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InDesign Keyboard Shortcuts (Printable cheat sheet)

Contents
Indesign keyboard shortcuts cheat sheet

Remembering all the keyboard shortcuts there are in InDesign is almost impossible: the latest InDesign version contains 407 shortcuts in total!

In order to help myself remember the most common ones, I decided to make a list of those that I use daily and make a single A4 printable cheat sheet, so I can always have them ready on my desk when I don’t remember them. This will help me memorize a few more shortcuts and be even more productive.

Besides this list, I've already created a printable cheat sheet with Illustrator shortcuts. Make sure you have a look at it if you are using Illustrator.

Remember: You can also create your own InDesign shortcuts or personalise the ones that already exist. See here how to do so.

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Download the InDesign Cheat Sheet

A full list of InDesign keyboard shortcuts

InDesign has so many shortcuts that they didn’t fit into a single A4, so the printable cheat sheet above includes only the ones that I use the most and that I believe are the most important for day to day work. Those are keyboard shortcuts that everybody should remember to speed up their work in InDesign.

However, here is also a more exhaustive list, in case I missed your favorites.

Application Menu

Command macOS Windows
Preferences: General... ⌘ + K Ctrl + K

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File Menu

Command macOS Windows
Browse in Bridge... ⌥ + ⌘ + O Alt + Ctrl + O
Close ⌘ + W Ctrl + W
Document Setup... ⌥ + ⌘ + P Alt + Ctrl + P
Export... ⌘ + E Ctrl + E
File Info... ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + I Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + I
New: Document... ⌘ + N Ctrl + N
Open... ⌘ + O Ctrl + O
Package... ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + P Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + P
Place... ⌘ + D Ctrl + D
Print... ⌘ + P Ctrl + P
Save ⌘ + S Ctrl + S
Save As... ⇧ + ⌘ + S ⇧ + Ctrl + S
Save a Copy... ⌥ + ⌘ + S Alt + Ctrl + S

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Edit Menu

Command macOS Windows
Check In ⇧ + ⌘ + F9 ⇧ + Ctrl + F9
Check In All ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + F9 Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + F9
Check Out ⌘ + F9 Ctrl + F9
Clear ⌫ or ⌘ + ⌫ ⌫ or Ctrl + ⌫
Copy ⌘ + C Ctrl + C
Cut ⌘ + X Ctrl + X
Deselect All ⇧ + ⌘ + A ⇧ + Ctrl + A
Duplicate ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + D Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + D
Edit in Story Editor ⌘ + Y Ctrl + Y
Find Next ⌥ + ⌘ + F Alt + Ctrl + F
Find/Change... ⌘ + F Ctrl + F
Paste ⌘ + V Ctrl + V
Paste Into ⌥ + ⌘ + V Alt + Ctrl + V
Paste in Place ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + V Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + V
Paste without Formatting ⇧ + ⌘ + V ⇧ + Ctrl + V
Quick Apply... ⌘ + ⏎ Ctrl + ⏎
Redo ⇧ + ⌘ + Z ⇧ + Ctrl + Z
Select All ⌘ + A Ctrl + A
Spelling: Check Spelling... ⌘ + I Ctrl + I
Step and Repeat... ⌥ + ⌘ + U Alt + Ctrl + U
Toggle search direction ⌥ + ⌘ + ⏎ Alt + Ctrl + ⏎
Undo ⌘ + Z Ctrl + Z
Update Content Ctrl + ⌘ + F5 Ctrl + F5

