Adobe Illustrator is a powerhouse design tool used for everything from logo design to illustrations and web graphics.
To unlock its full potential, knowing your way around its shortcuts can be incredibly beneficial.
This guide dives into the essentials, from basic shortcuts to the more advanced features that make your design process faster and more intuitive.
Why Illustrator Shortcuts Matter Shortcuts are all about optimizing your workflow. They allow you to execute commands and actions without having to take your hands off the keyboard.
This means less time spent clicking around and more time spent creating.
Over time, mastering Illustrator shortcuts will not only make you faster but will also improve your overall design efficiency.
Also read: 51 Important CorelDRAW Shortcut Keys
57 Most Important Illustrator Shortcuts S.No Action Windows Key Mac Key 1 New Document Ctrl + N Command + N 2 Open Document Ctrl + O Command + O 3 Save Document Ctrl + S Command + S 4 Undo Ctrl + Z Command + Z 5 Redo Ctrl + Shift + Z Command + Shift + Z 6 Copy Ctrl + C Command + C 7 Paste Ctrl + V Command + V 8 Cut Ctrl + X Command + X 9 Select All Ctrl + A Command + A 10 Deselect All Ctrl + Shift + A Command + Shift + A 11 Group Ctrl + G Command + G 12 Ungroup Ctrl + Shift + G Command + Shift + G 13 Lock Layer Ctrl + 2 Command + 2 14 Unlock All Layers Ctrl + Alt + 2 Command + Option + 2 15 Hide Layer Ctrl + 3 Command + 3 16 Show All Layers Ctrl + Alt + 3 Command + Option + 3 17 Zoom In Ctrl + + Command + + 18 Zoom Out Ctrl + – Command + – 19 Fit Artboard in Window Ctrl + 0 Command + 0 20 Toggle Outline Mode Ctrl + Y Command + Y 21 Toggle Preview Mode Ctrl + Shift + Y Command + Shift + Y 22 Show/Hide Rulers Ctrl + R Command + R 23 Show/Hide Grid Ctrl + ‘ Command + ‘ 24 Show/Hide Smart Guides Ctrl + U Command + U 25 Open Layers Panel F7 F7 26 Open Color Panel F6 F6 27 Open Swatches Panel F5 F5 28 Open Pathfinder Panel Shift + Ctrl + F9 Shift + Command + F9 29 Align Left Alt + Shift + L Option + Shift + L 30 Align Center Alt + Shift + C Option + Shift + C 31 Align Right Alt + Shift + R Option + Shift + R 32 Align Top Alt + Shift + T Option + Shift + T 33 Align Bottom Alt + Shift + B Option + Shift + B 34 Bring to Front Ctrl + Shift + ] Command + Shift + ] 35 Send to Back Ctrl + Shift + [ Command + Shift + [ 36 Group Selected Objects Ctrl + G Command + G 37 Create Outlines (Text) Shift + Ctrl + O Shift + Command + O 38 Hide All Guides Ctrl + ; Command + ; 39 Show All Guides Ctrl + Alt + ; Command + Option + ; 40 Join Paths Ctrl + J Command + J 41 Direct Selection Tool (Arrow) A A 42 Selection Tool (Arrow) V V 43 Pen Tool P P 44 Add Anchor Point Tool Ctrl + Click on Path Command + Click on Path 45 Convert Anchor Point Tool Shift + C Shift + C 46 Shape Tool M M 47 Brush Tool B B 48 Eraser Tool Shift + E Shift + E 49 Eyedropper Tool I I 50 Zoom Tool Z Z 51 Toggle Smart Guides Ctrl + U Command + U 52 Fit All in Window Ctrl + Alt + 0 Command + Option + 0 53 Create Clipping Mask Ctrl + 7 Command + 7 54 Release Clipping Mask Ctrl + Alt + 7 Command + Option + 7 55 Expand Object Ctrl + Shift + E Command + Shift + E 56 Rasterize Selected Object Shift + Ctrl + R Shift + Command + R 57 Toggle Full-Screen Mode F11 F11
This list contains the most commonly used and essential Illustrator shortcuts for both beginners and advanced users. If you need more information or additional categories here are:
Also read: 150+ Adobe Photoshop Shortcut Keys
