Master Final Cut Pro X: Top 40 Essential Keyboard Shortcuts for Faster Editing

I confess I'm a keyboard shortcut junkie. Anything I can do to help me edit faster is a good thing, and nothing says "speed" like keyboard shortcuts. There are well over 600 menu options in FCP X, with hundreds of keyboard shortcuts. But, which ones are the best?

In this article, I share my Top 40 keyboard shortcuts. I use these beauties every day to help me get my projects done faster. Now, you can use them, too. Even better, I've categorized them to make them easier to find. Haven't got FCPX yet? Get your 90-day free trial here.

(And, for those who take the time to count, you'll discover this list actually includes 53 keyboard shortcuts. But using "Top 40" in the title seemed so much sexier than "Top 53.")

Operations

Option + N	Create a new Event
Cmd + N	Create a new Project
Shift + Cmd + D	Create a Project Snapshot
Cmd + [plus]	Zoom into Timeline or image
Cmd + [ minus ]	Zoom out of Timeline or image
Shift + Z	Size the Timeline or image to fit in the window
Control + Cmd + 1	Toggle Library and Browser display on or off
Control + Cmd + 3	Toggle Event Viewer open/closed

J - K - L	Reverse - Stop - Play the playhead (Tap multiple times to change speed)
S	Toggle skimming on or off
N	Toggle snapping on or off
V	Toggle clip visibility on or off
Control + Y	Toggle skimmer info display on/off in Browser

Cmd + 4	Toggle Inspector open/closed
Cmd + 5	Toggle Effects Browser open/closed
Cmd + 6	Toggle Color Board open/closed
Cmd + 7	Toggle video scope display on/off

Editing

I	Set the In at the position of the skimmer/playhead
Shift + I	Jump the playhead to the In
Option + I	Delete the In
O	Set the Out at the position of the skimmer/playhead
Shift + O	Jump the playhead to the Out
Option + O	Delete the Out
Option + X	Delete both the In and the Out
M	Add a marker
Option + M	Add a marker and open the edit marker dialog

E	Perform an Append edit
W	Perform an Insert edit
D	Perform an Overwrite edit
Q	Perform a Connected edit

Shift + G	Create a connected storyline
Shift + 1	Edit audio and video to the Timeline
Shift + 2	Edit video-only to the Timeline
Shift + 3	Edit audio-only to the Timeline

Option + W	Insert a gap at the position of the skimmer/playhead
Control + S	Expand/collapse audio from synced video
Option + Control + S	Expand/collapse audio components (multitrack audio)

Shift + Cmd + F	Play project full screen (ESC to return)
Shift + ?	Play a few seconds before and after the skimmer/playhead position

Trimming

A	Select the Arrow (selection) tool
T	Select the Trim tool
P	Select the Position tool
B	Select the Blade tool
R	Select the Range tool

Shift + X	Jump the selected edit point to the position of the skimmer/playhead
[ comma ] / [ period ]	Move the selected clip or edit point one frame left/right
Shift + [ comma ] / Shift + [ period ]	Move selected clip or edit point ten frames left/right

Other cool shortcuts

Cmd + T	Add cross-dissolve
Control + T	Add default full-screen title
Shift + Control + T	Add default lower-third title
Cmd + E	Export master file of project

FAQ

What to do when the shortcuts in FCPX not working?

Change your input source of keyboard set to US should fix the problem.

How to modify shortcuts in FCPX?

There are two ways to open the modifying menu: choose Final Cut Pro > Commands > Customize, or press Option-Command-K. Then, change the shortcuts and save.

See more FCPX editing tips here.

Above are the top useful shortcuts that I used most when editing videos in Final Cut Pro. If you want to edit videos in a much easier way and get some Hollywood film looking at the same time, you can try Wondershare FilmoraPro. Check the video to see how to edit videos with FilmoraPro.