Ableton Live keyboard shortcuts

Ableton Live is a DAW built for both studio production and live performance, with its signature Session and Arrangement views. Because so much of Live's workflow happens in real time, keyboard shortcuts are the difference between capturing an idea and losing it. Learning the core view, transport, and editing keys keeps your hands off the mouse and on the music. This cheat sheet covers 67 default shortcuts for Windows and Mac.

Files & Global

New Live Set	`Ctrl`+`NCmd`+`N`
Open Live Set	`Ctrl`+`OCmd`+`O`
Save Live Set	`Ctrl`+`SCmd`+`S`
Save Live Set as	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`SCmd`+`Shift`+`S`
Export audio/video	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`RCmd`+`Shift`+`R`
Export MIDI clip	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`ECmd`+`Shift`+`E`
Open Preferences	`Ctrl`+`,Cmd`+`,`
Undo	`Ctrl`+`ZCmd`+`Z`
Redo	`Ctrl`+`YCmd`+`Shift`+`Z`
Select all	`Ctrl`+`ACmd`+`A`
Cut	`Ctrl`+`XCmd`+`X`
Copy	`Ctrl`+`CCmd`+`C`
Paste	`Ctrl`+`VCmd`+`V`
Duplicate	`Ctrl`+`DCmd`+`D`
Rename selected track, clip, or scene	`Ctrl`+`RCmd`+`R`
Search in browser	`Ctrl`+`FCmd`+`F`

Views

Toggle Session / Arrangement view	`TabTab`
Toggle Clip view / Device view	`Shift`+`TabShift`+`Tab`
Show/hide browser	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`BCmd`+`Option`+`B`
Show/hide overview	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`OCmd`+`Option`+`O`
Show/hide In/Out section	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`ICmd`+`Option`+`I`
Show/hide Sends section	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`SCmd`+`Option`+`S`
Show/hide Mixer section	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`MCmd`+`Option`+`M`
Toggle full screen	`F11F11`

Transport & Recording

Play / stop	`SpaceSpace`
Continue playback from stop point	`Shift`+`SpaceShift`+`Space`
Arrangement record	`F9F9`
Toggle Follow (scroll playhead)	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`FCmd`+`Shift`+`F`

Session View

Launch selected clip or scene	`EnterEnter`
Navigate clips and scenes	`Arrow keysArrow keys`
Insert scene	`Ctrl`+`ICmd`+`I`
Capture and insert scene	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`ICmd`+`Shift`+`I`
Insert MIDI clip	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`MCmd`+`Shift`+`M`
Activate/deactivate selected clip	`00`

Tracks

Insert audio track	`Ctrl`+`TCmd`+`T`
Insert MIDI track	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`TCmd`+`Shift`+`T`
Insert return track	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`TCmd`+`Option`+`T`
Group selected tracks	`Ctrl`+`GCmd`+`G`
Ungroup tracks	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`GCmd`+`Shift`+`G`
Fold / unfold selected track	`UU`
Activate/deactivate selected track	`00`

Arrangement Editing

Split clip at selection	`Ctrl`+`ECmd`+`E`
Consolidate selection into clip	`Ctrl`+`JCmd`+`J`
Loop selection	`Ctrl`+`LCmd`+`L`
Insert silence	`Ctrl`+`ICmd`+`I`
Cut time	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`XCmd`+`Shift`+`X`
Paste time	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`VCmd`+`Shift`+`V`
Duplicate time	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`DCmd`+`Shift`+`D`
Delete time	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`DeleteCmd`+`Shift`+`Delete`

MIDI & Clip Editing

Toggle Draw mode	`BB`
Quantize selected notes	`Ctrl`+`UCmd`+`U`
Quantize settings	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`UCmd`+`Shift`+`U`
Transpose selected notes up/down a semitone	`Up/Down arrow keysUp/Down arrow keys`
Transpose selected notes up/down an octave	`Shift`+`Up/Down arrow keysShift`+`Up/Down arrow keys`
Nudge selected notes by grid	`Left/Right arrow keysLeft/Right arrow keys`
Toggle computer MIDI keyboard	`MM`

Zoom & Grid

Zoom in
Zoom out	`--`
Zoom to time selection	`ZZ`
Zoom back from time selection	`XX`
Narrow grid	`Ctrl`+`1Cmd`+`1`
Widen grid	`Ctrl`+`2Cmd`+`2`
Toggle triplet grid	`Ctrl`+`3Cmd`+`3`
Toggle snap to grid	`Ctrl`+`4Cmd`+`4`
Toggle fixed / zoom-adaptive grid	`Ctrl`+`5Cmd`+`5`

Mapping

Toggle MIDI map mode	`Ctrl`+`MCmd`+`M`
Toggle key map mode	`Ctrl`+`KCmd`+`K`

Put your top Ableton Live shortcuts on real keys

The five Ableton Live actions most worth binding to a physical macropad key:

TabTab Toggle Session / Arrangement view The single most-used view switch in Live; a dedicated key keeps it instant even mid-performance.

Ctrl+JCmd+J Consolidate selection into clip Producers consolidate dozens of times per session when committing edits and resampling.

Ctrl+UCmd+U Quantize selected notes Fired after nearly every MIDI take; one tap tightens the performance.

Ctrl+Shift+RCmd+Shift+R Export audio/video A three-key chord you reach for at the end of every bounce and stem export.

Ctrl+Shift+TCmd+Shift+T Insert MIDI track New ideas start with a new MIDI track; a physical key removes the friction.

I hand-build small-batch programmable macropads (QMK/VIA) in Barcelona. One press, any shortcut, any app.

See the macropads

Ableton Live shortcut FAQs

How do I switch between Session and Arrangement view in Ableton Live?

Press Tab. It toggles between the two main views instantly. Shift+Tab toggles between Clip view and Device view at the bottom of the screen.

What is the shortcut to quantize MIDI notes in Ableton Live?

Select the notes and press Ctrl+U (Cmd+U on Mac) to quantize with the current settings. Ctrl+Shift+U (Cmd+Shift+U) opens the quantize settings dialog first.

How do I split a clip in Ableton Live?

Click where you want the split (or make a time selection) and press Ctrl+E on Windows or Cmd+E on Mac. The clip is divided at that point.

Can I remap Ableton Live's keyboard shortcuts?

Live's menu shortcuts are largely fixed, but Key Map mode (Ctrl+K / Cmd+K) lets you bind almost any on-screen control, clip, or button to a computer key of your choice.

How do I record into the Arrangement in Ableton Live?

Press F9 to arm Arrangement record, then Space to start playback and recording. Shift+Space continues playback from where you last stopped.