Final Cut Pro
Apple’s video editor for the Mac: playback, editing, trimming, audio, effects and organizing.
Verified against version 12.3 on 13 Sept 2026 from the official docs: keyboard shortcuts, Command Editor. Defaults of the English command set. You can change them in the Command Editor (Final Cut Pro > Commands > Customize, ⌥⌘K). With macOS in Spanish, Final Cut Pro loads a default set that moves the punctuation-key shortcuts to keys of the Spanish keyboard; the affected rows say so.
Essentials
25 shortcuts- Command ZUndo the last change
- Command IImport media from a camera, a drive or an archive
- Command EExport the project or clip to your default share destinationThe default destination is set in Final Cut Pro > Settings > Destinations.
- SpacePlay or pausealsoControl Space While editing a text field.
- LPlay forward; press again to go fasteralsoOption L Half speed.
- JPlay backwards; press again to go fasteralsoShift Space Option J Half speed, in reverse.Control J While editing a text field.
- KStop playbackalsoControl K While editing a text field.
- STurn skimming on or offWith skimming on, edits happen at the pointer, not at the playhead.
- Right arrowStep one frame forwardalsoShift Right arrow Ten frames.
- Left arrowStep one frame backalsoShift Left arrow Ten frames.
- EAdd the selection to the end of the storyline
- WInsert the selection at the playhead, pushing the rest later
- QConnect the selection above the primary storyline
- DOverwrite from the playhead with the selection
- Deletebrowser or timelineDelete the selectionIn the timeline it removes the clips and closes the gap; in the browser it marks the clips as rejected.
- Command BCut the clip at the playheadCuts the primary storyline clip, or the selection.
- NTurn snapping on or off
- ISet the start of the range (in point)alsoControl I While editing a text field.
- OSet the end of the range (out point)alsoControl O While editing a text field.
- MAdd a marker at the playhead
- Command TAdd the default transition (a cross dissolve)
- ASwitch to the Select tool
- Command =browser, viewer or timelineZoom inWith macOS in Spanish, the default command set uses ⌘¡.
- Command -browser, viewer or timelineZoom outWith macOS in Spanish, the default command set uses ⌘'.
- Shift Zbrowser, viewer or timelineZoom to fit everything in the window