FL Studio keyboard shortcuts

FL Studio is a pattern-based DAW famous for its fast beat-making workflow, piano roll, and lifetime free updates. Its windowed layout (Channel Rack, Playlist, Piano Roll, Mixer) rewards keyboard navigation heavily. Knowing the function-key window toggles and piano roll tool keys can easily double your speed. This cheat sheet covers 53 default shortcuts for Windows and Mac.

Files & Global

Open project	`Ctrl`+`OCmd`+`O`
Save project	`Ctrl`+`SCmd`+`S`
Save as	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`SCmd`+`Shift`+`S`
Save new version	`Ctrl`+`NCmd`+`N`
Export WAV file	`Ctrl`+`RCmd`+`R`
Export MP3 file	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`RCmd`+`Shift`+`R`
Undo / redo last edit	`Ctrl`+`ZCmd`+`Z`
Undo (step back through history)	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`ZCmd`+`Option`+`Z`

Windows & Views

Show/hide Playlist	`F5F5`
Show/hide Channel Rack	`F6F6`
Show/hide Piano Roll	`F7F7`
Open Plugin Picker	`F8F8`
Show/hide Mixer	`F9F9`
Open MIDI settings	`F10F10`
Close all windows	`F12F12`
Show/hide Browser	`Alt`+`F8Option`+`F8`
Arrange all windows	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`HCmd`+`Shift`+`H`

Transport & Recording

Play / pause	`SpaceSpace`
Toggle pattern / song mode	`LL`
Toggle recording	`RR`
Toggle metronome	`Ctrl`+`MCmd`+`M`
Toggle wait for input to start recording	`Ctrl`+`ICmd`+`I`
Toggle typing keyboard to piano	`Ctrl`+`TCmd`+`T`

Patterns & Channel Rack

Next pattern
Previous pattern	`--`
Next empty pattern	`F4F4`
Rename selected pattern	`F2F2`
Link selected channels to mixer track	`Ctrl`+`LCmd`+`L`

Piano Roll Tools

Draw (pencil) tool	`PP`
Paint (brush) tool	`BB`
Delete tool	`DD`
Mute tool	`TT`
Slice (cut) tool	`CC`
Select tool	`EE`
Zoom tool	`ZZ`
Playback (preview) tool	`YY`

Piano Roll Editing

Select all notes	`Ctrl`+`ACmd`+`A`
Deselect	`Ctrl`+`DCmd`+`D`
Duplicate selection	`Ctrl`+`BCmd`+`B`
Delete selected notes	`DeleteDelete`
Transpose selection up/down a semitone	`Shift`+`Up/Down arrow keysShift`+`Up/Down arrow keys`
Transpose selection up/down an octave	`Ctrl`+`Up/Down arrow keysCmd`+`Up/Down arrow keys`
Shift selection left/right by grid	`Shift`+`Left/Right arrow keysShift`+`Left/Right arrow keys`
Quick quantize note start times	`Alt`+`QOption`+`Q`
Quick legato	`Ctrl`+`LCmd`+`L`
Glue selected notes	`Ctrl`+`GCmd`+`G`

Playlist Editing

Select all	`Ctrl`+`ACmd`+`A`
Duplicate selection	`Ctrl`+`BCmd`+`B`
Deselect	`Ctrl`+`DCmd`+`D`
Cut selection	`Ctrl`+`XCmd`+`X`
Copy selection	`Ctrl`+`CCmd`+`C`
Paste selection	`Ctrl`+`VCmd`+`V`
Delete selection	`DeleteDelete`

Put your top FL Studio shortcuts on real keys

The five FL Studio actions most worth binding to a physical macropad key:

Ctrl+BCmd+B Duplicate selection The most-used edit in FL: duplicating notes and clips happens constantly while arranging.

LL Toggle pattern / song mode You flip between auditioning a pattern and hearing the full song dozens of times an hour.

F7F7 Show/hide Piano Roll The Piano Roll is FL's core editor; one physical key jumps you into melody writing.

Alt+QOption+Q Quick quantize note start times One tap tightens a recorded take without opening any dialog.

Ctrl+NCmd+N Save new version Versioned saves protect your project history; a dedicated key makes it a habit.

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

See the macropads

FL Studio shortcut FAQs

What does Ctrl+B do in FL Studio?

It duplicates the current selection. In the Piano Roll it duplicates selected notes right after themselves; in the Playlist it duplicates selected clips. With nothing selected it duplicates everything in the current time range.

How do I switch between pattern and song mode in FL Studio?

Press L. It toggles the transport between Pattern mode (plays the current pattern) and Song mode (plays the Playlist arrangement).

Why does Ctrl+N not create a new project in FL Studio?

In FL Studio Ctrl+N is Save new version: it saves a copy of your project with an incremented number. Use the File menu to start a new project.

How do I open the Piano Roll, Mixer, and Playlist quickly?

Use the function keys: F5 for Playlist, F6 for Channel Rack, F7 for Piano Roll, and F9 for Mixer. F12 closes all windows when things get cluttered.

Are FL Studio shortcuts the same on Mac?

Almost. On macOS, Cmd replaces Ctrl and Option replaces Alt in nearly every shortcut; the function-key window toggles are unchanged.