Plex Keyboard Shortcuts: The Complete Cheat Sheet (Windows, Mac & Linux)
Plex keyboard shortcuts let you control playback, navigation, audio, and subtitles without touching your mouse whether you’re watching a movie on the desktop app or browsing your library in the Plex Web App.
The most-used Plex shortcuts are: press Spacebar or P to play/pause, F to toggle fullscreen, M to open the on-screen menu, S to turn subtitles on or off, the arrow keys to seek and navigate, and ? to view every shortcut available in your version of Plex.
Below is the complete, verified list of Plex keyboard shortcuts for Windows, Mac, and Linux, organized by category navigation, playback, seeking, audio, subtitles, and system controls plus a free downloadable PDF cheat sheet.
What Are Plex Keyboard Shortcuts?
Plex keyboard shortcuts are key combinations that control the Plex media player playback, navigation, audio tracks, and subtitles without using a mouse. They work across the Plex Web App, the Plex desktop app, and the legacy Plex HTPC/Media Player, though a few advanced keys (like audio and subtitle delay) are only available in the HTPC app. You can view the shortcuts active in your specific app at any time by pressing the ? key.
The 10 Most-Used Plex Keyboard Shortcuts
| Action | Windows/Linux | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Play / pause | Space or P | Space or P |
| Toggle fullscreen | F or \ | F or \ |
| On-screen menu | M | M |
| Subtitles on / off | S | S |
| Seek forward / back 10 sec | → / ← | → / ← |
| Jump forward / back 10 min | ↑ / ↓ | ↑ / ↓ |
| Volume up / down | ↑ / ↓ | ↑ / ↓ |
| Stop playback | X | X |
| Go to home screen | H | H |
| Show all shortcuts | ? | ? |
Navigation Shortcuts
| Action | Windows/Linux | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Navigate up / down / left / right | Arrow keys | Arrow keys |
| Select item | Enter / Space | Enter / Space |
| Go back | Esc / Backspace | Esc / Delete |
| Open context menu | C | C |
| Go to home screen | H | H |
| Start playback of selected item | P | P |
| Add to “Up Next” | Q | Q |
| Toggle played / unplayed | W | W |
| Toggle window / fullscreen | \ | \ |
| Jump to items starting with a letter | Shift + A…Z | Shift + A…Z |
| Go to Search | / | / |
| Minimize Plex | Win + Down | Cmd + M |
| Enter / exit fullscreen | Shift + F11 | Cmd + Ctrl + F |
| Quit Plex | Alt + F4 / Ctrl + Q | Ctrl + Q |
| Show all shortcuts (help) | ? | ? |
“Go To” Navigation (Web App) Shortcuts
| Action | Windows/Linux | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Go to Dashboard | G then D | G then D |
| Go to Home | G then H | G then H |
| Go to Manage Library Access | G then J | G then J |
| Go to Settings | G then S | G then S |
| Go to Plex Home (users) | G then U | G then U |
Playback Shortcuts
| Action | Windows/Linux | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Play / pause | Space or P | Space or P |
| Stop playback | X | X |
| Toggle fullscreen | F or \ | F or \ |
| Stop & return home | H or Tab | H or Tab |
| Playback info / diagnostics | I | I |
| On-screen menu | M | M |
| Progress bar | O | O |
| Cycle aspect ratio / view modes | Z | Z |
| Edit metadata | E | E |
| Go back | B | B |
Seeking & Skipping Shortcuts
| Action | Windows/Linux | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Seek backward 10 sec | Left Arrow | Left Arrow |
| Seek forward 10 sec | Right Arrow | Right Arrow |
| Jump forward 10 min | Up Arrow | Up Arrow |
| Jump back 10 min | Down Arrow | Down Arrow |
| Forward 30 sec / next track | Right Arrow + Period (.) | Right Arrow + Period (.) |
| Back 30 sec / previous track | Left Arrow + Comma (,) | Left Arrow + Comma (,) |
| Previous item | Shift + Left Arrow | Shift + Left Arrow |
| Next item | Shift + Right Arrow | Shift + Right Arrow |
| Previous item in queue | Home | Home |
| Next item in queue | End | End |
Audio Shortcuts
| Action | Windows/Linux | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Increase volume | Up Arrow | Up Arrow |
| Decrease volume | Down Arrow | Down Arrow |
| Next audio track | A | A |
