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

Operator search.

F4

File context menu.

F5 - F8

Reserved for user actions.

F9

Adjust last operation.

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 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 View navigation pie menu.

Ctrl-AccentGrave

Toggle gizmos.

Shift-AccentGrave

Walk/Fly Mode.

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.

Preferences

Select With

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.

Select All Toggles

Causes selection to deselect all when any selection exists.

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 for if doing a lot of modeling or rigging work.

Search

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

3D View

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 mode.

drag

View axis pie menu.

Extra Shading Pie Menu Items

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

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
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.