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Ableton Live Keyboard Shortcuts for Mac

Keyboard shortcuts for Ableton Live on Mac. Covers the Session and Arrangement views, MIDI note editing, mixing and devices, and transport control.
Key label style

Showing and Hiding Views

Toggle Full Screen Mode
Cmd+Ctrl+F
Toggle Second Window
Cmd+Shift+W
Toggle Session/Arrangement View
Tab
Toggle Between Device/Clip View
Shift+Tab
or
F12
Toggle Device and Clip View
Opt+Clickview toggle
Toggle Hot-Swap Mode
Q
Toggle Drum Rack/Last Selected Pad
D
Hide/Show Info View
Shift+/
Hide/Show Video Window
Cmd+Opt+V
Hide/Show Browser
Cmd+Opt+B
or
Cmd+Opt+5
Hide/Show Overview
Cmd+Opt+O
Hide/Show In/Out
Cmd+Opt+I
Hide/Show Sends
Cmd+Opt+S
Hide/Show Mixer
Cmd+Opt+M
Hide/Show Clip View
Cmd+Opt+3
Hide/Show Device View
Cmd+Opt+4
Hide/Show the Groove Pool
Cmd+Opt+6
Hide/Show the Learn View
Cmd+Opt+7
Open the Settings
Cmd+,
Close Window/Dialog
Esc

Keyboard Focus and Navigation

Move Focus to the Control Bar
Opt+0
Move Focus to the Session View
Opt+1
Move Focus to the Arrangement View
Opt+2
Move Focus to the Clip View
Opt+3
Move Focus to the Device View
Opt+4
Move Focus to the Browser
Opt+5
Move Focus to the Groove Pool
Opt+6
Move Focus to the Learn View
Opt+7
Move Focus to the Selected Clip Panel
Opt+8
Move Focus to the Clip Panels
Opt+Shift+P
Move to Next Focusable Control
Tab
with Use Tab to Move Focus enabled
Move to Previous Focusable Control
Shift+Tab
with Use Tab to Move Focus enabled
Move to Next Neighbor of Current Control
Opt+Tab
with Use Tab to Move Focus enabled
Move to Previous Neighbor of Current Control
Opt+Shift+Tab
with Use Tab to Move Focus enabled

Working with Sets and the Program

New Live Set
Cmd+N
Open Live Set
Cmd+O
Save Live Set
Cmd+S
Save Live Set As...
Cmd+Shift+S
Quit Live
Cmd+Q
Hide Live
Cmd+H
Export Audio/Video
Cmd+Shift+R
Export MIDI File
Cmd+Shift+E

Working with Devices and Plug-Ins

Group Devices
Cmd+G
Ungroup Devices
Cmd+Shift+G
Activate/Deactivate All Devices in Group
Opt+Clickon device activator
Add Device(s) to Selection
Shift+Click
See List of Devices on a Track
Right-clickon Device View selector
Reset Parameter Value
Del
or
Double-click
Load Selected Device from Browser
Return
Hot-Swap Selected Device
Q
Hide/Show Open Plug-In Windows
Cmd+Opt+P
Open Multiple Windows with Show/Hide Plug-In Window Button
Cmd
Compare A/B: Switch Device State
P

Editing

Cut
Cmd+X
Copy
Cmd+C
Paste
Cmd+V
Duplicate
Cmd+D
Delete
Del
Undo
Cmd+Z
Redo
Cmd+Shift+Z
Rename
Cmd+R
Select All
Cmd+A
Select Multiple Items
Cmd+Click
Select Multiple Items by First and Last Item
Shift+Click
Move to Next Track/Scene When Renaming
Tab
Ignore Grid Quantization When Dragging
Cmd
Clips and Slots Across All TracksHold together with an editing shortcut above (Cut, Copy, Paste, Duplicate, Delete) to apply it to clips and slots across all tracks.
Shift
Time Across All TracksHold together with an editing shortcut above to apply it to a time range across all tracks.
Shift
The Selected Part of the EnvelopeHold together with an editing shortcut above to apply it only to the selected part of an envelope.
Opt

Adjusting Values

Decrement/Increment
UpDown
Decrement/Increment in Octaves or Fine Adjustments
Shift+UpDown
Finer Resolution When Dragging
Shift
Return to Default
Del
Type In Value
<0-9>
Go to Next Field (Bar/Beat/16th)
.
or
,
Cancel Value Entry
Esc
Confirm Value Entry
Return

