Adobe After Effects Keyboard Shortcuts

Adobe After Effects has been the standard for motion graphics, visual effects, and compositing since 1993, used in nearly every film, TV show, and YouTube video with motion graphics. After Effects shortcuts are tightly coupled to the timeline (J/K to step between keyframes, Space to preview) and to layer properties (P/S/R for position/scale/rotation, Alt+click to add expressions). This reference card covers the most-used 80+ shortcuts across 6 functional areas: Common, Tools, Keyframes & timeline, Layers & compositions, Expressions & scripting, View & preview. All entries are transcribed from Adobe's official After Effects documentation. How to use - Pick your platform (Windows / macOS) at the top. - Search any feature name or shortcut text. - Click any row's Copy button to grab the key string. - Export PNG (2400×1140 landscape) for a wallpaper; PDF for a single A4 landscape page. Tips - F9 = Easy Ease — instantly apply smooth interpolation to selected keyframes. Single most useful animation shortcut. - Alt+click on a property's stopwatch icon adds an expression. Type `wiggle(2, 30)` and preview for a classic camera shake. - J / K step between keyframes on the selected property; . and , do the same in the Composition panel. - U (in timeline) shows only modified properties of the selected layer — a great audit tool for complex comps. - Space to preview, 0 on numpad for full RAM preview, Ctrl+Alt+B to set work area bounds. Why this separate from premiere-shortcuts? After Effects is motion graphics / compositing (keyframe animation + effects), Premiere Pro is video editing (timeline cuts + transitions). Different tools, different shortcut ecosystems. Splitting keeps each focused.

Ae

Adobe After Effects After Effects 2024+ (Windows / macOS)

85 shortcuts

Common commands12

  • New project
    CtrlAltN
  • Open project
    CtrlO
  • Save project
    CtrlS
  • Save As (increment + save)
    CtrlShiftAltS (or CtrlAltS)
  • Import file
    CtrlI
  • New composition
    CtrlN
  • Close project
    CtrlW (close panel) / CtrlShiftW (close project)
  • Quit After Effects
    CtrlQ
  • Undo / Redo
    CtrlZ / CtrlShiftZ
  • Cut / Copy / Paste
    CtrlX / CtrlC / CtrlV
  • Duplicate layer / composition
    CtrlD
  • Find in project panel
    CtrlF

Tools13

  • Selection tool (V)
    V
  • Direct selection (A)
    A
  • Pen (G)
    G
  • Text (T)
    T
  • Pen behind (use while Pen tool active)
    Ctrlclick on Pen path
  • Shape tools (rect / ellipse / polygon / star)
    Q (or via toolbar)
  • Camera (C)
    C
  • Orbit camera (C when in 3D view)
    1 (orbit) / 2 (pan) / 3 (dolly)
  • Pan Behind tool (anchor point)
    Y (or hold Y with selection)
  • Rotation tool (W)
    W
  • Scale tool
    S (or via toolbar)
  • Camera / unified camera tool
    C (in 3D comp)
  • Hand (H) / Zoom (Z)
    H / Z

Keyframes & timeline16

  • Add / remove keyframe (stopwatch)
    Altclick on stopwatch (or Altproperty name)
  • Go to next / previous keyframe
    J / K (in timeline) or . / , (in comp panel)
  • Go to beginning / end of comp
    Home / End (in timeline)
  • Go to beginning / end of timeline (timeline panel)
    CtrlHome / CtrlEnd
  • Set work area to selected layers
    CtrlAltB
  • Add marker at current time (composition)
    CtrlShift8 (or * on numeric keypad)
  • Add marker (timeline / layer marker)
    Ctrl8 (on numeric keypad or * key)
  • Easy ease (auto-ease both handles)
    F9 (or via keyframe context menu)
  • Easy ease in / out individually
    ShiftF9 (in) / CtrlShiftF9 (out)
  • Toggle hold keyframe
    CtrlAltClick on keyframe (or via menu)
  • Select all keyframes for property
    CtrlAltClick on property name
  • Move selected keyframes 1 frame
    Alt← / Alt→ (with keyframes selected)
  • Move selected keyframes 10 frames
    ShiftAlt← / ShiftAlt→
  • Show keyframe interpolation (hold / linear / bezier)
    Right-click on keyframe → Keyframe Interpolation
  • Toggle animation (turn on stopwatch / add keyframe)
    AltClick stopwatch icon
  • Set keyframe velocity (in Graph Editor)
    drag handles in Graph Editor

Layers & compositions22

  • New solid
    CtrlY
  • New null object
    CtrlAltShiftY
  • New adjustment layer
    CtrlAltY
  • New text layer
    CtrlAltShiftT
  • New shape layer
    CtrlAltShiftN (or via Layer menu)
  • New camera (3D)
    CtrlAltShiftC
  • New light (3D)
    CtrlAltShiftL
  • Pre-compose selected layers
    CtrlShiftC
  • Open / close selected layer (solo / mute)
    Solo: AltClick eye; Mute: AltClick speaker
  • Show / hide layer
    Click eye icon in column
  • Lock / unlock layer
    Click lock icon in column
  • Toggle switches / modes (collapse layer)
    Click triangle next to layer
  • Rename selected layer
    Enter (on selected layer)
  • Set layer color label
    Right-click → Label → pick color
  • Layer to comp / comp to layer
    Drag to comp icon / click comp name
  • Replace footage in selected layer
    Altdrag new file onto layer
  • Open selected layer in Layer Panel (solo)
    Double-click layer name
  • Open / close Effect Controls
    F3 (or Window → Effect Controls)
  • Open / close Layer Panel
    F4 (or Window → Layer)
  • Open / close Timeline
    F5 (or Window → Timeline)
  • Open / close Project
    F6 (or Window → Project)
  • Cycle through panels
    CtrlTab

Expressions & scripting8

  • Add expression to property (alt-click stopwatch)
    AltClick on stopwatch
  • Edit expression (in timeline)
    Double-click on stopwatch to add or edit expression
  • Show / hide expression (twirl down property arrow)
    Click triangle next to property name
  • Add expression error (red highlight)
    Expression with syntax error → red icon
  • Time remap layer (start animation on layer)
    Right-click → Time → Enable Time Remapping (or CtrlAltT)
  • Use Expression Language menu (in expression editor)
    click arrow next to expression field
  • Open Expression Editor (full screen)
    Enter on alt-clicked stopwatch
  • Run script (.jsx / .js file)
    File → Scripts → Run Script File

View, preview, navigation14

  • Play / pause preview
    Space (or 0 on numeric keypad)
  • RAM preview
    0 (on numeric keypad, full)
  • Render region preview
    CtrlAltB (toggle work area bounds)
  • Loop preview (cycle: once / loop / ping-pong)
    Altclick play button (or via menu)
  • Zoom in / out timeline (Ctrl+drag on time ruler)
    Ctrldrag (or = / -)
  • Fit timeline to window
    Backslash (\)
  • Snap to time markers
    Altdrag layer (snaps to nearby keyframes)
  • Show / hide guides / grid
    Ctrl; (guides) / Ctrl' (grid)
  • Show / hide layer controls
    CtrlShiftH (toggle layer wireframes)
  • Show / hide safe zones / title safe
    Title safe: (via View → Show Title/Action Safe Zones)
  • Toggle panel (full screen for active panel)
    F (or ~ accent)
  • Cycle workspaces
    CtrlF4 (or via Window → Workspace)
  • Reset workspace to default
    Window → Workspace → Reset to Default
  • Show / hide safe zones / grid
    Ctrl; / Ctrl' (or via View)
About After Effects Shortcuts

intro

Disclaimer

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