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215 Adobe After Effects Keyboard Shortcuts

The more After Effects shortcuts you know the better it will be for you to work with. A beginner, as well as a pro designer, would know the importance of the After Effects shortcuts once you start using this software religiously.

Download After Effects Shortcut keys PDF

Below is the list of After Effects shortcuts for Windows & Mac that you would prefer to do over the mouse. Because you save a few seconds when you use it and these seconds will turn into hours and hours to days. Effects shortcuts can make your work faster, deliver projects on time, work more, get more free time, be efficient, etc.

Project Shortcuts

Action After Effects Shortcuts After Effects Shortcuts
New Project Ctrl + Alt + N Command + Option + N
Open Ctrl + O Command + O
Open a most recent project Ctrl + Alt + Shift + P Command + Option + Shift + P
New folder in the Project panel Ctrl + Alt + Shift + N Command + Option + Shift + N
Open the project settings dialogue box Ctrl + Alt + Shift + K Command + Option + Shift + K
Find in the project panel Ctrl + F Command + F

Basics After Effects Shortcuts

Action After Effects Shortcuts After Effects Shortcuts Mac
Select all Ctrl + A Command + A
Deselect all Ctrl + Shift + A Command + Shift + A
Duplicate layers, Mask, effects Ctrl + D Command + D
Quit Ctrl + Q Command + Q
Undo Ctrl + Z Command + Z
Redo Ctrl + Shift + Z Command + Shift + Z
Purge All Memory Ctrl + Alt + / Command + Option + /
Interrupt running a script Esc Esc

Similar programs: Nuke Keyboard Shortcuts

Panels Shortcuts

Action After Effects Shortcuts After Effects Shortcuts Mac
Open or close Project Panel Ctrl + 0 Command + 0
Open or close the Render Queue Panel Ctrl + Alt + 0 Command + Option + 0
Open or close the Tools Panel Ctrl + 1 Command + 1
Open or close the Info Panel Ctrl + 2 Command + 2
Open or close the Preview Panel Ctrl + 3 Command + 3
Open or close Audio Panel Ctrl + 4 Command + 4
Open or close Effects and Presets Panel Ctrl + 5 Command + 5
Open or close the Character Panel Ctrl + 6 Command + 6
Open or close the Paragraph Panel Ctrl + 7 Command + 7
Open or close the Paint Panel Ctrl + 8 Command + 8
Open or close Brushes Panel Ctrl + 9 Command + 9
Open or close the Effect Controls Panel for the Selected Layer F3 F3
Open Flowchart Panel for Project Flowchart Ctrl + F11 Command + F11
Switch between Workspaces Shift + F10 Shift + F10
Close active Viewer or Panel Ctrl + W Command + W
Close active Panel Ctrl + Shift + W Command + Shift + W
Cycle to the previous item inactive Viewer Shift + , Shift + ,
Cycle to next item inactive Viewer Shift + . Shift + .
Cycle to the previous Panel in the active Frame Alt + Shift + , Option + Shift + ,
Cycle to the next Panel in the active Frame Alt + Shift + . Option + Shift + .

Previews Shortcuts

Action After Effects Shortcuts After Effects Shortcuts Mac
Start or stop the preview Spacebar Spacebar
Preview only audio, in the work area Alt + . Option + .
Take Snapshot Shift + F5 Shift + F5
Fast Previews > Off Ctrl + Alt + 1 Command + Option + 1
Fast Previews > Adaptive Resolution Ctrl + Alt + 2 Command + Option + 2
Fast Previews > Draft Ctrl + Alt + 3 Command + Option + 3
Fast Previews > Fast Draft Ctrl + Alt + 4 Command + Option + 4
Fast Previews > WireFrame Ctrl + Alt + 5 Command + Option + 5

Similar programs: Apple Motion Keyboard Shortcuts

Views Shortcuts

Action After Effects Shortcuts After Effects Shortcuts
Toggle showing straight RGB color Alt + Shift + 4 Option + Shift + 4
Show alpha boundary in Layer Panel Alt + 5 Option + 5
Show alpha overlay in Layer Panel Alt + 6 Option + 6
Show or hide safe zones
Show or Hide Grid Ctrl + ‘ Command + ‘
Show or hide proportional Grid Alt + ‘ Option + ‘
Show or Hide Rulers Ctrl + R Command + R
Show or hide guides Ctrl + ; Command + ;
Turn to snap to Grid on or off Ctrl + Shift + ‘ Command + Shift + ‘
Turn to snap to Guides on or off Ctrl + Shift + ; Command + Shift + ;
Lock or unlock Guides Ctrl + Alt + Shift + ; Command + Option + Shift + ;
Show or hide Layer controls Ctrl + Shift + H Command + Shift + H

