Virtual DJ Keyboard Shortcuts: Complete List for Windows & Mac (2026)
VirtualDJ is one of the most widely used DJ applications in the world, developed by Atomix Productions, with the current release being VirtualDJ 2025. Like any pro mixing tool, it rewards muscle memory and keyboard shortcuts are the fastest way to play, cue, loop, and crossfade without reaching for the mouse. This guide lists every Virtual DJ keyboard shortcut for both Windows and Mac, covering the current 2025 default layout and the classic VirtualDJ 7/8 layout that millions of DJs still use. You’ll also find how to customize your own keys, how to fix shortcuts that have stopped working, and a downloadable PDF cheat sheet.
The most-used Virtual DJ shortcuts in the current 2025 layout are Alt + 1 (play left deck), Alt + 7 (play right deck), Alt + 2 / Alt + 8 (cue), Alt + Q / Alt + U (sync), and Alt + Left / Alt + Right (crossfader). If you prefer the old P-for-play layout, switch to the “factory default (legacy)” mapping in Settings → Controllers.
What Are Virtual DJ Keyboard Shortcuts?
Virtual DJ keyboard shortcuts are key combinations that trigger software actions playing a deck, setting a cue point, launching a loop, moving the crossfader directly from your computer keyboard. In current VirtualDJ, deck actions are mapped to ALT + key combinations and browser/library actions to CTRL + key combinations, while plain alphanumeric keys are reserved for typing into the search bar. Shortcuts let you mix faster and more precisely than using a mouse, and they’re fully customizable.
Current Virtual DJ Shortcuts (VirtualDJ 2025 Default Layout)
This is the live default mapping in VirtualDJ 2025, verified against VirtualDJ’s official hardware manual. Note that in this layout, plain letter keys are unassigned by default they jump to the search bar which is why deck controls use ALT.
Basic Deck Controls
| Action | Windows (Left Deck) | Windows (Right Deck) | Mac (Left Deck) | Mac (Right Deck) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Play / Pause | Alt + 1 | Alt + 7 | ⌥ + 1 | ⌥ + 7 |
| Cue (set / recall; preview while held) | Alt + 2 | Alt + 8 | ⌥ + 2 | ⌥ + 8 |
| Stop (cycle through cue points) | Alt + 3 | Alt + 9 | ⌥ + 3 | ⌥ + 9 |
| Loop (trigger selected size) | Alt + 4 | Alt + 0 | ⌥ + 4 | ⌥ + 0 |
| Loop Half | Alt + 5 | Alt + – | ⌥ + 5 | ⌥ + – |
| Loop Double | Alt + 6 | Alt + = | ⌥ + 6 | ⌥ + = |
| Sync (match BPM + beat phase) | Alt + Q | Alt + U | ⌥ + Q | ⌥ + U |
| Nudge / Bend Left | Alt + W | Alt + I | ⌥ + W | ⌥ + I |
| Nudge / Bend Right | Alt + E | Alt + O | ⌥ + E | ⌥ + O |
| Pitch − (−0.2%) | Alt + R | Alt + P | ⌥ + R | ⌥ + P |
| Pitch + (+0.2%) | Alt + T | Alt + [ | ⌥ + T | ⌥ + [ |
| Pitch Reset | Alt + Y | Alt + ] | ⌥ + Y | ⌥ + ] |
Performance Pad Controls
| Action | Windows (Left Deck) | Windows (Right Deck) | Mac (Left Deck) | Mac (Right Deck) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pad 1 | Alt + A | Alt + J | ⌥ + A | ⌥ + J |
| Pad 2 | Alt + S | Alt + K | ⌥ + S | ⌥ + K |
| Pad 3 | Alt + D | Alt + L | ⌥ + D | ⌥ + L |
| Pad 4 | Alt + F | Alt + ; | ⌥ + F | ⌥ + ; |
| Pad 5 | Alt + Z | Alt + M | ⌥ + Z | ⌥ + M |
| Pad 6 | Alt + X | Alt + , | ⌥ + X | ⌥ + , |
| Pad 7 | Alt + C | Alt + . | ⌥ + C | ⌥ + . |
| Pad 8 | Alt + V | Alt + / | ⌥ + V | ⌥ + / |
