Unity Keyboard Shortcuts
60+ Unity Editor shortcuts for game development, scene navigation, and asset management. Mac and Windows reference.
Scene View
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Orbit scene view | |
| Pan scene view | |
| Zoom scene view | |
| Frame selected object | |
| FPS flythrough mode | |
| Switch 2D/3D scene mode |
Transform
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Move tool | |
| Rotate tool | |
| Scale tool | |
| Rect transform tool | |
| Custom tool (last used) | |
| Duplicate | |
| Duplicate as child | |
| Vertex snap | |
| Undo | |
| Redo |
Hierarchy
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| New empty GameObject | |
| Delete selected | |
| Rename selected | |
| Expand/collapse all children | |
| Add to selection |
Play
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Play / Stop | |
| Pause | |
| Step (advance one frame) |
Windows
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Scene view | |
| Game view | |
| Inspector | |
| Hierarchy | |
| Project window | |
| Animation window | |
| Profiler | |
| Audio Mixer | |
| Asset Store | |
| Animator | |
| Console |
Selection
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Select all | |
| Deselect all | |
| Invert selection |
Components
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Add component | |
| Copy component | |
| Paste component values |
Assets
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Create material | |
| New folder | |
| Refresh assets |
Scene Tools
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Pan/Hand tool | |
| Align with view (camera) | |
| Lock to plane |
Snapping
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Snap to grid increments | |
| Toggle grid visibility |
Build
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Build project | |
| Build settings |
File
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Save scene | |
| Save scene as | |
| New scene | |
| Open scene |
Pro tips
Flythrough Mode for Level Design
Press Shift+F to enter FPS-style flythrough. Use WASD to move and mouse to look around. Scroll to change speed. Essential for navigating large scenes.
Lock the Inspector
Click the lock icon on the Inspector tab to keep it showing one object while you select others. Open a second Inspector (right-click tab → Add Tab) for side-by-side editing.
Search in Project Window
Use the search bar in the Project window with type filters (t:Material, t:Script, t:Prefab) to find assets instantly in large projects.
Prefabs Save Everything
Drag any GameObject into the Project window to create a Prefab. Edit the Prefab and all instances update. Use Prefab Variants for themed variations.
Console Shortcuts
Double-click a console error to jump to the exact line in your code. Use Debug.Log() liberally during development, then remove with #if DEBUG preprocessor directives.
Custom Editor Layouts
Arrange your panels for different tasks (scripting, level design, animation) and save them as layouts via Window → Layouts → Save Layout. Switch instantly between workflows.
Frequently asked questions
What programming language does Unity use?
Unity uses C# as its primary programming language. UnityScript (JavaScript-like) was deprecated in 2017. C# is used for all gameplay logic, editor tools, and plugins. Visual scripting (Bolt, now built-in) is available for non-programmers.
Is Unity free to use?
Unity Personal is free for individuals and small businesses earning under $100K/year. Unity Plus and Pro are paid tiers with additional features, analytics, and support. All tiers can publish to all platforms.
How do I optimize performance?
Use the Profiler (Ctrl+7) to find bottlenecks. Key techniques: object pooling, LOD groups, occlusion culling, batching draw calls, using Addressables for asset loading, and minimizing garbage collection.
What's the difference between 2D and 3D mode?
It's mainly a Scene View setting. 2D mode sets the camera to orthographic and shows the 2D workspace. You can switch anytime. Unity handles both 2D and 3D in the same project - use SpriteRenderer for 2D, MeshRenderer for 3D.
How do I publish to mobile?
Install the Android/iOS build modules via Unity Hub. Set up platform-specific settings in File → Build Settings → Player Settings. For Android, you need the Android SDK; for iOS, you need a Mac with Xcode. Build and deploy via USB or app stores.
What render pipeline should I use?
Built-in Render Pipeline is simplest and most compatible. URP (Universal) is optimized for performance across platforms. HDRP (High Definition) is for high-end visuals on PC/console. Choose based on your target platform and visual needs.
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