Blender Keyboard Shortcuts
Prakash Bhandari (PB)Loading..
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Mastering shortcuts in Blender 4.4 accelerates your workflow, minimizes menu-searching, and helps transition smoothly from other 3D tools. Covering both the Default and Industry-Compatible keymaps ensures you have everything you need, whether you're sticking with Blender’s native style or switching from Maya, 3ds Max, or Cinema 4D.
Keyboard & Mouse Input Notation:
Keyboard
- Letter keys (e.g.,
G): Press the single key (like typing a lowercase “g”). - Modifier keys:
Shift,Ctrl,Altare listed separately. - Combined hotkeys: Written as
Ctrl‑W,Shift‑Alt‑A, etc., meaning press all keys together. - Number keys:
- Top row:
0–9 - Numpad:
Numpad0–Numpad9,NumpadPlus(numeric keypad).
- Top row:
- Other keys: Referenced by name—
Esc,Tab,F1–F12, and arrow keys such asLeft,Right, etc.
🖱️ Mouse
Blender uses standard terms for mouse buttons:
- LMB — Left Mouse Button
- RMB — Right Mouse Button
- MMB — Middle Mouse Button (wheel click)
- Wheel, WheelUp, WheelDown — Mouse wheel scrolls
By using this standardized notation, Blender clearly conveys exactly which key(s) or button(s) to press, keeping hotkey descriptions consistent and easy to follow.
Blender: Hover‑Over Editable‑Field Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action (Hover over field) |
|---|---|
| Ctrl +C | Copy the single value of the field. |
| Ctrl + V | Paste the single value into the field. |
| Ctrl + Alt + C | Copy the entire vector (X/Y/Z) or color field. |
| Ctrl + Alt + V | Paste the entire vector or color field. |
| RMB | Open context menu on the field. |
| Backspace | Reset the value to its default. |
| Minus | Invert the value’s sign (multiply by –1.0). |
| Ctrl + Wheel | Incrementally adjust the value; cycles options in pop‑up lists. |
| Return | Activate menus or toggle checkboxes. |
| Alt (while editing) | Apply changes to all selected items (objects, bones, strips). |
Blender: Common Animation Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| I | Insert a keyframe. |
| Alt + I | Clear the keyframe on the current frame. |
| Shift + Alt + I | Clear all keyframes on the current property. |
| Ctrl + D | Assign a driver to the property. |
| Ctrl + Alt + D | Clear the driver from the property. |
| K | Add the property to the current keying set. |
| Alt + K | Remove the property from the current keying set. |
Blender: Industry Compatible Animation Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Spacebar | Play/Pause the animation timeline. |
| S | Insert keyframe for Location, Rotation, and Scale (LocRotScale). |
| Shift + S | Open the Insert Keyframe menu. |
| Shift + W | Insert keyframe for Location only. |
| Shift + E | Insert keyframe for Rotation only. |
| Shift + R | Insert keyframe for Scale only. |
Blender: Python Scripting Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + C | Copies the Python command of the hovered operator button to the clipboard. |
| Shift + Ctrl + C | Copies the relative data path of a field (useful for drivers or scripting). |
| Shift + Ctrl + Alt + C | Copies the full data path of a field for advanced scripting or driver references. |
Blender: Dragging Modifiers (After Starting a Drag)
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl | Snap to coarse increments (e.g., rotate exactly 90°). |
| Shift | Move in small, precise steps (slower response for finer control). |
| Shift + Ctrl | Snap to fine increments (more detailed than Ctrl alone). |
📝 Note: These shortcuts work after initiating an action—such as moving, scaling, rotating, or dragging sliders—not before.
