Updated July 2026 · 5 min read
Canva Keyboard Shortcuts: Complete Cheat Sheet (2026)
Canva is the go-to design tool for millions of marketers, educators, and creators. Its shortcuts let you switch tools, arrange elements, edit text, and present — all without leaving the keyboard. Here's everything you need to design faster.
Want the full interactive list? Visit the Canva shortcuts page to search and copy any shortcut.
Tools
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Select tool | V | V |
| Text tool | T | T |
| Rectangle | R | R |
| Circle / Ellipse | C | C |
| Line | L | L |
| Zoom in | Ctrl + + | ⌘ + + |
| Zoom out | Ctrl + - | ⌘ + - |
| Fit page to window | Ctrl + Shift + H | ⌘ + Shift + H |
Elements & Layers
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate element | Ctrl + D | ⌘ + D |
| Group elements | Ctrl + G | ⌘ + G |
| Ungroup elements | Ctrl + Shift + G | ⌘ + Shift + G |
| Lock element | Ctrl + Shift + L | ⌘ + Shift + L |
| Send backward | Ctrl + [ | ⌘ + [ |
| Send forward | Ctrl + ] | ⌘ + ] |
| Send to back | Ctrl + Shift + [ | ⌘ + Shift + [ |
| Bring to front | Ctrl + Shift + ] | ⌘ + Shift + ] |
| Select all | Ctrl + A | ⌘ + A |
| Delete selected | Delete or Backspace | Delete |
Text Editing
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Bold | Ctrl + B | ⌘ + B |
| Italic | Ctrl + I | ⌘ + I |
| Underline | Ctrl + U | ⌘ + U |
| Increase font size | Ctrl + Shift + > | ⌘ + Shift + > |
| Decrease font size | Ctrl + Shift + < | ⌘ + Shift + < |
| Align left | Ctrl + Shift + L | ⌘ + Shift + L |
| Align center | Ctrl + Shift + E | ⌘ + Shift + E |
| Align right | Ctrl + Shift + R | ⌘ + Shift + R |
General
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Undo | Ctrl + Z | ⌘ + Z |
| Redo | Ctrl + Y | ⌘ + Shift + Z |
| Copy | Ctrl + C | ⌘ + C |
| Paste | Ctrl + V | ⌘ + V |
| Paste in place | Ctrl + Shift + V | ⌘ + Shift + V |
| Present / full screen | Alt + P | Option + P |
| Save (auto) | Ctrl + S | ⌘ + S |
| Show keyboard shortcuts | Ctrl + / | ⌘ + / |
3 Power-User Tips
- Ctrl+D is your fastest copy tool. Instead of Copy + Paste, use Duplicate (Ctrl+D) to repeat icons, text boxes, or card layouts across a design. The offset position makes it easy to drag into place.
- Group before resizing. Always Ctrl+G group related elements before resizing — otherwise you'll scale them individually and lose your proportional spacing.
- Use Ctrl+[ and ] for layer control. Canva designs often stack multiple overlapping elements. Send backward/forward is the fastest way to fix z-order issues without opening the layers panel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Canva shortcut to duplicate an element?
Press Ctrl+D (Windows) or ⌘+D (Mac) to duplicate any selected element. The duplicate appears slightly offset from the original so you can drag it to a new position. This is faster than Copy + Paste for repeating design elements.
How do I group elements in Canva with a keyboard shortcut?
Select multiple elements (Shift+click or drag to select), then press Ctrl+G (Windows) or ⌘+G (Mac) to group them. Use Ctrl+Shift+G (⌘+Shift+G) to ungroup. Grouping lets you move and resize several elements as one.
What is the Canva shortcut to present a design?
Press Alt+P (Windows) or Option+P (Mac) to start a full-screen presentation directly from the editor. Press Escape to exit presentation mode. This is useful for quickly previewing how your design looks full-screen.
How do I lock or unlock an element in Canva?
Select the element and press Ctrl+Shift+L (Windows) or ⌘+Shift+L (Mac) to lock it in place. Locked elements can't be accidentally moved or resized. Press the same shortcut again to unlock.
Is there a Canva shortcut to undo and redo changes?
Press Ctrl+Z (⌘+Z on Mac) to undo and Ctrl+Y or Ctrl+Shift+Z (⌘+Shift+Z on Mac) to redo. Canva keeps a history of your changes so you can step back through multiple edits.