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.
List of After Effects Shortcuts Windows
Motion designers and VFX artist below is the list of the After Effects shortcuts specially listed for you.
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Project Shortcuts
| Action | After Effects Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| New Project | Ctrl + Alt + N |
| Open | Ctrl + O |
| Open a most recent project | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + P |
| New folder in the Project panel | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + N |
| Open project settings dialogue box | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + K |
| Find in the project panel | Ctrl + F |
Basics After Effects Shortcuts
| Action | After Effects Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Select all | Ctrl + A |
| Deselect all | Ctrl + Shift + A |
| Duplicate layers, Mask, effects | Ctrl + D |
| Quit | Ctrl + Q |
| Undo | Ctrl + Z |
| Redo | Ctrl + Shift + Z |
| Purge All Memory | Ctrl + Alt + / |
| Interrupt running a script | Esc |
Read More: 130 Adobe InDesign Shortcuts for Windows User
Panels Shortcuts
| Action | After Effects Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Open or close Project Panel | Ctrl + 0 |
| Open or close Render Queue Panel | Ctrl + Alt + 0 |
| Open or close Tools Panel | Ctrl + 1 |
| Open or close Info Panel | Ctrl + 2 |
| Open or close Preview Panel | Ctrl + 3 |
| Open or close Audio Panel | Ctrl + 4 |
| Open or close Effects and Presets Panel | Ctrl + 5 |
| Open or close Character Panel | Ctrl + 6 |
| Open or close Paragraph Panel | Ctrl + 7 |
| Open or close Paint Panel | Ctrl + 8 |
| Open or close Brushes Panel | Ctrl + 9 |
| Open or close Effect Controls Panel for selected Layer | F3 |
| Open Flowchart Panel for Project flowchart | Ctrl + F11 |
| Switch between Workspaces | Shift + F10 |
| Close active Viewer or Panel | Ctrl + W |
| Close active Panel | Ctrl + Shift + W |
| Cycle to the previous item inactive Viewer | Shift + , |
| Cycle to next item inactive Viewer | Shift + . |
| Cycle to the previous Panel in active Frame | Alt + Shift + , |
| Cycle to next Panel in active Frame | Alt + Shift + . |
Previews Shortcuts
| Action | After Effects Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Start or stop the preview | Spacebar |
| Preview only audio, in the work area | Alt + . |
| Take Snapshot | Shift + F5 |
| Fast Previews > Off | Ctrl + Alt + 1 |
| Fast Previews > Adaptive Resolution | Ctrl + Alt + 2 |
| Fast Previews > Draft | Ctrl + Alt + 3 |
| Fast Previews > Fast Draft | Ctrl + Alt + 4 |
| Fast Previews > WireFrame | Ctrl + Alt + 5 |
Read More: 100 Adobe Illustrator Shortcuts for Windows users
Views Shortcuts
| Action | After Effects Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Toggle showing straight RGB color | Alt + Shift + 4 |
| Show alpha boundary in Layer Panel | Alt + 5 |
| Show alpha overlay in Layer Panel | Alt + 6 |
| Show or hide safe zones | ‘ |
| Show or Hide Grid | Ctrl + ‘ |
| Show or hide proportional Grid | Alt + ‘ |
| Show or Hide Rulers | Ctrl + R |
| Show or hide guides | Ctrl + ; |
| Turn to snap to Grid on or off | Ctrl + Shift + ‘ |
| Turn to snap to Guides on or off | Ctrl + Shift + ; |
| Lock or unlock Guides | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + ; |
| Show or hide Layer controls | Ctrl + Shift + H |
Footage Shortcuts
| Action | After Effects Shortcut keys |
|---|---|
| Import one file or image sequence | Ctrl + I |
| Import multiple files or image sequences | Ctrl + Alt + I |
| Delete a Footage item without a warning | Ctrl + Backspace |
| Remember Footage interpretation | Ctrl + Alt + C |
| Edit selected Footage item | Ctrl + E |
| Replace selected Footage item | Ctrl + H |
| Reload selected Footage items | Ctrl + Alt + L |
| Set proxy for a selected Footage item | Ctrl + Alt + P |
Read More: 49 Adobe Animate Shortcuts for Windows users
3D Layers Shortcuts
| Action | After Effects Shortcuts PDF |
|---|---|
| Switch to 3D view 1 (defaults to Front) | F10 |
| Switch to 3D view 2 (defaults to Custom View 1) | F11 |
| Switch to 3D view 3 (defaults to Active Camera) | F12 |
| Return to the previous view | Esc |
| New Light | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + L |
| New Camera | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + C |
| Look at selected 3D Layers | F |
| Look at all 3D Layers | Ctrl + Shift + F |
| Turn Casts Shadows property on / off | Alt + Shift + C |
Text Shortcuts
| Action | After Effects Shortcuts PDF |
|---|---|
| New text Layer | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + T |
| Align horizontal text Left | Ctrl + Shift + L |
| Align horizontal text Center | Ctrl + Shift + C |
| Align horizontal text Right | Ctrl + Shift + R |
| Align vertical text Top | Ctrl + Shift + L |
| Align vertical text Center | Ctrl + Shift + C |
| Align vertical text Bottom | Ctrl + Shift + R |
| Extend the selection of one character to the right | Shift + Right Arrow key |