Blender: Text Editing Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Home | Move the cursor to the start of the line. |
| End | Move the cursor to the end of the line. |
| Left / Right | Move the cursor one character left or right. |
| Ctrl + Left / Right | Move the cursor one word left or right. |
| Backspace / Delete | Delete a single character. |
| Ctrl + Backspace / Delete | Delete a full word. |
| Shift (with arrow keys) | Select text while moving the cursor. |
| Ctrl + A | Select all text. |
| Ctrl + C | Copy selected text. |
| Ctrl + X | Cut selected text. |
| Ctrl + V | Paste text at the cursor position. |
Blender: Confirm & Cancel Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Esc, RMB | Cancel an operation. |
| Return, LMB | Confirm an operation. |
Blender: Global Shortcuts (Default Keymap)
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + O | Open a file. |
| Ctrl + S | Save the current file. |
| Ctrl + N | Create a new file. |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo last action. |
| Shift + Ctrl + Z | Redo last undone action. |
| Ctrl + Q | Quit Blender. |
| F1 | Show context-sensitive help. |
| F2 | Rename the active item. |
| F3 | Search for operators and commands. |
| F4 | Open file context menu. |
| F5 – F8 | Reserved for user actions. |
| F9 | Adjust last operation performed. |
| F10 | Reserved for user actions. |
| F11 | Show the render window. |
| F12 | Render the current frame. |
| Q | Quick access menu (Favorites). |
| Ctrl + Spacebar | Toggle Maximize Area. |
| Ctrl + PageUp / PageDown | Switch to next/previous workspace. |
| Spacebar | User configurable action (Play, Search, Tools, etc.). |
| Shift + Ctrl + Spacebar | Play animation in reverse. |
Blender: Common Editing Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| X | Delete the selected item with a confirmation dialog. |
| Delete | Delete the selected item without a confirmation dialog. |
Blender: Common Editor Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| A | Select all items. |
| Alt + A / double-tap A | Deselect all items (select none). |
| Ctrl + I | Invert the current selection. |
| H | Hide selected items. |
| Shift + H | Hide all but selected items. |
| Alt + H | Reveal all hidden items. |
| T | Toggle the Toolbar display. |
| N | Toggle the Sidebar display. |
Blender: 3D Viewport Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Tab | Toggle Edit Mode on/off. |
| Ctrl + Tab | Toggle Pose Mode for armatures or open Mode Switch Pie Menu for other object types. |
| 1 / 2 / 3 | In Edit Mode, switch to Vertex (1), Edge (2), or Face (3) selection mode. |
| Shift + (1 / 2 / 3) | Toggle selection modes without disabling others. |
| Ctrl + (1 / 2 / 3) | Modify how selection transforms between modes. |
| ` (Accent Grave) | Show 3D Viewport Navigation Pie Menu. |
| Ctrl + ` | Toggle gizmo visibility in viewport. |
| Shift + ` | Start Fly or Walk Navigation mode. |
Blender: Industry Compatible Keymap – Common Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 – 3 | Switch selection mode (Vertex, Edge, Face). |
| 4 | Switch to Object Mode. |
| 5 | Open Modes Pie Menu. |
| RMB | Open Context Menu (Right Mouse Button). |
| Tab | Open Menu Search. |
| Shift + Tab | Quick Access (Favorites menu). |
| Return | Rename the selected item. |
| Ctrl + Return | Render the scene or frame. |
| Ctrl + [ | Toggle Toolbar visibility. |
| Ctrl + ] | Toggle Sidebar visibility. |
Blender: Common Editing Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Backspace | Delete the selected item with confirmation. |
| Delete | Delete the selected item without confirmation. |
| Ctrl + D | Duplicate the selected item. |
| P | Set the parent of selected objects. |
| B | Toggle Proportional Editing (Soft Selection). |
Blender: Viewport Navigation Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Alt + LMB | Orbit the 3D Viewport. |
| Alt + MMB | Pan the 3D Viewport. |
| Alt + RMB | Zoom the 3D Viewport. |
| F1 – F4 | Switch to Front / Side / Top / Camera views. |
| F | Frame the selected object(s). |
| Shift + F | Center the view on the mouse cursor. |
| A | Frame all objects in the viewport. |
Blender: Selection Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| LMB | Select item. |
| Ctrl + A | Select all items. |
| Shift + Ctrl + A | Deselect all items. |
| Ctrl + I | Invert selection. |
| Up Arrow | Expand selection (Select More). |
| Down Arrow | Shrink selection (Select Less). |
| Double LMB | Select edge/face loop. |
| Double Alt + LMB | Select edge/face ring. |
| Ctrl + L | Select linked geometry. |
Blender: Tools Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Tool / Action |
|---|---|
| W, E, R | Move, Rotate, Scale respectively. |
| Q | Selection Tools menu. |
| D | Annotate Tool. |
| C | Cursor Tool. |
Blender: Edit Mode Tools Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Tool / Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + E | Extrude |
| Ctrl + B | Bevel |
| I | Inset |
| K | Knife |
| Alt + C | Loop Cut |
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user, memorizing these essential shortcuts for navigation, editing, animation, and scripting will help you work more efficiently and intuitively. Keep this guide handy as a reference while you practice, and over time, these commands will become second nature - boosting your productivity and allowing you to focus more on your artistic vision. Happy blending!
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