| Pad Page Select | Alt + G | Alt + ‘ | ⌥ + G | ⌥ + ‘ |
Browser & Mixer Controls
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Cycle browser windows (Folders / Songs / Sideview) | Tab | Tab |
| Cycle Sideview lists (Automix, Sidelist, Karaoke, Sampler, Shortcuts) | Ctrl + Tab | ⌘ + Tab |
| Expand / collapse sub-folders | Ctrl + Enter | ⌘ + Enter |
| Go to last folder | Ctrl + Backspace | ⌘ + Delete |
| Previous folder | Ctrl + Up | ⌘ + Up |
| Next folder | Ctrl + Down | ⌘ + Down |
| Switch deck / PFL | Alt + ` | ⌥ + ` |
| Load track to left deck | Ctrl + Left | ⌘ + Left |
| Load track to right deck | Ctrl + Right | ⌘ + Right |
| Mix Now (smart crossfade) | Alt + Backspace | ⌥ + Delete |
| Crossfader left | Alt + Left | ⌥ + Left |
| Crossfader right | Alt + Right | ⌥ + Right |
| Pitch both decks up | Alt + Up | ⌥ + Up |
| Pitch both decks down | Alt + Down | ⌥ + Down |
| Open Settings | Shift + Esc | Shift + Esc |
Classic Virtual DJ Shortcuts (VirtualDJ 7 & 8 Legacy Layout)
Before 2021, VirtualDJ’s default used single letter and number keys P for play, S for stop, L for loop. This layout is no longer the default, but it remains hugely popular and is still fully available: just select the “factory default (legacy)” mapping in Settings → Controllers to switch back to it instantly.
Mac users: for the legacy layout, use ⌘ (Command) wherever the table shows Ctrl, and ⌥ (Option) wherever it shows Alt. All other keys are the same.
Most-Used (Legacy)
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Play / Pause | P | P |
| Play (temporary) | Shift + P | Shift + P |
| Play | Spacebar | Spacebar |
| Sync | Shift + Spacebar | Shift + Spacebar |
| Stop | S | S |
| Cue Stop | C | C |
| Beatlock | B | B |
| Play loop | L | L |
| Select on active deck | Tab | Tab |
| Menu +1 | Ctrl + Tab | ⌘ + Tab |
| Menu −1 | Ctrl + Shift + Tab | ⌘ + Shift + Tab |
| Goto Cue 1…10 | Alt + 1 … Alt + 0 | ⌥ + 1 … ⌥ + 0 |
| Set Cue 1…10 | Ctrl + 1 … Ctrl + 0 | ⌘ + 1 … ⌘ + 0 |
| Sample Temporary 1…12 | Shift + F1 … Shift + F12 | Shift + F1 … Shift + F12 |
| Search / find | Ctrl + F | ⌘ + F |
| Goto last folder | Ctrl + Backspace | ⌘ + Delete |
| Video Open | Ctrl + V | ⌘ + V |
| Mix | Alt + Spacebar | ⌥ + Spacebar |
| Auto mix | Ctrl + Spacebar | ⌘ + Spacebar |
Loop (Legacy)
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Loop 0 | Esc | Esc |
| Loop 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Loop 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Loop 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Loop 8 | 5 | 5 |
| Loop 16 | 6 | 6 |
| Loop 32 | 7 | 7 |
| Loop 25 | 8 | 8 |
| Loop 50 | 9 | 9 |
| Loop reset | 0 | 0 |
| Loop temporary 1 | Shift + 1 | Shift + 1 |
| Loop temporary 2 | Shift + 2 | Shift + 2 |
| Loop temporary 4 | Shift + 4 | Shift + 4 |
| Loop temporary 8 | Shift + 5 | Shift + 5 |
| Loop temporary 16 | Shift + 6 | Shift + 6 |
| Loop temporary 32 | Shift + 7 | Shift + 7 |
| Loop temporary 25 | Shift + 8 | Shift + 8 |
| Loop temporary 50 | Shift + 9 | Shift + 9 |
| Loop temporary reset | Shift + 0 | Shift + 0 |
Nudge (Legacy)
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Nudge +256 | Left Arrow | Left Arrow |
| Nudge −256 | Right Arrow | Right Arrow |
| Nudge +4 | Shift + Left Arrow | Shift + Left Arrow |
