GIMP Keyboard Shortcuts

Complete GIMP keyboard shortcuts and commands reference — 131 shortcuts across 10 categories. Quick reference cheat sheet for Windows & Mac.

GIMP's default keymap borrows its tool letters from Photoshop where it can and diverges where the tools differ, and this page keeps to the tools and layer keys that a new user meets first. The table is the Windows/Linux keymap; on macOS the same keys apply with Cmd for Ctrl. Everything here can be remapped in Edit › Keyboard Shortcuts, which is also where the full list lives.

File (23)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Ctrl` + `N`	New image	New image.
`Shift` + `Ctrl` + `V`	Create From Clipboard	Create From Clipboard.
`Ctrl` + `O`	Open image	Open image.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `O`	Open image as layers	Open image as layers.
`Ctrl` + `1`	Open recent image #1	Open recent image #1.
`Ctrl` + `2`	Open recent image #2	Open recent image #2.
`Ctrl` + `3`	Open recent image #3	Open recent image #3.
`Ctrl` + `4`	Open recent image #4	Open recent image #4.
`Ctrl` + `5`	Open recent image #5	Open recent image #5.
`Ctrl` + `6`	Open recent image #6	Open recent image #6.
`Ctrl` + `7`	Open recent image #7	Open recent image #7.
`Ctrl` + `8`	Open recent image #8	Open recent image #8.
`Ctrl` + `9`	Open recent image #9	Open recent image #9.
`Ctrl` + `0`	Open recent image #10	Open recent image #10.
`Ctrl` + `S`	Save the XCF image	Save the XCF image.
`Shift` + `Ctrl` + `S`	Save image with a different name	Save image with a different name.
`Ctrl` + `E`	Export	Export.
`Shift` + `Ctrl` + `E`	Export As…: save image to various file formats	Export As…: save image to various file formats.
`Ctrl` + `P`	Print…	Print….
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `F`	Show image in file manager	Show image in file manager.
`Ctrl` + `W`	Close Window	Close Window.
`Shift` + `Ctrl` + `W`	Close All	Close All.
`Ctrl` + `Q`	Quit	Quit.

Edit (12)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Ctrl` + `Z`	Undo	Undo.
`Ctrl` + `Y`	Redo	Redo.
`Ctrl` + `C`	Copy selection	Copy selection.
`Ctrl Shift` + `C`	Copy visible	Copy visible.
`Ctrl` + `X`	Cut selection	Cut selection.
`Ctrl` + `V`	Paste clipboard	Paste clipboard.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `V`	Paste in place	Paste in place.
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `V`	Paste as new image	Paste as new image.
`Del`	Erase selection	Erase selection.
`Ctrl` + `,`	Fill with FG Color	Fill with FG Color.
`Ctrl` + `.`	Fill with BG Color	Fill with BG Color.
`Ctrl` + `;`	Fill with Pattern	Fill with Pattern.

Select (8)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Ctrl` + `T`	Toggle selections	Toggle selections.
`Ctrl` + `A`	Select all	Select all.
`Shift` + `Ctrl` + `A`	Select none	Select none.
`Ctrl` + `I`	Invert selection	Invert selection.
`Shift` + `Ctrl` + `L`	Float selection	Float selection.
`Shift` + `O`	Select by color	Select by color.
`Shift` + `V`	Path to selection	Path to selection.
`Shift` + `Q`	Toggle Quick Mask	Toggle Quick Mask.

View (16)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`F10`	Main Menu	Main Menu.
`F11`	Toggle fullscreen	Toggle fullscreen.
`Tab`	Toggle the visibility of toolbox and dialogs docks	Toggle the visibility of toolbox and dialogs docks.
`Shift` + `Q`	Toggle quick Mask	Toggle quick Mask.
`Ctrl` + `T`	Toggle selection outline visibility	Toggle selection outline visibility.
`Ctrl` + `W`	Close document window	Close document window.
`Shift` + `J`	Center image in window	Center image in window.
`Shift` + `Ctrl` + `J`	Fit image in window	Fit image in window.
`+`	Zoom in	Zoom in.
`-`	Zoom out	Zoom out.
`1`	Zoom 1:1	Zoom 1:1.
`Ctrl` + `J`	Shrink wrap	Shrink wrap.
`!`	Reset Flip and Rotate	Reset Flip and Rotate.
`arrows`	Scroll canvas	Scroll canvas.
`Shift` + `Ctrl` + `R`	Toggle rulers	Toggle rulers.
`Shift` + `Ctrl` + `T`	Toggle guides	Toggle guides.

Image (3)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Ctrl` + `D`	Duplicate image	Duplicate image.
`Ctrl` + `M`	Merge visible layers	Merge visible layers.
`Alt` + `Return`	Image properties	Image properties.

Layer (9)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Shift` + `Ctrl` + `N`	New layer	New layer.
`Shift` + `Ctrl` + `D`	Duplicate layers	Duplicate layers.
`Page Up`	Select the layers above	Select the layers above.
`Page Down`	Select the layers below	Select the layers below.
`Home`	Select the first layer	Select the first layer.
`End`	Select the last layer	Select the last layer.
`Ctrl` + `M`	Merge visible layers	Merge visible layers.
`Ctrl` + `H`	Anchor layer	Anchor layer.
`Shift` + `Ctrl` + `O`	Transform, Offset: shift the pixels in the layer	Transform, Offset: shift the pixels in the layer.

