Premiere Pro Keyboard Shortcuts You Should Know To Save Time

Using Premiere Pro keyboard shortcuts, you can speed up the editing process, which can be really time-consuming process, but you can speed up main operations. I’ll dwell on the default keyboard shortcuts that will make your work in Adobe Premiere more productive and enjoyable.

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Most Used Shortcuts

premiere pro keyboard shortcuts

Adobe Premiere Pro allows using 2 types of shortcuts – application shortcuts that allow manipulating the entire program and panel shortcuts that are designed to work on specific panels. By devoting some time to learning and memorizing these shortcuts, you can totally revolutionize your video editing experience. Besides, with this info in mind, cCommandsomprehending various Adobe Premiere Pro CC tutorials will be a breeze.

Commands Windows Mac
Cancel Command or Operation Esc Esc
Export Media Ctrl + M Cmd + M
Group/Ungroup Ctrl + G/T Cmd + G/T
Import Media Ctrl + I Cmd + I
Insert , ,
Overwrite . .
Render Effects in Work Area Enter Return
Speed/Duration Ctrl + R Cmd + R
Zoom In Ctrl + + Cmd + +
Zoom Out Ctrl + - Cmd + -

Command Shortcuts

These are the shortcuts that presuppose using the Command key on Mac computers and the Control key on Windows. With the help of such Premiere Pro shortcuts, you can start, save, and close projects. The easiest way to learn these shortcuts is to think of them as the File menu options.

Commands Windows Mac
Close Ctrl+W Cmd+W
Close Project Ctrl+Shift+W Shift+Cmd+W
Exit Premiere Pro Ctrl+Q Cmd+Q
Get Properties for Selection Ctrl+Shift+H Shift+Cmd+H
Import/Export Media Ctrl+I/M Cmd+I/M
New Project/Production Ctrl+Alt+N Opt+Cmd+N
New Sequence Ctrl+N Cmd+N
Open Project/Production Ctrl+O Cmd+O
Save Ctrl+S Cmd+S
Title Ctrl+T Cmd+T

Clipboard Shortcuts

These key combinations allow coping & pasting elements into your projects in a matter of seconds. They are indispensable for bulk manipulations. Besides, you can use them to create a new sequence made up of different video pieces.

Commands Windows Mac
Clear Delete Forward Delete
Clear In & Out Ctrl+Shift+X Opt+X
Copy Ctrl+C Cmd+C
Cut Ctrl+X Cmd+X
Duplicate Ctrl+Shift+/ Shift+Cmd+/
Edit Original Ctrl + E Cmd + E
Paste Ctrl+V Cmd+V
Redo Ctrl+Shift+Z Shift+Cmd+Z
Ripple Delete Shift+Delete Shift+Forward Delete
Undo Ctrl+Z Cmd+Z

Tool Shortcuts

Navigating the toolset of the software is easier with the help of these shortcuts. Now, you can instantly activate the needed tool and perform actions in no time. For instance, if you frequently edit text in Premiere Pro, it makes sense to memorize how to access the Type Tool in a quick way.

Commands Windows Mac
Arc Tool A A
Hand Tool H H
Pen Tool P P
Rate Stretch Tool R R
Razor Tool C C
Selection Tool V V
Slide Tool U U
Slip Tool Y Y
Type Tool T T
Zoom Tool Z Z

Navigation Shortcuts

If you want to instantly hop from one section of a project to another, you should use Navigation Premiere Pro shortcuts. They are real lifesavers when it comes to reviewing the edits.

Commands Windows Mac
Clear In & To Out Ctrl+Shift+X Opt+X
Go to In Point Shift+I Shift+I
Go to Next Edit Point Down Down
Go to Out Point Shift+O Shift+O
Go to Previous Edit Point Up Up
Mark In/Out Point I/O I/O
Play/Stop Toggle Space Space
Shuttle Left/Right J/L J/L
Step Back/Forward Left (←)/Right (→) Left (←)/Right (→)
Stop K K

Panel Shortcuts

The software comes with a separate set of panel shortcuts. Panels are like separate work environments within a project that contain specific instruments for a task, e.g., coloring tools or those for audio mixing. It happens that you need to work on one panel for a long time and it’s cool that you can use shortcuts designed with this panel in mind.