Basic To Advance Illustrator Shortcut Keys General Shortcuts S.No Action Windows Key Mac Key 1 New Document Ctrl + N Command + N 2 Open Document Ctrl + O Command + O 3 Save Document Ctrl + S Command + S 4 Save As Ctrl + Shift + S Command + Shift + S 5 Undo Ctrl + Z Command + Z 6 Redo Ctrl + Shift + Z Command + Shift + Z 7 Cut Ctrl + X Command + X 8 Copy Ctrl + C Command + C 9 Paste Ctrl + V Command + V 10 Paste in Place Ctrl + Shift + V Command + Shift + V 11 Select All Ctrl + A Command + A 12 Deselect All Ctrl + Shift + A Command + Shift + A 13 Group Ctrl + G Command + G 14 Ungroup Ctrl + Shift + G Command + Shift + G 15 Lock Object Ctrl + 2 Command + 2 16 Unlock All Ctrl + Alt + 2 Command + Option + 2 17 Hide Selected Ctrl + 3 Command + 3 18 Show All Ctrl + Alt + 3 Command + Option + 3 19 Zoom In Ctrl + + Command + + 20 Zoom Out Ctrl + – Command + – 21 Fit Artboard in Window Ctrl + 0 Command + 0 22 Hide Panels Tab Tab 23 Show All Panels Shift + Tab Shift + Tab 24 Close Document Ctrl + W Command + W 25 Close All Documents Ctrl + Shift + W Command + Shift + W
Illustrator shortcut keys For Selection & Navigation S.No Action Windows Key Mac Key 26 Selection Tool V V 27 Direct Selection Tool A A 28 Group Selection Tool Shift + V Shift + V 29 Magic Wand Tool Y Y 30 Lasso Tool Q Q 31 Select Next Object Ctrl + ] Command + ] 32 Select Previous Object Ctrl + [ Command + [ 33 Inverse Selection Shift + Ctrl + I Shift + Command + I 34 Toggle Artboard Navigation Shift + Ctrl + H Shift + Command + H 35 Show Rulers Ctrl + R Command + R 36 Show Grid Ctrl + ‘ Command + ‘ 37 Snap to Grid Shift + Ctrl + ‘ Shift + Command + ‘ 38 Show/Hide Layers Panel F7 F7 39 Show/Hide Properties Panel Ctrl + F4 Command + Shift + F4
Illustrator shortcut keys For Drawing & Shaping Tools S.No Action Windows Key Mac Key 40 Pen Tool P P 41 Add Anchor Point Tool + + 42 Delete Anchor Point Tool – – 43 Convert Anchor Point Tool Shift + C Shift + C 44 Rectangle Tool M M 45 Ellipse Tool L L 46 Polygon Tool Shift + P Shift + P 47 Star Tool * * 48 Line Segment Tool \ \ 49 Arc Tool Shift + A Shift + A 50 Flare Tool Shift + F Shift + F 51 Paintbrush Tool B B 52 Blob Brush Tool Shift + B Shift + B 53 Pencil Tool N N 54 Width Tool Shift + W Shift + W 55 Smooth Tool Ctrl + Alt + S Command + Option + S 56 Scissors Tool C C 57 Knife Tool Shift + K Shift + K
Illustrator shortcut keys For Transform & Alignment S.No Action Windows Key Mac Key 58 Move Tool V V 59 Free Transform Ctrl + T Command + T 60 Transform Again Ctrl + D Command + D 61 Scale S S 62 Rotate R R 63 Reflect O O 64 Shear Shift + S Shift + S 65 Transform Each Ctrl + Shift + D Command + Shift + D 66 Align Left Alt + Shift + L Option + Shift + L 67 Align Center Alt + Shift + C Option + Shift + C 68 Align Right Alt + Shift + R Option + Shift + R 69 Distribute Horizontal Centers Alt + Shift + H Option + Shift + H 70 Distribute Vertical Centers Alt + Shift + V Option + Shift + V 71 Horizontal Align to Key Object Alt + Shift + H Option + Shift + H
Illustrator shortcut keys For Color & Appearance S.No Action Windows Key Mac Key 72 Swap Fill and Stroke X X 73 Default Fill and Stroke D D 74 Color Picker Alt + Shift + Ctrl + K Option + Shift + Command + K 75 Eyedropper Tool I I 76 Fill Color Shift + F5 Shift + F5 77 Stroke Color Shift + F6 Shift + F6 78 Open Color Panel F6 F6 79 Show/Hide Color Guide Ctrl + Shift + F3 Command + Shift + F3 80 Show/Hide Swatches Panel F5 F5
Illustrator shortcut keys For Type Tool Shortcuts S.No Action Windows Key Mac Key 81 Type Tool T T 82 Create Outlines Shift + Ctrl + O Shift + Command + O 83 Increase Font Size Ctrl + Shift + > Command + Shift + > 84 Decrease Font Size Ctrl + Shift + < Command + Shift + < 85 Reset Paragraph Style Ctrl + Alt + Shift + T Command + Option + Shift + T 86 Toggle Paragraph Styles Panel Ctrl + Alt + T Command + Option + T
