Lightworks Keyboard Shortcuts: Complete List for Windows & Mac (2026)
Lightworks keyboard shortcuts let you edit video faster by replacing slow mouse clicks with quick key presses. The most-used shortcuts are J, K, and L for playback rewind, stop, and forward along with I and O to mark in and out points when cutting clips.
This guide lists every essential Lightworks shortcut, grouped by task: playback, marking, trimming, editing, track control, and effects. They work on Windows, Mac, and Linux (Mac users substitute Cmd for Ctrl on a few commands noted below). You can also download the full list as a free PDF cheat sheet to keep beside your keyboard.
What Are Lightworks Shortcuts?
Lightworks keyboard shortcuts are key combinations that trigger editing actions instantly, without navigating menus or the on-screen console. Lightworks ships with default shortcuts based on professional editing standards (similar to Avid and Final Cut Pro), and every shortcut can be customized through the Key Assignments tool in System Settings.
Playback & Transport Shortcuts
The JKL system is the foundation of fast editing in Lightworks the same standard used across professional non-linear editors.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Play backward | J |
| Stop | K |
| Play forward | L |
| Play faster backward | J (tap repeatedly) |
| Play faster forward | L (tap repeatedly) |
| Toggle play / pause | Space |
| Preview | Alt + Space |
| Forward nudge (1 frame) | . (period) or Right Arrow |
| Reverse nudge (1 frame) | ‘ (apostrophe) or Left Arrow |
| Nudge forward 10 frames | / |
| Next cut | Down Arrow |
| Previous cut | Up Arrow |
| Toggle full-screen playback | F11 (or F12) |
Marking & Cue Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Mark in | I |
| Mark out | O |
| Mark clip | ] |
| Unmark | P |
| Add cue marker | M |
| Select start | Shift + Home |
| Select end | Shift + End |
| Select nudge left | Shift + Left Arrow |
| Select nudge right | Shift + Right Arrow |
Trimming Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Trim in | W |
| Trim out | E |
| Trim next in | R |
| Trim last out | Q |
| Slip clip | Y |
| Slide clip | T |
| Move cut | U |
Editing Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Insert | V |
| Replace | B |
| Empty cut | C |
| Remove | Z |
| Delete | Backspace or Delete |
| Fit to fill | Alt + V |
| Join | Tab |
| Swap | [ |
| Undo | Ctrl + Z (Mac: Cmd + Z) |
| Redo | Ctrl + Y (Mac: Shift + Cmd + Z) |
| Copy to clipboard | Ctrl + C (Mac: Cmd + C) |
| Cut to clipboard | Ctrl + X (Mac: Cmd + X) |
| Clipboard insert | Ctrl + V (Mac: Cmd + V) |
Track Control Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Toggle V1 | 1 |
| Toggle V2 | 9 |
| Toggle A1 | 3 |
| Toggle A2 | 4 |
| Toggle A3 | 5 |
| Toggle A4 | 6 |
| Toggle A5 | 7 |
| Toggle A6 | 8 |
| Toggle A8 | 0 |
| Move track | Alt + M |
| Copy track | Alt + K |
| Swap track | Alt + S |
| Add audio crossfade | Alt + C |
| Add video transition | Alt + T |
Effects, Import & Function Keys
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Import | F1 |
| Export | F2 |
| Search | F3 |
| Filecard | F4 |
| Browse project contents | F5 |
| Configure current effect | F6 |
| Video routing | F7 |
| Simple wipes & dissolves | F8 |
| Effects creation panel | F9 |
| Audio crossfades | F10 |
| Next keyframe | Ctrl + Up Arrow |
| Previous keyframe | Ctrl + Down Arrow |
| Zoom in | = |
| Zoom out | – |
| Exit application | Alt + X |
Bin & Project Management Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Insert new blank row | Alt + B |
| Duplicate current row | Alt + D |
| Store current row | Alt + H |
| Insert default field values | Alt + I |
| Paste stored database field | Alt + F |
| Delete current row | Alt + T |
| Paste current row | Alt + Y |
| Go to first row in bin | Ctrl + Page Up |
| Go to last row in bin | Ctrl + Page Down |
| Delete current entry | Ctrl + Delete |
| Enable single playing | Alt + 1 |
| Enable twin playing | Alt + 2 |
| Move to next / previous row | Down / Up Arrow |
| Move to next / previous field | Right / Left Arrow |
How to Customize Lightworks Shortcuts
Lightworks lets you remap any shortcut, and even import presets from other editors.
- On the Project page, open System Settings.
- Click Key Assignments.
- Find the action you want to remap, click its key field, and press your preferred key combination.
- Click Add Key to assign it, then close the panel the change applies immediately.
Lightworks also ships with preset key maps for Final Cut Pro and Avid, so editors switching from those tools can keep familiar shortcuts. (Note: imported presets don’t always remap every key for example, some users report Q and W ripple-trim keys needing manual reassignment after importing a Premiere layout.)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the JKL shortcut in Lightworks?
J, K, and L control playback: press J to play backward, K to stop, and L to play forward. Tapping J or L repeatedly increases playback speed. This is the standard transport control used across professional video editors.
How do I cut a clip in Lightworks?
Park the playhead where you want the cut and press C (Empty Cut). To remove a section, mark it with I and O, then press X to delete and close the gap, or Z to remove and leave a gap.
How do I trim a clip in Lightworks?
Park the timeline marker over the clip and press W to trim the in point or E to trim the out point. Q and R trim the previous and next edits.
Can I customize Lightworks keyboard shortcuts?
Yes. Go to System Settings → Key Assignments, select an action, and press your preferred key. Lightworks also includes Final Cut Pro and Avid preset layouts.
Do Lightworks shortcuts work the same on Mac?
Most shortcuts are identical. The main difference is that Mac uses Cmd in place of Ctrl for clipboard and undo/redo commands (Cmd+C, Cmd+X, Cmd+V, Cmd+Z).
Are Lightworks shortcuts the same in the free and Pro versions?
Yes. The default keyboard shortcuts and the Key Assignments tool are the same in Lightworks Free and Pro. Pro adds features and export options, not different core shortcuts.
How do I download a Lightworks shortcuts cheat sheet?
You can download the full Lightworks shortcuts list as a free PDF from this page, or access the official keyboard assignments reference from the Lightworks website.
Conclusion
Mastering these Lightworks keyboard shortcuts is the fastest way to speed up your editing. Start with the essentials J, K, L for playback, I and O to mark in and out, and W and E to trim then layer in the editing, track, and effects shortcuts as they become second nature. Once the core keys are muscle memory, you’ll edit far faster than you ever could with the mouse and on-screen console.
Quick recap:
- Playback: J / K / L, Space to toggle play
- Marking: I (in), O (out), P (unmark)
- Trimming: W (trim in), E (trim out), Q / R (previous / next edit)
- Editing: V (insert), B (replace), C (cut), Z (remove)
- Customize anything: System Settings → Key Assignments
Keep the free PDF cheat sheet beside your keyboard while you build the habit, and remember every shortcut here can be remapped to match your workflow or imported from Final Cut Pro or Avid if you’re switching editors.
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