If you've ever pressed a letter key in Pro Tools and had absolutely nothing happen, this is why. Pro Tools hides most of its best shortcuts behind a mode called Commands Keyboard Focus, and until you switch it on, half the keyboard does nothing at all.
Below is every default Pro Tools shortcut, taken from Avid's own Shortcuts Guide and current for Pro Tools 2026.4. Nothing copied from an older cheat sheet, nothing guessed. There's a free printable PDF of the whole thing too.
The short answer
Turn on Commands Keyboard Focus first — click the small a–z button at the top right of the Edit window, or press Cmd+Opt+1 on Mac, Ctrl+Alt+1 on Windows.
With it on, single letters do real work: E zoom toggle, F crossfade with no dialog, D and G fade from start and to end, A and S trim to the cursor.
The thing nobody tells you: Commands Keyboard Focus
Pro Tools has three separate Keyboard Focus zones, and only one of them gives you the single-letter editing commands. That's the Edit window's Commands Keyboard Focus, and the giveaway is a small a–z button in the top right corner of the Edit window.
When it's lit, pressing F creates a crossfade with no dialog. When it isn't, pressing F does nothing whatsoever. Nothing is broken — the focus is simply somewhere else.
Switch it on either way:
- Click the a–z button at the top right of the Edit window
- Or press Cmd+Opt+1 (Mac) / Ctrl+Alt+1 (Windows)
The other two zones are worth knowing about: Cmd+Opt+2 moves focus to the Clip List, Cmd+Opt+3 to the Groups List. Same idea, different single-key sets.
This is the single most common reason someone thinks a Pro Tools shortcut keyboard "doesn't work". The keys are right — the focus is off. It's worth checking that a–z button before you conclude anything else.
Want this as a printable PDF?
Everything on this page is free and staying free — the full list is below. But a browser tab is the wrong place for this the moment you're actually working, with both hands on the keyboard.
So we've laid the same shortcuts out as a printable PDF, colour-grouped like our keyboards and sized to be read at arm's length. Print it and pin it by the desk, or take it to a session. It carries the full Keyboard Focus layout in QWERTY order plus every Mac and Windows modifier combination.
Pro Tools Shortcuts — printable PDF
Free, A4, grouped by task. The complete Commands Keyboard Focus layout plus Mac and Windows modifier columns, taken from Avid's official Shortcuts Guide.
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What's on this page
- Commands Keyboard Focus
- The single-key layout, QWERTY order
- Edit modes and tools
- Playback and recording
- Selection and navigation
- Session and file
- Edit menu
- Clips, trimming and fades
- Frequently asked questions
The single-key layout, QWERTY order
These are the Commands Keyboard Focus shortcuts, listed the way they sit on the keyboard rather than alphabetically — which is how you actually learn them. All of these need the a–z button lit.
Number row
| Action | Key |
|---|---|
| Recall Zoom Memory 1 to 5 | 1 – 5 |
| Play To Edit Start | 6 |
| Play From Edit Start | 7 |
| Play To Edit End | 8 |
| Play From Edit End | 9 |
| Edit Selection To Timeline Selection | 0 |
| Toggle Playlist View Mode | – |
Top row — Q to backslash
| Action | Key |
|---|---|
| Display Timeline Selection Start | Q |
| Display Timeline Selection End | W |
| Zoom Toggle | E |
| Zoom Out Horizontal | R |
| Zoom In Horizontal | T |
| Move Clip Start To Current Timecode | Y |
| Move Clip Sync Point To Current Timecode | U |
| Snap Clip End To Current Timecode | I |
| Timeline Selection To Edit Selection | O |
| Move Edit Insertion To Previous Track | P |
| Play Edit Selection | [ |
| Play Timeline Selection | ] |
| Nudge Play Earlier By Grid | \ |
Home row — A to apostrophe
| Action | Key |
|---|---|
| Trim Clip Start To Cursor | A |
| Trim Clip End To Cursor | S |
| Fade From Start | D |
| Crossfade With No Dialog | F |
| Fade Out From Cursor To End Of Clip | G |
| Snap Clip Start To Play Position | H |
| Snap Clip Sync Point To Play Position | J |
| Snap Clip End To Play Position | K |
| Move Edit Insertion To Previous Edit | L |
| Move Edit Insertion To Next Track | ; |
| Move Edit Insertion To Next Edit | ' |
D, F and G are the ones that change your day. Fade from start, crossfade with no dialog, fade out to end — three fades without ever opening a window. If you learn nothing else from this page, learn those three.
Bottom row — Z to slash
| Action | Key |
|---|---|
| Undo | Z |
| Redo | Shift + Z |
| Cut | X |
| Copy | C |
| Paste | V |
| Separate | B |
| Toggle Insertion Follows Playback | N |
| Nudge Play Earlier By Next Bigger Grid | M |
| Nudge Play Earlier By Grid | , |
| Nudge Play Later By Grid | . |
| Nudge Play Later By Next Bigger Grid | / |
Worth noticing: Z, X, C and V are undo, cut, copy and paste with no modifier at all when Keyboard Focus is on. Same letters as everywhere else, just without the Command key.