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Layout Menu

Command macOS Windows
First Page ⇧ + ⌘ + Page Up ⇧ + Ctrl + Page Up
Go Back ⌘ + Page Up Ctrl + Page Up
Go Forward ⌘ + Page Down Ctrl + Page Down
Go to Page... ⌘ + J Ctrl + J
Last Page ⇧ + ⌘ + Page Down ⇧ + Ctrl + Page Down
Left Spread Presentation Mode: ← Presentation Mode: ←
Next Page ⇧ + Page Down Text: ⇧ + Page Down ⇧ + Page Down Text: ⇧ + Page Down
Next Spread ⌥ + Page Down Presentation Mode: Space Presentation Mode: ↓ Presentation Mode: ⏎ Presentation Mode: Page Down Alt + Page Down Presentation Mode: Space Presentation Mode: ↓ Presentation Mode: ⏎ Presentation Mode: Page Down
Pages: Add Page ⇧ + ⌘ + P ⇧ + Ctrl + P
Previous Page ⇧ + Page Up Text: ⇧ + Page Up ⇧ + Page Up Text: ⇧ + Page Up
Previous Spread ⌥ + Page Up Presentation Mode: ⇧ + Space Presentation Mode: ⌫ Presentation Mode: ↑ Presentation Mode: Page Up Alt + Page Up Presentation Mode: ⇧ + Space Presentation Mode: ⌫ Presentation Mode: ↑ Presentation Mode: Page Up
Right Spread Presentation Mode: → Presentation Mode: →

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Type Menu

Command macOS Windows
Create Outlines ⇧ + ⌘ + O ⇧ + Ctrl + O
Create outlines without ⌫eting text ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + O Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + O
Insert Break Character: Column Break Text: ⏎ Text: ⏎
Insert Break Character: Forced Line Break Text: ⇧ + ⏎ Text: ⇧ + ⏎
Insert Break Character: Frame Break Text: ⇧ + ⏎ Text: ⇧ + ⏎
Insert Break Character: Page Break Text: ⌘ + ⏎ Text: Ctrl + ⏎
Insert Special Character: Hyphens and Dashes: Discretionary Hyphen Text: ⇧ + ⌘ + - Text: ⇧ + Ctrl + -
Insert Special Character: Hyphens and Dashes: Nonbreaking Hyphen Text: ⌥ + ⌘ + - Text: Alt + Ctrl + -
Insert Special Character: Markers: Current Page Number Text: ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + N Text: Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + N
Insert Special Character: Other: Indent to Here Text: ⌘ + \ Text: Ctrl + \
Insert Special Character: Other: Right Indent Tab Text: ⇧ + Tab Text: ⇧ + Tab
Insert Special Character: Quotation Marks: Straight Double Quotation Marks Text: Ctrl + ⇧ + ' Text: Ctrl + ⇧ + '
Insert Special Character: Quotation Marks: Straight Single Quotation Mark (Apostrophe) Text: Ctrl + ' Text: Ctrl + '
Insert White Space: Em Space Text: ⇧ + ⌘ + M Text: ⇧ + Ctrl + M
Insert White Space: En Space Text: ⇧ + ⌘ + N Text: ⇧ + Ctrl + N
Insert White Space: Nonbreaking Space Text: ⌥ + ⌘ + X Text: Alt + Ctrl + X
Insert White Space: Thin Space Text: ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + M Text: Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + M
Notes: Notes Mode Text: ⌘ + F8 Text: Ctrl + F8
Show Hidden Characters ⌥ + ⌘ + I Alt + Ctrl + I
Tabs ⇧ + ⌘ + T ⇧ + Ctrl + T
Track Changes: Next Change Text: ⌘ + Page Down Text: Ctrl + Page Down
Track Changes: Previous Change Text: ⌘ + Page Up Text: Ctrl + Page Up

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Object Menu

Command macOS Windows
Arrange: Bring Forward ⌘ + ] Ctrl + ]
Arrange: Bring to Front ⇧ + ⌘ + ] ⇧ + Ctrl + ]
Arrange: Send Backward ⌘ + [ Ctrl + [
Arrange: Send to Back ⇧ + ⌘ + [ ⇧ + Ctrl + [
Clipping Path: Options... ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + K Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + K
Effects: Drop Shadow... ⌥ + ⌘ + M Alt + Ctrl + M
Fitting: Centre Content ⇧ + ⌘ + E ⇧ + Ctrl + E
Fitting: Fill Frame Proportionally ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + C Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + C
Fitting: Fit Content Proportionally ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + E Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + E
Fitting: Fit Content to Frame ⌥ + ⌘ + E Alt + Ctrl + E
Fitting: Fit Frame to Content ⌥ + ⌘ + C Alt + Ctrl + C
Group ⌘ + G Ctrl + G
Hide ⌘ + 3 Ctrl + 3
Lock ⌘ + L Ctrl + L
Paths: Make Compound Path ⌘ + 8 Ctrl + 8
Paths: Release Compound Path ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + 8 Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + 8
Select: Container Esc Esc
Select: Content ⇧ + Esc ⇧ + Esc
Select: First Object Above ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + ] Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + ]
Select: Last Object Below ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + [ Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + [
Select: Next Object Above ⌥ + ⌘ + ] Alt + Ctrl + ]
Select: Next Object Below ⌥ + ⌘ + [ Alt + Ctrl + [
Show All on Spread ⌥ + ⌘ + 3 Alt + Ctrl + 3
Text Frame Options... ⌘ + B Ctrl + B
Transform Again: Transform Sequence Again ⌥ + ⌘ + 4 Alt + Ctrl + 4
Transform: Move... ⇧ + ⌘ + M ⇧ + Ctrl + M
Ungroup ⇧ + ⌘ + G ⇧ + Ctrl + G
Unlock All on Spread ⌥ + ⌘ + L Alt + Ctrl + L

