Adobe InDesign is without doubt the best and most popular application for desktop publishing in the world. It simplifies the process of making print and digital documents, enabling you to lay out graphics and text exactly where and how you want them.
Like most of Adobe’s creative software, it’s also incredibly deep. You can create all manner of documents while barely scratching the surface of what it can do. The menus are jam-packed with options.
But you can save yourself some valuable time by learning all the keyboard and mouse shortcuts. These allow you to do more in less time, making frequently repeated actions less laborious.
You can create your own keyboard shortcuts by heading to Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts in InDesign.
FREE DOWNLOAD: This cheat sheet is available as a downloadable PDF from our distribution partner, TradePub. You will have to complete a short form to access it for the first time only. Download the Adobe InDesign Keyboard Shortcuts Cheat Sheet.
Adobe InDesign Keyboard Shortcuts
| Shortcut (Win) | Shortcut (Mac) | Action |
|---|---|---|
| File Shortcuts | ||
| F1 | F1 | Open Help |
| Ctrl + O | Cmd + O | Open |
| Ctrl + Alt + O | Cmd + Option + O | Open in Adobe Bridge |
| Ctrl + W | Cmd + W | Close |
| Ctrl + S | Cmd + S | Save |
| Ctrl + Shift + S | Cmd + Shift + S | Save as |
| Ctrl + Alt + S | Cmd + Option + S | Save a copy |
| Ctrl + D | Cmd + D | Place |
| Ctrl + E | Cmd + E | Export |
| Ctrl + Alt + P | Cmd + Option + P | Document setup |
| Ctrl + Shift + P | Cmd + Shift + P | Adjust layout |
| Ctrl + Alt + Shift + I | Cmd + Option + Shift + I | File info |
| Ctrl + Alt + Shift + P | Cmd + Option + Shift + P | Package |
| Ctrl + P | Cmd + P | |
| Ctrl + Q | Cmd + Q | Quit InDesign |
| Edit Shortcuts | ||
| Ctrl + Z | Cmd + Z | Undo |
| Ctrl + Shift + Z | Cmd + Shift + Z | Redo |
| Ctrl + X | Cmd + X | Cut |
| Ctrl + C | Cmd + C | Copy |
| Ctrl + V | Cmd + V | Paste |
| Ctrl + Shift + V | Cmd + Shift + V | Paste without formatting |
| Ctrl + Alt + V | Cmd + Option + V | Paste into |
| Ctrl + Alt + Shift + V | Cmd + Option + Shift + V | Paste in place |
| Backspace | Backspace | Clear |
| Ctrl + Clt + Shift + D | Cmd + Clt + Shift + D | Duplicate |
| Ctrl + A + U | Cmd + A + U | Step and repeat |
| Ctrl + A | Cmd + A | Select all |
| Ctrl + Shift + A | Cmd + Shift + A | Deselect all |
| Ctrl + Y | Cmd + Y | Open in Story Editor |
| Ctrl + Enter | Cmd + Enter | Quick apply |
| Ctrl + F | Cmd + F | Find/change |
| Ctrl + Alt + F | Cmd + Option + F | Find next |
| Ctrl + I | Cmd + I | Check spelling |
| Ctrl + K | Cmd + K | General preferences |
| Shift + Arrow keys in adjustment dropdowns | Shift + Arrow keys in adjustment dropdowns | Increase increments |
| InCopy Shortcuts | ||
| Ctrl + F9 | Cmd + F9 | Check out |
| Ctrl + Shift F9 | Cmd + Shift F9 | Check in |
| Ctrl + Alt + Shift + F9 | Cmd + Option + Shift + F9 | Check in all |
| Ctrl + F5 | Cmd + F5 | Update content |
| Layout Shortcuts | ||
| Ctrl + Shift + Numpad 9 | Cmd + Shift + Numpad 9 | First page |
| Shift + Numpad 9 | Shift + Numpad 9 | Previous page |
| Shift + Numpad 3 | Shift + Numpad 3 | Next page |
| Ctrl + Shift + Numpad 3 | Cmd + Shift + Numpad 3 | Last page |
| Alt + Numpad 3 | Option + Numpad 3 | Next spread |
| Alt + Numpad 9 | Option + Numpad 9 | Previous spread |
| Ctrl + J | Cmd + J | Go to page |
| Ctrl + Numpad 9 | Cmd + Numpad 9 | Go back |
| Ctrl + Numpad 3 | Cmd + Numpad 3 | Go forward |
| Arrow keys | Arrow keys | Move frame |
| Shift + Arrow keys | Shift + Arrow keys | Move frame faster |
| Typography Shortcuts | ||
| Ctrl + T | Cmd + T | Character window |
| Ctrl + Alt + T | Cmd + Option + T | Paragraph window |
| Ctrl + Shift + T | Cmd + Shift + T | Tabs window |
| Alt + Shift + F11 | Option + Shift + F11 | Glyphs window |
| Shift + F11 | Shift + F11 | Character Styles window |
| F11 | F11 | Paragraph Styles window |
