All Shortcuts

Ableton Live Keyboard Shortcuts — Complete Cheat Sheet (278 Shortcuts)

Essential Ableton Live keyboard shortcuts for music production. These shortcuts cover playback, recording, editing, and navigation to speed up your music production workflow in Ableton Live.

Ableton Live's shortcuts follow the two-view structure of the program itself. Tab switches between Session and Arrangement, and most other keys behave the same way in both - which means the small set of global commands (Space for play, Shift-Tab for the detail view, Cmd/Ctrl-Shift-M to create a MIDI clip) covers most of the working session regardless of where you are.

The device and browser shortcuts are what keep a creative idea moving. Cmd/Ctrl-F focuses the browser search field, and once a device is highlighted, Enter loads it onto the selected track without a drag. Cmd/Ctrl-G groups a selection into a rack, which is the fastest route from several devices to one macro-controlled instrument. Cmd/Ctrl-Alt-G groups tracks, and both are reversible with Cmd/Ctrl-Shift-G.

For arrangement work, the loop brace and the consolidate command do the heavy lifting: setting a loop from a selection and then consolidating turns a good take into a clip you can move around. Duplicate (Cmd/Ctrl-D) extends a pattern by one length, which combined with looped playback is the standard way to build a section without stopping the transport.

Related Shortcut Pages

Logic Pro Reaper Cubase FL Studio Pro Tools

Search all Ableton Live shortcuts interactively

Open Interactive Shortcut Finder

Showing and Hiding Views (19)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`F11`	Toggle Full Screen Mode	Mac: Ctrl + Cmd + F.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `W`	Toggle Second Window	Mac: Cmd + Shift + W.
`Tab`	Toggle Session/Arrangement View	Same key on Mac.
`Shift` + `Tab or F12`	Toggle Between Device/Clip View	Same key on Mac.
`Q`	Toggle Hot-Swap Mode	Same key on Mac.
`D`	Toggle Drum Rack/Last Selected Pad	Same key on Mac.
`Shift` + `?`	Hide/Show Info View	Same key on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `V`	Hide/Show Video Window	Mac: Cmd + Option + V.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `B or Ctrl` + `Alt` + `5`	Hide/Show Browser	Mac: Cmd + Option + B or Cmd + Option + 5.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `O`	Hide/Show Overview	Mac: Cmd + Option + O.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `I`	Hide/Show In/Out	Mac: Cmd + Option + I.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `S`	Hide/Show Sends	Mac: Cmd + Option + S.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `M`	Hide/Show Mixer	Mac: Cmd + Option + M.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `3`	Hide/Show Clip View	Mac: Cmd + Option + 3.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `4`	Hide/Show Device View	Mac: Cmd + Option + 4.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `6`	Hide/Show the Groove Pool	Mac: Cmd + Option + 6.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `7`	Hide/Show the Learn View	Mac: Cmd + Option + 7.
`Ctrl` + `,`	Open the Settings	Mac: Cmd + ,.
`Esc`	Close Window/Dialog	Same key on Mac.

Keyboard Focus and Navigation (14)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Alt` + `0`	Move Focus to the Control Bar	Mac: Option + 0.
`Alt` + `1`	Move Focus to the Session View	Mac: Option + 1.
`Alt` + `2`	Move Focus to the Arrangement View	Mac: Option + 2.
`Alt` + `3`	Move Focus to the Clip View	Mac: Option + 3.
`Alt` + `4`	Move Focus to the Device View	Mac: Option + 4.
`Alt` + `5`	Move Focus to the Browser	Mac: Option + 5.
`Alt` + `6`	Move Focus to the Groove Pool	Mac: Option + 6.
`Alt` + `7`	Move Focus to the Learn View	Mac: Option + 7.
`Alt` + `8`	Move Focus to the Selected Clip Panel	Mac: Option + 8.
`Alt` + `Shift` + `P`	Move Focus to the Clip Panels	Mac: Option + Shift + P.
`Tab`	Move to Next Focusable Control	Same key on Mac.
`Shift` + `Tab`	Move to Previous Focusable Control	Same key on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `Tab`	Move to Next Neighbor of Current Control	Mac: Option + Tab.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Tab`	Move to Previous Neighbor of Current Control	Mac: Option + Shift + Tab.