Edit modes and tools
These work whether or not Keyboard Focus is on, because function keys don't clash with typing.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Shuffle mode | F1 |
| Slip mode | F2 |
| Spot mode | F3 |
| Grid mode | F4 |
| Snap To Grid from another mode | Shift + F4 |
| Zoomer tool | F5 |
| Trimmer tool | F6 |
| Selector tool | F7 |
| Grabber tool | F8 |
| Scrubber tool | F9 |
| Pencil tool | F10 |
| Smart Tool | F6+F7 or F7+F8 |
| Cycle through Edit modes | ` (above Tab) |
| Cycle through Edit tools | Esc |
Playback and recording
| Action | Mac | Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Start / stop playback | Space | Space |
| Half-speed playback | Shift Space | Shift Space |
| Pause — pre-prime the deck | Ctrl Space | Start Space |
| Loop playback toggle | Cmd Shift L | Ctrl Shift L |
| Start record | Cmd Space | Ctrl Space |
| Discard the take (not undoable) | Cmd . | Ctrl . |
| Loop Record toggle | Opt L | Alt L |
| QuickPunch toggle | Cmd Shift P | Ctrl Shift P |
Windows users, note the Start key. Pro Tools uses the Windows key as a genuine modifier, which almost nothing else does. Where a Mac shortcut uses Control, Windows usually wants Start.
Selection and navigation
| Action | Mac | Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Tab to Transients on / off | Cmd Opt Tab | Ctrl Alt T |
| Next transient or clip boundary | Tab | Tab |
| Previous transient or boundary | Opt Tab | Ctrl Tab |
| Extend selection to next boundary | Shift Tab | Shift Tab |
| Return to start of session | Return | Enter |
| Go to end of session | Opt Return | Ctrl Enter |
| Link Timeline and Edit selection | Shift / | Shift / |
| Zoom Toggle | Ctrl E | Start E |
Tab to Transients is the one to turn on. With it enabled, Tab jumps the cursor to the next transient in the audio rather than the next clip boundary — which turns editing dialogue or drums into a matter of tapping Tab and pressing a fade key.
Session and file
| Action | Mac | Windows |
|---|---|---|
| New Session | Cmd N | Ctrl N |
| Open Session | Cmd O | Ctrl O |
| Open Most Recent | Cmd Shift O | Ctrl Shift O |
| Save Session | Cmd S | Ctrl S |
| Bounce Mix | Cmd Opt B | Ctrl Alt B |
| Import Session Data | Shift Opt I | Shift Alt I |
| Import Audio | Cmd Shift I | Ctrl Shift I |
| Import Video | Cmd Opt Shift I | Ctrl Alt Shift I |
Edit menu
| Action | Mac | Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Undo | Cmd Z | Ctrl Z |
| Redo | Cmd Shift Z | Ctrl Shift Z |
| Restore Last Selection | Cmd Opt Z | Ctrl Alt Z |
| Select All | Cmd A | Ctrl A |
| Duplicate selection | Cmd D | Ctrl D |
| Repeat selection | Opt R | Alt R |
| Shift selection | Opt H | Alt H |
| Insert Silence | Cmd Shift E | Ctrl Shift E |
| Strip Silence | Cmd U | Ctrl U |
Clips, trimming and fades
| Action | Mac | Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Create Fades (opens dialog) | Cmd F | Ctrl F |
| Trim Clip to Selection | Cmd T | Ctrl T |
| Trim Clip to File Boundaries | Cmd Ctrl T | Ctrl Start T |
| Separate Clip at Selection | Cmd E | Ctrl E |
| Heal Separation | Cmd H | Ctrl H |
| Consolidate Clip | Opt Shift 3 | Alt Shift 3 |
| Mute / unmute clips | Cmd M | Ctrl M |
Made by Editors Keys since 2005
The reference that never needs another window
Our Pro Tools keyboards and MacBook covers carry the Keyboard Focus layout printed onto the keys, grouped by colour so you learn them by position rather than by memory. Used by teams at the BBC, NASA, Warner Bros., Rockstar Games and Pinewood Studios, and every keyboard ships with a free three-year warranty.
Shop the Pro Tools range →Frequently asked questions
Why don't my Pro Tools keyboard shortcuts work?
Almost always because Commands Keyboard Focus is off. Pro Tools' single-letter shortcuts only respond when the small a–z button at the top right of the Edit window is lit. Turn it on with Cmd+Opt+1 on Mac or Ctrl+Alt+1 on Windows and they'll all start working.
What is Commands Keyboard Focus in Pro Tools?
A mode that lets single letter keys run edit and playback commands rather than typing. Pro Tools has three focus zones — the Edit window, the Clip List and the Groups List — and each has its own set of single-key shortcuts.
What is the crossfade shortcut in Pro Tools?
With Commands Keyboard Focus on, press F for a crossfade with no dialog. D fades from the start of a clip and G fades out from the cursor to the end. Cmd+F on Mac or Ctrl+F on Windows opens the full Fades dialog instead.
Are Pro Tools shortcuts the same on Mac and Windows?
The Keyboard Focus single-key shortcuts are identical. The modifier combinations differ, and Pro Tools is unusual in using the Windows Start key as a genuine modifier where a Mac would use Control.
Which Pro Tools version do these apply to?
Pro Tools 2026.4, the current release. These shortcuts have been stable across recent versions, so they hold on earlier ones too.
Can I print the Pro Tools shortcuts?
Yes — the free PDF above is designed for it, laid out in QWERTY order so it matches the keyboard in front of you.
Related reading
- Final Cut Pro keyboard shortcuts: the complete 2026 cheat sheet
- Avid Media Composer keyboard shortcuts: the complete 2026 cheat sheet
- Pro Tools keyboards and covers
Shortcuts verified against Avid's official Pro Tools Shortcuts Guide, current for Pro Tools 2026.4. Avid and Pro Tools are trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. Editors Keys is not affiliated with Avid Technology, Inc.