Footage Shortcuts

Action After Effects Shortcut keys After Effects Shortcut keys
Import one file or image sequence Ctrl + I Command + I
Import multiple files or image sequences Ctrl + Alt + I Command + Option + I
Delete a Footage item without a warning Ctrl + Backspace Command + Backspace
Remember Footage interpretation Ctrl + Alt + C Command + Option + C
Edit selected Footage item Ctrl + E Command + E
Replace the selected Footage item Ctrl + H Command + H
Reload selected Footage items Ctrl + Alt + L Command + Option + L
Set proxy for a selected Footage item Ctrl + Alt + P Command + Option + P

Similar programs: Wondershare Filmora Keyboard Shortcuts

3D Layers Shortcuts

Action After Effects Shortcuts After Effects Shortcuts
Switch to 3D view 1 (defaults to Front) F10 F10
Switch to 3D view 2 (defaults to Custom View 1) F11 F11
Switch to 3D view 3 (defaults to Active Camera) F12 F12
Return to the previous view Esc Esc
New Light Ctrl + Alt + Shift + L Command + Option + Shift + L
New Camera Ctrl + Alt + Shift + C Command + Option + Shift + C
Look at selected 3D Layers F F
Look at all 3D Layers Ctrl + Shift + F Command + Shift + F
Turn Casts Shadows property on / off Alt + Shift + C Option + Shift + C

Text Shortcuts

Action After Effects Shortcuts After Effects Shortcuts
New text Layer Ctrl + Alt + Shift + T Command + Option + Shift + T
Align horizontal text Left Ctrl + Shift + L Command + Shift + L
Align horizontal text Center Ctrl + Shift + C Command + Shift + C
Align horizontal text Right Ctrl + Shift + R Command + Shift + R
Align vertical text Top Ctrl + Shift + L Command + Shift + L
Align vertical text Center Ctrl + Shift + C Command + Shift + C
Align vertical text Bottom Ctrl + Shift + R Command + Shift + R
Extend the selection of one character to the right Shift + Right Arrow key Shift + Right Arrow key
Extend the selection of one character to the left Shift + Left Arrow key Shift + Left Arrow key
Extend the selection of one word to the right Ctrl + Shift + Right Arrow key Command + Shift + Right Arrow key
Extend the selection of one word to the left Ctrl + Shift + Left Arrow key Command + Shift + Left Arrow key
Extend selection one line up in horizontal text Shift + Up Arrow key Shift + Up Arrow key
Extend selection one line down in horizontal text Shift + Down Arrow key Shift + Down Arrow key
Extend selection one line to the right in vertical text Shift + Right Arrow key Shift + Right Arrow key
Extend selection one line to the left in vertical text Shift + Left Arrow key Shift + Left Arrow key
Extend selection one word up in vertical text Ctrl + Shift + Up Arrow key Command + Shift + Up Arrow key
Extend selection one word down in vertical text Ctrl + Shift + Down Arrow key Command + Shift + Down Arrow key
Extend selection one character up in vertical text Shift + Up Arrow key Shift + Up Arrow key
Extend selection one character down in vertical text Shift + Down Arrow key Shift + Down Arrow key
Select text from the insertion point to the beginning of the line Shift + Home Shift + Home
Select text from the insertion point to the end of the line Shift + End Shift + End
Move the cursor to the beginning of the line Home Home
Move the cursor to the end of the line End End
Select text from the cursor to the beginning of the text Frame Ctrl + Shift + Home Command + Shift + Home
Select text from the cursor to the end of the text Frame Ctrl + Shift + End Command + Shift + End
Turn All Caps on or off for selected text Ctrl + Shift + K Command + Shift + K
Turn Small Caps on or off for selected text Ctrl + Alt + Shift + K Command + Option + Shift + K
Turn Superscript on or off for selected text Ctrl + Shift + = Command + Shift + =
Turn Subscript on or off for selected text Ctrl + Alt + Shift + = Command + Option + Shift + =
Set the horizontal scale to 100% for selected text Ctrl + Shift + X Command + Shift + X
Set the vertical scale to 100% for selected text Ctrl + Alt + Shift + X Command + Option + Shift + X
Auto leading for selected text Ctrl + Alt + Shift + A Command + Option + Shift + A
Reset tracking to 0 for selected text Ctrl + Shift + Q Command + Shift + Q
Justify paragraph; left align the last line Ctrl + Shift + J Command + Shift + J
Justify the paragraph; right-align the last line Ctrl + Alt + Shift + J Command + Option + Shift + J
Justify the paragraph; force the last line Ctrl + Shift + F Command + Shift + F
Decrease font size of selected text by 2 units Ctrl + Shift + , Command + Shift + ,
Increase font size of selected text by 2 units Ctrl + Shift + . Command + Shift + .
Decrease font size of selected text by 10 units Ctrl + Alt + Shift + , Command + Option + Shift + ,
Increase the font size of selected text by 10 units Ctrl + Alt + Shift + . Command + Option + Shift + .
Increase leading by 2 units Alt + Down Arrow key Option + Down Arrow key
Decrease leading by 2 units Alt + Up Arrow key Option + Up Arrow key
Increase leading by 10 units Ctrl + Alt + Down Arrow key Command + Option + Down Arrow key
Decrease leading by 10 units Ctrl + Alt + Up Arrow key Command + Option + Up Arrow key
Decrease baseline shift by 2 units Alt + Shift + Down Arrow key Option + Shift + Down Arrow key
Increase baseline shift by 2 units Alt + Shift + Up Arrow key Option + Shift + Up Arrow key
Decrease baseline shift by 10 units Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Down Arrow key Command + Option + Shift + Down Arrow key
Increase baseline shift by 10 units Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Up Arrow key Command + Option + Shift + Up Arrow key
Decrease kerning or track 20 units Alt + Left Arrow key Option + Left Arrow key
Increase kerning or track 20 units Alt + Right Arrow key Option + Right Arrow key
Decrease kerning or track 100 units Ctrl + Alt + Left Arrow key Command + Option + Left Arrow key
Increase kerning or track 100 units Ctrl + Alt + Right Arrow key Command + Option + Right Arrow key
Toggle paragraph composer Ctrl + Alt + Shift + T Command + Option + Shift + T

