Keyboard Shortcuts
A list of keyboard shortcuts is also available by selecting Help/Key Bindings within xLights.
The shortcuts listed here are based on a Windows computer. Other operating systems may vary somewhat.
Keyboard shortcuts are case sensitive. If you are not getting the desired effect, check your Caps Lock.
On occasion, the keybindings.xml file has been known to become corrupt and the keyboard shortcuts no longer function as intended. If this occurs:
Close xLights
Go into your show directory
Delete the keybindings.xml file
Restart xLights
When xLights restarts, it will regenerate the keybindings.xml file to the default settings and the keyboard shortcuts should function again.
The following are the default keyboard presets. These can be changed by the user by editing the keybindings.xml file if desired.
F1
Brings up a Basic Content Window based on the currently open tab
F9
​Select Show Folder​
F10
Backup
F11
Alternate Backup
ALT-F4
Quit or Close xLights
CTRL + c
Copy
CTRL + o
Open Sequence
CTRL + n
New Sequence
CTRL + s
Save (for the currently selected tab)
CTRL + v
Paste
CTRL + x
Cut
CTRL + y
Redo
CTRL + z
Undo
Esc (Escape)
Cancel Render
Arrow Keys
Move Model Left, Right, Up, Down
CTRL + l (lower case L)
Lock Model
CTRL + u
Unlock Model
CTRL + g
Creates a new group from the selected models (on Layout Tab)
CTRL + a
Select All Models
Delete
Delete highlighted model or 3D object
Mouse Wheel Click or Alt + Left Mouse (2D)
Pan House View
Ctrl + Left Mouse
Select Multiple Models
b (lower case)
Insert Bars Effect
c (lower case)
Insert Curtain Effect
d (lower case)
Insert Ramp Down/Fade (On Effect which goes from from 100% to 0%)
f (lower case)
Insert Fire Effect
F (upper case)
Insert Fan Effect
g (lower case)
Insert Garlands Effect
i (lower case - "I" not "L")
Insert Circles Effect
m (lower case)
Insert Morph Effect
n (lower case)
Insert Snowflakes Effect
o (lower case)
Insert On Effect (with constant 100% intensity
O (upper case)
Insert Off Effect
p (lower case)
Insert Pinwheel Effect
r (lower case)
Insert Ripple Effect
R (upper case)
Insert a Random Effect
S (upper case)
Insert Spirals Effect
u (lower case)
Insert Ramp Up (On Effect which goes from 0% to 100%)
w (lower case w)
Insert Color Wash Effect
x (lower case)
Insert Text Effect
y (lower case)
Insert Butterfly Effect
F5
Effect Update
CTRL + SHIFT + Right Arrow
Expand Effect to Next Timing Mark or End of the Sequence
CTRL + SHIFT + Left Arrow
Expand Effect to Previous Timing Mark or Start of the Sequence
CTRL + l (lower case L)
Lock Effect
CTRL + u
Unlock Effect
Space
Toggle Play/Stop from currently selected position - will restart from the original selected location on the timeline
Pause
Pause playback - pressing again will resume from that location
Home
Go to the start of a sequence on the timeline
End
Go to the end of a sequence on the timeline
CTRL + 0 - 9
Jump to Timeline Tag
CTRL + SHIFT + 0 - 9
Jump to 0%-90% through the song in the sequencer
+
Zoom in
-
Zoom out
CTRL + . (period)
Mark Spot
CTRL + /
Return to Spot
CTRL + A (upper case)
Insert Layer below
CTRL + a (lower case)
Select All effects but no timing tracks (on Sequencer Tab)
CTRL + ALT +a (lower case)
Select All Effects and Timing Tracks (on Sequencer Tab)
t (lower case)
Add timing mark at currently selected location on timeline
s (lower case)
Split timing mark at currently selected location on timeline
CTRL + I (upper case I)
Insert Layer above (on Sequencer Tab)
CTRL + X
Toggle Element Expand (to show models in group, strands, nodes, etc)
ALT + 1
Change Effect Tool Icon Size to Small
ALT + 2
Change Effect Tool Icon Size to Medium
ALT + 3
Change Effect Tool Icon Size to Large
ALT + 4
Change Effect Tool Icon Size to Extra Large
CTRL + F1
Toggle Effect Window On/Off
CTRL + F2
Toggle Color Selector Window On/Off
CTRL + F3
Toggle Layer Settings Window On/Off
CTRL + F4
Togle Layer Blending Window On/Off
CTRL + F5
Toggle Model Preview Window On/Off
CTRL + F6
Toggle House Preview Window On/Off
CTRL + F7
Toggle Display Elements Window On/Off
CTRL + F8
Toggle Effect Assist Window On/Off
CTRL + F9
Toggle Effects Window On/Off
CTRL + F10
Show Effect Presets Window
CTRL + F11
Select Effects Toggle
CTRL + F12
Perspectives toggle
CTRL + ALT+ F8
Jukebox toggle