Working with Sets and the Program (8)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Ctrl` + `N`	New Live Set	Mac: Cmd + N.
`Ctrl` + `O`	Open Live Set	Mac: Cmd + O.
`Ctrl` + `S`	Save Live Set	Mac: Cmd + S.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `S`	Save Live Set As…	Mac: Cmd + Shift + S.
`Ctrl` + `Q`	Quit Live	Mac: Cmd + Q.
`Cmd` + `H`	Hide Live	Same key on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `R`	Export Audio/Video	Mac: Cmd + Shift + R.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `E`	Export MIDI File	Mac: Cmd + Shift + E.

Working with Devices and Plug-Ins (8)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Ctrl` + `G`	Group Devices	Mac: Cmd + G.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `G`	Ungroup Devices	Mac: Cmd + Shift + G.
`Shift` + `Click`	Add Device(s) to Selection	Same key on Mac.
`Enter`	Load Selected Device from Browser	Same key on Mac.
`Q`	Hot-Swap Selected Device	Same key on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `P`	Hide/Show Open Plug-In Windows	Mac: Cmd + Option + P.
`Ctrl`	Open Multiple Windows with Show/Hide Plug-In Window Button	Mac: Cmd.
`P`	Compare A/B: Switch Device State	Same key on Mac.

Editing (16)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Ctrl` + `X`	Cut	Mac: Cmd + X.
`Ctrl` + `C`	Copy	Mac: Cmd + C.
`Ctrl` + `V`	Paste	Mac: Cmd + V.
`Ctrl` + `D`	Duplicate	Mac: Cmd + D.
`Delete`	Delete	Same key on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `Z`	Undo	Mac: Cmd + Z.
`Ctrl` + `Y`	Redo	Mac: Cmd + Shift + Z.
`Ctrl` + `R`	Rename	Mac: Cmd + R.
`Ctrl` + `A`	Select All	Mac: Cmd + A.
`Ctrl` + `Click`	Select Multiple Items	Mac: Cmd + Click.
`Shift` + `Click`	Select Multiple Items by First and Last Item	Same key on Mac.
`Tab`	Move to Next Track/Scene When Renaming	Same key on Mac.
`Alt`	Ignore Grid Quantization When Dragging	Mac: Cmd.
`Shift`	Clips and Slots Across All Tracks	Same key on Mac.
`Shift`	Time Across All Tracks	Same key on Mac.
`Alt`	The Selected Part of the Envelope	Mac: Option.

Adjusting Values (8)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Up/Down`	Decrement/Increment	Same key on Mac.
`Shift` + `Up/Down`	Decrement/Increment in Octaves or Fine Adjustments	Same key on Mac.
`Shift`	Finer Resolution When Dragging	Same key on Mac.
`Delete`	Return to Default	Same key on Mac.
`0-9`	Type In Value	Same key on Mac.
`. / ,`	Go to Next Field (Bar/Beat/16th)	Same key on Mac.
`Esc`	Cancel Value Entry	Same key on Mac.
`Enter`	Confirm Value Entry	Same key on Mac.

Commands for Breakpoint Envelopes (6)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`A`	Toggle Automation Mode	Same key on Mac.
`Shift`	Finer Resolution When Dragging	Same key on Mac.
`Alt`	Create Curved Automation Segment	Mac: Option.
`F`	Momentarily Toggle Fade Controls	Same key on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `Delete`	Delete Selected Breakpoint Envelope	Mac: Cmd + Delete.
`Alt`	Ignore Grid Quantization When Dragging	Mac: Cmd.

Loop Brace and Start/End Markers (11)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Ctrl` + `F9`	Set Start Marker	Mac: Cmd + F9.
`Ctrl` + `F10`	Set Loop Brace Start	Mac: Cmd + F10.
`Ctrl` + `F11`	Set Loop Brace End	Mac: Cmd + F11.
`Ctrl` + `F12`	Set End Marker	Mac: Cmd + F12.
`Ctrl` + `Click`	Move Start Marker to Position	Mac: Cmd + Click.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Click`	Move End Marker to Position	Mac: Cmd + Shift + Click.
`Left/Right`	Nudge Loop Brace Left/Right	Same key on Mac.
`Up/Down`	Move Loop by Loop Length	Same key on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `Up/Down`	Halve/Double Loop Length	Mac: Cmd + Up/Down.
`Ctrl` + `Left/Right`	Shorten/Lengthen Loop	Mac: Cmd + Left/Right.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `L`	Select Material in Loop	Mac: Cmd + Shift + L.

