Autodesk Maya Keyboard Shortcuts

Windows Ctrl is the primary modifier throughout, matching Maya's own default keymap.

Mac Ctrl stays the primary modifier for tool and viewport hotkeys; Cmd only doubles as an alternative for a handful of File and Edit commands (New, Open, Save, Undo, Cut, Copy, Paste).

Single-key tool activation. Press the key to switch tools without any modifier:

• Q: Select Tool
• W: Move Tool
• E: Rotate Tool
• R: Scale Tool

Marking menus. Holding certain keys (S, U, O, H) while clicking with a specific mouse button opens a context-sensitive marking menu instead of running a single action.

Animation keying. S sets a key on the selected object; Shift+W/E/R key position, rotation, or scale individually.

Viewport navigation. Alt (Option on Mac) combined with the mouse buttons tumbles, tracks, or dollies the camera.

A printable PDF of Maya shortcuts is available for each platform. The single-key tool activation and viewport navigation shortcuts are the ones worth keeping at hand while modeling or animating.

Blender is the closest sibling to Autodesk Maya on HKeys right now, the other 3D and VFX package in the catalog. More Maya-adjacent tools (the Autodesk suite itself, plus other DCC apps) will join this list as they get added.

Why does Maya use Ctrl instead of Cmd on Mac?

Maya's keymap was designed to stay consistent across Windows and Mac, so most hotkeys keep the physical Ctrl key rather than switching to Cmd like typical Mac software. Cmd only works as an alternative for a handful of standard File and Edit commands, such as Cmd+S for Save.

What do Q, W, E, and R do in Maya?

They are the default single-key tool shortcuts: Q selects the Select Tool, W the Move Tool, E the Rotate Tool, and R the Scale Tool. No modifier key is needed, so switching tools is one keypress.

Can Maya's keyboard shortcuts be customized?

Yes, through the Hotkey Editor. The pages on HKeys cover Maya's default hotkeys as shipped.

Is Autodesk Maya available on Windows and Mac?

Yes. Maya ships for both Windows and Mac (and Linux, not covered on HKeys), with the same default hotkeys on Windows and Mac aside from the Ctrl/Cmd difference on a handful of File and Edit commands.

This section lists official sources and documentation for Autodesk Maya. Use these references to verify shortcut behavior instead of trusting old notes, screenshots, or memory.