iMovie 8.0 Help
iMovie Keyboard shortcuts
You can use your keyboard to quickly accomplish many tasks in iMovie. To learn the shortcuts for common commands, refer to the list below. To complete an action, press the shortcut keys indicated in the list.
Getting information
Open iMovie Help
Command-Shift-Question Mark (?)
Show project properties
Command-J
Show playhead info.
Shows date, time, and keywords for video frames above the playhead.
Command-Y
Importing and exporting
Importing from camera
Command-I
Export project to a folder
Command-E
Managing projects and events
Create new project
Command-N
Move to Trash
Moves selected project or Event clip to the Trash. If only part of an Event clip is selected, the entire clip is moved to the Trash.
Command-Delete key
Play video beginning from frame beneath pointer
Plays only the selection if pointer is resting over a yellow selection border; plays through if pointer is resting outside of the selection border.
Space bar
Play one second of video ahead of pointer and one second beyond
Plays only one second of video from beginning of selection or to end of selection if pointer is resting within selection border.
Left bracket ([)
Play three seconds of video ahead of pointer and three seconds beyond
Plays only three seconds of video from beginning of selection or to end of selection if pointer is resting within selection border.
Right bracket (])
Play selection
/ (Forward slash)
Play selected event or project from beginning
\ (Backslash)
Play selected event or project full screen
Command-G
Exit full-screen mode
Escape key (esc)
Move playhead by one frame
Left Arrow key or Right Arrow key
Freeze playhead
Hold down Control key
Open iMovie preferences
Command-Comma (,)
Page setup
Shift-Command-P
Print selected event or project filmstrips
Command-P
Selecting and editing video
Select entire project clip when the partial clip is selected
Selects all project clips when the entire clip is selected.
Command-A
Select to playhead
Expands or contracts the selection from the nearest selection border to the playhead.
Shift-A
Deselect all clips
Shift-Command-A
Add selected frames to project
E
Cut selected frames
Command-X
Copy selected frames
Command-C
Paste selected frames
Command-V
Paste all adjustments
Shift-Command-V
Paste video adjustments
Option-Command-I
Paste audio adjustments
Option-Command-A
Paste crop adjustments
Option-Command-R
Paste cutaway, green screen, or picture-in-picture adjustments
Pastes adjustments, depending on which type of video is selected.
Option-Command-U
Paste video effect
Option-Command-L
Paste stabilization adjustments
Option-Command-Z
Paste speed adjustments
Option-Command-S
Paste map style
Option-Command-M
Mark selected frames as favorites
F
Unmarked selected frames
U
Reject selected frames (mark for deletion)
R
Reject selected frames (mark for deletion) in Events, or delete selected frames from project
Delete key
View Favorites and Unmarked
Command-L
Show Fine-Tuning Controls
Option-Command
Move selection to the left by one frame
Left Arrow key
Move selection to the right by one frame
Right Arrow key
Nudge project clip startpoint or endpoint to the right by one frame
Option-Right Arrow key with pointer placed within selection border near clip startpoint or endpoint
Nudge project clip startpoint or endpoint to the left by one frame
Option-Left Arrow key with pointer placed within selection border near clip startpoint or endpoint
Trim to selection in selected project clip
Command-B
Open Clip Trimmer when clip is selected
Command-R
Open Edit Trimmer
Command-Forward slash (/)
Open Keywords window
K
Remove all keywords from selection
0 (zero)
Open crop, rotate, Ken Burns effect editor
C
Open Clip Adjustments panel of inspector
I
Open Video Adjustments panel of inspector
V
Working with audio
Open Music and Sound Effects pane
Command-1
Open Audio Adjustments panel of inspector
A
Open Voiceover window
O
Turn on or silence audio while skimming video
Command-K
Turn on or turn off “Snap to Beats.”
Command-U
Undo last action
Command-Z
Redo last action
Shift-Command-Z
Editing text
Show Fonts panel
Command-T
Make selected text bold
Shift-Command-B
Make selected text italic
Shift-Command-I
Underline selected text
Shift-Command-U
Add outline to selected text
Shift-Command-O
Make selected text bigger
Command-Shift-Plus (+) or Command-Equal (=)
Make selected text smaller
Command-Minus (-)
Align text left
Command-Shift-Left brace ({)
Align text center
Command-Shift-Vertical slash (|)
Align text right
Command-Shift-Right brace (})
Make text lines tighter
Option-Command-Left Arrow key
Make text lines looser
Option-Command-Right Arrow key
Copy selected text
Command-C
Paste text
Command-V
Copy text style
Option-Command-C
Paste text style
Option-Command-V
Tighten kerning
Option-Shift-Left Arrow key
Loosen kerning
Option-Shift-Right Arrow key
iMovie window
Minimize window
Command-M
Open Music and Sound Effects pane
Command-1
Open Photos pane
Command-2
Open Titles pane
Command-3
Open Transitions pane
Command-4
Open Maps and Backgrounds pane
Command-5
Show projects at full-screen
Command-6
Make Events at full screen
Command-7
Make viewer small
Command-8
Make viewer medium
Command-9
Make viewer large
Command-0