app · Mac, Windows
Photoshop Keyboard Shortcuts
Photoshop shortcuts are easiest to learn by task: navigation, editing, formatting, and view controls. Start with the table below, then use the menu path fallback when a key combination is blocked.
Reference table
Shortcut Library
Use this as the main reference: shortcut first, menu fallback second, and the note column for version or platform differences.
| Action | Mac | Windows / Web | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Move tool | V | V | Move layers and selections. |
| Marquee tool | M | M | Rectangular and elliptical selections. |
| Lasso tool | L | L | Freeform selections. |
| Crop tool | C | C | Crop and straighten. |
| Eyedropper | I | I | Sample color. |
| Brush tool | B | B | Switch to Brush. |
| Eraser | E | E | Erase pixels or mask areas. |
| Gradient tool | G | G | Gradient and paint bucket group. |
| Pen tool | P | P | Vector paths. |
| Type tool | T | T | Add text. |
| Hand tool | H or Space | H or Space | Pan the canvas. |
| Zoom tool | Z | Z | Zoom in and out. |
| Free Transform | Command + T | Ctrl + T | Transform selected layer or selection. |
| Commit transform | Return | Enter | Apply current transform. |
| Cancel transform | Esc | Esc | Cancel current transform. |
| Change brush size | [ or ] | [ or ] | Decrease or increase size. |
| Change brush hardness | Shift + [ or ] | Shift + [ or ] | Adjust hardness. |
| Default colors | D | D | Reset foreground/background colors. |
| Swap colors | X | X | Swap foreground/background colors. |
| New layer | Shift + Command + N | Shift + Ctrl + N | Create a named layer. |
| Duplicate layer | Command + J | Ctrl + J | Duplicates selected layer or selection. |
| Group layers | Command + G | Ctrl + G | Groups selected layers. |
| Merge layers | Command + E | Ctrl + E | Merges selected layers. |
| Hide extras | Command + H | Ctrl + H | Toggle extras. |
| Rulers | Command + R | Ctrl + R | Toggle rulers. |
| Guides | Command + ; | Ctrl + ; | Toggle guides. |
| Deselect | Command + D | Ctrl + D | Clear active selection. |
| Reselect | Shift + Command + D | Shift + Ctrl + D | Reload last selection. |
| Invert selection | Shift + Command + I | Shift + Ctrl + I | Invert selected area. |
| Save | Command + S | Ctrl + S | Save document. |
| Save a copy | Option + Command + S | Alt + Ctrl + S | Version-dependent. |
| Save for web | Option + Shift + Command + S | Alt + Shift + Ctrl + S | Available in many Photoshop versions. |
| Fit on screen | Command + 0 | Ctrl + 0 | Fit document to view. |
| Actual pixels | Command + 1 | Ctrl + 1 | View at 100%. |
| Preferences | Command + K | Ctrl + K | Open preferences. |
Menu Path Fallback
Open the app menu bar or command palette, then search for the action name shown in the table.
Compatibility
Photoshop shortcuts can vary by operating system, app version, browser mode, and keyboard layout. Confirm platform-specific details before training a team or publishing an internal SOP.
If It Does Not Work
- Make sure the app or browser tab is focused before pressing the shortcut.
- Check whether a system shortcut, browser extension, or custom keyboard setting is intercepting the keys.
- Use the menu path as a fallback when the shortcut is unavailable on your platform.
FAQ
Why do shortcuts differ between Mac and Windows?
Modifier keys, app versions, browser focus, and keyboard layouts can change the exact shortcut.
What should I do if a shortcut does not work?
Check whether the app window is focused, confirm the platform, try the menu path, and look for system-level shortcut conflicts.
Are these pages a replacement for official docs?
No. They are practical reference pages with links to official sources where version-specific details should be checked.