Default keyboard shortcuts for REAPER 7.81 on Windows, from the official User Guide of that version (September 2026). It prints Windows keys with one Mac rule: Cmd for Ctrl, Option for Alt, Control for the Windows key. Mouse modifiers, some rarely used keys and defaults the guide does not print are left out. Many main-window keys are single letters, such as S to split and M to drop a marker, and any binding can be changed in the Actions list (?).
102 shortcuts in 12 sections.Checked row by row against Cockos / reaper.fm on .Edited by Jay.
Projects and files 13
The guide prints Windows keys only. On a Mac use Cmd for Ctrl, Option for Alt and Control for the Windows key; Shift stays Shift.
Action
Windows
New project
Ctrl+N
New project tabKeeps the open project and adds an unsaved project in a tab of its own.
Ctrl+Alt+N
Open projectThe file dialog offers a read-only option for opening the project without changing it.
Ctrl+O
Save project
Ctrl+S
Save as new numbered versionWrites a new .RPP file with an incremented number, such as WinterBlues_1.RPP, instead of overwriting.
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+S
Project settingsHolds settings for this project only, from timebase to media, video and notes pages.
Alt+Enter
PreferencesGlobal settings that apply to every project, unlike the per-project settings dialog.
Ctrl+P
Render to fileOpens the render dialog, where an output directory and file name must be set before rendering.
Ctrl+Alt+R
Undo last actionAlso takes back a recording pass you are not happy with while overdubbing.
Ctrl+Z
Redo last action
Ctrl+Shift+Z
Undo History windowPress it again to close the window; undo memory limits are set in Preferences.
Ctrl+Alt+Z
Show Actions listSearch every action by name and assign or change its keyboard shortcut here.
?
Keybindings and mouse modifiersOpens the list in your web browser rather than inside REAPER.
Shift+F1
Windows and views 13
Action
Windows
Toggle mixerTrack panels use layout A while the mixer is shown and layout B, with all controls, when it is closed.
Ctrl+M
Toggle master trackToggles the master track in arrange view; it carries the output of the whole mix.
Ctrl+Alt+M
Show Transport BarBrings the bar back docked below arrange view, or floating if you undocked it.
Ctrl+Alt+T
Toggle NavigatorThe Navigator gives an overview of the project and can also be used to scroll.
Ctrl+Alt+V
Routing MatrixUse it, for example, to send the master to output pairs other than the first two.
Alt+R
FX BrowserDrag a plug-in from the browser onto a track panel, mixer strip or item to add it.
Shift+F
Show or hide dockersActs on every docker at once when you work with more than one.
Alt+D
Media ExplorerA dockable browser for finding, previewing and importing media files.
Ctrl+Alt+X
Video windowShows or hides the dockable window that plays the project's video.
Ctrl+Shift+V
Screensets and layoutsStores up to ten track views per project and recalls them with a double-click.
Ctrl+E
Load track view 1-3Recalls the first three saved track views; the keys can be reassigned in the Actions list.
F4-F6
Save track view 1-3Stores the current track layout in one of the first three track view slots.
Shift+F4-F6
Track Grouping MatrixA dockable grid for managing up to 128 track groups at once.
Ctrl+Alt+G
Transport and navigation 10
Action
Windows
Play or stopOn stop the play cursor jumps back to where playback began, joining the edit cursor.
Space
Pause playbackUnlike Space, it leaves the play cursor at the point where playback halted.
Enter
Start or stop recordingStopping this way keeps the new media automatically, while Space asks which recordings to keep.
Ctrl+R
Toggle repeatWith repeat on, a loop selection plays over and over until you stop.
R
Play, skipping time selectionPut the play cursor before the selection first; playback jumps over the selected range.
Alt+Space
Go to project start
HomeorW
Nudge cursor back or forward
Ctrl+LeftorCtrl+Right
Jump to positionType a time in the ruler's format, or m and a number such as m2 for a marker.
Ctrl+J
Next or previous track
Ctrl+Alt+DownorCtrl+Alt+Up
Next or previous transientMoves the cursor between transients inside the selected item, useful for cutting exact loops.
TaborShift+Tab
Tracks 9
Action
Windows
Insert new trackThe new track is added directly below the selected track.
Ctrl+T
Delete selected tracksWorks in arrange or mixer view, and the tracks' media items are removed with them.
Delete
Select all tracksClick in the track control panel first so that the selection applies to tracks.
Ctrl+A
Track grouping parametersOpens the Grouping window for the selected track, where groups are named and assigned.
Shift+G
Toggle item and track groupingHandy for briefly switching groups off and back on later without rebuilding them.
Alt+Shift+G
Toggle minimum track heightA second press restores the heights the tracks had before.
`
Toggle maximum track heightPressing again returns all tracks to their previous height.
~
Expand selected, minimise othersRepeat the key to return every track to its earlier height.
!
Resize all tracks equallySets every track to one height and steps it larger or smaller; tracks with locked height stay as they are.
Page UporPage Down
Zoom and scrolling 6
Action
Windows
Zoom in horizontally
+orUp
Zoom out horizontally
-orDown
Zoom to time selectionFills arrange view with the current time selection; Ctrl + Num + does the same.
Ctrl+Page Up
Zoom out to whole project
Ctrl+Page Down
Scroll view up or down
Alt+UporAlt+Down
Scroll view left or right
Alt+LeftorAlt+Right
Time selection 6
Action
Windows
Nudge time selectionShifts the whole selection a little left or right; linked loop points move with it.
,or.
Extend selection start left
Ctrl+,
Nudge selection endMoves only the right edge of the selection a little left or right.
Ctrl+Alt+,orCtrl+Alt+.
Move selection by its lengthJumps the selection one full selection length to the left or right.
Shift+,orShift+.
Select from the cursorCreates a time selection from the edit cursor without the mouse; turn snapping off for exact edges.
Shift+LeftorShift+Right
Clear time selection
Esc
Editing 16
Action
Windows
Split items at edit cursorWith nothing selected every item under the cursor is split; otherwise only the selected ones.
S
Split at time selectionCuts at both edges of a time selection or razor edit area.
Shift+S
Split at prior zero crossingMoves the cut back to the nearest zero crossing before the edit cursor.
Alt+Z
Remove selected items
Delete
Cut items
Ctrl+X
Copy items
Ctrl+C
Paste itemsPastes at the edit cursor, so place the cursor before pasting.
Ctrl+V
Cut items inside time selectionTakes only the part of the selected items that lies inside the time selection.
Ctrl+Shift+X
Copy items inside time selectionCopies only what lies inside the time selection, ready to paste at the edit cursor.
Ctrl+Shift+C
Delete part of itemsRemoves the portion of the selected items inside the time selection and keeps the rest.
Ctrl+Delete
Move items left or rightContents travel with the items; Num 2 and Num 8 move them down or up the same way.
Num 4orNum 6
Slide contents within itemShifts the material inside each item left or right while its edges stay put.
Num 1orNum 3
Item propertiesSelect several items first to change them all in one dialog.
F2
Group itemsEdits to one grouped item, such as volume or mute, then apply to the whole group.
G
Take FX chainOpens the FX window for the active take of the selected item.
Shift+E
Pitch up or down a semitoneChanges the pitch of the selected items without opening Item Properties.
Shift+0orShift+9
Takes 5
Action
Windows
Next takeSwitches the active take on all selected items, handy for auditioning takes in turn.
T
Previous take
Shift+T
Delete active takeRemoves the take currently shown on every selected item.
X
Crop to active takeKeeps only the active take and discards the others in the selected items.
Alt+Shift+T
Show takes in lanesToggles between stacked take lanes and showing only the active take.
Ctrl+L
Markers and regions 7
Action
Windows
Insert markerDrops a numbered marker at the current position, also during playback.
M
Insert and name markerSame as M but opens a dialog asking for the marker's name.
Shift+M
Go to marker 1-10Use the number row, not the numeric keypad; 0 is marker 10.
0-9
Move marker 1-10 to cursorCreates the marker if that number does not exist yet.
Ctrl+0-9
Next or previous markerAlso stops at the edges of a time selection, and at the project end or start.
]or[
Region from time selection
Shift+R
Add tempo or time signature changeOpens the same dialog as the timeline menu command for a tempo or time signature change.
Shift+C
Snapping and edit modes 6
Action
Windows
Toggle snappingRight-click the toolbar's snap button to change snap settings.
Alt+S
Toggle grid lines
Alt+G
Snap/grid settingsSets grid spacing and the other snap options in one window.
Alt+L
Toggle auto-crossfadeWhen on, dragging one item over another creates a crossfade automatically.
Alt+X
Cycle ripple editingSteps through off, per-track and all-tracks ripple editing.
Alt+P
Toggle lockingApplies locking to the project elements chosen in the lock settings.
L
MIDI editor 7
The MIDI Editor has its own section of the Actions list: main-window keys such as the marker keys ] and [ work there only when assigned the action that passes them through to the main window.
Action
Windows
Open inline MIDI editorEdits the selected MIDI item inside arrange view; raise the track height if needed.
E
Insert noteI adds the note at the edit cursor, Insert at the mouse pointer.
IorInsert
Switch editor view modeAlt + 1 piano roll, 2 named notes, 3 event list, 4 musical notation.
Alt+1-4
Move notes a semitoneTransposes the selected notes up or down; Num 8 and Num 2 do the same.
Ctrl+UporCtrl+Down
Move notes an octave
Alt+Num 8orAlt+Num 2
Note propertiesEdits the values of the selected notes in a dialog instead of the right-click menu.
Ctrl+F2
All notes offSilences every MIDI output until playback restarts, also from arrange view.
F3
FX chain window 4
With the FX window option to ignore FX keyboard shortcuts turned on, keys go to the main window instead, so Space starts and stops playback there.
Action
Windows
Next or previous FXMoves the selection through the plug-ins in the open FX chain.
DownorUp
Save FX chainWith Ignore FX chain keyboard shortcuts on, the key saves the project instead.
Ctrl+S
Rename FX instanceGives the selected plug-in in the chain a name of your own.
F2
Replace FXSwaps the selected plug-in for another while keeping its routing.
Ctrl+R
No row on this page matches that filter.
Notes
Transport and tracks
Space starts and stops playback, and on stop the play cursor returns to where playback began; Enter pauses and leaves it where it is. Ctrl + R starts recording on armed tracks and, pressed again, stops and keeps the new media, while stopping with Space asks what to keep. R only toggles repeat. Ctrl + T inserts a track below the selected one, and Ctrl + M shows or hides the mixer.
Items
S splits the selected items at the edit cursor, or all items there when nothing is selected, and Shift + S splits at the edges of a time selection or razor edit. Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V copy whole items and paste them at the edit cursor; Ctrl + Shift + C copies only the part inside the time selection. The numeric keypad moves items or slides the material inside them.
The Actions list
Every command in REAPER is an action. The Actions list (?) can be searched by name, shows the key already bound to an action, and lets you add, change or remove bindings, or chain several actions into one custom action. Help, Keybindings and Mouse Modifiers (Shift + F1) opens a list of keys and mouse modifiers in a web browser, and keymaps can be exported and imported as files.