Commands for Breakpoint Envelopes

Toggle Automation Mode
A
Finer Resolution When Dragging
Shift
Create Curved Automation Segment
Opt
Momentarily Toggle Fade Controls
F
Delete Selected Breakpoint Envelope
Cmd+Del
Ignore Grid Quantization When Dragging
Cmd

Loop Brace and Start/End Markers

Set Start Marker
Cmd+F9
Set Loop Brace Start
Cmd+F10
Set Loop Brace End
Cmd+F11
Set End Marker
Cmd+F12
Move Start Marker to Position
Cmd+Click
with the loop brace or start/end marker selected
Move End Marker to Position
Cmd+Shift+Click
with the loop brace or start/end marker selected
Nudge Loop Brace Left/Right
RightLeft
with the loop brace or start/end marker selected
Move Loop by Loop Length
UpDown
with the loop brace or start/end marker selected
Halve/Double Loop Length
Cmd+UpDown
with the loop brace or start/end marker selected
Shorten/Lengthen Loop
Cmd+RightLeft
with the loop brace or start/end marker selected
Select Material in Loop
Cmd+Shift+L
with the loop brace or start/end marker selected

Zooming, Display and Selections

Zoom In Window
Cmd+=
Zoom Out Window
Cmd+-
Zoom In Time Ruler
=
Zoom Out Time Ruler
-
Scroll Display to Follow Playback
Opt+Shift+F
Scroll Left/Right
Shift+Scroll
Pan Left/Right of Selection
Cmd+Opt
Add Items to a Selection
Shift+Click
or
Shift+Drag
Add Adjacent Clips/Tracks/Scenes to Multi-Selection
Shift+Click
Add Nonadjacent Clips/Tracks/Scenes to a Multi-Selection
Cmd+Click

Clip View Editor View Modes

Switch Between Sample/Envelopes TabsApplies to audio clips; the equivalent MIDI-clip shortcut shares this same key.
Opt+Tab
Switch Between Notes/Envelopes/MPE TabsApplies to MIDI clips; the equivalent audio-clip shortcut shares this same key.
Opt+Tab
Switch to Sample/Notes Tab
Opt+Shift+1
Switch to Envelopes Tab
Opt+Shift+2
Switch to MPE Tab
Opt+Shift+3

Clip View Sample Editor

Quantize
Cmd+U
Quantize Settings...
Cmd+Shift+U
Move Selected Warp Marker
RightLeft
Select Warp Marker
Cmd+RightLeft
Scroll Display to Follow Playback
Opt+Shift+F
Move Clip Region with Start Marker
Shift+RightLeft
Zoom to Clip Selection
Z
Zoom Back from Clip Selection
X
Insert Warp Marker
Cmd+I
Delete Warp Marker
Del
Insert Transient
Cmd+Shift+I
Delete Transient
Cmd+Shift+Del
Fit Content to View Width
W
Fit Content to View Height
H

Clip View MIDI Note Editor

Select All Notes
Cmd+A
Copy Notes
Opt+Drag
Chop Selected Notes on Grid or Split Notes at Time Selection Start/End
Cmd+E
Chop Notes in Increments of 1
Cmd+E+Dragup/down
Chop Notes in Increments of 2
Cmd+Shift+E+Dragup/down
Split Notes at Exact Location
E+Clickto split, or drag to move
Join Notes
Cmd+J
Fit Notes to Time Range
Cmd+Opt+J
Fit Content to View Width
W
Fit Content to View Height
H
Quantize
Cmd+U
Quantize Settings...
Cmd+Shift+U
Scroll Editor Vertically
Pg UpPg Dn
Scroll Editor Vertically in Fine Increments
Shift+Pg UpPg Dn
Scroll Editor Horizontally
Cmd+Pg UpPg Dn
Change Velocity from MIDI Note Editor
Cmd+Drag
Move Insert Marker to Beginning
Home
or
Fn+Left
Move Insert Marker to End
End
or
Fn+Right
Select Next/Previous Note
Opt+UpDown
Select Next/Previous Note in Same Key Track
Opt+LeftRight
Scroll Display to Follow PlaybackOn Windows this shares Ctrl+Shift+F with Show/Hide MIDI Note Filters; Ableton's manual documents both with this key.
Opt+Shift+F
Move Clip Region with Start Marker
Shift+RightLeft
Zoom to Clip Selection
Z
Zoom Back from Clip Selection
X
Zoom In Horizontally
=
Zoom Out Horizontally
-
Set Note Selection Velocity
<0-127>,Return
Adjust Note Selection Velocity
Cmd+UpDown
Adjust Note Selection Velocity Deviation
Cmd+Shift+UpDown
Adjust Note Selection Chance
Cmd+Opt+UpDown
Toggle Full-Size Clip View
Cmd+Opt+E
Group Notes (Play All)
Cmd+G
Ungroup Notes
Cmd+Shift+G
Apply Current MIDI Tool Settings
Cmd+Return
Invert Note Selection
Cmd+Shift+A
Highlight Scale
K
Split Arrangement Clip Based on Time Selection
Cmd+Shift+E
Show/Hide MIDI Note Filters
Cmd+Shift+F