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Table Menu

Command macOS Windows
Cell Options: Text... Tables: ⌥ + ⌘ + B Tables: Alt + Ctrl + B
Create Table... ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + T Text: ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + T Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + T Text: Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + T
⌫: Column Tables: ⇧ + ⌫ Tables: ⇧ + ⌫
⌫: Row Tables: ⌘ + ⌫ Tables: Ctrl + ⌫
Insert: Column... Tables: ⌥ + ⌘ + 9 Tables: Alt + Ctrl + 9
Insert: Row... Tables: ⌘ + 9 Tables: Ctrl + 9
Select: Cell Tables: ⌘ + / Tables: Ctrl + /
Select: Column Tables: ⌥ + ⌘ + 3 Tables: Alt + Ctrl + 3
Select: Row Tables: ⌘ + 3 Tables: Ctrl + 3
Select: Table Tables: ⌥ + ⌘ + A Tables: Alt + Ctrl + A
Table Options: Table Setup... ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + B Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + B

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View Menu

Command macOS Windows
Actual Size ⌘ + 1 Ctrl + 1
Display Performance: Clear Object-Level Display Settings ⇧ + ⌘ + F2 ⇧ + Ctrl + F2
Display Performance: Fast Display ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + Z Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + Z
Display Performance: High Quality Display Ctrl + ⌥ + ⌘ + H Ctrl + Alt + Ctrl + H
Display Performance: Typical Display ⌥ + ⌘ + Z Alt + Ctrl + Z
Entire Pasteboard ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + 0 Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + 0
Extras: Hide Conveyor ⌥ + B Alt + B
Extras: Hide Frame Edges Ctrl + ⌘ + H Ctrl + Ctrl + H
Extras: Show Text Threads ⌥ + ⌘ + Y Alt + Ctrl + Y
Fit Page in Window ⌘ + 0 Ctrl + 0
Fit Spread in Window ⌥ + ⌘ + 0 Alt + Ctrl + 0
Grids & Guides: Hide Guides ⌘ + ; Ctrl + ;
Grids & Guides: Lock Guides ⌥ + ⌘ + ; Alt + Ctrl + ;
Grids & Guides: Show Baseline Grid ⌥ + ⌘ + ' Alt + Ctrl + '
Grids & Guides: Show Document Grid ⌘ + ' Ctrl + '
Grids & Guides: Smart Guides ⌘ + U Ctrl + U
Grids & Guides: Snap to Document Grid ⇧ + ⌘ + ' ⇧ + Ctrl + '
Grids & Guides: Snap to Guides ⇧ + ⌘ + ; ⇧ + Ctrl + ;
Hide Rulers ⌘ + R Ctrl + R
Overprint Preview ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + Y Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + Y
Preview on CPU ⇧ + E ⇧ + E
Screen Mode: Presentation Presentation Mode: Esc or ⇧ + W Presentation Mode: ⇧ + W Presentation Mode: Esc or ⇧ + W Presentation Mode: ⇧ + W
Screen Mode: Set Presentation Background to Black Presentation Mode: B Presentation Mode: B
Screen Mode: Set Presentation Background to Grey Presentation Mode: G Presentation Mode: G
Screen Mode: Set Presentation Background to White Presentation Mode: W Presentation Mode: W
Structure: Show Structure ⌥ + ⌘ + 1 Alt + Ctrl + 1
Zoom In ⌘ + = or ⌘ + Num + Ctrl + = or Ctrl + Num +
Zoom Out ⌘ + - or ⌘ + Num - Ctrl + - or Ctrl + Num -