Tools (40)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`R`	Rectangle Select	Rectangle Select.
`E`	Ellipse Select	Ellipse Select.
`F`	Free Select	Free Select.
`U`	Fuzzy Select	Fuzzy Select.
`Shift` + `O`	Select By Color	Select By Color.
`I`	Scissors Select	Scissors Select.
`Shift` + `B`	Bucket Fill	Bucket Fill.
`G`	Gradient	Gradient.
`N`	Pencil	Pencil.
`P`	Paintbrush	Paintbrush.
`Shift` + `E`	Eraser	Eraser.
`A`	Airbrush	Airbrush.
`K`	Ink	Ink.
`Y`	MyPaint Brush	MyPaint Brush.
`C`	Clone	Clone.
`H`	Heal	Heal.
`Shift` + `U`	Blur/Sharpen	Blur/Sharpen.
`S`	Smudge	Smudge.
`Shift` + `D`	Dodge/Burn	Dodge/Burn.
`Q`	Alignment	Alignment.
`M`	Move	Move.
`Shift` + `C`	Crop	Crop.
`Shift` + `R`	Rotate	Rotate.
`Shift` + `S`	Scale	Scale.
`Shift` + `H`	Shear	Shear.
`Shift` + `P`	Perspective	Perspective.
`Shift` + `W`	3D Transform	3D Transform.
`Shift` + `T`	Unified Transform	Unified Transform.
`Shift` + `L`	Handle Transform	Handle Transform.
`Shift` + `F`	Flip	Flip.
`Shift` + `G`	Cage Transform	Cage Transform.
`W`	Warp Transform	Warp Transform.
`B`	Paths	Paths.
`T`	Text	Text.
`O`	Color Picker	Color Picker.
`Shift` + `M`	Measure	Measure.
`Z`	Zoom The Zoom tool has some specific reference keys: see Zoom tool .	Zoom The Zoom tool has some specific reference keys: see Zoom tool ..
`Ctrl` + `B`	Toolbox	Toolbox.
`D`	Default Colors	Default Colors.
`X`	Swap Colors	Swap Colors.

Filters (2)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Ctrl` + `F`	Repeat last filter	Repeat last filter.
`Shift` + `Ctrl` + `F`	Reshow last filter	Reshow last filter.

Dialogs & Windows (15)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Ctrl` + `L`	Layers	Layers.
`Shift` + `Ctrl` + `B`	Brushes	Brushes.
`Shift` + `Ctrl` + `P`	Patterns	Patterns.
`Ctrl` + `G`	Gradients	Gradients.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `E`	Error Console	Error Console.
`Enter`	Set the new value	Set the new value.
`Space, Enter`	Activate current button or list	Activate current button or list.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Page Up`	Switch tabs up	Switch tabs up.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Page Down`	Switch tabs down	Switch tabs down.
`Alt` + `Up`	Up-Folder	Up-Folder.
`Alt` + `Down`	Down-Folder	Down-Folder.
`Alt` + `Home`	Home-Folder	Home-Folder.
`Esc`	Close Dialog	Close Dialog.
`Ctrl` + `B`	Raise the Toolbox	Raise the Toolbox.
`Tab`	Toggle between showing and hiding Docks	Toggle between showing and hiding Docks.

Help (3)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`F1`	Help	Help.
`Shift` + `F1`	Context Help	Context Help.
`/`	Search and run a command	Search and run a command.

📜 Source: GIMP 3.0 documentation — Keys and Mouse Reference. Every keyboard entry in the GIMP 3.0 Keys and Mouse Reference, grouped by its menu chapters; mouse-only entries (zoom-tool clicks, drags) are left out. Checked 2026-09-06. How we verify ›

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most useful GIMP keyboard shortcuts?

The most essential GIMP shortcuts are: R (Rectangle Select), E (Ellipse Select), P (Pencil).

What is the GIMP shortcut for rectangle select?

The GIMP shortcut for rectangle select is R.

Can I combine GIMP shortcuts with other tools?

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

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Tool letters and their pairs

R and E are rectangle and ellipse select, M is move and T is text — the same as Photoshop. Painting is where GIMP differs: N is the paintbrush, P the pencil (hard-edged), and the eraser is Shift + E because E is taken by ellipse select. Shift + B is bucket fill and G the gradient. Tools that share a letter cycle when the key is pressed again, and the Toolbox groups show which ones are stacked. +/- zooms in and out around the pointer.

Layers, selection and export

Ctrl + Shift + N creates a new layer with a dialog for name, size and fill, and Ctrl + Shift + A deselects — the key to press when a paint stroke seems to do nothing, because an old selection is limiting it. Ctrl + I inverts the colours of the layer (not the selection; that is Ctrl + I under Select in older versions and Ctrl + Shift + I now). Ctrl + Shift + E exports to PNG, JPEG or any other format — in GIMP, Save writes only its own XCF format, and Export is how every other file type is written.

Why Save and Export are different

Since GIMP 2.8, Ctrl + S saves an XCF project file that keeps layers, paths and undo history, and Export handles everything else. New users lose work by pressing Save, seeing an XCF, and assuming the PNG was written. Use Ctrl + Shift + E (or Ctrl + E to re-export to the last file) whenever the result is meant to leave GIMP.

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