What’s more, using such shortcuts, you can seamlessly switch from one panel to another without opening, closing, and rearranging the workstation all the time. For example, if you need to create a Ken Burns effect in Premiere Pro, you can just hold down the needed keys and will immediately get to the Effects Control panel. Moreover, it is possible to set a panel shortcut so that a specific key combination is responsible for particular tweaks depending on the panel you’re currently working on.

Commands Windows Mac
Audio Clip Mixer Shift + 9 Shift + 9
Audio Track Mixer Shift + 6 Shift + 6
Effect Controls Shift + 5 Shift + 5
Effects Shift + 7 Shift + 7
Media Browser Shift + 8 Shift + 8
Program Monitor Shift + 4 Shift + 4
Projects Shift + 1 Shift + 1
Reset to Saved Layout Alt + Shift + 0 Opt + Shift + 0
Source Monitor Shift + 2 Shift + 2
Timelines Shift + 3 Shift + 3

How to Customize Premiere Pro Keyboard Shortcuts?

If you have ever googled Adobe Premiere Pro tips, you have probably come across those related to keyboard shortcuts. I want to highlight that in addition to memorizing pre-configured key combos, you can create your own shortcuts based on the edits you make on a regular basis. For example, if you frequently use a specific tool, it seems to be a wonderful idea to create a shortcut, which will instantly make the instrument active. You can also generate a shortcut for selecting several tools at once. 

STEP 1. Open the Keyboard Shortcuts Menu

premiere pro keyboard shortcuts menu

Open Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts or press Cmd+Opt+K/Ctrl+Alt+K. There will appear a window with the list of all existing Adobe Premiere keyboard shortcuts. Here you can also create custom shortcuts.

The interface is absolutely user-friendly and you can add, change, sync, and delete shortcuts in a quick way. Most processes boil down to drag-n-drop operations.

STEP 2. Choose a Command

premiere pro keyboard shortcuts command

To create a new keyboard shortcut, you first need to look for the command you want to assign it to. In the dialog box that has opened, choose the suitable option from the menu:

Application – contains commands located in the menu bar, organized by category.

Panels – displays commands related to panels and menus.

Tools – shows a list of tool icons.

Head to the search box under the left side of the keyboard and start typing the needed command.

STEP 3. Assign a Shortcut

premiere pro keyboard shortcuts assign

Hit the little “x” to the right side of the currently assigned command. The box should be empty now. Click inside the box and start typing the new command.

While typing, you will see which keys already have shortcuts assigned to them. They will be highlighted on the visual keyboard displayed on the screen. Thus, you will be notified in real-time if the shortcut you want to choose has been already assigned.

STEP 4. Save the Changes

After you’ve found the key, hit Enter and assign by clicking OK in the right-hand corner. Repeat these steps to customize as many Premiere Pro keyboard shortcuts as you want. Once you’re done, click Save As, type a name for your Key Set, and click Save.

Pro Tip

If it happens that you have the program installed on one computer and different video editors use it for their needs, the experts may prefer different shortcuts for one operation. Fortunately, in Premiere Pro, it is possible to add multiple hotkeys to one command. Just find the command and double-click on the already assigned shortcut’s right-hand side. You will see a little box, where you can assign another key for the command shortcut.

Bonus Tools

premiere pro luts by fixthephoto

In addition to using shortcuts, you can also streamline your workflow by importing LUTs. This collection contains professional LUTs that will gently affect colors in footage, add mesmerizing effects, mimic vintage mood, and more. You just need to learn how to install LUTs in Premiere and then move to the creative part.

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