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Window Menu

Command macOS Windows
Arrange: Minimize ⌘ + M or Ctrl + ⌘ + M Ctrl + M or Ctrl + Ctrl + M
Color: Colour F6 F6
Color: Swatches F5 F5
Control ⌥ + ⌘ + 6 Alt + Ctrl + 6
Effects ⇧ + ⌘ + F10 ⇧ + Ctrl + F10
Info F8 F8
Interactive: EPUB Interactivity Preview ⌥ + ⇧ + ⏎ Alt + ⇧ + ⏎
Interactive: SWF Preview ⇧ + ⌘ + ⏎ ⇧ + Ctrl + ⏎
Layers F7 F7
Links ⇧ + ⌘ + D ⇧ + Ctrl + D
Object & Layout: Align ⇧ + F7 ⇧ + F7
Output: Preflight ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + F Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + F
Output: Separations Preview ⇧ + F6 ⇧ + F6
Pages ⌘ + F12 or F12 Ctrl + F12 or F12
Stroke ⌘ + F10 or F10 Ctrl + F10 or F10
Styles: Character Styles ⇧ + ⌘ + F11 or ⇧ + F11 ⇧ + Ctrl + F11 or ⇧ + F11
Styles: Object Styles ⌘ + F7 Ctrl + F7
Styles: Paragraph Styles ⌘ + F11 or F11 Ctrl + F11 or F11
Text Wrap ⌥ + ⌘ + W Alt + Ctrl + W
Type & Tables: Character ⌘ + T Ctrl + T
Type & Tables: Glyphs ⌥ + ⇧ + F11 Alt + ⇧ + F11
Type & Tables: Index ⇧ + F8 ⇧ + F8
Type & Tables: Paragraph ⌥ + ⌘ + T Alt + Ctrl + T
Type & Tables: Table ⇧ + F9 ⇧ + F9
Utilities: Scripts ⌥ + ⌘ + F11 Alt + Ctrl + F11

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Help Menu

Command macOS Windows
InDesign Help... Help Help

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Object Editing

Command macOS Windows
Decrease scale by 1% ⌘ + , Ctrl + ,
Decrease scale by 5% ⌥ + ⌘ + , Alt + Ctrl + ,
End Path Drawing
Increase scale by 1% ⌘ + . Ctrl + .
Increase scale by 5% ⌥ + ⌘ + . Alt + Ctrl + .
Nudge down
Nudge down 1/10 ⇧ + ⌘ + ↓ ⇧ + Ctrl + ↓
Nudge down 1/10 duplicate ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + ↓ Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + ↓
Nudge down duplicate ⌥ + ↓ Alt + ↓
Nudge down x10 ⇧ + ↓ ⇧ + ↓
Nudge down x10 duplicate ⌥ + ⇧ + ↓ Alt + ⇧ + ↓
Nudge left
Nudge left 1/10 ⇧ + ⌘ + ← ⇧ + Ctrl + ←
Nudge left 1/10 duplicate ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + ← Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + ←
Nudge left duplicate ⌥ + ← Alt + ←
Nudge left x10 ⇧ + ← ⇧ + ←
Nudge left x10 duplicate ⌥ + ⇧ + ← Alt + ⇧ + ←
Nudge right
Nudge right 1/10 ⇧ + ⌘ + → ⇧ + Ctrl + →
Nudge right 1/10 duplicate ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + → Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + →
Nudge right duplicate ⌥ + → Alt + →
Nudge right x10 ⇧ + → ⇧ + →
Nudge right x10 duplicate ⌥ + ⇧ + → Alt + ⇧ + →
Nudge up
Nudge up 1/10 ⇧ + ⌘ + ↑ ⇧ + Ctrl + ↑
Nudge up 1/10 duplicate ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + ↑ Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + ↑
Nudge up duplicate ⌥ + ↑ Alt + ↑
Nudge up x10 ⇧ + ↑ ⇧ + ↑
Nudge up x10 duplicate ⌥ + ⇧ + ↑ Alt + ⇧ + ↑
Pin Bottom Edge ⌥ + ⌘ + ↓ Alt + Ctrl + ↓
Pin Left Edge ⌥ + ⌘ + ← Alt + Ctrl + ←
Pin Right Edge ⌥ + ⌘ + → Alt + Ctrl + →
Pin Top Edge ⌥ + ⌘ + ↑ Alt + Ctrl + ↑
Resize Horizontally ⌥ + ⇧ + H Alt + ⇧ + H
Resize Vertically ⌥ + ⇧ + V Alt + ⇧ + V
Select all Guides ⌥ + ⌘ + G Alt + Ctrl + G
Toggle Live Edit Mode 4 4

