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Adobe After Effects Keyboard Shortcuts (CC 2024) — Complete Cheat Sheet
Adobe After Effects keyboard shortcuts for animation, timeline, layers, previews, and effects. Speed up every motion graphics workflow.
39 shortcuts across 4 categories · Windows · macOS
Adobe After Effects keyboard shortcuts are central to motion graphics and visual effects work — the U key alone, which reveals keyframed properties, is used dozens of times per project. Understanding After Effects shortcuts dramatically speeds up animation, compositing, and rendering workflows.
Preview & Playback
| Action | Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|---|
| RAM Preview / Play | Space | Start or stop playback from the current time indicator |
| Preview (full resolution) | Numpad 0 | Start a full RAM preview from the current CTI |
| Preview Audio Only | . | Preview only the audio track from the current point |
| Step Forward 1 Frame | PgDn or → | Advance the current time indicator one frame forward |
| Step Back 1 Frame | PgUp or ← | Move the current time indicator one frame back |
| Go to Beginning | Home | Jump the CTI to frame 0 of the composition |
| Go to End | End | Jump the CTI to the last frame of the composition |
| Set Work Area Start | B | Set the beginning of the work area to the current time |
| Set Work Area End | N | Set the end of the work area to the current time |
Layers
| Action | Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|---|
| New Null Object | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Y | Create a new Null object for parenting |
| New Solid | Ctrl + Y | Create a new solid color layer |
| Duplicate Layer | Ctrl + D | Duplicate the selected layer(s) |
| Split Layer at CTI | Ctrl + Shift + D | Split the selected layer at the current time |
| Set Layer In Point | [ | Move the layer's In point to the current time |
| Set Layer Out Point | ] | Move the layer's Out point to the current time |
| Trim In Point to CTI | Alt + [ | Trim the layer's beginning to the current time |
| Trim Out Point to CTI | Alt + ] | Trim the layer's end to the current time |
| Flip Layer Horizontally | Ctrl + Shift + F | Flip the selected layer horizontally |
| Move to Top of Stack | Ctrl + Shift + ] | Move selected layer to the top of the layer order |
| Move to Bottom of Stack | Ctrl + Shift + [ | Move selected layer to the bottom of the layer order |
| Select All | Ctrl + A | Select all layers in the composition |
| Deselect All | F2 | Deselect all layers |
Layer Properties
| Action | Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Show Anchor Point (A) | A | Show only Anchor Point property in timeline |
| Show Position (P) | P | Show only Position property in timeline |
| Show Scale (S) | S | Show only Scale property in timeline |
| Show Rotation (R) | R | Show only Rotation property in timeline |
| Show Opacity (T) | T | Show only Opacity property in timeline |
| Show All Modified Properties | U | Show only properties that have been changed or have keyframes |
| Show All Keyframed Properties | U + U | Press U twice to show all keyframed properties |
| Toggle Layer Solo | S | Solo the selected layer to preview it in isolation |
| Add Keyframe at Current Time | Alt + Shift + P | Add a Position keyframe at the current time indicator |
Composition & Project
| Action | Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|---|
| New Composition | Ctrl + N | Create a new composition |
| Composition Settings | Ctrl + K | Open settings for the current composition |
| New Project | Ctrl + Alt + N | Create a new After Effects project |
| Save | Ctrl + S | Save the current project |
| Import File | Ctrl + I | Import media files into the project |
| Render Queue | Ctrl + M | Add the current composition to the Render Queue |
| Undo | Ctrl + Z | Undo the last action |
| Redo | Ctrl + Shift + Z | Redo the last undone action |
Adobe After Effects Tips & Tricks
- U and UU reveal the only properties you need: Press U once to show all properties with keyframes or expressions. Press U twice rapidly to show every property that differs from its default. These two shortcuts eliminate scrolling through the layer panel.
- B and N set the work area in one keystroke: Instead of dragging the work area handles, park the CTI where you want the preview to start and press B, then park it at the end and press N. Renders and RAM previews will only process that range.
- Alt+[ and Alt+] trim without moving layers: To trim a layer, place the CTI at the cut point and press Alt+[ to trim the beginning or Alt+] to trim the end. The layer content is not lost — it's just hidden, and can be recovered by dragging the layer edge.
Frequently Asked Questions — Adobe After Effects
- How do I preview my animation in After Effects?
- Press the Space bar or Numpad 0 to start a RAM preview, which renders frames into memory for smooth playback. Press Space again to stop. Press B and N to set the Work Area start and end to limit which frames are previewed.
- What does pressing U do in After Effects?
- Pressing U on a selected layer reveals all properties that have keyframes. Pressing U twice (UU) reveals all properties that have been modified from their defaults. This is essential for quickly finding and editing animated properties without scrolling.
- How do I duplicate a layer in After Effects?
- Press Ctrl+D (Cmd+D on Mac) to duplicate the selected layer. The duplicate appears immediately above the original in the layer stack. You can also Ctrl+Shift+D to split a layer at the current time indicator.
How to Learn Adobe After Effects Keyboard Shortcuts
Adobe After Effects is the industry standard for motion graphics and visual effects compositing, and its keyboard shortcuts are organized around the specific demands of time-based work. The timeline is central to everything, and the navigation shortcuts reflect this: pressing the spacebar previews the composition, J and K jump between keyframes, and the Page Up and Page Down keys move the playhead one frame at a time. The U key — which reveals all keyframed properties on a layer — is used so frequently that experienced After Effects artists press it almost reflexively every time they select a layer. Understanding why U is so valuable requires understanding After Effects' layer system: layers can have dozens of properties, most hidden by default, and U instantly exposes only the ones that are animated.
Composition and layer manipulation shortcuts are where After Effects workflow really accelerates. Ctrl+Y creates a new solid layer (the starting point for many effects), Ctrl+Shift+C pre-composes selected layers, and Ctrl+D duplicates a layer. The bracket keys [ and ] trim a layer's in and out points to the current time — a shortcut used constantly when assembling footage cuts. Ctrl+Home moves the playhead to the start of the composition, and the End key moves it to the end. For rendering, Ctrl+Alt+M adds the composition to the Render Queue — the beginning of the final step in every After Effects project. The overall keyboard investment in After Effects is higher than most applications, but the payoff in complex motion graphics work is commensurately larger.