Adobe Premiere Pro Shortcut Keys – Complete Practical Guide

Adobe Premiere Pro shortcut keys help you edit videos faster and more efficiently. They are useful for cutting clips, trimming videos, adding transitions, managing the timeline, editing audio, creating titles, working with sequences, and exporting videos.

This Adobe Premiere Pro Shortcut Keys guide is useful for beginners, video editing students, YouTube creators, content creators, and professional video editors.

Basic Adobe Premiere Pro Shortcut Keys

Shortcut Key	Function	Simple Explanation
Ctrl + N	New Project	Creates a new Premiere Pro project.
Ctrl + O	Open Project	Opens an existing project.
Ctrl + S	Save Project	Saves the current project.
Ctrl + Shift + S	Save As	Saves the project with a different name.
Ctrl + W	Close Panel/Project	Closes the active item or panel where applicable.
Ctrl + Z	Undo	Reverses the last action.
Ctrl + Shift + Z	Redo	Repeats an undone action.
Ctrl + C	Copy	Copies selected clips or items.
Ctrl + X	Cut	Cuts selected clips or items.
Ctrl + V	Paste	Pastes copied or cut clips.
Ctrl + A	Select All	Selects all applicable items in the active panel.
Delete	Delete	Deletes selected clips or items.

Import Media Shortcut Keys

Shortcut Key	Function	Simple Explanation
Ctrl + I	Import	Opens the Import dialog box.
Ctrl + Shift + I	Import Media	Imports media into the project.
M	Marker	Adds a marker at the current playhead position.
Shift + M	Next Marker	Moves to the next marker.
Ctrl + Shift + M	Previous Marker	Moves to the previous marker.

Timeline Navigation Shortcut Keys

Shortcut Key	Function	Simple Explanation
Spacebar	Play/Pause	Starts or pauses playback.
J	Play Backward	Plays the sequence backward.
K	Stop	Stops playback.
L	Play Forward	Plays the sequence forward.
J + J	Faster Reverse	Increases reverse playback speed.
L + L	Faster Forward	Increases forward playback speed.
Left Arrow	Previous Frame	Moves one frame backward.
Right Arrow	Next Frame	Moves one frame forward.
Shift + Left Arrow	Previous Edit/Point	Moves backward by a larger timeline increment depending on context.
Shift + Right Arrow	Next Edit/Point	Moves forward by a larger timeline increment depending on context.
Home	Start	Moves the playhead to the beginning.
End	End	Moves the playhead to the end.

Essential Premiere Pro Editing Shortcut Keys

Shortcut Key	Function	Simple Explanation
C	Razor Tool	Cuts a clip at the playhead.
V	Selection Tool	Selects and moves clips.
A	Track Select Forward Tool	Selects clips forward on tracks.
B	Ripple Edit Tool	Adjusts an edit while closing the gap.
N	Rolling Edit Tool	Adjusts the edit point between two clips.
R	Rate Stretch Tool	Changes the duration of a clip by changing its speed.
G	Audio Gain	Opens audio gain controls for selected clips.
Y	Slip Tool	Changes the content inside a clip without changing its position or duration.
U	Slide Tool	Moves a clip while adjusting neighboring clips.
P	Pen Tool	Creates or edits keyframes and paths.
H	Hand Tool	Moves around the timeline or panel.
Z	Zoom Tool	Zooms in or out of the timeline.

Cutting and Trimming Shortcut Keys

Shortcut Key	Function	Simple Explanation
C	Razor Tool	Cuts clips at a selected point.
Ctrl + K	Add Edit	Adds an edit at the playhead.
Ctrl + Shift + K	Add Edit to All Tracks	Adds an edit across targeted tracks.
Q	Ripple Trim Previous Edit to Playhead	Removes the portion before the playhead and closes the gap.
W	Ripple Trim Next Edit to Playhead	Removes the portion after the playhead and closes the gap.
D	Select Clip at Playhead	Selects clips under the playhead in targeted tracks.
Shift + Delete	Ripple Delete	Deletes selected content and closes the resulting gap.
Delete	Delete	Deletes selected clips and may leave a gap.