Similar programs: DaVinci Resolve Keyboard Shortcuts

Activating Tools Shortcuts

Action After Effects Shortcuts After Effects Shortcuts
Activate Selection Tool V V
Activate Hand Tool H H
Activate Rotation Tool W W
Activate the Roto Brush Tool Alt + W Option + W
Activate and cycle through Camera Tools C C
Activate Pan Behind Tool Y Y
Activate and cycle through Mask and Shape Tools Q Q
Activate and cycle through Type Tools Ctrl + T Command + T
Activate and cycle between the Pen and Mask Feather Tools G G

Compositions Shortcuts

Action After Effects Shortcut keys After Effects Shortcut keys
New Composition Ctrl + N Command + N
Open the Composition Settings dialogue box for the selected Composition Ctrl + K Command + K
Set the beginning of the work area to the current time B B
Set the end of the work area to the current time N N
Set work area to the duration of selected Layers Ctrl + Alt + B Command + Option + B
Open Composition Mini-Flowchart for active Composition Tab Tab

Time Navigation Shortcuts

Action After Effects Shortcuts After Effects Shortcuts
Go to the specific time Alt + Shift + J Option + Shift + J
Go to the beginning of the work area Shift + Home Shift + Home
Go to the end of the work area Shift + End Shift + End
Go to the previous visible item in the time ruler J J
Go to the next visible item in the time ruler K K
Go to the beginning of the Composition, Layer, or Footage Home Home
Go to the end of Composition, Layer, or Footage End End
Go forward 1 Frame Page Down key Page Down key
Go backward 1 Frame Page Up key Page Up key
Go forward 10 Frames Shift + Page Down key Shift + Page Down key
Go backward 10 Frames Shift + Page Up key Shift + Page Up key
Go to Layer InPoint I I
Go to Layer OutPoint O O
Go to the previous InPoint or OutPoint Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Left Arrow key Command + Option + Shift + Left Arrow key
Go to the next InPoint or OutPoint Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Right Arrow key Command + Option + Shift + Right Arrow key
Scroll to the current time in the Timeline Panel D D

Effects and Animation Presets Shortcuts

Action After Effects Shortcuts After Effects Shortcuts
Delete all effects from selected Layers Ctrl + Shift + E Command + Shift + E
Apply the most recently applied effect to selected Layers Ctrl + Alt + Shift + E Command + Option + Shift + E
Apply the most recently applied animation preset to selected Layers Ctrl + Alt + Shift + F Command + Option + Shift + F