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Panel Menus

Command macOS Windows
Character Styles: Redefine Style Text: ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + C Text: Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + C
Character: All Caps ⇧ + ⌘ + K ⇧ + Ctrl + K
Character: Small Caps ⇧ + ⌘ + H ⇧ + Ctrl + H
Character: Strikethrough Ctrl + ⇧ + ⌘ + / or ⇧ + ⌘ + / ⇧ + Ctrl + /
Character: Subscript ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + = Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + =
Character: Superscript ⇧ + ⌘ + = ⇧ + Ctrl + =
Character: Underline ⇧ + ⌘ + U ⇧ + Ctrl + U
EPUB Interactivity Preview: Preview Document ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + ⏎ Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + ⏎
Index: Add new index entry Text: ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + [ Text: Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + [
Index: Add new index entry (reversed) Text: ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + ] Text: Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + ]
Index: New Page Reference... ⌘ + 7 Ctrl + 7
Pages: Override All Master Page Items ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + L Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + L
Paragraph Styles: Redefine Style Text: ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + R Text: Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + R
Paragraph: Drop Caps and Nested Styles... ⌥ + ⌘ + R Alt + Ctrl + R
Paragraph: Justification... ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + J Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + J
Paragraph: Keep Options... ⌥ + ⌘ + K Alt + Ctrl + K
Paragraph: Paragraph Rules... ⌥ + ⌘ + J Alt + Ctrl + J
Tags: Autotag Text: ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + F7 Text: Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + F7

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Structure Navigation

Command macOS Windows
Collapse element
Collapse element and child elements ⌥ + ← Alt + ←
Expand element
Expand element and child elements ⌥ + → Alt + →
Extend XML selection down ⇧ + ↓ ⇧ + ↓
Extend XML selection up ⇧ + ↑ ⇧ + ↑
Move XML selection down
Move XML selection up
Scroll structure pane down one screen Page Down Page Down
Scroll structure pane up one screen Page Up Page Up
Select first XML node Home Home
Select last XML node End End
Select through first XML node ⇧ + Home ⇧ + Home
Select through last XML node ⇧ + End ⇧ + End
View next validation error ⌘ + → Ctrl + →
View previous validation error ⌘ + ← Ctrl + ←