In Point and Out Point Shortcuts

Shortcut Key	Function	Simple Explanation
I	Mark In	Sets the beginning point for a selection.
O	Mark Out	Sets the ending point for a selection.
X	Mark Clip	Marks the selected clip’s duration.
Alt + X	Clear In and Out	Clears the In and Out points.
Ctrl + Shift + X	Clear Selected Marker/Range	Clears applicable marked ranges depending on context.

Copy and Move Clips

Shortcut Key	Function	Simple Explanation
Ctrl + C	Copy Clip	Copies selected clips.
Ctrl + V	Paste Clip	Pastes copied clips.
Ctrl + X	Cut Clip	Cuts selected clips.
Ctrl + D	Apply Default Transition	Applies the default video/audio transition to the selected edit.
Alt + Drag	Duplicate Clip	Creates a copy while dragging a clip.
Shift + Alt + Drag	Duplicate with Track Placement	Duplicates content while helping preserve track relationships.

Sequence Shortcut Keys

Shortcut Key	Function	Simple Explanation
Ctrl + N	New Project	Creates a new project.
Ctrl + Shift + N	New Sequence	Creates a new sequence in supported Premiere Pro versions.
Ctrl + K	Add Edit	Splits clips at the playhead.
Enter	Render/Preview	Starts the applicable render or preview process depending on selection/work area.
Shift + R	Render Effects in Work Area	Renders applicable effects in the work area.

Timeline Zoom Shortcut Keys

Shortcut Key	Function	Simple Explanation
+	Zoom In	Zooms into the timeline.
–	Zoom Out	Zooms out of the timeline.
**	Show Entire Sequence	Fits the sequence into the timeline view.
=`	Zoom In	Increases timeline zoom where supported.

Audio Editing Shortcut Keys

Shortcut Key	Function	Simple Explanation
G	Audio Gain	Adjusts the gain of selected audio clips.
S	Snap	Toggles snapping.
Shift + S	Snap Toggle	Toggles snapping in supported contexts.
M	Add Marker	Adds a marker for noting audio/video timing.
J	Play Backward	Plays backward.
K	Stop	Stops playback.
L	Play Forward	Plays forward.

Markers Shortcut Keys

Shortcut Key	Function	Simple Explanation
M	Add Marker	Adds a marker at the playhead.
Shift + M	Next Marker	Moves to the next marker.
Ctrl + Shift + M	Previous Marker	Moves to the previous marker.
Ctrl + Alt + M	Clear Marker	Removes a marker in supported contexts.

Markers are useful for marking music beats, important scenes, dialogue points, transitions, cuts, and effects.

Text and Graphics Shortcut Keys

Shortcut Key	Function	Simple Explanation
T	Type Tool	Creates or edits text.
V	Selection Tool	Selects and moves graphic objects.
Ctrl + B	Bold	Makes selected text bold where supported.
Ctrl + I	Italic	Makes selected text italic where supported.
Ctrl + A	Select Text/Objects	Selects content in the active editing context.

Keyframe Editing

Keyframes are used to control changes over time, such as position, scale, opacity, volume, and effects.

Shortcut/Action	Function	Simple Explanation
P	Pen Tool	Adds or edits keyframes in supported panels.
Shift + Click	Select Multiple	Helps select multiple keyframes.
Alt + Drag Keyframe	Copy/Move Keyframe	Duplicates or moves keyframes in supported contexts.
Arrow Keys	Move Selected Keyframe	Moves keyframes precisely when applicable.

Workspace and Panel Shortcuts

Shortcut Key	Function	Simple Explanation
Shift + 1	Project Panel	Activates the Project panel.
Shift + 2	Source Monitor	Activates the Source Monitor.
Shift + 3	Timeline	Activates the Timeline panel.
Shift + 4	Program Monitor	Activates the Program Monitor.
Shift + 5	Effect Controls	Activates Effect Controls.
Shift + 6	Audio Track Mixer	Activates Audio Track Mixer.
Shift + 7	Effects	Activates the Effects panel.
Shift + 8	Media Browser	Activates Media Browser.
Shift + 9	Audio Clip Mixer	Activates the applicable audio panel.