| Ctrl + Shift + O | Cmd + Shift + O | Create outlines |
| Ctrl + Alt + I | Cmd + Option + I | Show hidden characters |
| With Text Selected | ||
| Ctrl + Alt + Shift + J | Cmd + Option + Shift + J | Justification |
| Ctrl + Alt + K | Cmd + Option + K | Keep options |
| Ctrl + Alt + R | Cmd + Option + R | Drop Caps and Nested Styles |
| Ctrl + Alt + J | Cmd + Option + J | Paragraph Styles |
| Alt + Left or right arrow key | Option + Left or right arrow key | Adjust tracking/kerning |
| Alt + Up or down arrow key | Option + Up or down arrow key | Adjust leading |
| Object Shortcuts | ||
| Ctrl + F7 | Cmd + F7 | Object Styles window |
| Ctrl + Shift + M | Cmd + Shift + M | Move object |
| Ctrl + Alt + 4 | Cmd + Option + 4 | Transform sequence again |
| Ctrl + Shift + ] | Cmd + Shift + ] | Bring to front |
| Ctrl + ] | Cmd + ] | Bring forward |
| Ctrl + Shift + [ | Cmd + Shift + [ | Send to back |
| Ctrl + [ | Cmd + [ | Send backward |
| Ctrl + Alt + Shift + ] | Cmd + Option + Shift + ] | Select first object above |
| Ctrl + Alt + ] | Cmd + Option + ] | Select next object above |
| Ctrl + Alt + [ | Cmd + Option + [ | Select next object below |
| Ctrl + Alt + Shift + [ | Cmd + Option + Shift + [ | Select last object below |
| Esc | Esc | Select container |
| Shift + Esc | Shift + Esc | Select content |
| Ctrl + G | Cmd + G | Group |
| Ctrl + Shift + G | Cmd + Shift + G | Ungroup |
| Ctrl + L | Cmd + L | Lock |
| Ctrl + Alt + L | Cmd + Option + L | Unlock all on spread |
| Ctrl + 3 | Cmd + 3 | Hide |
| Ctrl + Alt + 3 | Cmd + Option + 3 | Show all on spread |
| Ctrl + B | Cmd + B | Text frame options |
| Ctrl + Alt + Shift + E | Cmd + Option + Shift + E | Fit content proportionally |
| Ctrl + Alt + C | Cmd + Option + C | Fit frame to content |
| Ctrl + Alt + E | Cmd + Option + E | Fit content to frame |
| Ctrl + Alt + M | Cmd + Option + M | Drop shadow |
| Ctrl + Alt + Shift + K | Cmd + Option + Shift + K | Clipping path options |
| Ctrl + 8 | Cmd + 8 | Make compound path |
| Ctrl + Alt + Shift + 8 | Cmd + Option + Shift + 8 | Release compound path |
| Table Shortcuts | ||
| Shift + F9 | Shift + F9 | Table window |
| Ctrl + Alt + Shift + T | Cmd + Option + Shift + T | Insert table |
| Ctrl + Alt + Shift + B | Cmd + Option + Shift + B | Table setup |
| Ctrl + Alt + B | Cmd + Option + B | Cell text options |
| Ctrl + 9 | Cmd + 9 | Insert row |
| Ctrl + Alt + 9 | Cmd + Option + 9 | Insert column |
| Ctrl + Backspace | Cmd + Backspace | Delete row |
| Shift + Backspace | Shift + Backspace | Delete column |
| Ctrl + / | Cmd + / | Select cell |
| Ctrl + 3 | Cmd + 3 | Select row |
| Ctrl + Alt + 3 | Cmd + Option + 3 | Select column |
| Ctrl + Alt + A | Cmd + Option + A | Select table |
| View Shortcuts | ||
| Tab | Tab | Hide/show tool panel and tool windows |
| Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Y | Cmd + Option + Shift + Y | Overprint preview |
| Ctrl + = | Cmd + = | Zoom in |
| Ctrl + – | Cmd + – | Zoom out |
| Ctrl + 0 (zero) | Cmd + 0 (zero) | Fit page in window |
| Ctrl + Alt + 0 | Cmd + Option + 0 | Fit spread in window |
| Ctrl + 1 | Cmd + 1 | Actual size |
| Ctrl + Alt + Shift + 0 | Cmd + Option + Shift + 0 | Entire pasteboard |
| Ctrl + R | Cmd + R | Show/hide rulers |
| Shift + W | Shift + W | Presentation screen mode |
| Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Z | Cmd + Option + Shift + Z | Fast display performance |
| Ctrl + Alt + Z | Cmd + Option + Z | Typical display performance |
| Ctrl + Alt + H | Cmd + Option + H | High-quality display performance |
| Ctrl + H | Cmd + H | Hide frame edges |
| Ctrl + A + Y | Cmd + A + Y | Show text threads |
| Alt + B | Option + B | Hide conveyor |
| Ctrl + ; | Cmd + ; | Hide guides |
| Ctrl + Alt + ; | Cmd + Option + ; | Lock guides |
| Ctrl + Shift + ; | Cmd + Shift + ; | Snap to guides |
| Ctrl + U | Cmd + U | Smart Guides |
| Ctrl + Alt + ‘ | Cmd + Option + ‘ | Show baseline grid |
