10 Lightroom Shortcuts Every Photographer Should Know
Image by Bernadeta Kupiec
Edited with Afterglow Presets
Lightroom is powerful, but it can also feel slow if you are constantly clicking through panels and menus. The good news is that a few simple keyboard shortcuts can completely change how it feels to edit. Once they become muscle memory, your workflow speeds up, your focus improves, and editing starts to feel fluid instead of technical.
Whether you are culling a full session, batch editing a gallery, or fine tuning the details of a single image, knowing the right shortcuts makes all the difference. In this post, we are covering 10 of the most useful Lightroom keyboard shortcuts that will save you time and help you work more efficiently every time you open Lightroom.
Use G for Grid View
Quickly jump back to your Library grid to see all images in a folder or collection. Essential when culling or navigating between shoots.
Tip: To increase or decrease the size of your thumbnails in Grid view, use the + and - buttons.
2. Use D for Develop Module
Instantly move from Library to Develop to start editing the selected image.
3. Use E for Loupe View
Switch to a single-image view in the Library module. Perfect for checking focus and expression during culling.
Tip: You can also use the space bar from Library module for Loupe View. When in the Develop module, using the space bar will zoom in on your image (Z also zooms in on images in both Develop and Library modules).
Image by Bernadeta Kupiec
Edited with Afterglow Presets
4. Quickly Open the Crop Tool using R
Activate the Crop and Straighten tool immediately by pressing the R key. Press O to cycle through crop overlays (like rule of thirds, golden ratio, etc).
Tip: R should not be confused with Cmd+R, which finds the file in your browser, or Shift+Cmd+R, which Resets the edit.
Different crop views from cycling through O key in Crop tool
Different crop views from cycling through O key in Crop tool
5. See the Before and After with \
Toggle between the original image and your edited version. Great for checking that you haven’t over-edited.
Tip: To see the side-by-side Before/After view, use the Y key.
Image by Bernadeta Kupiec
Edited with Afterglow Presets
6. Use K to Open Adjustment Brushes
Jump straight to the Adjustment Brush for selective edits like skin softening, dodging, or color tweaks.
7. O Shows the Mask Overlay
While using masking tools, press O to display the red overlay so you can see exactly where your adjustments are applied. This only works when you have the Masking Panel open.
8. Hide All Panels with Shift + Tab
Clears the interface so you can see your image full screen without distractions. Press again to bring panels back. (Illustrated below in the Library view)
Tip: This keyboard shortcut is especially useful if you do online Image Reveals and share your screen with clients!
Images by Bernadeta Kupiec
Edited with Afterglow Presets
9. Cmd + C / Cmd + V (Mac) or Ctrl + C / Ctrl + V (Windows) — Copy & Paste Settings
Copy your Develop settings from one image and paste them onto another. Essential for batch editing and maintaining consistency across a gallery.
Tip: You can also use Sync Settings to copy + paste edits to multiple images, but Copy + Paste can be really helpful if you’re only editing a few images at a time or selecting which to edit in black and white.
10. + and -for Slider Adjustments
In the Develop module, click on the name of the slider you want to be able to adjust quickly (like Exposure, Contrast, etc), then you’ll be able to use the + and - keys to quickly adjust the effect incrementally. This is especially useful for Exposure and White Balance if you adjust those frequently.
Image by Bernadeta Kupiec
Edited with Afterglow Presets
More Lightroom Tips and Tutorials
We have a whole series of quick tips for editing on our YouTube channel— watch a couple of them below and check out our Quick Tips playlist on YouTube!
How do shortcuts help speed up workflow?
Image by Bernadeta Kupiec
Edited with Afterglow Presets
Using keyboard shortcuts in Lightroom is one of the easiest ways to make editing feel smoother and less overwhelming. Instead of constantly clicking through menus and panels, you can press a single key and keep moving. That small shift saves time and helps you stay in a creative flow, and you spend less time searching for tools and more time focusing on the actual photo.
Here is how shortcuts help your workflow:
They save time by reducing extra clicks and menu searching
They speed up culling so you can move quickly through large sessions
They keep you focused on the image instead of the interface
They make batch editing easier with quick copy and paste commands
They build muscle memory, making editing feel natural and intuitive
The more you use them, the more automatic they become. Eventually, you stop thinking about all the different Modules, Views, Panels, Sliders, and features in Lightroom and just edit, which makes the whole process faster and far more enjoyable.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lightroom Keyboard Shortcuts
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For most photographers, the most helpful Lightroom keyboard shortcuts are G (Grid View), D (Develop Module), E (Loupe View), R (Crop Tool), and \ (Before/After). These shortcuts streamline both culling and editing, making them essential for an efficient workflow.
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Yes. Lightroom keyboard shortcuts work on both Mac and Windows. The main difference is that Mac uses Command (Cmd) and Windows uses Control (Ctrl) for actions like copy and paste.
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Lightroom shortcuts reduce constant clicking and menu navigation. Instead of searching for tools, you press a single key and keep editing. This keeps you in a creative flow and significantly improves editing speed.
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Press G to return to Grid View in the Library module and D to jump directly into the Develop module. This is one of the simplest ways to move quickly between culling and editing.
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Press the backslash key (\) to toggle between the original photo and your edited version. Press Y to view a side-by-side Before and After comparison for a more detailed check.
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Press R to instantly activate the Crop and Straighten tool. While cropping, press O to cycle through overlay guides such as rule of thirds or golden ratio.
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Press the Space Bar or Z to zoom in on an image in both the Library and Develop modules. Press again to zoom back out. This is especially helpful for checking focus and fine detail.
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Use Cmd + C and Cmd + V on Mac, or Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V on Windows, to copy and paste Develop settings. This Lightroom shortcut is essential for batch editing and maintaining consistency across a gallery.
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Yes. Press Shift + Tab to hide all panels and view your image without distractions. Press it again to restore the interface.
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Most photographers build muscle memory within a few weeks of consistent use. Start with a few core Lightroom editing shortcuts and gradually add more as they become automatic.
WHAT TO READ NEXT? → Adobe Lightroom Workflow: A Complete Field Guide for Photographers