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Free — After Effects 2026After Effects Keyboard Shortcuts You Will Actually Use
108 shortcuts that save the most time, for Windows and Mac. Type what you want to do in the search box.
Layer properties 15 shortcuts
Show PositionPP
Show ScaleSS
Show RotationRR
Show OpacityTT
Show Anchor PointAA
Show all keyframed propertiesUU
Show all changed propertiesU UU U
Show effectsEE
Show expressionsE EE E
Show mask pathMM
Show all mask propertiesM MM M
Show mask featherFF
Show audio levelsLL
Show audio waveformL LL L
Add another property to what is shownShift + property keyShift + property key
Keyframes 12 shortcuts
Add Position keyframeAlt + Shift + POption + P
Add Scale keyframeAlt + Shift + SOption + S
Add Rotation keyframeAlt + Shift + ROption + R
Add Opacity keyframeAlt + Shift + TOption + T
Easy EaseF9F9
Easy Ease InShift + F9Shift + F9
Easy Ease OutCtrl + Shift + F9Cmd + Shift + F9
Go to next keyframeKK
Go to previous keyframeJJ
Toggle Hold keyframeCtrl + Alt + HCmd + Option + H
Keyframe InterpolationCtrl + Alt + KCmd + Option + K
Add an expressionAlt + click stopwatchOption + click stopwatch
Layers 20 shortcuts
Duplicate layerCtrl + DCmd + D
Split layer at playheadCtrl + Shift + DCmd + Shift + D
Trim layer start to playheadAlt + [Option + [
Trim layer end to playheadAlt + ]Option + ]
Move layer start to playhead[[
Move layer end to playhead]]
Pre-composeCtrl + Shift + CCmd + Shift + C
Bring layer forwardCtrl + ]Cmd + ]
Send layer backwardCtrl + [Cmd + [
Bring layer to frontCtrl + Shift + ]Cmd + Shift + ]
Send layer to backCtrl + Shift + [Cmd + Shift + [
Lock layerCtrl + LCmd + L
Unlock all layersCtrl + Shift + LCmd + Shift + L
Fit layer to compCtrl + Alt + FCmd + Option + F
Center layer in compCtrl + HomeCmd + Home
Center anchor pointCtrl + Alt + HomeCmd + Option + Home
Enable time remappingCtrl + Alt + TCmd + Option + T
Time-reverse layerCtrl + Alt + RCmd + Option + R
Select allCtrl + ACmd + A
Deselect allF2F2
New things 10 shortcuts
New compositionCtrl + NCmd + N
New solidCtrl + YCmd + Y
New adjustment layerCtrl + Alt + YCmd + Option + Y
New null objectCtrl + Alt + Shift + YCmd + Option + Shift + Y
New text layerCtrl + Alt + Shift + TCmd + Option + Shift + T
New cameraCtrl + Alt + Shift + CCmd + Option + Shift + C
New lightCtrl + Alt + Shift + LCmd + Option + Shift + L
New maskCtrl + Shift + NCmd + Shift + N
New projectCtrl + Alt + NCmd + Option + N
Import fileCtrl + ICmd + I
Timeline and preview 17 shortcuts
Play / stop previewSpacebarSpacebar
Go to start of compHomeHome
Go to end of compEndEnd
Forward one framePage DownPage Down
Back one framePage UpPage Up
Forward ten framesShift + Page DownShift + Page Down
Back ten framesShift + Page UpShift + Page Up
Go to layer startII
Go to layer endOO
Set work area startBB
Set work area endNN
Trim comp to work areaCtrl + Shift + XCmd + Shift + X
Zoom in timeline==
Zoom out timeline--
Zoom timeline to single frame / back;;
Go to timeAlt + Shift + JOption + Shift + J
Composition settingsCtrl + KCmd + K
Tools 10 shortcuts
Selection toolVV
Hand toolHH
Zoom toolZZ
Rotation toolWW
Pan Behind (anchor point) toolYY
Shape tool (press again to cycle)QQ
Pen toolGG
Type toolCtrl + TCmd + T
Brush / Clone / EraserCtrl + BCmd + B
Camera toolsCC
View 11 shortcuts
Fit comp in viewerShift + /Shift + /
Zoom comp to 100%//
Zoom in comp viewer..
Zoom out comp viewer,,
Show / hide title-safe guides''
Show / hide gridCtrl + 'Cmd + '
Show / hide rulersCtrl + RCmd + R
Show / hide guidesCtrl + ;Cmd + ;
Maximise panel under the mouse` (key under Esc)` (key under Esc)
Show / hide layer controlsCtrl + Shift + HCmd + Shift + H
Stop the viewer updatingCaps LockCaps Lock
Effects, panels and saving 13 shortcuts
Effect Controls panelF3F3
Effects & Presets panelCtrl + 5Cmd + 5
Project panelCtrl + 0Cmd + 0
Toggle Switches / ModesF4F4
Remove all effects from layerCtrl + Shift + ECmd + Shift + E
Apply the last effect againCtrl + Alt + Shift + ECmd + Option + Shift + E
Search in timelineCtrl + FCmd + F
Add comp to Render QueueCtrl + MCmd + M
Add comp to Media Encoder queueCtrl + Alt + MCmd + Option + M
SaveCtrl + SCmd + S
Increment and saveCtrl + Alt + Shift + SCmd + Option + Shift + S
UndoCtrl + ZCmd + Z
RedoCtrl + Shift + ZCmd + Shift + Z
Nothing found.
Try one word, like split, trim or ease.
Common questions
What is the shortcut to split a layer in After Effects?
Ctrl + Shift + D on Windows, Cmd + Shift + D on Mac. The selected layer is cut in two at the playhead.
What is the shortcut to trim a layer in After Effects?
Alt + [ trims the start of the layer to the playhead and Alt + ] trims the end. On Mac use Option instead of Alt.
How do I see all keyframes on a layer?
Select the layer and press U. Press U twice quickly to see every property you have changed, even without keyframes.
What is the Easy Ease shortcut?
F9 with the keyframes selected. On many laptops and Macs you need to hold Fn as well.
Can I change After Effects keyboard shortcuts?
Yes. Open Edit › Keyboard Shortcuts to see the visual keyboard editor and set your own.
Looking for presets? See the After Effects presets preview gallery.