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Text and Tables

Command macOS Windows
Align centre ⇧ + ⌘ + C ⇧ + Ctrl + C
Align force justify ⇧ + ⌘ + F ⇧ + Ctrl + F
Align justify ⇧ + ⌘ + J ⇧ + Ctrl + J
Align left ⇧ + ⌘ + L ⇧ + Ctrl + L
Align right ⇧ + ⌘ + R ⇧ + Ctrl + R
Align to baseline grid ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + G Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + G
Apply bold ⇧ + ⌘ + B ⇧ + Ctrl + B
Apply italic ⇧ + ⌘ + I ⇧ + Ctrl + I
Apply normal ⇧ + ⌘ + Y ⇧ + Ctrl + Y
Auto leading ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + A Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + A
Auto-hyphenate on/off ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + H Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + H
Clear Tables: ⌫ Tables: ⌫
Decrease baseline ⇧ Text: ⌥ + ⇧ + ↓ Text: Alt + ⇧ + ↓
Decrease baseline ⇧ x 5 Text: ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + ↓ Text: Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + ↓
Decrease kerning/tracking Text: ⌥ + ⇧ + ← Text: ⌥ + ← Text: Alt + ⇧ + ← Text: Alt + ←
Decrease kerning/tracking x 5 Text: ⌥ + ⌘ + ← Text: Alt + Ctrl + ←
Decrease leading Text: ⌥ + ↑ Text: Alt + ↑
Decrease leading x 5 Text: ⌥ + ⌘ + ↑ Text: Alt + Ctrl + ↑
Decrease point size ⇧ + ⌘ + , ⇧ + Ctrl + ,
Decrease point size x 5 ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + , Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + ,
Decrease word space ⌥ + ⌘ + ⌫ Alt + Ctrl + ⌫
Decrease word space x 5 ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + ⌫ Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + ⌫
Delete Tables: ⌫ Tables: ⌫
Delete one character to the left Text: ⌫ Text: ⇧ + ⌫ Text: ⌫ Text: ⇧ + ⌫
Delete one character to the right Text: ⌫ Text: ⇧ + ⌫ Text: ⌫ Text: ⇧ + ⌫
Delete one word to the left Text: ⌘ + ⌫ Text: Ctrl + ⌫
Delete one word to the right Text: ⌘ + ⌫ Text: Ctrl + ⌫
Find Next Text: ⇧ + F2 Text: ⇧ + F2
Increase baseline shift Text: ⌥ + ⇧ + ↑ Text: Alt + ⇧ + ↑
Increase baseline shift x 5 Text: ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + ↑ Text: Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + ↑
Increase kerning/tracking Text: ⌥ + ⇧ + → Text: ⌥ + → Text: Alt + ⇧ + → Text: Alt + →
Increase kerning/tracking x 5 Text: ⌥ + ⌘ + → Text: Alt + Ctrl + →
Increase leading Text: ⌥ + ↓ Text: Alt + ↓
Increase leading x 5 Text: ⌥ + ⌘ + ↓ Text: Alt + Ctrl + ↓
Increase point size ⇧ + ⌘ + . ⇧ + Ctrl + .
Increase point size x 5 ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + . Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + .
Increase word space ⌥ + ⌘ + \ or Ctrl + ⌥ + ⌘ + \ Alt + Ctrl + \
Increase word space x 5 ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + \ Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + \
Load Find and Find Next instance Text: ⇧ + F1 Text: ⇧ + F1
Load Find with selected text Text: ⌘ + F1 Text: Ctrl + F1
Load Replace with selected text Text: ⌘ + F2 Text: Ctrl + F2
Move Down Tables: ↓ Tables: ↓
Move Left Tables: ← Tables: ←
Move Right Tables: → Tables: →
Move Up Tables: ↑ Tables: ↑
Move down one line Text: ↓ Text: ↓
Move to First Cell in Column Tables: ⌥ + Page Up Tables: Alt + Page Up
Move to First Cell in Row Tables: ⌥ + Home Tables: Alt + Home
Move to First Row in Frame Tables: Page Up Tables: Page Up
Move to Last Cell in Column Tables: ⌥ + Page Down Tables: Alt + Page Down
Move to Last Cell in Row Tables: ⌥ + End Tables: Alt + End
Move to Last Row in Frame Tables: Page Down Tables: Page Down
Move to Next Cell Tables: Tab Tables: Tab
Move to Previous Cell Tables: ⇧ + Tab Tables: ⇧ + Tab
Move to beginning of story Text: ⌘ + Home Text: Ctrl + Home
Move to end of story Text: ⌘ + End Text: Ctrl + End
Move to the end of the line Text: End Text: End
Move to the left one character Text: ← Text: ←
Move to the left one word Text: ⌘ + ← Text: Ctrl + ←
Move to the next paragraph Text: ⌘ + ↓ Text: Ctrl + ↓
Move to the previous paragraph Text: ⌘ + ↑ Text: Ctrl + ↑
Move to the right one character Text: → Text: →
Move to the right one word Text: ⌘ + → Text: Ctrl + →
Move to the start of the line Text: Home Text: Home
Move up one line Text: ↑ Text: ↑
Normal horizontal text scale ⇧ + ⌘ + X ⇧ + Ctrl + X
Normal vertical text scale ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + X Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + X
Object Down Table Object Context: ↓ Table Object Context: ↓
Object Esc Table Object Context: Esc Table Object Context: Esc
Object Left Table Object Context: ← Table Object Context: ←
Object Move to Next Cell Table Object Context: Tab Table Object Context: Tab
Object Move to Prev Cell Table Object Context: ⇧ + Tab Table Object Context: ⇧ + Tab
Object Right Table Object Context: → Table Object Context: →
Object Up Table Object Context: ↑ Table Object Context: ↑
Recompose all stories ⌥ + ⌘ + / Alt + Ctrl + /
Replace with Change To text Text: ⌘ + F3 Text: Ctrl + F3
Replace with Change To text and Find Next Text: ⇧ + F3 Text: ⇧ + F3
Reset kerning and tracking Text: ⌥ + ⌘ + Q Text: Alt + Ctrl + Q
Select Cells Above Tables: ⇧ + ↑ Tables: ⇧ + ↑
Select Cells Below Tables: ⇧ + ↓ Tables: ⇧ + ↓
Select Cells to the Left Tables: ⇧ + ← Tables: ⇧ + ←
Select Cells to the Right Tables: ⇧ + → Tables: ⇧ + →
Select line Text: ⇧ + ⌘ + \ Text: ⇧ + Ctrl + \
Select one character to the left Text: ⇧ + ← Text: ⇧ + ←
Select one character to the right Text: ⇧ + → Text: ⇧ + →
Select one line above Text: ⇧ + ↑ Text: ⇧ + ↑
Select one line below Text: ⇧ + ↓ Text: ⇧ + ↓
Select one paragraph before Text: ⇧ + ⌘ + ↑ Text: ⇧ + Ctrl + ↑
Select one paragraph forward Text: ⇧ + ⌘ + ↓ Text: ⇧ + Ctrl + ↓
Select one word to the left Text: ⇧ + ⌘ + ← Text: ⇧ + Ctrl + ←
Select one word to the right Text: ⇧ + ⌘ + → Text: ⇧ + Ctrl + →
Select to beginning of story Text: ⇧ + ⌘ + Home Text: ⇧ + Ctrl + Home
Select to end of story Text: ⇧ + ⌘ + End Text: ⇧ + Ctrl + End
Select to the end of the line Text: ⇧ + End Text: ⇧ + End
Select to the start of the line Text: ⇧ + Home Text: ⇧ + Home
Start Row on Next Column Tables: ⏎ Tables: ⏎
Start Row on Next Frame Tables: ⇧ + ⏎ Tables: ⇧ + ⏎
Toggle Cell/Text Selection Tables: Esc Tables: Esc
Toggle Typographer's Quotes Preference ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + ' Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + '
Update missing font list ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + / Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + /

