’t deselect.
Bookmark this page as your reference, or download the free GIMP shortcuts cheat sheet PDF to print and keep beside your desk. Once these become muscle memory, you’ll spend far less time hunting through menus and far more time editing.
READ NEXT:
