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Ableton Live Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows

Keyboard shortcuts for Ableton Live on Windows. 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
F11
Toggle Second Window
Ctrl+Shift+W
Toggle Session/Arrangement View
Tab
Toggle Between Device/Clip View
Shift+Tab
or
F12
Toggle Device and Clip View
Alt+Clickview toggle
Toggle Hot-Swap Mode
Q
Toggle Drum Rack/Last Selected Pad
D
Hide/Show Info View
Shift+/
Hide/Show Video Window
Ctrl+Alt+V
Hide/Show Browser
Ctrl+Alt+B
or
Ctrl+Alt+5
Hide/Show Overview
Ctrl+Alt+O
Hide/Show In/Out
Ctrl+Alt+I
Hide/Show Sends
Ctrl+Alt+S
Hide/Show Mixer
Ctrl+Alt+M
Hide/Show Clip View
Ctrl+Alt+3
Hide/Show Device View
Ctrl+Alt+4
Hide/Show the Groove Pool
Ctrl+Alt+6
Hide/Show the Learn View
Ctrl+Alt+7
Open the Settings
Ctrl+,
Close Window/Dialog
Esc

Keyboard Focus and Navigation

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

Working with Sets and the Program

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

Working with Devices and Plug-Ins

Group Devices
Ctrl+G
Ungroup Devices
Ctrl+Shift+G
Activate/Deactivate All Devices in Group
Alt+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
Enter
Hot-Swap Selected Device
Q
Hide/Show Open Plug-In Windows
Ctrl+Alt+P
Open Multiple Windows with Show/Hide Plug-In Window Button
Ctrl
Compare A/B: Switch Device State
P

Editing

Cut
Ctrl+X
Copy
Ctrl+C
Paste
Ctrl+V
Duplicate
Ctrl+D
Delete
Del
Undo
Ctrl+Z
Redo
Ctrl+Y
Rename
Ctrl+R
Select All
Ctrl+A
Select Multiple Items
Ctrl+Click
Select Multiple Items by First and Last Item
Shift+Click
Move to Next Track/Scene When Renaming
Tab
Ignore Grid Quantization When Dragging
Alt
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.
Alt

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
Enter

Commands for Breakpoint Envelopes

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

Loop Brace and Start/End Markers

Set Start Marker
Ctrl+F9
Set Loop Brace Start
Ctrl+F10
Set Loop Brace End
Ctrl+F11
Set End Marker
Ctrl+F12
Move Start Marker to Position
Ctrl+Click
with the loop brace or start/end marker selected
Move End Marker to Position
Ctrl+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
Ctrl+UpDown
with the loop brace or start/end marker selected
Shorten/Lengthen Loop
Ctrl+RightLeft
with the loop brace or start/end marker selected
Select Material in Loop
Ctrl+Shift+L
with the loop brace or start/end marker selected

Zooming, Display and Selections

Zoom In Window
Ctrl+=
Zoom Out Window
Ctrl+-
Zoom In Time Ruler
=
Zoom Out Time Ruler
-
Scroll Display to Follow Playback
Ctrl+Shift+F
Scroll Left/Right
Shift+Scroll
Pan Left/Right of Selection
Ctrl+Alt
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
Ctrl+Click

Clip View Editor View Modes

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

Clip View Sample Editor

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

Clip View MIDI Note Editor

Select All Notes
Ctrl+A
Copy Notes
Ctrl+Drag
Chop Selected Notes on Grid or Split Notes at Time Selection Start/End
Ctrl+E
Chop Notes in Increments of 1
Ctrl+E+Dragup/down
Chop Notes in Increments of 2
Ctrl+Shift+E+Dragup/down
Split Notes at Exact Location
E+Clickto split, or drag to move
Join Notes
Ctrl+J
Fit Notes to Time Range
Ctrl+Alt+J
Fit Content to View Width
W
Fit Content to View Height
H
Quantize
Ctrl+U
Quantize Settings...
Ctrl+Shift+U
Scroll Editor Vertically
Pg UpPg Dn
Scroll Editor Vertically in Fine Increments
Shift+Pg UpPg Dn
Scroll Editor Horizontally
Ctrl+Pg UpPg Dn
Change Velocity from MIDI Note Editor
Alt+Drag
Move Insert Marker to Beginning
Home
Move Insert Marker to End
End
Select Next/Previous Note
Alt+UpDown
Select Next/Previous Note in Same Key Track
Alt+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.
Ctrl+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>,Enter
Adjust Note Selection Velocity
Ctrl+UpDown
Adjust Note Selection Velocity Deviation
Ctrl+Shift+UpDown
Adjust Note Selection Chance
Ctrl+Alt+UpDown
Toggle Full-Size Clip View
Ctrl+Alt+E
Group Notes (Play All)
Ctrl+G
Ungroup Notes
Ctrl+Shift+G
Apply Current MIDI Tool Settings
Ctrl+Enter
Invert Note Selection
Ctrl+Shift+A
Highlight Scale
K
Split Arrangement Clip Based on Time Selection
Ctrl+Shift+E
Show/Hide MIDI Note Filters
Ctrl+Shift+F