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Tools

Command macOS Windows
Add Anchor Point Tool = =
Apply Colour , ,
Apply Gradient . .
Apply None / or Num / / or Num /
Apply default fill and stroke colours D D
Colour Theme Tool ⇧ + I ⇧ + I
Convert Direction Point Tool ⇧ + C ⇧ + C
⌫ Anchor Point Tool - -
Direct Selection Tool A A
Ellipse Tool L L
Eyedropper Tool I I
Free Transform Tool E E
Gap Tool U U
Gradient Feather Tool ⇧ + G ⇧ + G
Gradient Swatch Tool G G
Hand Tool H H
Line Tool \ \
Measure Tool K K
Page Tool ⇧ + P ⇧ + P
Pen Tool P P
Pencil Tool N N
Rectangle Frame Tool F F
Rectangle Tool M M
Rotate Tool R R
Scale Tool S S
Scissors Tool C C
Selection Tool V Text: Esc V Text: Esc
Shear Tool O O
Swap fill and stroke activation X X
Swap fill and stroke colours ⇧ + X ⇧ + X
Toggle Content Collector and Content Placer B B
Toggle Text and Object Control J J
Toggle view setting between default and preview W W
Type Tool T T
Type on a Path Tool ⇧ + T ⇧ + T
Zoom Tool Z Z

