Keyboard Shortcuts

Find shortcuts by task below, or jump to the full reference. These are the default assignments; customize them in Edit → Preferences → Keyboard (OpenShot Video Editor → Preferences on macOS). See Keyboard for details.

On macOS, use Command for shortcuts shown with Ctrl.

Using the timeline with a keyboard

Focus the timeline before selecting, moving, or trimming clips and transitions with these shortcuts.

Moving between panels

Action	Shortcut
Focus Project Files	Shift+1
Preview the selected file or timeline clip’s source	Shift+2 or Alt+P
Focus the timeline	Shift+3
Focus Transitions	Shift+7
Focus Effects	Shift+8
Focus Emojis	Shift+9
Move to the next / previous control	Tab / Shift+Tab
Focus the next / previous dock tab title without selecting it	Tab / Shift+Tab
Move focus between dock tab titles	Left / Right while a title has focus
Activate the focused dock tab and enter its first control	Space or Enter
Browse Project Files, transitions, effects, or emojis	Arrow keys while the list has focus

Each grouped dock title is a separate Tab stop. Its normal focus style marks the focused title (an underline in Cosmic Dusk); moving focus does not change the selected dock. Activate a title to switch docks and focus its first control. Clicking a dock tab also focuses its first control, even if that tab is already selected. Only the active dock’s visible controls participate in the Tab sequence; hidden dock controls are skipped.

When focus is inside a dock, the underline stays beneath its active tab. When you Tab between titles, the underline follows the focused title. The timeline itself is one Tab stop; Tab does not visit each clip or transition.

The timeline’s ruler and track headers, including their labels, dim when unfocused. The clip area stays the same. In Cosmic Dusk, a blue underline marks the focused dock’s title text or active tab, and buttons show a blue focus border. The untitled timeline dock has no underline.

Previewing a source

Press Shift+2 or Alt+P with focus in Project Files to preview the selected file. With focus on the timeline, the same command previews the active selected clip from its Start point. With multiple items selected, the active selection anchor determines the source. Transitions and clips without an available project file do not open a source preview.

An existing preview for the same file or the same timeline clip is reused. Different timeline clips have separate range-editing targets, even if they use the same source. When neither the file list nor the timeline has focus, the command does nothing.

In Preview File, click or drag the source ruler to scrub. Preview Clip and Split File also provide range editing: drag the Start/End grips, move the selected filmstrip range, draw a new range outside it, or edit their timecodes, or press I / O to set a marker at the playhead. End is the last included frame. Loop repeats the marked range. The preview uses your configured timeline playback and range-editing shortcuts: , / . move the range one frame (Shift moves five). [ selects Start for trimming, ] selects End; comma and period then trim that edge. Esc leaves trim mode before closing the dialog. Left / Right scrub frames without changing the range. Space toggles playback, J / L change playback speed and K pauses. These shortcuts leave text entry alone in Name and timecodes.

Scrubbing and moving markers do not edit the project until you click the dialog’s Create, Update, or Update Clip button. See Split File.

Adding and applying assets

The panel shortcuts above open the dock and focus its asset list directly. Use the arrow keys to choose an asset, then Ctrl+Enter to add or apply it. Your existing browser selection is preserved; if nothing is selected, focusing the browser selects its current item or the first available item.

Panel / action	Shortcut	Result
Project Files: add selected files	Ctrl+Enter	Place files sequentially at the playhead, in browser order, on the target track.
Effects: apply selected effects	Ctrl+Enter	Apply to the selected timeline clips. Browsing effects keeps that clip selection.
Transitions: add selected transitions	Ctrl+Enter	Place at the playhead on the target track, using the default transition length.
Emojis: add selected emoji	Ctrl+Enter	Place at the playhead on the target track, using the default image length.
Open the Add to Timeline dialog for selected files	Ctrl+Alt+A	Choose placement and other options before adding the files.

The target is the selected timeline item’s track, or the remembered track if nothing is selected. With neither available, OpenShot uses the highest unlocked track. The target track label appears bold while browsing assets. To change it, select an item on the desired track or clear the timeline selection and click the desired track before returning to the browser. A locked target blocks the operation; effects also require selected clips on unlocked tracks.

Adding at the playhead uses normal OpenShot placement: it does not make room by shifting later clips or overwrite their content. As with dragging a single clip, an overlap can create an automatic transition. The playhead stays in place and focus stays in the browser, so you can continue choosing assets. Press Shift+3 to edit the newly added timeline items.

For example: Shift+1 → arrow keys → Ctrl+Enter → Shift+3. The add/apply shortcut works in the asset list, not while typing in a filter or renaming an item.

Moving the playhead

Action	Shortcut
Step backward / forward one frame	Left / Right
Step backward / forward five frames	Shift+Left / Shift+Right
Go to the previous / next edit	Up / Down
Jump to the start / end	Home / End
Center the timeline on the playhead	Shift+C
Play / pause	Space
Play in reverse	J
Stop playback	K
Play forward	L

Edit navigation uses the selected item’s track, or the last clicked track if nothing is selected. With no active track, it starts on the highest track containing a clip or transition at the playhead, or the highest populated track in a gap.

