InDesign

InDesign keyboard shortcuts.

The InDesign shortcuts that speed up real layout work — tools, text and type, objects, pages, view and output. Mac and Windows.

Tools
SelectionVVV
Direct SelectionAAA
TypeTTT
PenPPP
Line\\\
Rectangle FrameFFF
RectangleMMM
HandHHH
ZoomZZZ
Text & type
Increase font size++>Ctrl+Shift+>Ctrl+Shift+>
Decrease font size++<Ctrl+Shift+<Ctrl+Shift+<
Increase leading+Alt+Alt+
Increase tracking+Alt+Alt+
Align left++LCtrl+Shift+LCtrl+Shift+L
Align center++CCtrl+Shift+CCtrl+Shift+C
Align right++RCtrl+Shift+RCtrl+Shift+R
Justify all lines++JCtrl+Shift+JCtrl+Shift+J
Objects
Group+GCtrl+GCtrl+G
Ungroup++GCtrl+Shift+GCtrl+Shift+G
Lock+LCtrl+LCtrl+L
Step and Repeat++UCtrl+Alt+UCtrl+Alt+U
Bring to front++]Ctrl+Shift+]Ctrl+Shift+]
Send to back++[Ctrl+Shift+[Ctrl+Shift+[
Pages & document
New document+NCtrl+NCtrl+N
Open+OCtrl+OCtrl+O
Save+SCtrl+SCtrl+S
Place (import)+DCtrl+DCtrl+D
View
Fit page in window+0Ctrl+0Ctrl+0
Fit spread in window++0Ctrl+Alt+0Ctrl+Alt+0
Actual size (100%)+1Ctrl+1Ctrl+1
Show / hide frame edges+HCtrl+HCtrl+H
Preview modeWWW
Output
Package+++PCtrl+Alt+Shift+PCtrl+Alt+Shift+P
Export+ECtrl+ECtrl+E
Print+PCtrl+PCtrl+P
Tool shortcuts are single letters; many match Illustrator and Photoshop, so the habits transfer. The keymap is editable in Keyboard Shortcuts.

Learn the tool letters first

InDesign's tool shortcuts are single letters, and committing the common ones to memory — V selection, A direct selection, T type, P pen, M rectangle, F rectangle frame, Z zoom — instantly changes how fast you lay out a page, because switching tools is something you do constantly. Many of these match Illustrator and Photoshop, so if you know one Adobe app you're already part way to the next.

Type, objects and output

Beyond the tools, the everyday type keys earn their keep: ⌘⇧> / Ctrl+Shift+> nudges font size, ⌥↑ / Alt+↑ adjusts leading, and ⌘⇧L / C / R set paragraph alignment. For arranging a layout, group (⌘G), lock (⌘L), Step and Repeat (⌘⌥U) and the bring-to-front / send-to-back stacking shortcuts do the heavy lifting, while W flips to Preview and Package / Export (⌘E) get the file out the door. Pair these with the Illustrator and Photoshop shortcuts for the full design toolkit.

FAQ

Do InDesign and Illustrator share shortcuts?
Many overlap — V selection, A direct selection, T type, P pen, Z zoom, and ⌘G group are the same across Adobe apps — so learning one makes the next easier. Layout-specific commands like Step and Repeat and Package are unique to InDesign.
What does W do in InDesign?
Pressing W (when you are not editing text) toggles Preview mode, which hides guides, frame edges and the pasteboard so you see the page as it will print. Press W again to return to Normal view.

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