Zooming, Display and Selections (10)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Ctrl` + `+`	Zoom In Window	Mac: Cmd + +.
`Ctrl` + `-`	Zoom Out Window	Mac: Cmd + -.
`+`	Zoom In Time Ruler	Same key on Mac.
`-`	Zoom Out Time Ruler	Same key on Mac.
`Alt` + `Shift` + `F`	Scroll Display to Follow Playback	Mac: Option + Shift + F.
`Shift` + `Scroll`	Scroll Left/Right	Same key on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `Alt`	Pan Left/Right of Selection	Mac: Cmd + Option.
`Shift` + `Click or Drag`	Add Items to a Selection	Same key on Mac.
`Shift` + `Click`	Add Adjacent Clips/Tracks/Scenes to Multi-Selection	Same key on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `Click`	Add Nonadjacent Clips/Tracks/Scenes to a Multi-Selection	Mac: Cmd + Click.

Clip View Editor View Modes (5)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Ctrl` + `Tab`	Switch Between Sample/Envelopes Tabs	Mac: Option + Tab.
`Ctrl` + `Tab`	Switch Between Notes/Envelopes/MPE Tabs	Mac: Option + Tab.
`Alt` + `Shift` + `1`	Switch to Sample/Notes Tab	Mac: Option + Shift + 1.
`Alt` + `Shift` + `2`	Switch to Envelopes Tab	Mac: Option + Shift + 2.
`Alt` + `Shift` + `3`	Switch to MPE Tab	Mac: Option + Shift + 3.

Clip View Sample Editor (14)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Ctrl` + `U`	Quantize	Mac: Cmd + U.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `U`	Quantize Settings…	Mac: Cmd + Shift + U.
`Left/Right`	Move Selected Warp Marker	Same key on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `Left/Right`	Select Warp Marker	Mac: Cmd + Left/Right.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `F`	Scroll Display to Follow Playback	Mac: Option + Shift + F.
`Shift` + `Left/Right`	Move Clip Region with Start Marker	Same key on Mac.
`Z`	Zoom to Clip Selection	Same key on Mac.
`X`	Zoom Back from Clip Selection	Same key on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `I`	Insert Warp Marker	Mac: Cmd + I.
`Delete`	Delete Warp Marker	Same key on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `I`	Insert Transient	Mac: Cmd + Shift + I.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Delete`	Delete Transient	Mac: Cmd + Shift + Delete.
`W`	Fit Content to View Width	Same key on Mac.
`H`	Fit Content to View Height	Same key on Mac.

Clip View MIDI Note Editor (33)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Ctrl` + `A`	Select All Notes	Mac: Cmd + A.
`Ctrl` + `Drag`	Copy Notes	Mac: Option + Drag.
`Ctrl` + `E`	Chop Selected Notes on Grid or Split Notes at Time Selection Start/End	Mac: Cmd + E.
`Ctrl` + `E` + `Drag` + `up/down`	Chop Notes in Increments of 1	Mac: Cmd + E + Drag + up/down.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `E` + `Drag` + `up/down`	Chop Notes in Increments of 2	Mac: Cmd + Shift + E + Drag + up/down.
`Ctrl` + `J`	Join Notes	Mac: Cmd + J.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `J`	Fit Notes to Time Range	Mac: Cmd + Option + J.
`W`	Fit Content to View Width	Same key on Mac.
`H`	Fit Content to View Height	Same key on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `U`	Quantize	Mac: Cmd + U.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `U`	Quantize Settings…	Mac: Cmd + Shift + U.
`Page` + `Up/Down`	Scroll Editor Vertically	Same key on Mac.
`Shift` + `Page` + `Up/Down`	Scroll Editor Vertically in Fine Increments	Same key on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `Page` + `Up/Down`	Scroll Editor Horizontally	Mac: Cmd + Page + Up/Down.
`Alt` + `Drag`	Change Velocity from MIDI Note Editor	Mac: Cmd + Drag.
`Alt` + `Up/Down`	Select Next/Previous Note	Mac: Option + Up/Down.
`Alt` + `Left/Right`	Select Next/Previous Note in Same Key Track	Mac: Option + Left/Right.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `F`	Scroll Display to Follow Playback	Mac: Option + Shift + F.
`Shift` + `Left/Right`	Move Clip Region with Start Marker	Same key on Mac.
`Z`	Zoom to Clip Selection	Same key on Mac.
`X`	Zoom Back from Clip Selection	Same key on Mac.
`+/-`	Zoom In/Out Horizontally	Same key on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `Up/Down`	Adjust Note Selection Velocity	Mac: Cmd + Up/Down.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Up/Down`	Adjust Note Selection Velocity Deviation	Mac: Cmd + Shift + Up/Down.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Up/Down`	Adjust Note Selection Chance	Mac: Cmd + Option + Up/Down.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `E`	Toggle Full-Size Clip View	Mac: Cmd + Option + E.
`Ctrl` + `G`	Group Notes (Play All)	Mac: Cmd + G.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `G`	Ungroup Notes	Mac: Cmd + Shift + G.
`Ctrl` + `Enter`	Apply Current MIDI Tool Settings	Mac: Cmd + Enter.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `A`	Invert Note Selection	Mac: Cmd + Shift + A.
`K`	Highlight Scale	Same key on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `E`	Split Arrangement Clip Based on Time Selection	Mac: Cmd + Shift + E.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `F`	Show/Hide MIDI Note Filters	Mac: Cmd + Shift + F.

