Logic Pro shortcuts: the default key commands worth learning

By the Logic Pro Files TeamLast checked 3 November 20268 min read

Quick answer

In Logic Pro's U.S. default preset, Space bar plays and stops, R records, Return goes to the beginning, C toggles Cycle, K toggles the metronome, X shows the Mixer and Command-U sets locators from the selection. Choose Logic Pro > Key Commands > Edit, or press Option-K, to see or change any assignment. The tables below group about fifty defaults by job and say which ones we verified against Apple's documentation.

Platform and version

Mac: Yes

iPad: Partial Logic Pro for iPad uses gestures and, with an external keyboard, its own shortcut set; see the iPad section

Checked with Logic Pro 12 on macOS 15.6 / Logic Pro for iPad on iPadOS 26 (Apple documentation) · Last checked 3 November 2026

Default key commands by job

Every entry below is a U.S. default. Where Apple's current Logic Pro User Guide or its key command tables show the assignment, the third column names that table. Where we could not find it in a fetched Apple page, the column says verify in Logic Pro > Key Commands > Edit; open that window, type the function name into the search field, and the assignment appears beside it. Apple's global commands table was last published in full for Logic Pro 10.1, so a few names have changed; the function column uses current names where they differ.

Transport and recording

Function	Default key command	Checked against
Play or Stop	`Space bar`	Apple global commands table
Record	`R`	Apple global commands table
Go to Beginning	`Return`	Apple global commands table
Play from Selection	`Shift-Space bar`	Apple global commands table
Rewind / Forward	`Comma (,) / Period (.)`	Rewind: Apple global commands table; Forward: verify in Logic Pro > Key Commands > Edit
Cycle Mode on/off	`C`	Apple global commands table
Metronome click	`K`	Apple global commands table
Count In	`Shift-K`	Apple global commands table
Set Locators by Regions/Events/Marquee	`Command-U`	Apple global commands table
Flashback Capture (Capture as Recording)	`Shift-R`	Apple global commands table (older name); verify in Logic Pro > Key Commands > Edit
Toggle Track Record Enable	`Control-R`	Apple Main Window Tracks table

Editing regions

Function	Default key command	Checked against
Undo / Redo	`Command-Z / Shift-Command-Z`	macOS standard; verify in Logic Pro > Key Commands > Edit
Cut / Copy / Paste	`Command-X / Command-C / Command-V`	macOS standard; verify in Logic Pro > Key Commands > Edit
Split Regions at Playhead	`Command-T`	verify in Logic Pro > Key Commands > Edit
Join Regions per Tracks	`J`	Apple Main Window Tracks table
Apply Quantization Permanently	`Control-Q`	Apple Main Window Tracks table
Loop Regions on/off	`L`	verify in Logic Pro > Key Commands > Edit
Repeat Regions	`Command-R`	verify in Logic Pro > Key Commands > Edit
Toggle Take Folder Quick Swipe Comping Mode	`Option-Q`	Apple Main Window Tracks table
Rename Regions/Cells/Scenes	`Shift-N`	Apple Main Window Tracks table
Bounce Regions in Place	`Control-B`	Apple Main Window Tracks table
Show/Hide Flex Pitch/Time	`Command-F`	Apple Main Window Tracks table
Hide/Show Track Automation	`A`	Apple Main Window Tracks table
Create Marker	`Option-Apostrophe (')`	Apple global commands table

Tracks

Function	Default key command	Checked against
New Tracks dialog	`Option-Command-N`	verify in Logic Pro > Key Commands > Edit
New Audio Track / New Software Instrument Track	`Option-Command-A / Option-Command-S`	verify in Logic Pro > Key Commands > Edit
Select Previous / Next Track	`Up Arrow / Down Arrow`	Apple global commands table
Rename Track	`Shift-Return`	Apple Main Window Tracks table
Toggle Channel Strip Mute / Solo	`M / S`	Apple global commands table
Hide/Show Selected Tracks	`Control-H`	Apple Main Window Tracks table
Create Track Stack	`Shift-Command-D`	Apple Main Window Tracks table
Create Summing Stack	`Shift-Command-G`	Apple Main Window Tracks table
Bounce Tracks in Place	`Control-Command-B`	Apple Main Window Tracks table

Zoom, navigation and windows

Function	Default key command	Checked against
Individual Track Zoom In / Out	`Option-Command-Down Arrow / Option-Command-Up Arrow`	Apple Main Window Tracks table
Waveform Vertical Zoom In / Out	`Command-Equal Sign (=) / Command-Hyphen (-)`	Apple Main Window Tracks table
Go to Previous / Next Marker	`Option-Comma (,) / Option-Period (.)`	Apple global commands table
Show/Hide Editor	`E`	Apple Main Window Tracks table
Show/Hide Browsers	`F`	Apple Main Window Tracks table
Show/Hide Library	`Y`	Apple global commands table
Show/Hide Piano Roll	`P`	Apple global commands table
Show/Hide Musical Typing	`Command-K`	Apple global commands table
Tool menu letters (after the Tool menu is open): Pencil, Scissors, Marquee, Flex	`P, I, R, X`	Apple Tool Menu table
Open Key Commands window	`Option-K`	Apple Key Commands window page

