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Audacity Keyboard Shortcuts for Mac

Keyboard shortcuts for Audacity on Mac. Covers playback and recording, editing and selection, track navigation, and zoom for audio editing work on macOS.
Key label style

File Menu

New
Cmd+N
Open
Cmd+O
Close
Cmd+W
Export Audio
Cmd+Shift+E
Exit
Cmd+Q

File: Save Project

Save Project
Cmd+S

File: Import

Audio
Cmd+Shift+I

Edit Menu

Undo
Cmd+Z
Redo
Cmd+Y
Cut
Cmd+X
Delete
Cmd+K
Copy
Cmd+C
Paste
Cmd+V
Duplicate
Cmd+D
Preferences
Cmd+,

Edit: Remove Special

Cut and leave gap
Cmd+Opt+X
Delete and leave gap
Cmd+Opt+K
Silence Audio
Cmd+L
Trim Audio
Cmd+T

Edit: Audio Clips

Split
Cmd+I
Split New
Cmd+Opt+I
in the Full shortcut set
Join
Cmd+J
in the Full shortcut set
Detach at Silences
Cmd+Opt+J
in the Full shortcut set

Edit: Labels

Add Label at Selection
Cmd+B
Add Label at Playback Position
Cmd+.
Paste Text to New Label
Cmd+Opt+V
in the Full shortcut set

Edit: Labeled Audio

Cut
Opt+X
in the Full shortcut set
Delete
Opt+K
in the Full shortcut set
Cut and leave gap
Opt+Shift+X
Delete and leave gap
Opt+Shift+K
Silence Audio
Opt+L
in the Full shortcut set
Copy
Opt+Shift+C
Split
Opt+I
in the Full shortcut set
Join
Opt+J
in the Full shortcut set
Detach at Silences
Opt+Shift+J

Select Menu

All
Cmd+A
None
Cmd+Shift+A
in the Full shortcut set
At Zero Crossings
Z

Select: Tracks

In All Tracks
Cmd+Shift+K
In All Sync-Locked Tracks
Cmd+Shift+Y

Select: Region

Left at Playback Position
[
Right at Playback Position
]
Track Start to Cursor
Shift+J
Cursor to Track End
Shift+K

Select: Spectral

Toggle Spectral Selection
Q
in the Full shortcut set

Select: Audio Clips

Previous Clip
Opt+,
Next Clip
Opt+.

View: Zoom

Zoom In
Cmd+1
Zoom Normal
Cmd+2
Zoom Out
Cmd+3
Zoom to Selection
Cmd+E
Zoom Toggle
Shift+Z

View: Track Size

Fit to Width
Cmd+F
Fit to Height
Cmd+Shift+F
Collapse All Tracks
Cmd+Shift+C
Expand Collapsed Tracks
Cmd+Shift+X

View: Skip to

Selection Start
Cmd+[
in the Full shortcut set
Selection End
Cmd+]
in the Full shortcut set

Transport: Playing

Play/Stop
Space
Play/Stop and Set Cursor
X
Play Once/Stop
Shift+Space
Pause
P

Transport: Recording

Record
R
Record New Track
Shift+R
Timer Record
Shift+T
Punch and Roll Record
Shift+D
Pause
P

Transport: Cursor to

Selection Start
Left
Selection End
Right
Track Start
J
Track End
K
Project Start
Home
Project End
End

Transport: Looping

Loop on/off
L
Clear Loop
Opt+Shift+L
Set Loop to Selection
Shift+L

Tracks: Add New

Mono Track
Cmd+Shift+N
in the Full shortcut set

Tracks: Mix

Mix and Render to New Track
Cmd+Shift+M
in the Full shortcut set

Tracks: Mute/Unmute

Mute All Tracks
Cmd+U
Unmute All Tracks
Cmd+Shift+U
Mute Tracks
Cmd+Opt+U
Unmute Tracks
Cmd+Opt+Shift+U