| Extend the selection of one character to the left | Shift + Left Arrow key |
| Extend selection one word to the right | Ctrl + Shift + Right Arrow key |
| Extend selection one word to left | Ctrl + Shift + Left Arrow key |
| Extend selection one line up in horizontal text | Shift + Up Arrow key |
| Extend selection one line down in horizontal text | Shift + Down Arrow key |
| Extend selection one line to the right in vertical text | Shift + Right Arrow key |
| Extend selection one line to the left in vertical text | Shift + Left Arrow key |
| Extend selection one word up in vertical text | Ctrl + Shift + Up Arrow key |
| Extend selection one word down in vertical text | Ctrl + Shift + Down Arrow key |
| Extend selection one character up in vertical text | Shift + Up Arrow key |
| Extend selection one character down in vertical text | Shift + Down Arrow key |
| Select text from the insertion point to the beginning of the line | Shift + Home |
| Select text from the insertion point to the end of the line | Shift + End |
| Move the cursor to the beginning of the line | Home |
| Move the cursor to the end of the line | End |
| Select text from cursor to beginning of text Frame | Ctrl + Shift + Home |
| Select text from cursor to end of text Frame | Ctrl + Shift + End |
| Turn All Caps on or off for selected text | Ctrl + Shift + K |
| Turn Small Caps on or off for selected text | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + K |
| Turn Superscript on or off for selected text | Ctrl + Shift + = |
| Turn Subscript on or off for selected text | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + = |
| Set horizontal scale to 100% for selected text | Ctrl + Shift + X |
| Set vertical scale to 100% for selected text | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + X |
| Auto leading for selected text | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + A |
| Reset tracking to 0 for selected text | Ctrl + Shift + Q |
| Justify paragraph; left align last line | Ctrl + Shift + J |
| Justify paragraph; right align last line | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + J |
| Justify paragraph; force last line | Ctrl + Shift + F |
| Decrease font size of selected text by 2 units | Ctrl + Shift + , |
| Increase font size of selected text by 2 units | Ctrl + Shift + . |
| Decrease font size of selected text by 10 units | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + , |
| Increase font size of selected text by 10 units | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + . |
| Increase leading by 2 units | Alt + Down Arrow key |
| Decrease leading by 2 units | Alt + Up Arrow key |
| Increase leading by 10 units | Ctrl + Alt + Down Arrow key |
| Decrease leading by 10 units | Ctrl + Alt + Up Arrow key |
| Decrease baseline shift by 2 units | Alt + Shift + Down Arrow key |
| Increase baseline shift by 2 units | Alt + Shift + Up Arrow key |
| Decrease baseline shift by 10 units | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Down Arrow key |
| Increase baseline shift by 10 units | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Up Arrow key |
| Decrease kerning or track 20 units | Alt + Left Arrow key |
| Increase kerning or track 20 units | Alt + Right Arrow key |
| Decrease kerning or track 100 units | Ctrl + Alt + Left Arrow key |
| Increase kerning or track 100 units | Ctrl + Alt + Right Arrow key |
| Toggle paragraph composer | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + T |
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Activating Tools Shortcuts
| Action | After Effects Shortcuts PDF |
|---|---|
| Activate Selection Tool | V |
| Activate Hand Tool | H |
| Activate Rotation Tool | W |
| Activate Roto Brush Tool | Alt + W |
| Activate and cycle through Camera Tools | C |
| Activate Pan Behind Tool | Y |
| Activate and cycle through Mask and Shape Tools | Q |
| Activate and cycle through Type Tools | Ctrl + T |
| Activate and cycle between the Pen and Mask Feather Tools | G |
Compositions Shortcuts
| Action | After Effects Shortcut keys |
|---|---|
| New Composition | Ctrl + N |
| Open the Composition Settings dialogue box for selected Composition | Ctrl + K |
| Set beginning of work area to current time | B |
| Set end of work area to current time | N |
| Set work area to the duration of selected Layers | Ctrl + Alt + B |
| Open Composition Mini-Flowchart for active Composition | Tab |
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Time Navigation Shortcuts
| Action | After Effects Shortcuts PDF |
|---|---|
| Go to the specific time | Alt + Shift + J |
| Go to the beginning of the work area | Shift + Home |
| Go to the end of the work area | Shift + End |
| Go to the previous visible item in the time ruler | J |
| Go to the next visible item in the time ruler | K |
| Go to the beginning of Composition, Layer, or Footage | Home |
| Go to the end of Composition, Layer, or Footage | End |
| Go forward 1 Frame | Page Down key |
