Audacity is a popular open-source audio editing software that allows users to record, edit, and manipulate audio tracks. To make the editing process more efficient, Audacity provides a wide range of keyboard shortcuts. These shortcuts can help users speed up tasks like cutting, copying, pasting, and navigating through tracks.
Audacity Windows Shortcuts
File Menu
Shortcut
Action
CtrlN
New
CtrlO
Open
CtrlW
Close
CtrlQ
Exit
CtrlS
Save project
CtrlShiftE
Export audio
CtrlShiftL
Export multiple
CtrlShiftI
Import audio
Edit Menu
Shortcut
Action
CtrlZ
Undo
CtrlY
Redo
CtrlX
Cut
CtrlK
Delete
CtrlC
Copy
CtrlV
Paste
CtrlD
Duplicate
CtrlP
Preferences
CtrlAltX
Split cut
CtrlAltK
Split delete
CtrlL
Silence audio
CtrlT
Trim audio
CtrlAltI
Split new
CtrlJ
Join
CtrlShiftJ
Detach at silences
CtrlB
Add label at selection
CtrlM
Add label at playback position
CtrlAltV
Paste text to new label
AltX
Cut labeled audio
AltK
Delete labeled audio
AltShiftX
Split cut labeled audio
AltShiftK
Split delete labeled audio
AltL
Silence labeled audio
AltShiftC
Copy labeled audio
AltI
Split labeled audio
AltJ
Join labeled audio
AltShiftJ
Detach labeled audio at silences
Extra Menu
Shortcut
Action
F11
Toggle full screen
1
Play one second
B
Play to selection
ShiftF5
Play before selection start
ShiftF6
Play after selection start
ShiftF7
Play before selection end
ShiftF8
Play after selection end
CtrlShiftF5
Play before and after selection start
CtrlShiftF7
Play before and after selection end
C
Play cut preview
F1
Selection tool
F2
Envelope tool
F3
Draw tool
F4
Zoom tool
F5
Time shift tool
F6
Multi tool
A
Previous tool
D
Next tool
Backspace
Delete
AltLeft
Move to previous label
AltRight
Move to next label
Left
Short seek left during playback
Right
Short seek right during playback
ShiftLeft
Long seek left during playback
ShiftRight
Long seek right during playback
ShiftI
Change recording device
ShiftO
Change playback device
ShiftH
Change audio host
ShiftN
Change recording channels
ShiftHome
Selection to start
ShiftEnd
Selection to end
ShiftLeft
Selection extend left
ShiftRight
Selection extend right
CtrlShiftRight
Selection contract left
CtrlShiftLeft
Selection contract right
CtrlShiftF6
Move backwards from toolbars to tracks
CtrlF6
Move forward from toolbars to tracks
Up
Move focus to previous track
Down
Move focus to next track
CtrlHome
Move focus to first track
CtrlEnd
Move focus to last track
ShiftUp
Move focus to previous and select
ShiftDown
Move focus to next and select
Enter
Toggle focused track
Left
Cursor left
Right
Cursor right
,
Cursor short jump left
.
Cursor short jump right
Shift,
Cursor long jump left
Shift.
Cursor long jump right
ShiftP
Change pan on focused track
AltShiftLeft
Pan left on focused track
AltShiftRight
Pan right on focused track
ShiftG
Change gain on focused track
AltShiftUp
Increase gain on focused track
AltShiftDown
Decrease gain on focused track
ShiftU
Mute or unmute focused track
ShiftS
Solo or unsolo focused track
ShiftC
Close focused track
Select Menu
Shortcut
Action
CtrlA
Select all
CtrlShiftA
Select none
Z
Select at zero crossings
CtrlShiftK
Select in all tracks
CtrlShiftY
Select in all sync-locked tracks
[
Left at playback position
]
Right at playback position
ShiftJ
Track start to cursor
ShiftK
Cursor to track end
Q
Toggle spectral selection
CtrlAltP
Previous clip
CtrlAltN
Next clip
View Menu
Shortcut
Action
Ctrl1
Zoom in
Ctrl2
Zoom normal
Ctrl3
Zoom out
CtrlE
Zoom to selection
ShiftZ
Zoom toggle
CtrlF
Fit to width
CtrlShiftF
Fit to height
CtrlShiftC
Collapse all tracks
CtrlShiftX
Expand collapsed tracks
Ctrl[
Skip to selection start
Ctrl]
Skip to selection end
Transport Menu
Shortcut
Action
Space
Play or stop
X
Play or stop and set cursor
ShiftSpace
Loop play
P
Pause
R
Record
ShiftR
Record new track
ShiftT
Timer record...
ShiftD
Punch and roll record
P
Pause
J
Cursor to track start
K
Cursor to track end
Home
Cursor to project start
End
Cursor to project end
Tracks Menu
Shortcut
Action
CtrlShiftN
Add new mono track
CtrlShiftM
Mix and render to new track
CtrlU
Mute all tracks
CtrlShiftU
Unmute all tracks
Effect Menu
Shortcut
Action
CtrlR
Repeat last effect
Audacity MacOS Shortcuts
Basic Commands
Shortcut
Function Description
Command + N
New project
Command + O
Open project
Command + S
Save project
Command + Shift + S
Save project as...