Grid Snapping and Drawing

Toggle Draw Mode (Pitch Lock Off)
B
Narrow Grid
Cmd+1
Widen Grid
Cmd+2
Triplet Grid
Cmd+3
Snap to Grid
Cmd+4
Fixed/Zoom-Adaptive Grid
Cmd+5
Bypass Snapping While Dragging
Cmd

Global Quantization

Sixteenth-Note Quantization
Cmd+6
Eighth-Note Quantization
Cmd+7
Quarter-Note Quantization
Cmd+8
1-Bar Quantization
Cmd+9
Quantization Off
Cmd+0

Session View

Launch Selected Clip/Slot
Return
Select Neighboring Clip/Slot
UpDownLeftRight
Select All Clips/Slots
Cmd+A
Copy Clips
Opt+Drag
Add/Remove Stop Button
Cmd+E
Stop Clips in Track with Slot Selection
Cmd+Return
Insert MIDI clip
Cmd+Shift+M
Insert Scene
Cmd+I
Insert Captured Scene
Cmd+Shift+I
Move Up/Down Between Scenes (One at a Time)
UpDown
Move Up/Down Between Scenes (Eight at a Time)
Pg UpPg Dn
Record to Session View
Cmd+Shift+F9
Toggle Follow Actions for Selected Clips
Shift+Return
Create Follow Action Chain
Cmd+Shift+Return
Move Selected Track Left/Right
Cmd+LeftRight
Move Nonadjacent Scenes Without Collapsing
Cmd+UpDown
Drop Browser Clips as a Scene
Cmd
Deactivate Selected Clip
0
Jump to Highlighted Track Title Bar
Esc
Jump to the First Track of the Current Scene
Home
or
Fn+Left
Jump to the Last Track of the Current SceneAlso jumps back to the current scene when focus is already on the last track.
End
or
Fn+Right
Jump to the Current Scene from the Last TrackSame key as Jump to the Last Track of the Current Scene; End toggles between the two depending on current focus.
End
or
Fn+Right
Solo Selected Chain
S

Arrangement View

Split Clip at Selection
Cmd+E
Consolidate Selection into Clip
Cmd+J
Crop Selected Clips
Cmd+Shift+J
Resize Clip When Insert Marker is at Clip Edge
Return+LeftRight
Slide Waveform
Opt+Shift+Drag
Stretch Warped Clip
Shift+Dragin clip title bar
Select Time Within Clip
Opt+Shift+Dragin clip title bar
Create Fade/Crossfade
Cmd+Opt+F
Delete Fades/Crossfades in Selected Clip(s)
Cmd+Opt+Del
Momentarily Toggle Fade Handles
F
Toggle Loop Brace
Cmd+L
Adjust Loop Brace Length
Cmd+LeftRight
Select Loop Brace Contents
Cmd+Shift+L
Insert Silence
Cmd+I
Cut Time
Cmd+Shift+X
Copy Time
Cmd+Shift+C
Paste Time
Cmd+Shift+V
Duplicate Time
Cmd+Shift+D
Delete Time
Cmd+Shift+Del
Fold/Unfold Selected Tracks
U
or
LeftRight
Unfold All Tracks
Opt+U
Increase Height of Selected Tracks/Clips
Opt+=
Decrease Height of Selected Tracks/Clips
Opt+-
Scroll Display to Follow Playback
Opt+Shift+F
Scroll Display Left/Right of Selection
Cmd+Opt+Drag
Optimize Arrangement Height
H
Optimize Arrangement Width
W
Deactivate Selection
0
Nudge Selection Left/Right
RightLeft
Reverse Audio Clip Selection
R
Zoom to Arrangement Time Selection
Z
Zoom Back from Arrangement Time Selection
X
Play from Insert Marker in Selected Clip
Opt+Space
Move Insert Marker to Playhead Position
Cmd+Shift+Space
Jump to Highlighted Track Title Bar
Esc
Move Focus to Mixer
Opt+Shift+M

Comping

Show Take Lanes
Cmd+Opt+U
Add Selected Take Lane Area to Main Track Lane
Return
Audition Selected Take Lane
T
Add Take Lane
Opt+Shift+T
Duplicate Selected Take Lane
Cmd+D
Replace Main Take Clip with Next/Previous Take
Cmd+UpDown