| Go backward 1 Frame | Page Up key |
| Go forward 10 Frames | Shift + Page Down key |
| Go backward 10 Frames | Shift + Page Up key |
| Go to Layer InPoint | I |
| Go to Layer OutPoint | O |
| Go to previous InPoint or OutPoint | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Left Arrow key |
| Go to the next InPoint or OutPoint | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Right Arrow key |
| Scroll to the current time in Timeline Panel | D |
Effects and Animation Presets Shortcuts
| Action | After Effects Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Delete all effects from selected Layers | Ctrl + Shift + E |
| Apply the most recently applied effect to selected Layers | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + E |
| Apply most recently applied animation preset to selected Layers | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + F |
Read More: 59 Adobe Audition Shortcuts for Windows
Rendering & Exporting Shortcuts
| Action | Adobe Afer Effects Shortcuts PDF |
|---|---|
| Save Project | Ctrl + S |
| Increment and save Project | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + S |
| Save As | Ctrl + Shift + S |
| Add active Composition or selected items to render queue | Ctrl + Shift + / |
| Add current Frame to render queue | Ctrl + Alt + S |
| Duplicate render item with the same output filename as original | Ctrl + Shift + D |
Layers Shortcuts
| Action | Adobe Afer Effects Shortcuts PDF |
|---|---|
| New solid Layer | Ctrl + Y |
| New null Layer | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Y |
| New adjustment Layer | Ctrl + Alt + Y |
| Select the next layer in the stacking order | Ctrl + Down Arrow key |
| Select the previous Layer in the stacking order | Ctrl + Up Arrow key |
| Extend selection to the next layer in the stacking order | Ctrl + Shift + Down Arrow key |
| Extend selection to the previous layer in the stacking order | Ctrl + Shift + Up Arrow key |
| Deselect all Layers | Ctrl + Shift + A |
| Scroll the topmost selected Layer to the top of the Timeline Panel | X |
| Show or hide the Parent column | Shift + F4 |
| Show or hide Layer Switches and Modes columns | F4 |
| Setting sampling method for selected Layers – Bilinear | Alt + B |
| Setting sampling method for selected Layers – Bicubic | Alt + Shift + B |
| Turn the Video switch on or off for selected Layers | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + V |
| Turn off the Video switch for all video Layers other than selected Layers | Ctrl + Shift + V |
| Open the settings dialogue box for selected solid, light, camera, null, or adjustment layers | Ctrl + Shift + Y |
| Paste Layers at current time | Ctrl + Alt + V |
| Split selected Layers | Ctrl + Shift + D |
| Precompose selected Layers | Ctrl + Shift + C |
| Open Effect Controls Panel for selected Layers | Ctrl + Shift + T |
| Reverse selected Layers in time | Ctrl + Alt + R |
| Enable time remapping for selected Layers | Ctrl + Alt + T |
| Move selected Layers for InPoint to current time | [ |
| Move selected Layers for OutPoint to the current time | ] |
| Trim InPoint of selected Layers to current time | Alt + [ |
| Trim OutPoint of selected Layers to current time | Alt + ] |
| Set InPoint or OutPoint by time-stretching | Ctrl + Shift + , |
| Lock all Layers | Ctrl + L |
| Unlock all Layers | Ctrl + Shift + L |
| Cycle forward through blending Modes for selected Layers | Shift + – |
| Cycle backward through blending Modes for selected Layers | Shift + = |
| Find in Timeline Panel | Ctrl + F |
Timeline Panel Shortcuts
| Action | Adobe Afer Effects Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Show only Anchor Point property | A |
| Show only Audio Levels property | L |
| Show only Mask Feather property | F |
| Show only Mask Path property | M |
| Show only Opacity property for lights and Intensity | T |
| Show only Mask Opacity property | TT |
| Show only Position property | P |
| Show only Rotation and Orientation properties | R |
| Show only Scale property | S |
| Show only Time Remap property | RR |
| Show only instances of missing effects | FF |
| Show only Effects property group | E |
| Show only mask property groups | MM |
| Show only Material Options property group | AA |
| Show only expressions | EE |
| Show only modified properties | UU |
| Show only paint strokes, Roto Brushstrokes, and Puppet pins | PP |
| Show only audio waveform | LL |
| Show only selected properties and groups | SS |
Download After Effects Shortcuts PDF
Download After Effects Shortcuts PDFThe 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 is the most trending one.
FAQs
What does Ctrl N mean in after effects?
Ctrl N keys allow you to Open the Composition Settings dialogue box for selected compositions.
What is F9 in after effects?
F9 keys allow you to add easy ease to your keyframes.
How do you jump 10 frames in after effects?
Press Shift UP or Down will move you 10 frames in after effects.
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