Illustrator shortcut keys For Advanced Tools S.No Action Windows Key Mac Key 87 Pathfinder Shift + Ctrl + F9 Shift + Command + F9 88 Pathfinder Divide Ctrl + Shift + F9 Command + Shift + F9 89 Join (Pathfinder) Ctrl + Shift + J Command + Shift + J 90 Expand Appearance Ctrl + Shift + E Command + Shift + E 91 Expand All Ctrl + Shift + A Command + Shift + A 92 Appearance Panel Shift + F6 Shift + F6 93 Make Clipping Mask Ctrl + 7 Command + 7 94 Release Clipping Mask Ctrl + Alt + 7 Command + Option + 7
Illustrator shortcut keys For Workspace & Miscellaneous S.No Action Windows Key Mac Key 95 Reset Workspace Ctrl + Shift + Alt + P Command + Shift + Option + P 96 Switch Workspace Alt + Shift + 1/2/3… Option + Shift + 1/2/3… 97 Show/Hide Layers Panel F7 F7 98 Show/Hide Brushes Panel F5 F5 99 Show/Hide Control Panel Ctrl + Shift + F7 Command + Shift + F7 100 Toggle Preview Mode Ctrl + Y Command + Y 101 Toggle Outline Mode Ctrl + Shift + Y Command + Shift + Y 102 Show/Hide Transparency Grid Shift + Ctrl + D Shift + Command + D
Illustrator shortcut keys For Additional Drawing & Shaping Tools S.No Action Windows Key Mac Key 103 Gradient Tool G G 104 Eyedropper Tool I I 105 Shape Builder Tool Shift + M Shift + M 106 Width Tool Shift + W Shift + W 107 Eraser Tool Shift + E Shift + E 108 Smooth Tool Ctrl + Alt + S Command + Option + S 109 Blob Brush Tool Shift + B Shift + B 110 Paintbrush Tool B B 111 Pencil Tool N N 112 Knife Tool Shift + K Shift + K
Illustrator shortcut keys For Advanced Transformation S.No Action Windows Key Mac Key 113 Free Transform Ctrl + T Command + T 114 Rotate R R 115 Reflect O O 116 Scale S S 117 Shear Shift + S Shift + S 118 Path > Offset Path Ctrl + Alt + D Command + Option + D 119 Path > Split Into Grid Alt + Ctrl + Shift + X Option + Command + Shift + X 120 Path > Divide Objects Below Ctrl + Shift + F9 Command + Shift + F9
Illustrator shortcut keys For Pathfinder & Shape Operations S.No Action Windows Key Mac Key 121 Add to Shape Area (Pathfinder) Ctrl + Shift + Alt + J Command + Shift + Option + J 122 Subtract from Shape Area (Pathfinder) Ctrl + Alt + Shift + K Command + Option + Shift + K 123 Exclude Overlapping Shape Areas Ctrl + Shift + Alt + A Command + Shift + Option + A 124 Divide Objects Below Ctrl + Shift + F9 Command + Shift + F9 125 Unite (Pathfinder) Ctrl + Shift + Alt + U Command + Shift + Option + U 126 Minus Front (Pathfinder) Ctrl + Shift + Alt + M Command + Shift + Option + M 127 Intersect (Pathfinder) Ctrl + Shift + Alt + I Command + Shift + Option + I
Illustrator shortcut keys For Text Tool Shortcuts S.No Action Windows Key Mac Key 128 Type on a Path Tool Shift + T Shift + T 129 Vertical Type Tool Ctrl + Shift + T Command + Shift + T 130 Create Outlines Shift + Ctrl + O Shift + Command + O 131 Change Text Alignment Ctrl + Shift + L Command + Shift + L 132 Change Text Vertical Alignment Ctrl + Alt + Shift + L Command + Option + Shift + L 133 Change Text to Area Type Ctrl + Alt + Shift + T Command + Option + Shift + T 134 Open Glyphs Panel Shift + Ctrl + F11 Shift + Command + F11 135 Open Character Panel Ctrl + T Command + T 136 Open Paragraph Panel Ctrl + Alt + T Command + Option + T
Illustrator shortcut keys For Aligning & Spacing S.No Action Windows Key Mac Key 137 Align Left Alt + Shift + L Option + Shift + L 138 Align Center Alt + Shift + C Option + Shift + C 139 Align Right Alt + Shift + R Option + Shift + R 140 Align Top Alt + Shift + T Option + Shift + T 141 Align Bottom Alt + Shift + B Option + Shift + B 142 Align Vertical Centers Alt + Shift + V Option + Shift + V 143 Align Horizontal Centers Alt + Shift + H Option + Shift + H 144 Distribute Horizontal Spacing Shift + Alt + H Shift + Option + H 145 Distribute Vertical Spacing Shift + Alt + V Shift + Option + V
