Lightroom Keyboard Shortcuts
80+ Adobe Lightroom shortcuts for photo editing, library management, and export. Mac and Windows reference.
Navigation
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Grid View (Library) | |
| Loupe View (single photo) | |
| Compare View | |
| Survey View (multiple) | |
| Develop Module | |
| Next photo | |
| Previous photo | |
| First photo in filmstrip | |
| Last photo in filmstrip | |
| Toggle side panels | |
| Toggle all panels | |
| Cycle full screen modes | |
| Lights Out (dim interface) | |
| Toggle toolbar |
Rating
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Set star rating (1-5) | |
| Remove rating | |
| Flag as Pick | |
| Flag as Rejected | |
| Remove flag | |
| Set Red label | |
| Set Yellow label | |
| Set Green label | |
| Set Blue label | |
| Refine Photos (Auto-select best) | |
| Flag and advance to next |
Selection
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Select all photos | |
| Deselect all | |
| Select non-adjacent photos | |
| Select range of photos | |
| Deselect active photo |
Develop
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Convert to Black & White | |
| Toggle Before/After view | |
| Before/After side by side | |
| Undo | |
| Redo | |
| Reset all Develop settings | |
| Copy previous photo's settings | |
| Copy Develop settings | |
| Paste Develop settings | |
| Paste settings from previous |
Develop Tools
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Crop Overlay tool | |
| Spot Removal tool | |
| Graduated Filter | |
| Radial Filter | |
| Adjustment Brush | |
| Show mask overlay | |
| Cycle mask overlay colors | |
| Toggle clipping warnings | |
| White Balance Selector | |
| Constrain crop aspect ratio | |
| Upright (auto perspective) |
Adjustments
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Toggle Tone Curve | |
| Split toning adjustment | |
| Increase slider value | |
| Decrease slider value |
Export
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Export selected photos | |
| Import photos | |
| Save metadata to file | |
| Export with previous settings | |
| Edit in Photoshop |
Other
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Start Slideshow (Slideshow module) | |
| Create virtual copy | |
| Sync settings with previous | |
| New Collection | |
| Add to Quick Collection | |
| Show Quick Collection |
Pro tips
Rate and Cull First
Before editing, rate all photos: P for picks, X for rejects, 1-5 for stars. Then filter to show only picks. This prevents wasting time editing photos you'll never use.
Copy & Paste Settings
Edit one photo, then Ctrl+Shift+C to copy settings and Ctrl+Shift+V to paste onto others. Select multiple photos to batch-paste. Choose which settings to copy for precision.
Use Before/After (\)
Press \ to instantly toggle between your edited version and the original. Press Y for side-by-side comparison. Essential for checking if you've over-processed.
Auto Advance with Shift+Flag
Shift+P flags as pick AND advances to next photo. Shift+X rejects and advances. This makes culling hundreds of photos dramatically faster.
Toggle Clipping with J
Press J to show highlight clipping (red) and shadow clipping (blue) overlays. This helps you see exactly where you're losing detail in bright skies or dark shadows.
Virtual Copies for Variations
Ctrl+T creates a virtual copy - a separate version without duplicating the file. Create B&W and color versions, different crops, or exposure variations of the same photo.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between Lightroom Classic and Lightroom CC?
Lightroom Classic is the desktop app with full features, local storage, and advanced organization. Lightroom CC (now just 'Lightroom') is cloud-based with a simpler interface and syncs across devices. Classic is preferred by professionals; CC is better for casual shooters.
How do I batch edit multiple photos?
Edit one photo, then Ctrl+Shift+C to copy settings. Select target photos and Ctrl+Shift+V to paste. Or select all similar photos, click 'Sync' at the bottom of Develop, and choose which settings to apply.
What's the best export settings for web?
JPEG, sRGB color space, quality 80-85%, resize long edge to 2048px. This balances quality and file size. For Instagram, resize to 1080px wide. Always sharpen for screen in export settings.
How do I organize photos with collections?
Collections are like playlists - photos can be in multiple collections without duplicating files. Create collections by project, client, or theme. Use Smart Collections for automatic organization based on rating, date, or keywords.
Should I shoot in RAW or JPEG?
RAW for anything you plan to edit. RAW files contain far more data - you can recover 2-3 stops of highlights and shadows, change white balance, and adjust without quality loss. JPEG is fine for snapshots you won't edit.
How do I use presets effectively?
Apply a preset as a starting point, then fine-tune. Create your own presets from edits you repeat often (your 'look'). Right-click a preset → Apply on Import to auto-apply during import.
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