Grid Snapping and Drawing (7)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`B`	Toggle Draw Mode (Pitch Lock Off)	Same key on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `1`	Narrow Grid	Mac: Cmd + 1.
`Ctrl` + `2`	Widen Grid	Mac: Cmd + 2.
`Ctrl` + `3`	Triplet Grid	Mac: Cmd + 3.
`Ctrl` + `4`	Snap to Grid	Mac: Cmd + 4.
`Ctrl` + `5`	Fixed/Zoom-Adaptive Grid	Mac: Cmd + 5.
`Alt`	Bypass Snapping While Dragging	Mac: Cmd.

Global Quantization (5)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Ctrl` + `6`	Sixteenth-Note Quantization	Mac: Cmd + 6.
`Ctrl` + `7`	Eighth-Note Quantization	Mac: Cmd + 7.
`Ctrl` + `8`	Quarter-Note Quantization	Mac: Cmd + 8.
`Ctrl` + `9`	1-Bar Quantization	Mac: Cmd + 9.
`Ctrl` + `0`	Quantization Off	Mac: Cmd + 0.

Session View (20)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Enter`	Launch Selected Clip/Slot	Same key on Mac.
`Arrow` + `Keys`	Select Neighboring Clip/Slot	Same key on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `A`	Select All Clips/Slots	Mac: Cmd + A.
`Ctrl` + `Drag`	Copy Clips	Mac: Option + Drag.
`Ctrl` + `E`	Add/Remove Stop Button	Mac: Cmd + E.
`Ctrl` + `Enter`	Stop Clips in Track with Slot Selection	Mac: Cmd + Enter.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `M`	Insert MIDI clip	Mac: Cmd + Shift + M.
`Ctrl` + `I`	Insert Scene	Mac: Cmd + I.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `I`	Insert Captured Scene	Mac: Cmd + Shift + I.
`Up/Down`	Move Up/Down Between Scenes (One at a Time)	Same key on Mac.
`Page` + `Up/Down`	Move Up/Down Between Scenes (Eight at a Time)	Same key on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `F9`	Record to Session View	Mac: Cmd + Shift + F9.
`Shift` + `Enter`	Toggle Follow Actions for Selected Clips	Same key on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Enter`	Create Follow Action Chain	Mac: Cmd + Shift + Enter.
`Ctrl` + `Left/Right`	Move Selected Track Left/Right	Mac: Cmd + Left/Right.
`Ctrl` + `Up/Down`	Move Nonadjacent Scenes Without Collapsing	Mac: Cmd + Up/Down.
`Ctrl`	Drop Browser Clips as a Scene	Mac: Cmd.
`0`	Deactivate Selected Clip	Same key on Mac.
`Esc`	Jump to Highlighted Track Title Bar	Same key on Mac.
`S`	Solo Selected Chain	Same key on Mac.