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Views, Navigation

Command macOS Windows
200% size ⌘ + 2 Ctrl + 2
400% size ⌘ + 4 Ctrl + 4
50% size ⌘ + 5 Ctrl + 5
Access zoom percentage box ⌥ + ⌘ + 5 Alt + Ctrl + 5
Activate last-used field in panel ⌥ + ⌘ + ` Alt + Ctrl + `
Close all ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + W Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + W
Close document ⇧ + ⌘ + W ⇧ + Ctrl + W
First Spread Home or ⌥ + ⇧ + Page Up Presentation Mode: Home Home or Alt + ⇧ + Page Up Presentation Mode: Home
Fit Selection in Window ⌥ + ⌘ + = Alt + Ctrl + =
Force redraw ⇧ + F5 ⇧ + F5
Go to first frame in thread ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + Page Up Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + Page Up
Go to last frame in thread ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + Page Down Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + Page Down
Go to next frame in thread ⌥ + ⌘ + Page Down Alt + Ctrl + Page Down
Go to previous frame in thread ⌥ + ⌘ + Page Up Alt + Ctrl + Page Up
Last Spread End or ⌥ + ⇧ + Page Down Presentation Mode: End End or Alt + ⇧ + Page Down Presentation Mode: End
New default document ⌥ + ⌘ + N Alt + Ctrl + N
Next window Presentation Mode: ⌘ + Tab Presentation Mode: ⌘ + ` Presentation Mode: Ctrl + Tab Presentation Mode: Ctrl + `
Open/Close all panels in side tabs ⌥ + ⌘ + Tab Alt + Ctrl + Tab
Previous window Presentation Mode: ⇧ + ⌘ + Tab Presentation Mode: ⇧ + ⌘ + ` Presentation Mode: ⇧ + Ctrl + Tab Presentation Mode: ⇧ + Ctrl + `
Save all ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + S Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + S
Scroll down one screen Page Down Text: Page Down Page Down Text: Page Down
Scroll up one screen Page Up Text: Page Up Page Up Text: Page Up
Show 1st spot plate ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + 5 Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + 5
Show 2nd spot plate ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + 6 Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + 6
Show 3rd spot plate ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + 7 Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + 7
Show Black plate ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + 4 Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + 4
Show Cyan plate ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + 1 Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + 1
Show Magenta plate ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + 2 Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + 2
Show Yellow plate ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + 3 Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + 3
Show all plates ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + ` Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + `
Show/Hide all panels Tab Tab
Show/Hide all panels except toolbox ⇧ + Tab ⇧ + Tab
Toggle Character and Paragraph Modes in Control Panel ⌥ + ⌘ + 7 Alt + Ctrl + 7
Toggle Keyboard Focus in Control Panel ⌘ + 6 Ctrl + 6
Toggle Measurement System ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + U Alt + ⇧ + Ctrl + U
Toggle between current and previous views ⌥ + ⌘ + 2 Alt + Ctrl + 2

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Create your own InDesign shortcuts

You can edit or add new InDesign keyboard shortcuts to make the use of some commands quicker.

  1. Close all the documents, if any is open.
  2. Click on Edit and then Keyboard Shortcuts....
Click on Keyboard Shortcuts

This action opens a Window panel. To create your new shortcut you need to:

  1. Select or create a new shortcut set

The Default and QuarkXPress shortcut sets can’t be edited. So if you select one of the two sets you’ll create a new set based on it.

Select the shortcut set
  1. Select the product area containing the command you want to create the shortcut for.
Select the product area containing the command
  1. Select the command that you want to define (or redefine).
Select the command
  1. Click on the New Shortcut box, and press the keys for your new keyboard shortcut.

Do not assign single-key shortcuts to menu commands, because they interfere with the typing of text.

If the key sequence is currently being used for another command, InDesign displays that command under Current Shortcut.

InDesign displays the shortcut assigned
  1. Select when you want the keyboard shortcut to function by changing Context.

You can assign multiple commands to each shortcut, the context ensures that the shortcut works as you intended. For example, you can use Cmd+G to group objects when you select more objects (Object Context) or Cmd+G to merge cells in a table when you select more cells (Table Context). If you select Default Context, the shortcut will work regardless of the state of the document.

Set the shortcut context
  1. Click OK to save and close the dialog box, or click Save to keep the dialog box open while you enter more shortcuts.

Get even more productive

Using keyboard shortcuts is not the only recommended productivity trick. Here are a few more:

Until next time,
Stefano

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