Rendering & Exporting Shortcuts

Action Adobe Afer Effects Shortcuts Adobe Afer Effects Shortcuts
Save Project Ctrl + S Command + S
Increment and Save Project Ctrl + Alt + Shift + S Command + Option + Shift + S
Save As Ctrl + Shift + S Command + Shift + S
Add active Composition or selected items to render the queue Ctrl + Shift + / Command + Shift + /
Add current Frame to render queue Ctrl + Alt + S Command + Option + S
Duplicate render item with the same output filename as the original Ctrl + Shift + D Command + Shift + D

Layers Shortcuts

Action Adobe Afer Effects Shortcuts Adobe Afer Effects Shortcuts
New solid Layer Ctrl + Y Command + Y
New null Layer Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Y Command + Option + Shift + Y
New adjustment Layer Ctrl + Alt + Y Command + Option + Y
Select the next layer in the stacking order Ctrl + Down Arrow key Command + Down Arrow key
Select the previous Layer in the stacking order Ctrl + Up Arrow key Command + Up Arrow key
Extend selection to the next layer in the stacking order Ctrl + Shift + Down Arrow key Command + Shift + Down Arrow key
Extend selection to the previous layer in the stacking order Ctrl + Shift + Up Arrow key Command + Shift + Up Arrow key
Deselect all Layers Ctrl + Shift + A Command + Shift + A
Scroll the topmost selected Layer to the top of the Timeline Panel X X
Show or hide the Parent column Shift + F4 Shift + F4
Show or hide Layer Switches and Modes columns F4 F4
Setting sampling method for selected Layers – Bilinear Alt + B Option + B
Setting sampling method for selected Layers – Bicubic Alt + Shift + B Option + Shift + B
Turn the Video switch on or off for selected Layers Ctrl + Alt + Shift + V Command + Option + Shift + V
Turn off the Video switch for all video Layers other than selected Layers Ctrl + Shift + V Command + Shift + V
Open the settings dialogue box for selected solid, light, camera, null, or adjustment layers Ctrl + Shift + Y Command + Shift + Y
Paste Layers at the current time Ctrl + Alt + V Command + Option + V
Split selected Layers Ctrl + Shift + D Command + Shift + D
Precompose selected Layers Ctrl + Shift + C Command + Shift + C
Open Effect Controls Panel for selected Layers Ctrl + Shift + T Command + Shift + T
Reverse selected Layers in time Ctrl + Alt + R Command + Option + R
Enable time remapping for selected Layers Ctrl + Alt + T Command + Option + T
Move selected Layers for InPoint to the current time [ [
Move selected Layers for OutPoint to the current time ] ]
Trim the InPoint of selected Layers to the current time Alt + [ Option + [
Trim the OutPoint of selected Layers to the current time Alt + ] Option + ]
Set InPoint or OutPoint by time-stretching Ctrl + Shift + , Command + Shift + ,
Lock all Layers Ctrl + L Command + L
Unlock all Layers Ctrl + Shift + L Command + Shift + L
Cycle forward through blending Modes for selected Layers Shift + – Shift + –
Cycle backward through blending Modes for selected Layers Shift + = Shift + =
Find in Timeline Panel Ctrl + F Command + F

Timeline Panel Shortcuts

Action Adobe Afer Effects Shortcuts Adobe Afer Effects Shortcuts
Show only Anchor Point property A A
Show only Audio Levels property L L
Show only Mask Feather property F F
Show only Mask Path property M M
Show only Opacity property for lights and Intensity T T
Show only Mask Opacity property TT TT
Show only Position property P P
Show only Rotation and Orientation properties R R
Show only Scale property S S
Show only Time Remap property RR RR
Show only instances of missing effects FF FF
Show only Effects property group E E
Show only mask property groups MM MM
Show only Material Options property group AA AA
Show only expressions EE EE
Show only modified properties UU UU
Show only paint strokes, Roto Brushstrokes, and Puppet pins PP PP
Show only audio waveform LL LL
Show only selected properties and groups SS SS

The above After Effects shortcuts will be a game-changer for you once you start using them. These shortcuts can save you valuable time and effort. Workflow becomes effective as well as efficient. After all these points even if you are looking for an alternative to the After Effect. Blender Shortcuts is the most trending one.

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