| Ctrl + ‘ | Cmd + ‘ | Show document grid |
| Ctrl + Shift + ‘ | Cmd + Shift + ‘ | Lock to document grid |
| Ctrl + Alt + 1 | Cmd + Option + 1 | Show structure |
| Tool Window Shortcuts | ||
| F6 | F6 | Color window |
| F5 | F5 | Swatches window |
| Ctrl + Alt + 6 | Cmd + Option + 6 | Control window |
| Ctrl + Shift + F10 | Cmd + Shift + F10 | Effects window |
| F8 | F8 | Info window |
| F7 | F7 | Layers window |
| Alt + Shift + Enter | Option + Shift + Enter | EPUB Interactivity window |
| Ctrl + Shift + D | Cmd + Shift + D | Links window |
| Shift + F7 | Shift + F7 | Align window |
| Ctrl + Alt + Shift + F | Cmd + Option + Shift + F | Preflight window |
| Shift + F6 | Shift + F6 | Separations preview window |
| F12 | F12 | Pages window |
| F10 | F10 | Stroke window |
| Ctrl + Alt + W | Cmd + Option + W | Text Wrap window |
| Shift + F8 | Shift + F8 | Index window |
| Ctrl + Alt + F11 | Cmd + Option + F11 | Scripts window |
| Tool Shortcuts | ||
| V or Esc | V or Esc | Selection Tool |
| A | A | Direct Selection Tool |
| Shift + P | Shift + P | Page Tool |
| U | U | Gap Tool |
| B | B | Toggle between Content Collecter Tool and Content Placer Tool |
| T | T | Type Tool |
| Shift + T | Shift + T | Type on Path Tool |
| Line Tool | ||
| P | P | Pen Tool |
| Shift + C | Shift + C | Convert Direction Point Tool |
| N | N | Pencil Tool |
| F | F | Rectangle Frame Tool |
| M | M | Rectangle Tool |
| L | L | Ellipse Tool |
| C | C | Scissors Tool |
| E | E | Free Transform Tool |
| R | R | Rotate Tool |
| S | S | Scale Tool |
| O | O | Shear Tool |
| G | G | Gradient Swatch Tool |
| Shift + G | Shift + G | Gradient Feather Tool |
| I | I | Eyedropper Tool |
| Shift + I | Shift + I | Color Theme Tool |
| K | K | Measure Tool |
| H | H | Hand Tool |
| Z | Z | Zoom Tool |
| X | X | Toggle between Stroke and Fill colors |
| Shift + X | Shift + X | Switch Stroke and Fill colors |
| J | J | Toggle between Formatting Affects Container and Formatting Affects Text |
| W | W | Toggle between Normal and Preview modes |
| Mouse Shortcuts | ||
| Spacebar + Left-click and drag | Spacebar + Left-click and drag | Navigate document |
| Alt + Left-click and drag | Option + Left-click and drag | Duplicate frame |
| Left-click and drag near any corner of frame | Left-click and drag near any corner of frame | Rotate frame |
| Shift + Left-click and drag corner of frame | Shift + Left-click and drag corner of frame | Resize frame proportionally |
| Ctrl + Left-click and drag corner of frame | Cmd + Left-click and drag corner of frame | Resize frame and contents |
| Ctrl + Left-click and drag corner of frame | Cmd + Left-click and drag corner of frame | Resize frame and contents proportionally |
| Alt + Mousewheel | Option + Mousewheel | Zoom in and out |
| Ctrl + Mousewheel | Cmd + Mousewheel | Scroll left and right |
| Shift + Mousewheel | Shift + Mousewheel | Scroll faster up and down through pages |
| Shift + Drag frame | Shift + Drag frame | Snap to vertical, horizontal, or diagonal |
Using InDesign With Other Adobe Tools
InDesign is great by itself, but it’s even better when used with Adobe’s other tools, particularly Illustrator and Photoshop. You can do some basic image editing and vector creation in InDesign, but it’s nowhere near as powerful.
Illustrator is, of course, a vector graphics application, so it’s ideal for creating illustrations and background images, which you can then import into InDesign. You can also use Illustrator to create vectors of raster images.
Photoshop, meanwhile, enables you to edit raster images, like photographs. It’s best if you want to apply filters, resize images, or make other edits that would be difficult or impossible in InDesign. It also converts images from one format to another, which can be essential when creating print documents with high-definition pictures.
Image Credit: Free-Photos/Pixabay