Illustrator shortcut keys For Color & Appearance S.No Action Windows Key Mac Key 146 Open Color Panel F6 F6 147 Toggle Color Groups Ctrl + F9 Command + F9 148 Apply Gradient Fill Ctrl + Alt + G Command + Option + G 149 Apply Gradient Stroke Ctrl + Alt + Shift + G Command + Option + Shift + G 150 Open Swatches Panel F5 F5
Miscellaneous Shortcuts S.No Action Windows Key Mac Key 151 Toggle Preview Mode Ctrl + Y Command + Y 152 Toggle Outline Mode Ctrl + Shift + Y Command + Shift + Y 153 Switch Between Open Documents Ctrl + Tab Command + Tab 154 Zoom In Ctrl + + Command + + 155 Zoom Out Ctrl + – Command + – 156 Fit Artboard in Window Ctrl + 0 Command + 0 157 Reset Artboard Shift + Ctrl + Alt + R Shift + Command + Option + R 158 Toggle Smart Guides Ctrl + U Command + U 159 Show/Hide Rulers Ctrl + R Command + R 160 Open/Close Pathfinder Panel Shift + Ctrl + F9 Shift + Command + F9
Illustrator shortcut keys For Path & Anchor Point Editing S.No Action Windows Key Mac Key 161 Convert Anchor Point Tool Shift + C Shift + C 162 Delete Anchor Point Alt + Click on Anchor Point Option + Click on Anchor Point 163 Add Anchor Point Ctrl + Click on Path Command + Click on Path 164 Join Two Endpoints Ctrl + J Command + J 165 Split Path Ctrl + Shift + K Command + Shift + K 166 Simplify Path Ctrl + Alt + Shift + S Command + Option + Shift + S 167 Convert to Smooth Point Ctrl + Shift + S Command + Shift + S 168 Convert to Corner Point Ctrl + Alt + Shift + S Command + Option + Shift + S 169 Join Path (Pathfinder) Ctrl + Shift + J Command + Shift + J
Illustrator shortcut keys For Layers & Objects S.No Action Windows Key Mac Key 170 Select All in Layer Ctrl + Alt + A Command + Option + A 171 Lock Selected Layers Ctrl + 2 Command + 2 172 Unlock All Layers Ctrl + Alt + 2 Command + Option + 2 173 Hide Selected Layer Ctrl + 3 Command + 3 174 Show All Layers Ctrl + Alt + 3 Command + Option + 3 175 Hide Other Layers Ctrl + Alt + Shift + 3 Command + Option + Shift + 3 176 Duplicate Object Ctrl + D Command + D 177 Bring to Front Ctrl + Shift + ] Command + Shift + ] 178 Send to Back Ctrl + Shift + [ Command + Shift + [ 179 Bring Forward Ctrl + ] Command + ] 180 Send Backward Ctrl + [ Command + [ 181 Show/Hide Layers Panel F7 F7
Illustrator shortcut keys For Artboards & Canvas S.No Action Windows Key Mac Key 182 New Artboard Shift + Ctrl + N Shift + Command + N 183 Artboard Tool Shift + O Shift + O 184 Select Next Artboard Ctrl + Alt + Right Arrow Command + Option + Right Arrow 185 Select Previous Artboard Ctrl + Alt + Left Arrow Command + Option + Left Arrow 186 Fit Artboard in Window Ctrl + 0 Command + 0 187 Zoom to Artboard Ctrl + Alt + 0 Command + Option + 0 188 Show Artboard Rulers Ctrl + Shift + R Command + Shift + R 189 Show/Hide Artboards Panel Shift + F7 Shift + F7
Illustrator shortcut keys For Transforming Objects (Advanced) S.No Action Windows Key Mac Key 190 Scale Proportionally Shift + Drag Corner Handle Shift + Drag Corner Handle 191 Rotate Object 90° Ctrl + Shift + R Command + Shift + R 192 Rotate Object 45° Ctrl + Alt + Shift + R Command + Option + Shift + R 193 Reflect Object Horizontally Right Click > Reflect Right Click > Reflect 194 Reflect Object Vertically Right Click > Reflect Right Click > Reflect 195 Mirror Image Horizontal Ctrl + Alt + Shift + H Command + Option + Shift + H 196 Mirror Image Vertical Ctrl + Alt + Shift + V Command + Option + Shift + V