Full-Screen and Panel Display

Shortcut Key	Function	Simple Explanation
Ctrl + `	Maximize Panel	Maximizes the panel under the pointer in supported versions.
`	Maximize Panel	Enlarges the active panel.
Ctrl + Shift + F	Full Screen	Enters full-screen mode in supported contexts.
Tab	Hide Panels	Hides or shows interface panels.

Playback Shortcuts

Shortcut Key	Function	Simple Explanation
Spacebar	Play/Pause	Starts or pauses playback.
J	Reverse	Plays backward.
K	Stop	Stops playback.
L	Forward	Plays forward.
Shift + J	Reverse Slowly	Plays backward at slower speed where supported.
Shift + L	Forward Slowly	Plays forward at slower speed where supported.
Left Arrow	Previous Frame	Moves backward one frame.
Right Arrow	Next Frame	Moves forward one frame.
Up Arrow	Previous Edit	Moves to the previous edit point.
Down Arrow	Next Edit	Moves to the next edit point.

Export Shortcut Keys

Shortcut Key	Function	Simple Explanation
Ctrl + M	Export Media	Opens the Export settings for the sequence.
Ctrl + Shift + M	Export Frame	Opens the export frame workflow in supported versions.
Enter	Start Queue/Render	Starts the applicable process in the active export/render workflow.

Undo and History

Shortcut Key	Function	Simple Explanation
Ctrl + Z	Undo	Reverses the previous action.
Ctrl + Shift + Z	Redo	Restores an undone action.

Practical Adobe Premiere Pro Editing Example

Suppose you are creating a YouTube video.

Press Ctrl + N to create a new project.
Press Ctrl + I to import video, images, and audio.
Create a sequence and place your video on the timeline.
Press C to select the Razor Tool.
Click where you want to cut the video.
Press V to return to the Selection Tool.
Select unwanted footage and press Delete.
Use Q or W for quick ripple trimming.
Press M to add markers for important points.
Press T to add titles or text.
Adjust audio using the appropriate audio controls.
Press Ctrl + Z if you make a mistake.
Press Ctrl + S to save the project.
Press Ctrl + M to open Export settings.
Select the required format and export the final video.

Most Important Adobe Premiere Pro Shortcut Keys to Learn First

Ctrl + N – New Project
Ctrl + O – Open Project
Ctrl + S – Save
Ctrl + I – Import Media
Ctrl + Z – Undo
Ctrl + Shift + Z – Redo
Ctrl + C – Copy
Ctrl + X – Cut
Ctrl + V – Paste
Ctrl + K – Add Edit
Ctrl + Shift + K – Add Edit to All Tracks
Ctrl + D – Apply Default Transition
Ctrl + M – Export Media
C – Razor Tool
V – Selection Tool
A – Track Select Forward
B – Ripple Edit Tool
N – Rolling Edit Tool
R – Rate Stretch Tool
T – Type Tool
P – Pen Tool
M – Marker
I – Mark In
O – Mark Out
Q – Ripple Trim Previous Edit
W – Ripple Trim Next Edit
J – Play Backward
K – Stop
L – Play Forward
Spacebar – Play/Pause
Left Arrow – Previous Frame
Right Arrow – Next Frame
Up Arrow – Previous Edit
Down Arrow – Next Edit
Home – Start of Sequence
End – End of Sequence
+ – Zoom In
– – Zoom Out
** – Fit Sequence to Timeline
G – Audio Gain
Shift + 1 – Project Panel
Shift + 2 – Source Monitor
Shift + 3 – Timeline
Shift + 4 – Program Monitor
Shift + 5 – Effect Controls
Shift + 7 – Effects Panel

Practical Learning Tip

If you are learning Adobe Premiere Pro as part of a computer or video-editing course, practice these shortcuts while creating real projects such as YouTube videos, educational videos, reels, promotional videos, wedding videos, advertisements, interviews, tutorials, and social media videos.

Start with V, C, B, N, J, K, L, I, O, M, Q, W, Ctrl + K, Ctrl + Z, Ctrl + S, and Ctrl + M. These shortcuts are especially useful for everyday video editing.

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