Effect Menu

Repeat Last Effect
Cmd+R

Analyze Menu

Contrast
Cmd+Shift+T
in the Full shortcut set

Extra Menu

Enable Full Screen
F11

Extra: Transport

Play to Selection
B
Play Before Selection Start
Shift+F5
in the Full shortcut set
Play After Selection Start
Shift+F6
in the Full shortcut set
Play Before Selection End
Shift+F7
in the Full shortcut set
Play After Selection End
Shift+F8
in the Full shortcut set
Play Before and After Selection Start
Cmd+Shift+F5
in the Full shortcut set
Play Before and After Selection End
Cmd+Shift+F7
in the Full shortcut set
Play Cut Preview
C

Extra: Tools

Selection Tool
F1
Envelope Tool
F2
Draw Tool
F3
Zoom Tool
F4
Multi Tool
F6
Previous Tool
A
in the Full shortcut set
Next Tool
D
in the Full shortcut set

Extra: Edit

Delete Key
Del
Delete Key2
Fwd Del

Extra: Play-at-Speed

Move to Previous Label
Opt+Left
Move to Next Label
Opt+Right

Extra: Seek

Short Seek Left During Playback
Left
Short Seek Right During Playback
Right
Long Seek Left During Playback
Shift+Left
Long Seek Right During Playback
Shift+Right

Extra: Device

Change Recording Device
Shift+I
in the Full shortcut set
Change Playback Device
Shift+O
in the Full shortcut set
Change Audio Host
Shift+H
in the Full shortcut set
Change Recording Channels
Shift+N
in the Full shortcut set

Extra: Selection

Selection to Start
Shift+Home
Selection to End
Shift+End
Selection Extend Left
Shift+Left
Selection Extend Right
Shift+Right
Selection Contract Left
Cmd+Shift+Right
Selection Contract Right
Cmd+Shift+Left

Extra: Focus

Move Backward from Toolbars to Tracks
Cmd+Shift+F6
Move Forward from Toolbars to Tracks
Cmd+F6
Move Focus to Previous Track
Up
Move Focus to Next Track
Down
Move Focus to First Track
Cmd+Home
in the Full shortcut set
Move Focus to Last Track
Cmd+End
in the Full shortcut set
Move Focus to Previous and Select
Shift+Up
Move Focus to Next and Select
Shift+Down
Toggle Focused Track
ReturnNum Return

Extra: Cursor

Cursor Left
Left
Cursor Right
Right
Cursor Short Jump Left
,
Cursor Short Jump Right
.
Cursor Long Jump Left
Shift+,
Cursor Long Jump Right
Shift+.

Extra: Track

Change Pan on Focused Track
Shift+P
in the Full shortcut set
Pan Left on Focused Track
Opt+Shift+Left
in the Full shortcut set
Pan Right on Focused Track
Opt+Shift+Right
in the Full shortcut set
Change Gain on Focused Track
Shift+G
Increase Gain on Focused Track
Opt+Shift+Up
in the Full shortcut set
Decrease Gain on Focused Track
Opt+Shift+Down
in the Full shortcut set
Open Menu on Focused Track
Shift+M
Mute/Unmute Focused Track
Shift+U
Solo/Unsolo Focused Track
Shift+S
Close Focused Track
Shift+C
in the Full shortcut set

No Menu

Previous Window
Opt+Shift+F6
in the Full shortcut set
Next Window
Opt+F6
in the Full shortcut set
Previous ClipCannot be rebound
Shift+Tab
Next ClipCannot be rebound
Tab

Intro

Audacity on Mac swaps Ctrl for Cmd and Alt for Option across almost every shortcut, with single letters (Space, R, P) still handling transport and recording unchanged. Two commands don't follow the direct swap, Preferences and Add Label at Playback Position, and both are called out below.

Mac-specific shortcut notes

Two shortcuts break the Ctrl-to-Cmd pattern. Preferences opens with Cmd+, (Comma), living in the Audacity menu the way Mac apps typically place it, rather than a direct Cmd+P swap. Add Label at Playback Position is Cmd+Period rather than Cmd+M.

Transport is letter-driven, same as Windows. Space plays or stops, R records, P pauses either one.

The Full shortcut set unlocks more. Commands like Join (Cmd+J), Mono Track (Cmd+Shift+N), and the device-selection shortcuts only work once the Full set is selected from the Defaults button in Shortcuts Preferences.

Printable PDF

The Audacity Mac shortcut list is available as a printable PDF. The transport and editing shortcuts are the ones worth keeping nearby during a recording or edit session.

FAQ

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

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