Illustrator keyboard shortcuts keys For Coloring & Gradients S.No Action Windows Key Mac Key 197 Add Color to Swatches Panel Shift + F5 Shift + F5 198 Apply Gradient to Stroke Ctrl + Shift + G Command + Shift + G 199 Open Gradient Panel Ctrl + F9 Command + F9 200 Open Swatches Panel F5 F5 201 Apply Gradient Fill Ctrl + Shift + F1 Command + Shift + F1 202 Apply Gradient Stroke Ctrl + Alt + Shift + F1 Command + Option + Shift + F1
Miscellaneous (More Advanced) S.No Action Windows Key Mac Key 203 Undo Zoom Ctrl + Alt + Z Command + Option + Z 204 Toggle Snap to Grid Ctrl + Shift + “ Command + Shift + “ 205 Toggle Snap to Point Ctrl + Alt + Shift + “ Command + Option + Shift + “ 206 Open Document Settings Ctrl + Shift + P Command + Shift + P 207 Toggle Grid and Guides Visibility Ctrl + Shift + ; Command + Shift + ; 208 Show/Hide Smart Guides Ctrl + U Command + U 209 Enable Pixel Preview Ctrl + Alt + Y Command + Option + Y 210 Show/Hide Control Panel Ctrl + Shift + F7 Command + Shift + F7 211 Show/Hide Appearance Panel Shift + F6 Shift + F6
Illustrator shortcut keys For View & Navigation S.No Action Windows Key Mac Key 212 Zoom In Ctrl + + Command + + 213 Zoom Out Ctrl + – Command + – 214 Zoom to Artboard Ctrl + Alt + 0 Command + Option + 0 215 Fit All in Window Ctrl + Alt + 0 Command + Option + 0 216 Toggle Outline View Ctrl + Y Command + Y 217 Preview Mode Ctrl + Shift + Y Command + Shift + Y 218 Show/Hide Rulers Ctrl + R Command + R 219 Toggle Smart Guides Ctrl + U Command + U
Customizing Illustrator Shortcuts One of the best features of Illustrator is the ability to customize your shortcuts to match your workflow.
Edit Keyboard Shortcuts : Edit > Keyboard ShortcutsCreate Custom Shortcuts : Modify or assign your keys for specific tools or commands.Customizing your shortcuts is a game-changer for any designer. Tailoring Illustrator to your specific needs allows you to work more efficiently.
Tips for Mastering Adobe Illustrator Shortcut Keys Mastering Illustrator shortcuts takes practice, but the effort is well worth it. Here are a few tips to help you get started:
Start Small : Focus on learning a few essential shortcuts at a time.Use Keyboard Cheat Sheets : Print a cheat sheet and keep it at your desk as a reference.Practice Regularly : Incorporate shortcuts into your daily workflow to make them second nature.Troubleshooting Common Shortcut Problems Sometimes shortcuts may stop working or behave unexpectedly. Here are a few common issues and their solutions:
Shortcuts not responding : Check if your preferences have been reset or if you need to restart Illustrator.Conflicting shortcuts : Ensure that no conflicting software or custom shortcuts are active.Illustrator Shortcuts for Mac vs. Windows While most shortcuts remain the same across platforms, there are some differences, especially when it comes to modifier keys. Make sure to familiarize yourself with these platform-specific differences for the best experience.
Conclusion: Why Learning Shortcuts Is Crucial for Every Illustrator Incorporating Illustrator shortcuts into your daily routine will help you become a more efficient and proficient designer. From basic tasks like zooming and selecting to advanced editing, the time saved will add up and transform the way you approach design. With practice, these shortcuts will become second nature, making your creative process smoother and faster.
FAQs 1. How can I learn Illustrator shortcuts effectively?
2. Can I customize Illustrator shortcuts? Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts.
3. Do Illustrator shortcuts work on both Mac and Windows? Ctrl and Cmd) differ between platforms.
4. Are there any Illustrator shortcut cheat sheets?
5. How do I fix shortcuts that aren’t working?
