Premiere Pro

Premiere Pro keyboard shortcuts.

Edit faster in Premiere Pro — playback, the tools, marking clips, ripple edits and export. Mac and Windows.

Playback & marking
Play / stopSpaceSpaceSpace
Shuttle (J K L)J+K+LJ+K+LJ+K+L
Mark inIII
Mark outOOO
Add markerMMM
Go to next / prev edit↑/↓↑/↓↑/↓
Tools
Selection toolVVV
Razor (cut) toolCCC
Track select forwardAAA
Ripple edit toolBBB
Rate stretch toolRRR
Type toolTTT
Hand toolHHH
Editing
Add edit (cut at playhead)+KCtrl+KCtrl+K
Ripple delete+Shift+DeleteShift+Delete
Insert,,,
Overwrite...
Copy+CCtrl+CCtrl+C
Paste+VCtrl+VCtrl+V
Undo+ZCtrl+ZCtrl+Z
Project & export
Save+SCtrl+SCtrl+S
Export / Media+MCtrl+MCtrl+M
Import+ICtrl+ICtrl+I
New sequence+NCtrl+NCtrl+N
Zoom into timeline===
Zoom out of timeline---
Premiere's keymap is fully customisable in Keyboard Shortcuts, and several tools share single-letter keys. These are the defaults.

The J-K-L of editing

Video editing has its own rhythm, and it starts with J, K and L — rewind, pause and play — which let you shuttle through footage at speed using only your left hand. Add I and O to mark in and out points, and you can select exactly the piece of a clip you want without ever reaching for the mouse. These four habits are the foundation everything else builds on.

Tools and timeline edits

The single-letter tool keys — V for selection, C for the razor, A for track select, B for ripple edit — let you switch modes instantly, while ⌘K / Ctrl+K adds an edit at the playhead and Shift+Delete ripple-deletes to close the gap. When the cut is done, ⌘M / Ctrl+M opens export. Because the keymap is customisable, many editors remap these to suit their hands — but the defaults here are a solid starting point. Pair with the Illustrator and Photoshop shortcuts for the wider Adobe set.

FAQ

What do J, K and L do in Premiere Pro?
They control playback: L plays forward, K pauses, and J plays backward. Tapping L or J repeatedly speeds up playback, which is the fastest way to scrub through footage.
How do I cut a clip in Premiere Pro?
Press ⌘ + K (Ctrl + K on Windows) to add an edit at the playhead, or select the Razor tool with C and click where you want to cut.

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