Mac app shortcuts

Adobe Illustrator keyboard shortcuts for Mac

The 40 Adobe Illustrator shortcuts people reach for most, grouped by task. Keys are shown as macOS prints them: ⌘ Command, ⌥ Option, ⇧ Shift, ⌃ Control.

Updated 2026-10-06

Tools

Selection tool	`V`
Direct Selection tool	`A`
Pen tool	`P`
Type tool	`T`
Rectangle tool	`M`
Ellipse tool	`L`
Paintbrush tool	`B`
Shape Builder tool	`⇧M`
Eyedropper tool	`I`
Hand tool	`H`
Zoom tool	`Z`

Edit

Undo	`⌘Z`
Redo	`⇧⌘Z`
Paste in front	`⌘F`
Paste in back	`⌘B`
Paste in place	`⇧⌘V`
Repeat last transform	`⌘D`

Objects

Group	`⌘G`
Ungroup	`⇧⌘G`
Lock selection	`⌘2`
Hide selection	`⌘3`
Bring forward	`⌘]`
Bring to front	`⇧⌘]`
Send backward	`⌘[`
Send to back	`⇧⌘[`
Make clipping mask	`⌘7`
Create outlines from text	`⇧⌘O`

Color

Default fill and stroke	`D`
Swap fill and stroke	`⇧X`
Switch between fill and stroke	`X`

View

Zoom in	`⌘=`
Zoom out	`⌘-`
Fit all artboards	`⌥⌘0`
Outline / preview	`⌘Y`
Smart guides on / off	`⌘U`
Cycle screen modes	`F`

File

New document	`⌘N`
Save	`⌘S`
Place a file	`⇧⌘P`
Export for Screens	`⌥⌘E`

Checked against Adobe’s documentation (Illustrator 2026 (v30). Adobe 'Default keyboard shortcuts for Illustrator' help page (last updated 2026-02-17), checked 2026-10-06. Bundle ID read from the installed Illustrator 2026 (30.8.2) Info.plist.): helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/default-keyboard-shor…. Shortcuts can change between versions and with your own key settings. Spotted a mistake? support@remolo.app.

The same keys on your iPhone

Remolo turns your iPhone into a panel of buttons for your Mac. This set switches on by itself when Adobe Illustrator is in front, so the keys you use most are one tap away — no reaching across the desk.

Undo⌘Z
Redo⇧⌘Z
SelectV
Direct selectA
PenP
TypeT
RectangleM
Group⌘G
Paste in place⇧⌘V
Swap fill⇧X
Outline⌘Y
Fit all⌥⌘0

With the next Remolo update you’ll add this set with one tap from this page. Until then, build it in Buttons → Edit, or start from the ready-made profiles in Remolo’s gallery. Button profiles are part of Remolo Pro.

More Mac apps

Try the TestFlight beta Get Helper for Mac