Selecting clips and transitions

These shortcuts select both clips and transitions. Selection brings an item into view without changing the zoom or playhead.

Action	Shortcut
Select the previous / next item	Ctrl+Left / Ctrl+Right
Select an item above / below	Ctrl+Up / Ctrl+Down
Extend selection to the previous / next item	Ctrl+Shift+Left / Ctrl+Shift+Right
Cycle through items under the playhead	D
Extend selection through items under the playhead	Ctrl+Shift+D
Select all / clear selection	Ctrl+A / Ctrl+Shift+A

Left/right follows the current track first. When no item remains in that direction, it continues to the closest item start on another track.

Up/down looks above or below the selected item, preferring items that overlap it in time. The nearest overlapping track wins. If nothing overlaps, the smallest horizontal gap wins, then the nearest track. Ties on a track favor the closest item center. Empty tracks and unrelated items farther to the side do not block navigation. With no selection, the playhead supplies the starting position.

Selection at the playhead cycles from the highest track to the lowest, then wraps to the top. Moving the playhead restarts the cycle. If no item is under it, the selection stays unchanged. Extending selection keeps items already selected.

Moving clips and transitions

These shortcuts move the selected clips and transitions when no trim edge is selected.

Action	Shortcut
Move left / right one frame	, / .
Move left / right five frames	Shift+, / Shift+.
Move up / down one track	Alt+Up / Alt+Down

Track moves keep the selection’s timing and can use empty tracks. A locked track or the edge of the track list blocks the whole track move.

Hold a comma/period shortcut to move continuously. OpenShot previews the movement while the key repeats, then saves the final positions when you release it. One Undo reverses the entire hold, including all selected items. Separate key taps remain separate undo steps. Leaving the timeline or starting another keyboard command also finishes the current movement.

Trimming clips and transitions

Select a clip or transition, choose its left or right edge, then adjust that edge.

Action	Shortcut
Select the left trim edge	[
Select the right trim edge	]
Move the selected edge left / right one frame	, / .
Move the selected edge left / right five frames	Shift+, / Shift+.
Leave trim mode and restore the timeline preview	Esc

The selected edge has a fading highlight. Video Preview shows the first included frame for the left edge or the last included frame for the right edge, updating after each trim without moving the playhead. For transitions, the preview shows the transition mask. Trims respect the available source media and do not ripple other clips.

Holding a trim shortcut also groups its repeated adjustments into one undo step.

After leaving trim mode, comma/period move whole clips and transitions again.

Coming from another editor?

Compare a few everyday editing tasks with shortcuts you may already know.

The table shows OpenShot’s Windows/Linux defaults, Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve Windows defaults, and Final Cut Pro Mac defaults. On macOS, OpenShot uses Command for shortcuts shown with Ctrl. Shortcuts in other editors can vary with the version, keyboard layout, selected preset, and active panel. Similar shortcuts can also behave differently on stacked or connected clips.

Everyday editing shortcuts

Task	OpenShot	Premiere Pro	DaVinci Resolve	Final Cut Pro
Play / pause	Space	Space	Space	Space
Reverse / stop / forward	J / K / L	J / K / L	J / K / L	J / K / L
Previous / next frame	Left / Right	Left / Right	Left / Right	Left / Right
Previous / next edit	Up / Down (active track)	Up / Down	Up / Down	Up / Down
Focus media browser / project assets	Shift+1	Shift+1 (Project panel)	Not listed here	Cmd+1 (Browser)
Focus timeline	Shift+3	Shift+3	Not listed here	Cmd+2
Add source media at the playhead	Ctrl+Enter (place on target track)	Comma (insert); period (overwrite)	F9 (insert); F10 (overwrite)	W (insert); D (overwrite); Q (connect)
Select previous / next clip	Ctrl+Left / Right	Ctrl+Up / Down	Ctrl+Left / Right	Cmd+Left / Right (same role; also moves playhead)
Select clip above / below	Ctrl+Up / Down	No default listed here	Ctrl+Up / Down	Cmd+Up / Down
Move selection up / down	Alt+Up / Down	Alt+Up / Down	Alt+Up / Down	Option+Up / Down (connected clips)
Nudge left / right one frame	Comma / period	Alt+Left / Right	Comma / period	Comma / period
Nudge by several frames	Shift+comma / period (5)	Alt+Shift+Left / Right (5)	Shift+comma / period (configurable; default 5)	Shift+comma / period (10)
Select at playhead	D (cycles through stacked clips)	D	Shift+V (nearest clip/gap)	X selects a range; C selects under the pointer
Split at playhead	Ctrl+K (selected clips)	Ctrl+K (targeted tracks)	Ctrl+B	Cmd+B
Undo	Ctrl+Z	Ctrl+Z	Ctrl+Z	Cmd+Z
Save project	Ctrl+S	Ctrl+S	Ctrl+S	Saves automatically

For complete shortcut lists and customization options, see the Premiere Pro keyboard reference, DaVinci Resolve training guides, and Final Cut Pro keyboard reference.