Mixer

Function	Default key command	Checked against
Show/Hide Mixer (in the main window)	`X`	Apple global commands table
Open Mixer (separate window)	`Command-2`	Apple global commands table
Cycle Through Mixer Modes (Single, Track, All)	`Shift-X`	Apple Mixer table
Select Audio / Instrument / Auxiliary Channel Strips	`Shift-A / Shift-S / Shift-F`	Apple Mixer table
Create New Auxiliary Channel Strip	`Control-N`	Apple Mixer table
Copy / Paste Channel Strip Setting	`Option-Command-C / Option-Command-V`	Apple global commands table
Next / Previous Patch or Plug-in Setting	`Right Bracket (]) / Left Bracket ([)`	Apple global commands table
Sends on Faders: cycle through sends	`Control-Option-Command-S`	Apple Mixer table

Bounce, export and project

Function	Default key command	Checked against
Bounce Project or Section	`Command-B`	verify in Logic Pro > Key Commands > Edit
Export Track as Audio File	`Command-E`	Apple global commands table; verify in Logic Pro > Key Commands > Edit
Export All Tracks as Audio Files	`Shift-Command-E`	Apple global commands table; verify in Logic Pro > Key Commands > Edit
Save / Save As	`Command-S / Shift-Command-S`	Apple global commands table
New from Template / Open	`Command-N / Command-O`	Apple global commands table
Project Settings	`Option-P`	Apple global commands table
Settings (Preferences)	`Command-Comma (,)`	Apple global commands table

iPad gesture equivalents

Logic Pro for iPad replaces most key commands with gestures, and Apple documents them in the gestures overview of the Logic Pro User Guide for iPad, with separate tables for main, Tracks area, Mixer and plug-in gestures. The broad equivalents are:

Play, stop, record: tap the transport buttons in the control bar; there is no Space bar unless an external keyboard is attached.
Zoom: pinch in the Tracks area horizontally or vertically instead of the zoom key commands.
Split, loop, rename: touch and hold a region to open the shortcut menu, which replaces Command-T, L and Shift-N.
Multiple selection: touch and hold with one finger, then tap more regions with another, in place of Shift-click.
Mixer: tap the Mixer button in the view control bar instead of pressing X.

With a Magic Keyboard or another external keyboard attached, Logic Pro for iPad gains its own shortcut set, listed on Apple's external keyboard page and in the guide's Keyboard shortcuts tables for the main views, Tracks area, Mixer and browser. Hold the Command key on the iPad keyboard to see an overlay of the shortcuts available in the current view. The iPad set is not identical to the Mac set, so do not assume a Mac shortcut carries over. Our iPad guide covers the rest of the differences.

Keyboard map showing the six most-used Logic Pro keys: Space bar for play and stop, R for record, C for Cycle, K for metronome, X for Mixer and Return to go to the beginning.

Key command settings worth changing

Setting	Where	Suggested value	Why
Key command preset	`Logic Pro > Key Commands > Presets`	U.S. (or your keyboard layout)	Our tables assume the U.S. default preset; other layouts move some keys
Search field	`Logic Pro > Key Commands > Edit`, top of window	Type the function name	Fastest way to confirm any entry we flagged as verify
Show menu	Key Commands window	Used, Unused or Conflicts	Finds free keys before you assign new ones
Export	`Logic Pro > Key Commands > Export`	Save to your project folder	Restores your custom set on a new Mac
Musical Typing	`Command-K`	Off when editing	While it is open, letter keys play notes instead of running commands
Advanced tools	`Logic Pro > Settings > Advanced > Enable Complete Features`	On	Several commands in Apple's tables are available only with complete features enabled

Next steps

Put the transport keys to work in the beginner tutorial, which uses R, Space bar, C, K and Command-U throughout.
Memorise Command-B and Command-U together before you read the bounce guide; most bounce mistakes come from wrong locators.
If a key does nothing, check that Musical Typing is closed and that the Key Commands window shows the U.S. preset.

FAQ

How do I see all Logic Pro key commands?

Choose Logic Pro > Key Commands > Edit, or press Option-K. The window lists every function by group, shows its assignment, and has a search field.

Can I change a shortcut?

Yes. In the Key Commands window select the function, click Learn by Key Label, press the new keys, and click Learn again to finish. Apple's support article on custom shortcuts walks through it.

Why does pressing a letter play a note instead of running a command?

Musical Typing is open. Press Command-K to close it and the letter keys return to their command assignments.

Are the shortcuts the same on Logic Pro for iPad?

No. The iPad app relies on gestures and has its own external keyboard shortcut set, documented separately in Apple's Logic Pro User Guide for iPad.

Why are some entries marked as verify?

Apple's online tables we could fetch did not show those assignments, so we did not want to state them as fact. Type the function name into the Key Commands window search field to confirm it in seconds.

Do key commands change between Logic Pro versions?

Occasionally. Apple's full global table online dates from Logic Pro 10.1, and some functions have since been renamed, which is why the Key Commands window in your own copy is the final authority.