Bounce to Audio

Bounce to New Track
Cmd+B
Paste Bounced Audio
Cmd+Opt+V

Commands for Tracks

Insert Audio Track
Cmd+T
Insert MIDI Track
Cmd+Shift+T
Insert Return Track
Cmd+Opt+T
Rename Selected Track
Cmd+R
Go to Next Track When Renaming
Tab
Group Selected Tracks
Cmd+G
Ungroup Tracks
Cmd+Shift+G
Show Grouped Tracks
=
Hide Grouped Tracks
-
Collapse/Expand Grouped Tracks
U
Hide/Show Return Tracks
Cmd+Opt+R
Move Nonadjacent Tracks Without Collapsing
Cmd+UpDownLeftRight
Arm Selected Tracks
C
Solo Selected Tracks
S
Add Device from Browser
Return
Deactivate Selected Track
0
Freeze/Unfreeze Tracks
Cmd+Opt+Shift+F
Delete Track from Track Title Bar
Del

Transport

Play from Start Marker/Stop
Space
Continue Play from Stop Point
Shift+Space
Stop Playback at End of Selection
Opt+Space
Play Arrangement View SelectionSame key as Play from Start Marker/Stop; which one fires depends on whether a time selection exists.
Space
Move Insert Marker to Beginning
Home
or
Fn+Left
Record
F9
Arm Recording in Arrangement View
Shift+F9
Record to Session View
Cmd+Shift+F9
Back to Arrangement
F10
Activate/Deactivate Track 1...8
<F1-F8>
Toggle Metronome
O

Audio Engine

Turn Audio Engine On/Off
Cmd+Opt+Shift+E

Browser

Scroll Down/Up
UpDown
Hide/Show Browser
Cmd+Opt+B
Close/Open Folders
RightLeft
Load Selected Item from Browser
Return
Preview Selected File
Shift+Return
or
Right
Search in Browser
Cmd+F
Jump to Search Results
Down
or
Return
Assign Color(s) to Selected Browser Item(s)
<1-7>
Reset Assigned Color(s) for Selected Browser Item(s)
0
Show Similar Files Using Similarity Search
Cmd+Shift+F
Browser History Back
Cmd+[
Browser History Forward
Cmd+]
Hide/Show Filter View
Cmd+Opt+G
Hide/Show Tag Editor
Cmd+Shift+E

Similar Sample Swapping

Swap to Next Similar Sample
Cmd+Right
Swap to Previous Similar Sample
Cmd+Left
Save as Similarity Reference
Cmd+Up
Return to Reference
Cmd+Down
Temporarily Toggle Similar Sample Swap Controls in Drum Racks
Opt

Key/MIDI Map Mode and the Computer MIDI Keyboard

Toggle MIDI Map Mode
Cmd+M
Toggle Key Map Mode
Cmd+K
Computer MIDI Keyboard
M
Adjust Computer MIDI Keyboard Octave Range Up/Down
XZ
Adjust Computer MIDI Keyboard Incoming Note Velocity Up/Down
CV

Intro

Ableton Live on Mac uses Cmd as its primary modifier, with Option layered in for panel toggles, secondary drag behavior, and MIDI note editing.

Mac-specific shortcut notes

Panel toggles. Cmd-Option plus a letter or number hides and shows almost every panel: Cmd-Option-B for the Browser, Cmd-Option-M for the Mixer, Cmd-Option-3/4 for Clip/Device View.

Not every shortcut is a plain Ctrl-to-Cmd swap. A handful of Live's Mac shortcuts use a different modifier than a direct swap would suggest: Redo is Cmd-Shift-Z (not Cmd-Y), and several drag-based shortcuts (Copy Notes, Copy Clips) use Option-drag where Windows uses Ctrl-drag.

Session vs Arrangement. Tab switches between the two main views. Space bar plays from the start marker or stops; Option-Space stops playback at the end of the current selection.

MIDI note editing. Cmd-E chops or splits notes at the time selection, and holding Cmd-E while dragging up or down chops notes in increments of one semitone.

Printable PDF

The Ableton Live shortcut list for Mac is available as a printable PDF. The panel-visibility and Session/Arrangement shortcuts are the ones worth keeping nearby.

FAQ

Need more than shortcuts?
Visit the Ableton Live app page for an overview and helpful links.

Want to suggest a new app, report a bug, or get help? Email us at info@hkeys.app.

For anything else or just a quick hello, write to us at info@hkeys.app.