Mouse shortcuts

These gestures complement the keyboard shortcuts. In Project Files’ Details view, double-click the thumbnail column for the file actions below.

Action	Mouse gesture	Keyboard alternative
Preview a file in Project Files	Double-click the file	Shift+2 or Alt+P
Open file properties in Project Files	Ctrl + double-click the file	Alt+I
Split a file in Project Files	Shift + double-click the file	Alt+S
Select an item and everything to its right on the same track	Alt + click the clip or transition	Alt+A with an item selected
Open properties for a timeline clip or transition	Double-click the item	U
Fit the whole timeline in view	Double-click the zoom slider	\ or Shift+\

Full shortcut reference

These are the default shortcuts, including view shortcuts supplied by the menus. Your assignments in Preferences may differ. On macOS, Command is used for shortcuts shown with Ctrl.

Default keyboard shortcuts

Action	Primary shortcut	Alternatives
About OpenShot	Ctrl+H
Add Marker	M
Add or Apply Selected Asset	Ctrl+Enter
Add Text	Shift+T
Add to Timeline	Ctrl+Alt+A
Add Track	Ctrl+Y
Animated Title	Ctrl+Shift+T
Ask a Question…	F4
Auto-Optimize	Ctrl+Alt+O
Center on Playhead	Shift+C
Choose Profile	Ctrl+Alt+P
Clear All Cache	Ctrl+Shift+ESC
Clear History	Ctrl+Shift+H
Clear Waveform Display Data	Ctrl+Shift+W
Color View	Alt+Shift+2
Copy	Ctrl+C
Cut	Ctrl+X
Delete Item	Delete	Backspace
Delete Item (Ripple)	Shift+Delete
Delete Optimized Videos	Ctrl+Shift+O
Details View	Ctrl+Page Up
Donate	F7
Duplicate	Ctrl+Shift+/
Edit Title	Alt+T
Export Files	Ctrl+Shift+E
Export Video	Ctrl+E	Ctrl+M
Extend Selection at Playhead	Ctrl+Shift+D
Extend Selection to Next Item	Ctrl+Shift+Right
Extend Selection to Previous Item	Ctrl+Shift+Left
Fast Forward	L
File Properties	Alt+I
Focus Effects	Shift+8
Focus Emojis	Shift+9
Focus Project Files	Shift+1
Focus Timeline	Shift+3
Focus Transitions	Shift+7
Fullscreen	F11
Import Files…	Ctrl+I
Insert Keyframe	Alt+Shift+K
Join our Community…	F5
Jump To End	End
Jump To Start	Home
Launch Tutorial	F2
Move Selection Down One Track	Alt+Down
Move Selection Up One Track	Alt+Up
New Project	Ctrl+N
Next Edit Point	Down
Next Five Frames	Shift+Right
Next Frame	Right
Next Marker	Shift+M	Alt+Right
Nudge left (1 Frame)	,
Nudge left (5 Frames)	Shift+,
Nudge right (1 Frame)	.
Nudge right (5 Frames)	Shift+.
Open Help Contents	F1
Open Project…	Ctrl+O
Paste	Ctrl+V
Play/Pause Toggle	Space
Preferences	Ctrl+P
Preview File	Shift+2 or Alt+P
Previous Edit Point	Up
Previous Five Frames	Shift+Left
Previous Frame	Left
Previous Marker	Ctrl+Shift+M	Alt+Left
Properties	U
Quit	Ctrl+Q
Razor Toggle	C	B or R
Recording View	Alt+Shift+3
Redo	Ctrl+Shift+Z
Report a Bug…	F3
Rewind	J
Save Current Frame	Shift+E
Save Project	Ctrl+S
Save Project As…	Ctrl+Shift+S
Select All	Ctrl+A
Select Item Above	Ctrl+Up
Select Item at Playhead	D
Select Item Below	Ctrl+Down
Select Item (Ripple)	Alt+A
Select Left Item Edge	[
Select Next Item	Ctrl+Right
Select None	Ctrl+Shift+A
Select Previous Item	Ctrl+Left
Select Right Item Edge	]
Share Feedback…	F8
Simple View	Alt+Shift+0
Slice All: Keep Both Sides	Ctrl+Shift+K
Slice All: Keep Left Side	Ctrl+Shift+J
Slice All: Keep Right Side	Ctrl+Shift+L
Slice Selected: Keep Both Sides	Ctrl+K
Slice Selected: Keep Left (Ripple)	W
Slice Selected: Keep Left Side	Ctrl+J
Slice Selected: Keep Right (Ripple)	Q
Slice Selected: Keep Right Side	Ctrl+L
Snapping Toggle	S
Split File	Alt+S
Stop Playback	K
Thumbnail View	Ctrl+Page Down
Timing Toggle	T
Title	Ctrl+T
Translate this Application…	F6
Undo	Ctrl+Z
Update Available	F9
View Toolbar	Ctrl+Shift+B
Zoom In	=	Ctrl+=
Zoom Out	-	Ctrl+-
Zoom to Timeline	\	Shift+\