| Previous audio track | Ctrl + A | Cmd + A |
| Increase audio delay (PMP/HTPC only) | Alt + A | Opt + A |
| Decrease audio delay (PMP/HTPC only) | Alt + Shift + A | Opt + Shift + A |
Subtitles shortcuts
| Action | Windows/Linux | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Toggle subtitles on/off | S | S |
| Next subtitle track | L | L |
| Previous subtitle track | Ctrl + L | Cmd + L |
| Increase subtitle delay (PMP/HTPC only) | Alt + S | Opt + S |
| Decrease subtitle delay (PMP/HTPC only) | Alt + Shift + S | Opt + Shift + S |
Other / System shortcuts
| Action | Windows/Linux | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Reload the Plex app | Ctrl + Shift + R | Cmd + Shift + R |
| Show debug information | Ctrl + Shift + D | Cmd + Shift + D |
| View all keyboard shortcuts | ? | ? |
How to View Keyboard Shortcuts Inside Plex
You don’t need to memorize every shortcut Plex has a built-in list. Here’s how to open it:
- Open the Plex Web App or desktop app and start browsing your library or playing any title.
- Press the ? key (Shift + / on most keyboards).
- The keyboard shortcuts overlay appears, showing every shortcut active in your current Plex app and version. Press ? or Esc again to close it.
Because Plex updates its apps regularly, the ? overlay is always the most accurate source for your specific version if a shortcut below doesn’t work, check the overlay first.
Plex Hotkeys for the Web App vs Desktop App
Plex hotkeys aren’t identical across every version of the app, which is why a shortcut you find online sometimes doesn’t work. The Plex Web App (app.plex.tv) and the modern desktop app share the same core hotkeys playback, navigation, subtitles, and the “Go To” shortcuts like G then H. The older Plex HTPC / Plex Media Player app, designed for TV and home-theater setups, adds extra hotkeys for audio and subtitle delay (Alt + A, Alt + S) that the Web App doesn’t include.
If a Plex hotkey below doesn’t respond, press ? to see the exact set active in your app it’s the fastest way to confirm what your version supports.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the play/pause shortcut in Plex?
Press Spacebar or P to play or pause playback in Plex. Both keys work in the Web App and desktop app.
How do I go fullscreen in Plex?
Press F or ** to toggle fullscreen during playback. On the desktop app you can also use Shift + F11 (Windows) or Cmd + Ctrl + F (Mac).
How do I turn subtitles on or off in Plex?
Press S to toggle subtitles on or off. Press L to switch to the next subtitle track, and Ctrl + L (Cmd + L on Mac) to go back to the previous one.
How do I see all keyboard shortcuts in Plex?
Press the ? key (Shift + /) inside the Plex Web App or desktop app to open the built-in shortcuts overlay, which shows every shortcut active in your version.
How do I skip forward in Plex?
Press the Right Arrow to seek forward 10 seconds, or the Up Arrow to jump forward 10 minutes. Use the Left and Down arrows to go backward.
Do Plex keyboard shortcuts work on Mac and Linux?
Yes. Most Plex shortcuts are identical across Windows, Mac, and Linux. The main difference is that Mac uses Cmd and Option in place of Ctrl and Alt for a few combinations.
Can I customize Plex keyboard shortcuts?
The Plex Web App and desktop app don’t let you remap shortcuts, but the legacy Plex HTPC app supports custom input maps through a configuration file.
Why don’t the audio and subtitle delay shortcuts work in my Plex app?
The audio and subtitle delay keys (Alt + A, Alt + S, and their variants) only work in the legacy Plex Media Player / HTPC app not in the current Plex Web App or desktop app.
Conclusion
Plex keyboard shortcuts turn a mouse-driven media app into something you can control in a single keystroke pause with Space, fullscreen with F, subtitles with S, and the arrow keys for everything in between. Bookmark this page or download the free PDF cheat sheet above so the full list is always within reach, and remember you can press ? inside Plex anytime to see the shortcuts active in your version.
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