Command + Z
Undo action
Command + Shift + Z
Redo action
Command + X
Cut selected audio
Command + C
Copy selected audio
Command + V
Paste copied/cut audio
Command + Shift + V
Paste into new track
Command + Shift + T
Trim audio
Command + D
Duplicate selection
Command + P
Print project
Command + Q
Quit Audacity
Navigation and Selection
Shortcut
Function Description
Command + F
Move to the start of the track
Command + Shift + F
Move to the end of the track
Command + E
Select all audio
Command + Shift + A
Deselect all audio
Command + Left Arrow
Move cursor left by one second
Command + Right Arrow
Move cursor right by one second
Command + Up Arrow
Move cursor up by one track
Command + Down Arrow
Move cursor down by one track
Command + Shift + Left Arrow
Select audio from the cursor to the left
Command + Shift + Right Arrow
Select audio from the cursor to the right
Command + Shift + Up Arrow
Move cursor up by one second
Command + Shift + Down Arrow
Move cursor down by one second
Audio Editing
Shortcut
Function Description
Command + R
Start/stop recording
Command + T
Trim selected audio
Command + Shift + T
Split audio at cursor
Command + Shift + L
Silence audio at cursor
Command + Shift + C
Split stereo track to mono
Command + Shift + I
Insert silence at cursor
Command + Shift + D
Duplicate the selection
Command + M
Mute/unmute audio
Command + Shift + M
Mute the track
Command + Shift + K
Split stereo to separate tracks
Command + Shift + X
Cut selected region
Command + Shift + V
Paste audio into new track
Command + Shift + P
Paste special (paste in place)
Command + Shift + J
Join selected regions
Zoom and View
Shortcut
Function Description
Command + 1
Zoom in
Command + 3
Zoom out
Command + 2
Zoom to selection
Command + 4
Toggle waveform display (volume)
Command + 5
Show/hide spectrogram view
Command + Shift + Z
Zoom reset (fit entire project)
Command + Shift + W
Show/hide the mixer window
Playback Controls
Shortcut
Function Description
Space
Start/stop playback
Shift + Space
Start/stop playback from cursor
Command + Left Arrow
Jump to the previous edit point
Command + Right Arrow
Jump to the next edit point
Command + Shift + R
Loop playback
Command + Shift + Q
Stop playback
Command + Shift + G
Play from the cursor
Effect and Processing
Shortcut
Function Description
Command + Shift + E
Open equalizer effect
Command + Shift + F
Open amplify effect
Command + Shift + M
Open noise removal effect
Command + Shift + A
Open audio compression effect
Command + Shift + C
Open change pitch effect
Command + Shift + D
Open delay effect
Command + Shift + L
Open normalize effect
Command + Shift + K
Open reverse effect
Track Management
Shortcut
Function Description
Command + Shift + N
Add new track
Command + Shift + U
Remove selected track
Command + Shift + H
Hide selected track
Command + Shift + S
Split selected track
Command + Shift + T
Move track up/down
Command + Shift + B
Show/hide track names
Command + Shift + I
Import audio
Command + Shift + O
Export audio
Command + Shift + P
Export selected portion of the track
Miscellaneous
Shortcut
Function Description
Command + H
Hide Audacity window
Command + Tab
Switch between open applications
Command + Option + Esc
Force quit Audacity
Command + Shift + F
Show preferences window
Command + Shift + P
Show plugin manager
Command + Shift + L
Show logs
Command + Option + I
Open Information panel
Command + Option + S
Save project without auto-saving
Selection
Shortcut
Function Description
Command + Shift + A
Select all
Command + Shift + C
Clear selection
Command + Shift + P
Split selection
Command + Option + S
Select portion of track
Command + Shift + X
Expand selection
Command + Shift + V
Collapse selection
Window Management
Shortcut
Function Description
Command + Shift + W
Close window
Command + Shift + M
Minimize window
Command + Option + M
Maximize window
Command + Option + N
New window
Track Navigation
Shortcut
Function Description
Command + Up Arrow
Move to previous track
Command + Down Arrow
Move to next track
Command + Left Arrow
Move to previous section of the track
Command + Right Arrow
Move to next section of the track
Command + Shift + L
Move to the cursor position
Miscellaneous Functions
Shortcut
Function Description
Command + Option + B
Open preferences window
Command + Shift + R
Toggle recording toolbar
Command + Option + D
Show/hide toolbars
Command + Option + R
Show/hide status bar
About Audacity
Audacity is a free, open-source, cross-platform audio editing software. It supports recording, editing, and exporting audio in various formats. Whether you're creating podcasts, mixing tracks, or simply editing sound clips, Audacity is a powerful tool for all audio enthusiasts.
How do I open a project in Audacity?
Use the shortcut Ctrl + O (Windows) or Command + O (MacOS).
Can I undo multiple actions in Audacity?
Yes, you can use Ctrl + Z (Windows) or Command + Z (MacOS) repeatedly to undo multiple actions.
How do I zoom in on the waveform in Audacity?
Use Ctrl + 1 (Windows) or Command + 1 (MacOS) to zoom in.
Can I customize the keyboard shortcuts in Audacity?
Yes, you can go to Edit > Preferences > Shortcuts to customize them.
What is the shortcut to start recording in Audacity?
Use Ctrl + R (Windows) or Command + R (MacOS) to start recording.
How do I paste copied audio in a new track?
Use Ctrl + Shift + V (Windows) or Command + Shift + V (MacOS).
Can I split audio using a shortcut?
Yes, use Ctrl + Shift + T (Windows) or Command + Shift + T (MacOS) to split the audio.
How do I zoom out on the waveform in Audacity?
Use Ctrl + 3 (Windows) or Command + 3 (MacOS) to zoom out.
Is there a shortcut to mute the audio?
Yes, use Shift + Space to toggle the audio mute.
Conclusion
Audacity is a versatile audio editing software that offers an extensive list of keyboard shortcuts for both Windows and MacOS. These shortcuts are designed to enhance your productivity and improve your editing efficiency. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced user, mastering these shortcuts can significantly improve your workflow.
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