How to Transition to Premiere Pro Fast

Coming from another editor, Premiere Pro's default keys will feel wrong at first. You can switch Premiere to the keyboard preset of your old editor, learn a few core keys, and arrange the panels the way you like.

Switch to your old editor's keyboard preset

Premiere Pro has a keyboard shortcut setting where you can pick a preset. Choose the one for your previous editor, and the keys you already know will work while you learn the rest of the interface.

1. On Windows, click Edit in the top menu, then choose Keyboard Shortcuts. On a Mac, click Premiere Pro in the top menu, then choose Keyboard Shortcuts.
2. In the Keyboard Shortcuts window, open the Preset dropdown.
3. Choose the preset for your previous editor, such as DaVinci Resolve.
4. Click OK.
5. Press a key you know on the timeline to confirm the new keys are active.

If your editor isn't in the list, use the same window to create your own set and assign the keys you use most. Keep the set you make until those keys feel automatic.

Learn the core Premiere shortcuts

These are Premiere's default keys. If you switched to another preset, these keys won't match, so switch back to the default preset to use them.

• C: Razor tool, for cutting clips.
• V: Selection tool.
• A: Track Select Forward.
• Q and W: Ripple trim to the previous edit (Q) or the next edit (W) from the playhead.
• I and O: Set the in point and out point.
• J, K and L: Play in reverse, stop, and play forward.
• Ctrl+K on Windows or Cmd+K on Mac: Add an edit at the playhead.
• Shift+Delete: Ripple delete.
• M: Add a marker.
• Ctrl+Z or Cmd+Z: Undo. Ctrl+S or Cmd+S: Save.

The fastest cut routine uses three of these. Press C to cut, V to go back to selecting, then Q or W to close the gap.

Arrange the workspace

Premiere lets you move any panel to a new spot, so the timeline, project bin and preview sit where your hands expect them.

1. Click the tab of a panel, such as Project or Timeline, and hold the mouse button.
2. Drag the panel to the edge or area where you want it, then release.
3. Repeat for the other panels until the layout suits your edit.

Which version to learn

Premiere Pro 2024 is no longer available to download in the Creative Cloud app, so install Premiere Pro 2025 or 2026 instead. Tutorials made for other versions can show menus or options that have moved, so check which version a video uses before you follow it.

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