| Nudge −4 | Shift + Right Arrow | Shift + Right Arrow |
Crossfader (Legacy)
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Crossfader −128 | Page Up | Page Up |
| Crossfader +128 | Page Down | Page Down |
| Crossfader 0 | Ctrl + Page Up | ⌘ + Page Up |
| Crossfader 4096 | Ctrl + Page Down | ⌘ + Page Down |
| Crossfader −16 | Shift + Page Up | Shift + Page Up |
| Crossfader +16 | Shift + Page Down | Shift + Page Down |
Skip Beat (Legacy)
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Skip_beat −4 | Left Arrow | Left Arrow |
| Skip_beat +4 | Right Arrow | Right Arrow |
| Skip_beat −1 | End | End |
| Skip_beat +1 | Page Down | Page Down |
| Skip_beat −16 | Home | Home |
| Skip_beat +16 | Page Up | Page Up |
| Skip_beat temporary −4 | Shift + Left Arrow | Shift + Left Arrow |
| Skip_beat temporary +4 | Shift + Right Arrow | Shift + Right Arrow |
| Skip_beat temporary −1 | Shift + End | Shift + End |
| Skip_beat temporary +1 | Shift + Page Down | Shift + Page Down |
| Skip_beat temporary −16 | Shift + Home | Shift + Home |
| Skip_beat temporary +16 | Shift + Page Up | Shift + Page Up |
Pitch (Legacy)
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Pitch −8 | − (numpad) | − (numpad) |
| Pitch +8 | + (numpad) | + (numpad) |
| Pitch −1 | Shift + − | Shift + − |
| Pitch +1 | Shift + + | Shift + + |
| Pitch −306 | Ctrl + − | ⌘ + − |
| Pitch +306 | Ctrl + + | ⌘ + + |
| Pitch reset | * (numpad) | * (numpad) |
How to Customize Keyboard Shortcuts in VirtualDJ
VirtualDJ lets you remap any key to any action, so you’re never stuck with the default layout. The keyboard is treated as a controller, so its mapping lives under the Controllers tab.
- Open Settings. Press Shift + Esc, or click the Settings (gear) icon in the top-right of VirtualDJ.
- Go to the Controllers tab. Select your keyboard from the device list on the top-left.
- Choose a mapping to edit from the Mapping drop-down. Leave it on factory default to build on the current layout, or pick an existing custom mapping.
- Click inside the “Key learn” box, then press the physical key you want to assign. VirtualDJ shows that key’s name.
- Type the action into the Action field for example play, cue, loop 4, or effect_active. VirtualDJ auto-suggests valid actions as you type.
- Repeat for every key you want to map.
- Name and save the mapping (naming is optional). VirtualDJ automatically creates a separate custom mapping file the moment you edit the default.
Good to know:
- You can’t break the defaults. The factory default mapping can’t be deleted. If you mess up a custom map, switch back to factory default and start fresh.
- Custom mappings auto-save to /Documents/VirtualDJ/Mappers/ no save button required.
- You can keep multiple custom mappings (e.g. one for practice, one for live sets), but only one is active at a time.
- Actions are written in VDJScript, VirtualDJ’s command language, so a single key can even chain commands (e.g. pause & goto_cue 1).
Want the classic P / S / L layout back? You don’t have to remap anything by hand. Just open Settings → Controllers and select the “factory default (legacy)” mapping from the Mapping drop-down. “factory default” is the new ALT-based layout; “factory default (legacy)” is the old single-key one.