Arrangement View (33)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Ctrl` + `E`	Split Clip at Selection	Mac: Cmd + E.
`Ctrl` + `J`	Consolidate Selection into Clip	Mac: Cmd + J.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `J`	Crop Selected Clips	Mac: Cmd + Shift + J.
`Enter` + `Left/Right`	Resize Clip When Insert Marker is at Clip Edge	Same key on Mac.
`Shift` + `Alt` + `Drag`	Slide Waveform	Mac: Shift + Option + Drag.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `F`	Create Fade/Crossfade	Mac: Cmd + Option + F.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Backspace`	Delete Fades/Crossfades in Selected Clip(s)	Mac: Cmd + Option + Delete.
`F`	Momentarily Toggle Fade Handles	Same key on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `L`	Toggle Loop Brace	Mac: Cmd + L.
`Ctrl` + `Left/Right`	Adjust Loop Brace Length	Mac: Cmd + Left/Right.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `L`	Select Loop Brace Contents	Mac: Cmd + Shift + L.
`Ctrl` + `I`	Insert Silence	Mac: Cmd + I.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `X`	Cut Time	Mac: Cmd + Shift + X.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `C`	Copy Time	Mac: Cmd + Shift + C.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `V`	Paste Time	Mac: Cmd + Shift + V.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `D`	Duplicate Time	Mac: Cmd + Shift + D.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Delete`	Delete Time	Mac: Cmd + Shift + Delete.
`U or Left/Right`	Fold/Unfold Selected Tracks	Same key on Mac.
`Alt` + `U`	Unfold All Tracks	Mac: Option + U.
`Alt` + `+/-`	Adjust Height of Selected Tracks/Clips	Mac: Option + +/-.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `F`	Scroll Display to Follow Playback	Mac: Option + Shift + F.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Drag`	Scroll Display Left/Right of Selection	Mac: Cmd + Option + Drag.
`H`	Optimize Arrangement Height	Same key on Mac.
`W`	Optimize Arrangement Width	Same key on Mac.
`0`	Deactivate Selection	Same key on Mac.
`Left/Right`	Nudge Selection Left/Right	Same key on Mac.
`R`	Reverse Audio Clip Selection	Same key on Mac.
`Z`	Zoom to Arrangement Time Selection	Same key on Mac.
`X`	Zoom Back from Arrangement Time Selection	Same key on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `Space`	Play from Insert Marker in Selected Clip	Mac: Option + Space.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Space`	Move Insert Marker to Playhead Position	Mac: Cmd + Shift + Space.
`Esc`	Jump to Highlighted Track Title Bar	Same key on Mac.
`Alt` + `Shift` + `M`	Move Focus to Mixer	Mac: Option + Shift + M.

Comping (6)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `U`	Show Take Lanes	Mac: Cmd + Option + U.
`Enter`	Add Selected Take Lane Area to Main Track Lane	Same key on Mac.
`T`	Audition Selected Take Lane	Same key on Mac.
`Shift` + `Alt` + `T`	Add Take Lane	Mac: Shift + Option + T.
`Ctrl` + `D`	Duplicate Selected Take Lane	Mac: Cmd + D.
`Ctrl` + `Up/Down`	Replace Main Take Clip with Next/Previous Take	Mac: Cmd + Up/Down.

Bounce to Audio (2)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Ctrl` + `B`	Bounce to New Track	Mac: Cmd + B.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `V`	Paste Bounced Audio	Mac: Cmd + Option + V.

Commands for Tracks (18)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Ctrl` + `T`	Insert Audio Track	Mac: Cmd + T.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `T`	Insert MIDI Track	Mac: Cmd + Shift + T.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `T`	Insert Return Track	Mac: Cmd + Option + T.
`Ctrl` + `R`	Rename Selected Track	Mac: Cmd + R.
`Tab`	Go to Next Track When Renaming	Same key on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `G`	Group Selected Tracks	Mac: Cmd + G.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `G`	Ungroup Tracks	Mac: Cmd + Shift + G.
`+`	Show Grouped Tracks	Same key on Mac.
`-`	Hide Grouped Tracks	Same key on Mac.
`U`	Collapse/Expand Grouped Tracks	Same key on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `R`	Hide/Show Return Tracks	Mac: Cmd + Option + R.
`Ctrl` + `Arrow` + `Keys`	Move Nonadjacent Tracks Without Collapsing	Mac: Cmd + Arrow + Keys.
`C`	Arm Selected Tracks	Same key on Mac.
`S`	Solo Selected Tracks	Same key on Mac.
`Enter`	Add Device from Browser	Same key on Mac.
`0`	Deactivate Selected Track	Same key on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Shift` + `F`	Freeze/Unfreeze Tracks	Mac: Cmd + Option + Shift + F.
`Delete`	Delete Track from Track Title Bar	Same key on Mac.

