> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/OpenCut-app/OpenCut/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Keyboard shortcuts

> Complete reference of keyboard shortcuts for fast editing in OpenCut

OpenCut provides comprehensive keyboard shortcuts to speed up your editing workflow. All shortcuts can be customized in the settings.

<Info>
  View the shortcuts dialog anytime by clicking the keyboard icon in the editor header or pressing `?`.
</Info>

## Playback

Control video playback without touching the mouse:

| Shortcut | Action        | Description                     |
| -------- | ------------- | ------------------------------- |
| `Space`  | Play/Pause    | Toggle playback on and off      |
| `K`      | Play/Pause    | Alternative play/pause shortcut |
| `J`      | Seek backward | Jump backward 1 second          |
| `L`      | Seek forward  | Jump forward 1 second           |

Source: `apps/web/src/lib/actions/definitions.ts:20-40`

<Tip>
  The `J`, `K`, `L` shortcuts are borrowed from professional editing software and provide one-handed playback control.
</Tip>

## Navigation

Move through your timeline with precision:

### Frame stepping

| Shortcut | Action              | Description             |
| -------- | ------------------- | ----------------------- |
| `→`      | Frame step forward  | Move forward one frame  |
| `←`      | Frame step backward | Move backward one frame |

Perfect for finding the exact frame to make a cut or adjustment.

### Jumping

| Shortcut    | Action        | Description             |
| ----------- | ------------- | ----------------------- |
| `Shift + →` | Jump forward  | Jump forward 5 seconds  |
| `Shift + ←` | Jump backward | Jump backward 5 seconds |

### Timeline navigation

| Shortcut | Action      | Description                             |
| -------- | ----------- | --------------------------------------- |
| `Home`   | Go to start | Jump to the beginning of the timeline   |
| `Enter`  | Go to start | Alternative shortcut for timeline start |
| `End`    | Go to end   | Jump to the end of the timeline         |

Source: `apps/web/src/lib/actions/definitions.ts:41-72`

## Editing

Core editing operations for cutting and manipulating your content:

### Splitting and cutting

| Shortcut | Action      | Description                                   |
| -------- | ----------- | --------------------------------------------- |
| `S`      | Split       | Split elements at playhead (keeps both sides) |
| `Q`      | Split left  | Split and remove everything before playhead   |
| `W`      | Split right | Split and remove everything after playhead    |

<Note>
  Split operations work on all selected elements. If nothing is selected, they affect all elements under the playhead.
</Note>

### Clipboard operations

| Shortcut       | Action    | Description                                           |
| -------------- | --------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| `Ctrl/Cmd + C` | Copy      | Copy selected elements to clipboard                   |
| `Ctrl/Cmd + V` | Paste     | Paste elements at playhead position                   |
| `Ctrl/Cmd + D` | Duplicate | Duplicate selected element immediately after original |

### Deleting

| Shortcut    | Action          | Description                            |
| ----------- | --------------- | -------------------------------------- |
| `Backspace` | Delete selected | Remove selected elements from timeline |
| `Delete`    | Delete selected | Alternative delete shortcut            |

### Toggle features

| Shortcut | Action          | Description                                  |
| -------- | --------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| `N`      | Toggle snapping | Enable/disable snap to playhead and elements |

Source: `apps/web/src/lib/actions/definitions.ts:73-107`

## Selection

Quickly select and manipulate multiple elements:

| Shortcut           | Action           | Description                                      |
| ------------------ | ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------ |
| `Ctrl/Cmd + A`     | Select all       | Select all elements in the timeline              |
| Click + Drag       | Box select       | Create selection box to select multiple elements |
| `Ctrl/Cmd + Click` | Add to selection | Add individual elements to current selection     |

### Element visibility and audio

These shortcuts work on selected elements:

| Shortcut     | Action      | Description                             |
| ------------ | ----------- | --------------------------------------- |
| (No default) | Mute/unmute | Toggle mute state for selected elements |
| (No default) | Show/hide   | Toggle visibility for selected elements |

Source: `apps/web/src/lib/actions/definitions.ts:108-125`

<Info>
  You can assign custom shortcuts to element mute/hide actions in the keyboard shortcuts settings.
</Info>

## Timeline

Manage timeline markers and bookmarks:

| Shortcut     | Action          | Description                              |
| ------------ | --------------- | ---------------------------------------- |
| (No default) | Toggle bookmark | Add/remove bookmark at playhead position |

Source: `apps/web/src/lib/actions/definitions.ts:126-129`

## History

Undo and redo any editing action:

| Shortcut               | Action | Description                 |
| ---------------------- | ------ | --------------------------- |
| `Ctrl/Cmd + Z`         | Undo   | Undo the last action        |
| `Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + Z` | Redo   | Redo the last undone action |
| `Ctrl/Cmd + Y`         | Redo   | Alternative redo shortcut   |

OpenCut supports unlimited undo/redo for all editing operations.

Source: `apps/web/src/lib/actions/definitions.ts:130-139`

## Shortcut categories

Shortcuts are organized into logical categories:

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Playback">
    Controls for playing, pausing, and seeking through your timeline.

    Includes:

    * Play/Pause toggles
    * Forward and backward seeking
    * Stop playback
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Navigation">
    Moving the playhead and navigating through time.

    Includes:

    * Frame stepping
    * Jumping by seconds
    * Go to start/end
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Editing">
    Core editing operations for modifying timeline content.

    Includes:

    * Split operations
    * Copy/paste
    * Delete
    * Duplicate
    * Toggle snapping
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Selection">
    Selecting and managing multiple elements.

    Includes:

    * Select all
    * Box selection
    * Multi-select
    * Element visibility toggles
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="History">
    Undo and redo operations.

    Includes:

    * Undo
    * Redo (two shortcuts)
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Timeline">
    Timeline-specific features.

    Includes:

    * Bookmark management
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Controls">
    General interface controls.

    Reserved for future features.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

Source: `apps/web/src/lib/actions/definitions.ts:3-10`

## Customizing shortcuts

All keyboard shortcuts in OpenCut can be customized to match your preferred workflow:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open shortcuts dialog">
    Click the keyboard icon in the editor header or press `?`.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Find the action">
    Browse or search for the action you want to customize.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Assign new shortcut">
    Click on the current shortcut and press your desired key combination.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save changes">
    Your custom shortcuts are saved automatically and sync across devices.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Tips for efficient editing

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Learn the basics first" icon="graduation-cap">
    Start with play/pause (Space), split (S), and delete (Backspace/Delete). These cover 80% of basic editing.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Use J-K-L for review" icon="hand">
    Keep one hand on J-K-L for quick play/pause/seek while reviewing footage.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Frame stepping for precision" icon="crosshairs">
    Use arrow keys to find exact frames when making precise cuts.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Toggle snapping" icon="magnet">
    Press N to quickly toggle snapping on when you need precision, off when you don't.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Shortcut conflicts

If you assign a shortcut that's already in use:

* OpenCut will warn you about the conflict
* You can choose to override the existing shortcut
* Or cancel and choose a different key combination

Source: `apps/web/src/lib/actions/index.ts`