InDesign Keyboard Shortcuts (Printable cheat sheet)

Contents

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.

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.

How to: Create your own InDesign shortcuts
Shortcuts: Application Menu
Shortcuts: File Menu
Shortcuts: Edit Menu
Shortcuts: Layout Menu
Shortcuts: Type Menu
Shortcuts: Object Menu
Shortcuts: Table Menu
Shortcuts: View Menu
Shortcuts: Window Menu
Shortcuts: Help Menu
Shortcuts: Object Editing
Shortcuts: Panel Menus
Shortcuts: Structure Navigation
Shortcuts: Text and Tables
Shortcuts: Tools
Shortcuts: Views, Navigation

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 deleting 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	View > Display Performance > High Quality Display (check your configured shortcut)
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	View > Extras > Show/Hide Frame Edges (check your configured shortcut)
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	Use the window’s Minimize control; the shortcut depends on the operating system
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 shift	Text: ⌥ + ⇧ + ↓	Text: Alt + ⇧ + ↓
Decrease baseline shift 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
Delete 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.

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

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

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 product area containing the command you want to create the shortcut for.

Select the product area containing the command

Select the command that you want to define (or redefine).

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.

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.

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:

Automate some processes with the help of InDesign scripts and GREP expressions
Be more productive on multilingual project in InDesign
Make sure you avoid these 20 Most common InDesign mistakes
Learn InDesign or improve your skills with an InDesign tutorial and InDesign course
Use TOC (Table of content) effectively
Import Word files into InDesign with ease
Read our blog for more

Until next time,
Stefano

Article by

Stefano Bernardi

Stefano Bernardi is the Co-founder of Redokun. For the past 11 years, Stefano has been an active contributor to the InDesign community and the translation management industry.

His work focuses on assisting marketing managers in simplifying complex translation processes, enabling them to speed up the translation of marketing materials up to three times faster.