Final Cut Pro keyboard shortcuts
Final Cut Pro is Apple's professional video editor, built around the magnetic timeline and deep macOS integration. Its single-letter edit commands (append, insert, connect) are designed for keyboard-first editing, and learning them is the fastest route to fluid cuts on a Mac. This cheat sheet covers 85 default shortcuts.
Project & Library
| New project | Cmd+N |
| New event | Option+N |
| Import media | Cmd+I |
| Undo | Cmd+Z |
| Redo | Cmd+Shift+Z |
| Export (share default destination) | Cmd+E |
| Background tasks window | Cmd+9 |
| Keyboard customization (Command Editor) | Cmd+Option+K |
| Preferences | Cmd+Comma |
Playback & Navigation
| Play / pause | Space |
| Shuttle reverse / stop / forward | J / K / L |
| Step one frame back / forward | Left / Right Arrow |
| Go to previous / next edit point | Up / Down Arrow |
| Go to timeline start / end | Home / End |
| Play around playhead | Shift+? |
| Play selection | / |
| Loop playback toggle | Cmd+L |
| Play fullscreen | Shift+Cmd+F |
| Toggle skimming | S |
| Toggle audio skimming | Shift+S |
| Toggle snapping | N |
Editing (Magnetic Timeline)
| Append clip to storyline | E |
| Insert clip at playhead | W |
| Overwrite | D |
| Connect clip to primary storyline | Q |
| Connect backtimed | Shift+Q |
| Blade at playhead | Cmd+B |
| Blade all tracks at playhead | Shift+Cmd+B |
| Delete (ripple remove) | Delete |
| Replace with gap (lift) | Shift+Delete |
| Copy | Cmd+C |
| Cut | Cmd+X |
| Paste | Cmd+V |
| Paste as connected clip | Option+V |
| Select all | Cmd+A |
| Deselect all | Shift+Cmd+A |
| Insert gap clip | Option+W |
| Create storyline from connected clips | Cmd+G |
| New compound clip | Option+G |
| Break apart clip items | Shift+Cmd+G |
| Enable / disable clip | V |
| Solo selected clips | Option+S |
| Change clip duration | Ctrl+D |
| Add default transition | Cmd+T |
Tools
| Select tool | A |
| Trim tool | T |
| Position tool | P |
| Range selection tool | R |
| Blade tool | B |
| Zoom tool | Z |
| Hand tool | H |
Trimming & Timing
| Mark in | I |
| Mark out | O |
| Select clip range | X |
| Clear selected range | Option+X |
| Trim start to playhead | Option+[ |
| Trim end to playhead | Option+] |
| Trim to selection | Option+\ |
| Extend edit to playhead | Shift+X |
| Nudge left / right one frame | , / . |
| Nudge left / right ten frames | Shift+, / Shift+. |
| Show retime editor | Cmd+R |
| Blade speed (cut retime segment) | Shift+B |
| Hold frame | Shift+H |
| Reset retiming | Option+Cmd+R |
Audio
| Expand / collapse audio and video | Ctrl+S |
| Detach audio | Ctrl+Shift+S |
| Raise volume 1 dB | Ctrl+= |
| Lower volume 1 dB | Ctrl+- |
Organizing & Rating
| Mark as favorite | F |
| Reject selection | Delete |
| Unrate selection | U |
| Keyword editor | Cmd+K |
| Add marker | M |
| Add marker and modify | Option+M |
Interface & View
| Show / hide browser | Ctrl+Cmd+1 |
| Show / hide timeline | Ctrl+Cmd+2 |
| Show / hide inspector | Cmd+4 |
| Show / hide effects browser | Cmd+5 |
| Show / hide color inspector | Cmd+6 |
| Show / hide video scopes | Cmd+7 |
| Zoom in / out timeline | Cmd+= / Cmd+- |
| Zoom timeline to fit | Shift+Z |
| Transform on-screen controls | Shift+T |
| Crop on-screen controls | Shift+C |
Put your top Final Cut Pro shortcuts on real keys
The five Final Cut Pro actions most worth binding to a physical macropad key:
Cmd+B Blade at playhead The most repeated cutting action in any edit session.
E Append clip The fastest way to assemble a rough cut; one press per clip from the browser.
Q Connect clip Drops B-roll, titles and music above the storyline constantly during finishing.
Cmd+E Export Ends every session; a physical key makes delivery a single press.
Cmd+R Show retime editor Speed ramps and slow motion are everyday moves in modern editing.
I hand-build small-batch programmable macropads (QMK/VIA) in Barcelona. One press, any shortcut, any app.
Final Cut Pro shortcut FAQs
How do I customize keyboard shortcuts in Final Cut Pro?
Open the Command Editor with Cmd+Option+K. You can search every command, drag it onto a key, and save custom command sets that can be exported and shared between Macs.
What do E, W, Q and D do in Final Cut Pro?
They are the four core edit commands: E appends the selected clip to the end of the storyline, W inserts at the playhead, Q connects the clip above the primary storyline and D overwrites. All work from the browser without touching the mouse.
How do I cut a clip at the playhead in Final Cut Pro?
Press Cmd+B to blade the clip in the primary storyline at the playhead or skimmer position, or Shift+Cmd+B to cut through all clips at that point. The B key switches to the Blade tool for click-to-cut.
What is the difference between Delete and Shift+Delete in Final Cut Pro?
Delete removes the selection and the magnetic timeline closes the gap automatically (a ripple delete). Shift+Delete replaces the selection with a gap clip, keeping everything downstream in place.
How do I speed up or slow down a clip in Final Cut Pro?
Select the clip and press Cmd+R to show the retime editor, then choose a speed or drag the retime handle. Shift+B blades the speed segment at the skimmer and Option+Cmd+R resets all retiming.