Why Your Virtual DJ Shortcuts Aren’t Working (Troubleshooting)
If your Virtual DJ keyboard shortcuts stopped working, the most common reason is the 2021 default-mapping change: in modern VirtualDJ, plain letter and number keys are unassigned and fill the search bar instead of controlling a deck. Deck actions now use Alt + key. Here’s how to fix the most common issues.
| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Letter keys (P, S, L) type into search instead of playing | Default mapping changed in 2021 alphanumeric keys now go to the search bar | Switch to the “factory default (legacy)” mapping, or use the Alt + key shortcuts |
| Shortcuts work, then suddenly stop while browsing | Your cursor is in the search bar; no shortcut fires while typing there | Press Esc to leave the search field, then keys respond again |
| Custom letter mappings stopped working after an update | The “Search by first letter” option is overriding your keys | Go to Settings → Browser and set SearchByFirstLetter to No |
| Only one deck responds; others won’t play | Per-deck play actions need to be mapped to each specific deck | Map your keys to deck 1 play, deck 2 play, etc. |
| A specific combo (e.g. Shift + Left) does nothing | A Windows/OS macro or another mapping uses that combination | Pick a different combo, or clear the conflicting OS shortcut |
Why did VirtualDJ change the keys?
According to VirtualDJ’s support team, the default mapping was changed to stop keys from firing deck actions accidentally while you’re searching for tracks. With the new layout, alphanumeric keys focus the search bar, while Alt and Ctrl combinations handle deck and browser control.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the play/pause shortcut in Virtual DJ?
In current VirtualDJ (2025), play/pause is Alt + 1 for the left deck and Alt + 7 for the right deck. In the classic VirtualDJ 7/8 layout it was simply P, or Spacebar to play. The letter keys changed because modern VirtualDJ reserves them for the search bar.
Do Virtual DJ keyboard shortcuts work on Mac?
Yes. VirtualDJ shortcuts work the same way on Mac, with two substitutions: press Option (⌥) wherever Windows uses Alt, and Command (⌘) wherever Windows uses Ctrl. So left-deck play is ⌥ + 1 on Mac, and loading a track is ⌘ + Left/Right.
How do I customize keyboard shortcuts in Virtual DJ?
Open Settings → Controllers, select your keyboard, click inside the Key learn box and press a key, then type the action (e.g. play, cue, loop 4) in the Action field. VirtualDJ auto-creates a custom mapping and saves it to your Documents/VirtualDJ/Mappers folder.
Why are my Virtual DJ keyboard shortcuts not working?
Most often it’s because VirtualDJ changed its default mapping in 2021 plain letter keys now fill the search bar instead of controlling decks. Use the Alt + key shortcuts, switch to the “factory default (legacy)” mapping, press Esc to leave the search field, or set SearchByFirstLetter to No in Browser settings.
What is the crossfader shortcut in Virtual DJ?
In current VirtualDJ, Alt + Left moves the crossfader left and Alt + Right moves it right. In the legacy layout, Page Up and Page Down controlled crossfader position, with Ctrl and Shift variants for finer steps.
How many keyboard shortcuts does Virtual DJ have?
VirtualDJ’s default keyboard mapping includes several dozen actions, but because every key is remappable through VDJScript, the practical number is effectively unlimited. Counting the legacy VirtualDJ 7/8 layout, popular shortcut lists range from 70 to over 110 commands.
Is there a Virtual DJ shortcuts PDF I can download?
Yes you can download a printable PDF cheat sheet of all Virtual DJ keyboard shortcuts from the link in this guide. It includes both the current VirtualDJ 2025 mapping and the classic VirtualDJ 7/8 layout, with Windows and Mac keys side by side.
What is the sync shortcut in Virtual DJ?
Sync is Alt + Q for the left deck and Alt + U for the right deck in current VirtualDJ. Sync matches the deck’s BPM and beat-grid phase to the opposite deck. In the legacy layout, sync was Shift + Spacebar.
Can I get the old VirtualDJ 8 keyboard layout back?
Yes. The classic P-for-play layout isn’t the default anymore, but you can restore it in one step by selecting the “factory default (legacy)” mapping from the Mapping drop-down in Settings → Controllers.
What’s the shortcut to open Virtual DJ settings?
Press Shift + Esc to open the VirtualDJ Settings window on both Windows and Mac. This is one of the few shortcuts that uses the same keys across the current and legacy layouts.
Conclusion
Whether you’re running the current VirtualDJ 2025 layout or the classic VirtualDJ 7/8 keys, learning these shortcuts will speed up your mixing and free you from the mouse. Start with the essentials play, cue, sync, loop, and crossfader then customize the rest to fit how you perform. Bookmark this page or grab the PDF cheat sheet, and switch to the “factory default (legacy)” mapping anytime you want the old single-key layout back.
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