Grid Snapping and Drawing

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

Global Quantization

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

Session View

Launch Selected Clip/Slot
Enter
Select Neighboring Clip/Slot
UpDownLeftRight
Select All Clips/Slots
Ctrl+A
Copy Clips
Ctrl+Drag
Add/Remove Stop Button
Ctrl+E
Stop Clips in Track with Slot Selection
Ctrl+Enter
Insert MIDI clip
Ctrl+Shift+M
Insert Scene
Ctrl+I
Insert Captured Scene
Ctrl+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
Ctrl+Shift+F9
Toggle Follow Actions for Selected Clips
Shift+Enter
Create Follow Action Chain
Ctrl+Shift+Enter
Move Selected Track Left/Right
Ctrl+LeftRight
Move Nonadjacent Scenes Without Collapsing
Ctrl+UpDown
Drop Browser Clips as a Scene
Ctrl
Deactivate Selected Clip
0
Jump to Highlighted Track Title Bar
Esc
Jump to the First Track of the Current Scene
Home
Jump to the Last Track of the Current SceneAlso jumps back to the current scene when focus is already on the last track.
End
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
Solo Selected Chain
S

Arrangement View

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

Comping

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

Bounce to Audio

Bounce to New Track
Ctrl+B
Paste Bounced Audio
Ctrl+Alt+V

Commands for Tracks

Insert Audio Track
Ctrl+T
Insert MIDI Track
Ctrl+Shift+T
Insert Return Track
Ctrl+Alt+T
Rename Selected Track
Ctrl+R
Go to Next Track When Renaming
Tab
Group Selected Tracks
Ctrl+G
Ungroup Tracks
Ctrl+Shift+G
Show Grouped Tracks
=
Hide Grouped Tracks
-
Collapse/Expand Grouped Tracks
U
Hide/Show Return Tracks
Ctrl+Alt+R
Move Nonadjacent Tracks Without Collapsing
Ctrl+UpDownLeftRight
Arm Selected Tracks
C
Solo Selected Tracks
S
Add Device from Browser
Enter
Deactivate Selected Track
0
Freeze/Unfreeze Tracks
Ctrl+Alt+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
Ctrl+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
Record
F9
Arm Recording in Arrangement View
Shift+F9
Record to Session View
Ctrl+Shift+F9
Back to Arrangement
F10
Activate/Deactivate Track 1...8
<F1-F8>
Toggle Metronome
O

Audio Engine

Turn Audio Engine On/Off
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+E

Browser

Scroll Down/Up
UpDown
Hide/Show Browser
Ctrl+Alt+B
Close/Open Folders
RightLeft
Load Selected Item from Browser
Enter
Preview Selected File
Shift+Enter
or
Right
Search in Browser
Ctrl+F
Jump to Search Results
Down
or
Enter
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
Ctrl+Shift+F
Browser History Back
Ctrl+[
Browser History Forward
Ctrl+]
Hide/Show Filter View
Ctrl+Alt+G
Hide/Show Tag Editor
Ctrl+Shift+E

Similar Sample Swapping

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

Key/MIDI Map Mode and the Computer MIDI Keyboard

Toggle MIDI Map Mode
Ctrl+M
Toggle Key Map Mode
Ctrl+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 Windows uses Ctrl as its primary modifier, with Alt layered in for panel toggles, secondary drag behavior, and MIDI note editing.

Windows-specific shortcut notes

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

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

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

F-keys. F9 records, Shift-F9 arms recording in Arrangement View, F10 returns to the Arrangement, and F1 through F8 activate or deactivate tracks 1 through 8.

Printable PDF

The Ableton Live shortcut list for Windows 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.