Transport (10)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Space`	Play from Start Marker/Stop	Same key on Mac.
`Shift` + `Space`	Continue Play from Stop Point	Same key on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `Space`	Stop Playback at End of Selection	Mac: Option + Space.
`Space`	Play Arrangement View Selection	Same key on Mac.
`F9`	Record	Same key on Mac.
`Shift` + `F9`	Arm Recording in Arrangement View	Same key on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `F9`	Record to Session View	Mac: Cmd + Shift + F9.
`F10`	Back to Arrangement	Same key on Mac.
`F1-F8`	Activate/Deactivate Track 1…8	Same key on Mac.
`O`	Toggle Metronome	Same key on Mac.

Audio Engine (1)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Shift` + `E`	Turn Audio Engine On/Off	Mac: Cmd + Option + Shift + E.

Browser (14)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Up/Down`	Scroll Down/Up	Same key on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `B`	Hide/Show Browser	Mac: Cmd + Option + B.
`Left/Right`	Close/Open Folders	Same key on Mac.
`Enter`	Load Selected Item from Browser	Same key on Mac.
`Shift` + `Enter or Right`	Preview Selected File	Same key on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `F`	Search in Browser	Mac: Cmd + F.
`Down or Enter`	Jump to Search Results	Same key on Mac.
`1-7`	Assign Color(s) to Selected Browser Item(s)	Same key on Mac.
`0`	Reset Assigned Color(s) for Selected Browser Item(s)	Same key on Mac.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `F`	Show Similar Files Using Similarity Search	Mac: Cmd + Shift + F.
`Ctrl` + `[`	Browser History Back	Mac: Cmd + [.
`Ctrl` + `]`	Browser History Forward	Mac: Cmd + ].
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `G`	Hide/Show Filter View	Mac: Cmd + Option + G.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `E`	Hide/Show Tag Editor	Mac: Cmd + Shift + E.

Similar Sample Swapping (5)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Ctrl` + `Right`	Swap to Next Similar Sample	Mac: Cmd + Right.
`Ctrl` + `Left`	Swap to Previous Similar Sample	Mac: Cmd + Left.
`Ctrl` + `Up`	Save as Similarity Reference	Mac: Cmd + Up.
`Ctrl` + `Down`	Return to Reference	Mac: Cmd + Down.
`Alt`	Temporarily Toggle Similar Sample Swap Controls in Drum Racks	Mac: Option.

Key/MIDI Map Mode and the Computer MIDI Keyboard (5)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Ctrl` + `M`	Toggle MIDI Map Mode	Mac: Cmd + M.
`Ctrl` + `K`	Toggle Key Map Mode	Mac: Cmd + K.
`M`	Computer MIDI Keyboard	Same key on Mac.
`X / Z`	Adjust Computer MIDI Keyboard Octave Range Up/Down	Same key on Mac.
`C / V`	Adjust Computer MIDI Keyboard Incoming Note Velocity Up/Down	Same key on Mac.

📜 Source: Ableton — Live 12 Reference Manual, chapter “Live Keyboard Shortcuts”. Every row comes from the Live 12 manual chapter, Windows keys in the table and the macOS equivalent in the last column. Mouse-only gestures and typed value entry are left out. Checked 2026-09-06. How we verify ›

Frequently Asked Questions

📄 View Printable Cheat Sheet — Download as PDF or print · 🧩 Combine with other tools

What is the shortcut to play and stop in Ableton Live?

Press Space to play/stop. Press Shift+Space to play from the current position.

How do I record in Ableton Live?

Press F9 to start recording, or click the record button in the transport bar.

How do I split a clip in Ableton?

Place the cursor at the split point and press Ctrl+E (Cmd+E on Mac).

How do I switch between Session and Arrangement view?

Press Tab to toggle between Session View and Arrangement View.

How do I duplicate a clip in Ableton?

Select the clip and press Ctrl+D (Cmd+D on Mac) to duplicate it.

Can I combine Ableton Live shortcuts with other tools?

Yes — use My Stack to combine Ableton Live shortcuts with any other platform on this site into one printable reference, which is useful if your daily workflow spans several tools.

Browse shortcuts for 268 platforms

Explore All Platforms Practice Shortcuts

🔧 Spotted an error or a missing shortcut? Suggest an edit on GitHub — every accepted fix goes live on this page, the API and the CLI.

🤖 Ask AI about Ableton Live shortcuts

Open your assistant with this page preloaded as the source — great for follow-up questions like "which of these work in other apps?"

ChatGPT Claude Perplexity Gemini Grok