DaVinci Resolve 20 tutorial
DaVinci Resolve Keyboard Shortcuts: Practical Reference
A practical DaVinci Resolve keyboard-shortcut reference covering the default Resolve preset, navigation, cutting, timeline editing, Undo/Redo and Keyboard Customization.
Do not copy someone else's keyboard map blindly
DaVinci Resolve supports its own default preset, custom layouts and presets modeled after other NLEs. The same command can therefore be mapped differently on two systems. This guide gives exact keys only where they belong to the default Resolve preset; otherwise, learn the command name and verify it in Keyboard Customization.
Important
If you use a Premiere Pro, Avid or custom preset, confirm assignments in Keyboard Customization first.
The first shortcuts worth learning
- Space — play/pause.
- J / K / L — reverse / stop / forward; repeated J/L increases shuttle speed.
- Left / Right Arrow — one frame backward / forward.
- I / O — Mark In / Mark Out.
- Ctrl+B (Windows) / Cmd+B (macOS) — split at playhead.
- Ctrl+Z (Windows) / Cmd+Z (macOS) — Undo.
- D — Enable / Disable Clip in Edit and Fairlight timelines.
- M — add a marker; press M again on the marker to open its settings.
- F10 — Overwrite edit in the default Resolve preset.
- F12 — Place on Top in the default Resolve preset.
- Ctrl+Alt+K (Windows) / Option+Cmd+K (macOS) — Keyboard Customization.
Practical tip
- On macOS, system function-key behavior can require Fn or a Function Keys preference change.
Playback and navigation deliver the fastest return
J/K/L, Space and frame-step arrows are used constantly. Blackmagic teaches J/K/L as a transport system, including K+J/L for precise movement and repeated J/L presses for faster shuttle playback.
Practical tip
- The dedicated navigation guide covers J/K/L, half-speed playback, In/Out marks and edit-point navigation.
Cutting: Ctrl/Cmd+B and trim-to-playhead
Ctrl+B on Windows and Cmd+B on macOS splits at the playhead. For dialogue cleanup, Trim Start to Playhead and Trim End to Playhead can be even faster because they remove the unwanted edge directly.
Exact trim shortcuts depend on the keyboard preset. A Q/E-style setup is a custom workflow, not a universal Resolve default.
Important
Ripple operations can move later material. Check track locks and linked audio.
Timeline edits: Insert, Overwrite and Place on Top
Insert creates space and pushes later material, Overwrite replaces the occupied range, and Place on Top adds a higher-track layer. Understanding these operations matters more than the keys themselves.
In the standard Resolve training layout, F10 performs Overwrite and F12 performs Place on Top.
Undo, Redo and history
Ctrl+Z on Windows and Cmd+Z on macOS undoes the last action. For larger reversions, history is more controlled than repeatedly pressing Undo without knowing which step you are on.
Practical tip
- A dedicated shortcut guide covers Undo, Redo, History and page-specific behavior.
Keyboard Customization: build a workflow preset
Open DaVinci Resolve → Keyboard Customization or press Ctrl+Alt+K on Windows / Option+Cmd+K on macOS. Search by command name, change only high-frequency actions and save the result as a custom preset.
Preset management includes import and export, which is useful when moving between workstations.
- Choose 8–12 daily commands.
- Check their current assignments.
- Remap only the uncomfortable ones.
- Work for a week.
- Export the stable preset as a backup.
How to learn shortcuts without memorizing a giant list
Do not try to memorize every shortcut at once. Pick a few commands you use every day and work with them for a week. Once they become automatic, add the next group such as navigation, trim or timeline editing.
Summary
You do not need a hundred shortcuts. Start with 10–15 actions you repeat every day, then expand the preset around real workflow bottlenecks.
Keyboard shortcuts by topic
For a deeper explanation of a specific group of commands, open the corresponding shortcut guide below.
- DaVinci Resolve Playback and Navigation Shortcuts: J, K, L and Frame Control — Drive the viewer and timeline without the mouse: Space, arrow keys, J/K/L, slow playback and In/Out marks.
- DaVinci Resolve Cutting and Trim Keyboard Shortcuts — Ctrl/Cmd+B, Blade, Trim Start/End to Playhead and ripple behavior without constant tool switching.
- DaVinci Resolve Timeline Shortcuts: Overwrite, Place on Top, Clips and Gaps — Structural timeline commands: F10, F12, Enable Clip, Insert versus Overwrite and gap cleanup.
- How to Undo in DaVinci Resolve: Undo, Redo and History — Ctrl+Z / Cmd+Z, Redo, History and why undo behavior can differ across Resolve pages.
- How to Customize DaVinci Resolve Keyboard Shortcuts and Presets — Open Keyboard Customization, search commands, assign keys, resolve conflicts and move your preset between systems.