Cheat sheet guide
Illustrator shortcuts worth learning first
This page collects 72 searchable Illustrator keyboard shortcuts across 6 categories. Start with the shortcuts for Tools, Edit, Object, View, then print the cheat sheet once the important ones are worth keeping nearby.
- Selection toolV
- UndoCtrlZ
- GroupCtrlG
- Zoom InCtrl=
- Increase font sizeCtrlShift>
- NewCtrlN
Tools
21 shortcuts
Selection tool
V
WinVMacV
Direct Selection tool
A
WinAMacA
Pen tool
P
WinPMacP
Add Anchor Point
WinMac
Delete Anchor Point
-
Win-Mac-
Type tool
T
WinTMacT
Line Segment tool
\
Win\Mac\
Rectangle tool
M
WinMMacM
Ellipse tool
L
WinLMacL
Paintbrush tool
B
WinBMacB
Pencil tool
N
WinNMacN
Rotate tool
R
WinRMacR
Scale tool
S
WinSMacS
Reflect tool
O
WinOMacO
Shear tool
W
WinWMacW
Width tool
ShiftW
WinShiftWMac⇧W
Eyedropper tool
I
WinIMacI
Blend tool
W
WinWMacW
Gradient tool
G
WinGMacG
Hand tool
H
WinHMacH
Zoom tool
Z
WinZMacZ
Edit
11 shortcuts
Undo
CtrlZ
WinCtrlZMac⌘Z
Redo
CtrlShiftZ
WinCtrlShiftZMac⌘⇧Z
Cut
CtrlX
WinCtrlXMac⌘X
Copy
CtrlC
WinCtrlCMac⌘C
Paste
CtrlV
WinCtrlVMac⌘V
Paste in Front
CtrlF
WinCtrlFMac⌘F
Paste in Back
CtrlB
WinCtrlBMac⌘B
Paste in Place
CtrlShiftV
WinCtrlShiftVMac⌘⇧V
Select All
CtrlA
WinCtrlAMac⌘A
Deselect All
CtrlShiftA
WinCtrlShiftAMac⌘⇧A
Find / Replace
CtrlF
WinCtrlFMac⌘F
Object
14 shortcuts
Group
CtrlG
WinCtrlGMac⌘G
Ungroup
CtrlShiftG
WinCtrlShiftGMac⌘⇧G
Bring to Front
CtrlShift]
WinCtrlShift]Mac⌘⇧]
Bring Forward
Ctrl]
WinCtrl]Mac⌘]
Send Backward
Ctrl[
WinCtrl[Mac⌘[
Send to Back
CtrlShift[
WinCtrlShift[Mac⌘⇧[
Lock
Ctrl2
WinCtrl2Mac⌘2
Unlock All
CtrlAlt2
WinCtrlAlt2Mac⌘⌥2
Hide
Ctrl3
WinCtrl3Mac⌘3
Show All
CtrlAlt3
WinCtrlAlt3Mac⌘⌥3
Transform Again
CtrlD
WinCtrlDMac⌘D
Expand
—
Win—Mac—
Make Clipping Mask
Ctrl7
WinCtrl7Mac⌘7
Release Clipping Mask
CtrlAlt7
WinCtrlAlt7Mac⌘⌥7
View
10 shortcuts
Zoom In
Ctrl=
WinCtrl=Mac⌘=
Zoom Out
Ctrl-
WinCtrl-Mac⌘-
Fit to window
Ctrl0
WinCtrl0Mac⌘0
Actual size (100%)
Ctrl1
WinCtrl1Mac⌘1
Show / Hide Rulers
CtrlR
WinCtrlRMac⌘R
Show / Hide Grid
Ctrl'
WinCtrl'Mac⌘'
Snap to Grid
CtrlShift'
WinCtrlShift'Mac⌘⇧'
Show / Hide Guides
Ctrl;
WinCtrl;Mac⌘;
Lock Guides
CtrlAlt;
WinCtrlAlt;Mac⌘⌥;
Outline / Preview mode
CtrlY
WinCtrlYMac⌘Y
Type
8 shortcuts
Increase font size
CtrlShift>
WinCtrlShift>Mac⌘⇧>
Decrease font size
CtrlShift<
WinCtrlShift<Mac⌘⇧<
Increase tracking
AltRight
WinAltRightMac⌥Right
Decrease tracking
AltLeft
WinAltLeftMac⌥Left
Align left
CtrlShiftL
WinCtrlShiftLMac⌘⇧L
Align center
CtrlShiftC
WinCtrlShiftCMac⌘⇧C
Align right
CtrlShiftR
WinCtrlShiftRMac⌘⇧R
Justify
CtrlShiftJ
WinCtrlShiftJMac⌘⇧J
File
8 shortcuts
New
CtrlN
WinCtrlNMac⌘N
Open
CtrlO
WinCtrlOMac⌘O
Save
CtrlS
WinCtrlSMac⌘S
Save As
CtrlShiftS
WinCtrlShiftSMac⌘⇧S
Export As
CtrlAltShiftS
WinCtrlAltShiftSMac⌘⌥⇧S
Place
CtrlShiftP
WinCtrlShiftPMac⌘⇧P
Print
CtrlP
WinCtrlPMac⌘P
Close
CtrlW
WinCtrlWMac⌘W
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way to find Illustrator shortcuts on this page?
Use the search box or press /, then type an action such as selection tool.
Can I print this Illustrator shortcut cheat sheet?
Yes. Use the Print / PDF button or your browser print command to save a compact cheat sheet.
Does this page include Windows and Mac shortcuts for Illustrator?
Yes. Use the OS tabs to switch between Windows and macOS shortcuts. For example, Selection tool is V on Windows and V on macOS where available.
