Keyboard Shortcuts
These are the defaults. On macOS, Ctrl is the Control key and Alt is Option. Design Mode never uses Command: After Effects keeps every Command shortcut.
Change a shortcut
Section titled “Change a shortcut”Click the keyboard button in the status bar to open Keyboard Shortcuts:
- Filter finds a command by name.
- Click a category bar (Tools, Edit, View) to collapse or expand it.
- Click a shortcut, then press the new keys. Escape cancels. A key already in use is refused and names the command that has it.
- A changed shortcut shows a reset button on its row that puts back the preset’s key.
- Reset returns every shortcut in the current preset to its defaults.
- Choose Save as preset from the preset menu to keep your set under a name. The delete button beside the menu removes a saved preset.
- Done closes the editor. Changes apply as you make them.
Presets
Section titled “Presets”| Preset | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | The default, and the keys on this page |
| After Effects | Read from your own After Effects shortcuts. Anything it cannot read keeps the Illustrator key |
| Figma | Figma’s keys |
Fit view, Fit up to 100%, Zoom in, Zoom out and Center anchor point in content follow your own After Effects keys when Design Mode can read them. The Figma preset is the exception: its own keys win for Fit view, Zoom in and Zoom out.
Always After Effects
Section titled “Always After Effects”These keys always go to After Effects, and the editor lists them at the bottom:
| Command | Windows | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Save | Ctrl+S | Cmd+S |
| Save As | Ctrl+Shift+S | Shift+Cmd+S |
| Undo, once Design Mode has nothing left to undo | Ctrl+Z | Ctrl+Z |
| Tool | Key |
|---|---|
| Selection | V |
| Cycle selection target | Shift+V |
| Direct Selection | A |
| Lasso | Q |
| Pen | P |
| Pencil | N |
| Convert Vertex | Shift+C |
| Add Vertex | = |
| Delete Vertex | - |
| Scissors | C |
| Reflect | O |
| Magic Wand | Y |
| Line | \ |
| Rectangle | M |
| Ellipse | L |
| Polystar | Shift+L |
| Width | Shift+W |
| Text | T |
| Rotate | R |
| Scale | S |
| Shear | Shift+S |
| Gradient | G |
| Eyedropper | I |
| Hand | H, or hold Space |
| Zoom | Z |
Anchor Tool has no default key; assign one in the editor. Rounded Rectangle, Polygon and Offset Path have no shortcut. Press the Selection, Direct Selection, Scale or Rotate key a second time for a keyboard transform: a second V or A opens a keyboard Move.
| Command | Key |
|---|---|
| Undo | Ctrl+Z |
| Redo | Ctrl+Shift+Z |
| Select all | Ctrl+A |
| Deselect | Ctrl+Shift+A |
| Delete points | Delete or Backspace |
| Copy, Cut, Paste | Ctrl+C, Ctrl+X, Ctrl+V |
| Paste in front | Ctrl+F |
| Paste in back | Ctrl+B |
| Paste in place | Ctrl+Shift+V |
| Duplicate | Ctrl+D |
| Send backward / Bring forward | Ctrl+[ / Ctrl+] |
| Send to back / Bring to front | Ctrl+Shift+[ / Ctrl+Shift+] |
| Join | Ctrl+J |
| Lock selection | Ctrl+2 |
| Unlock all | Ctrl+Alt+2 |
| Group / Ungroup | Ctrl+G / Ctrl+Shift+G |
| Center anchor point in content | Ctrl+Alt+Home |
| Nudge left, right, up, down | Arrow keys, by the Keyboard increment in Preferences. Shift moves ten times as far |
Replicate linear, grid, radial, brick and spiral, Expand copies, Consolidate, Split shapes into groups and Split shapes into layers have no default key; assign one if you use them often.
| Command | Key |
|---|---|
| Zoom in / out | . / , |
| Fit view | Ctrl+0 |
| Fit up to 100% | Ctrl+Shift+0 |
| Zoom to 100% | / |
| Frame selected | F |
| Reveal selection | X |
| Rulers | Ctrl+R |
| Outline view | Ctrl+Y |
| Show/Hide bounding box | Ctrl+Shift+B |
Escape
Section titled “Escape”Each press backs out one step: it deselects a guide, then a fill or stroke selected in Layers, then the selection, then steps out of one isolated group. It also finishes a Pen path and cancels a drag in progress.