Default Keymap

While this isn’t a comprehensive list, this page shows common keys used in Blender’s default keymap.

Global Keys

Ctrl-O

Open file.

Ctrl-S

Save file.

Ctrl-N

New file.

Ctrl-Z

Undo.

Shift-Ctrl-Z

Redo.

Ctrl-Q

Quit.

F1

Help (context sensitive).

F2

Rename active item.

F3

Menu Search.

F4

File context menu.

F5 - F8

Reserved for user actions.

F9

Adjust last operation.

F10

Reserved for user actions.

F11

Show render window.

F12

Render the current frame.

Q

Quick access (favorites).

Ctrl-Spacebar

Toggle Maximize Area.

Ctrl-Alt-Spacebar

Toggle Fullscreen Area

Ctrl-PageUp / Ctrl-PageDown

Next/previous Workspace.

Spacebar

User configurable.

Play

Toggle animation playback.

Tools

Tool switching with hotkeys (Shift-Spacebar for play).

Search

Search for actions (Shift-Spacebar for play).

Shift-Ctrl-Spacebar

Playback animation (reverse).

Common Editing Keys

X

Deletes the selected item, requires a confirmation dialog.

Delete

Deletes the selected item, does not require a confirmation dialog.

Common Editor Keys

These keys are shared across editors such as the 3D Viewport, UV and Graph editor.

A

Select all.

Alt-A

Select none.

Ctrl-I

Invert selection.

H

Hide selection.

Alt-H

Reveal hidden items.

T

Toggle Toolbar.

N

Toggle Sidebar.

3D Viewport Keys

Tab

Edit-mode toggle.

Ctrl-Tab

Mode switching pie menu (toggles Pose Mode for armatures).

1 - 3

Edit mesh vertex/edge/face toggle (Shift extends, Ctrl expands).

AccentGrave

3D Viewport navigation pie menu.

Ctrl-AccentGrave

Toggle gizmos.

Shift-AccentGrave

Walk/Fly Navigation.

Platform Specific Keys

macOS

The Cmd key can be used instead of Ctrl on macOS for all but a few exceptions which conflict with the operating system.

List of additional macOS specific keys:

Cmd-Comma

Preferences.

Keymap Preferences

Select with Mouse Button

Controls which mouse button, either right or left, is used to select items in Blender. If Left is selected the RMB will be a context sensitive menu, if Right is selected the LMB will place the 3D Cursor.

Spacebar Action

Controls the action of Spacebar. These and other shortcuts can be modified in the keymap preferences.

Play

Starts playing through the Timeline, this option is good for animation or video editing work.

Tools

Opens the Toolbar underneath the cursor to quickly change the active tool. This option is good if you are doing a lot of modeling or rigging work.

Search

Opens up the Menu Search. This option is good for someone who is new to Blender and is unfamiliar with the menus and shortcuts.

Activate Gizmo Event

The activation event for gizmos that support drag motion. This option is only available when Left click Select with Mouse Button is chosen.

Press

Allows immediate activation, preventing click events being passed to the tool.

Drag

Allows click events to pass through to the tool, adding a small delay.

Right Mouse Select Action

The default action for the right mouse button. This option is only available when Right click Select with Mouse Button is chosen.

Select & Tweak

Right mouse always tweaks the selected item.

Selection Tool

Right mouse uses the selection tool.

Tool Keys

The method of keys to activate tools such as move, rotate, and scale.

Immediate

Activate actions immediately.

Active Tool

Activate the tool for editors that support tools.

Alt Click Tool Prompt

Tapping Alt shows a prompt in the status bar prompting a second keystroke to activate the tool. Note this option is not available when using Emulate 3 Button Mouse.

Alt Tool Access

Hold Alt to use the Active Tool when the gizmo would normally be required. This option is only available when Left click Select with Mouse Button is chosen. Note this option is not available when using Emulate 3 Button Mouse.

Alt Cursor Access

Hold Alt-LMB to place the Cursor (instead of LMB), allows tools to activate on press instead of drag. This option is only available when Right click Select with Mouse Button is chosen. Note this option is not available when using Emulate 3 Button Mouse.

Select All Toggles

Causes selection shortcut A to deselect all when any selection exists.

3D Viewport

Grave Accent / Tilde Action
Navigate

Navigation pie menu, useful on systems without a numeric keypad.

Gizmos

Transform gizmos pie menu, useful for quickly switching between transform gizmos.

Middle Mouse Action

The action when MMB dragging in the viewport, this also applies to trackpads.

Orbit

Rotates the view around a pivot point, Shift-MMB is used for panning the view.

Pan

Shifts the view towards the mouse, Shift-MMB is used for orbiting the view.

Alt Middle Mouse Drag Action
Relative

Set the view axis where each mouse direction maps to an axis relative to the current orientation.

Absolute

Set the view axis where each mouse direction always maps to the same axis.

Tab for Pie Menu

Causes Tab to open a pie menu (swaps Tab and Ctrl-Tab).

Pie Menu on Drag

This allows keys to have a secondary drag action.

Tab
tap

Toggles Edit Mode.

drag

Object Mode pie menu.

Z
tap

Toggles wireframe view.

drag

Display mode pie menu.

AccentGrave
tap

First person Fly/walk Navigation.

drag

View axis pie menu.

Extra Shading Pie Menu Items

Show additional items in the shading menu (Z key).

File Browser

Open Folders on Single Click

Navigate into folders by clicking on them once instead of twice.