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How to Use the GIMP Keyboard Shortcut Editor

Change keyboard shortcuts and customize GIMP to better suit the way that you work

By Ian Pullen Ian Pullen Writer Ian Pullen is a former Lifewire writer and an experienced graphic designer and web developer with a strong interest in free and open-source graphics software. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on October 13, 2022 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email

In This Article

Expand Jump to a Section How to Use the GIMP Keyboard Shortcut Editor What Is the GIMP Keyboard Shortcut Editor Beware of Reassigning Existing Shortcuts Don't Go Shortcut Crazy Useful Tips

What to Know

Go to Edit > Preferences > Interface > Configure Keyboard Shortcuts.Find the tool or command that you want to edit and select it. Press the key(s) to assign as a shortcut.To remove a keyboard shortcut, select it and press the backspace key. This article explains how to use the GIMP keyboard shortcut editor. The instructions apply to GIMP for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

How to Use the GIMP Keyboard Shortcut Editor

Follow the steps below to start customizing GIMP to better suit the way that you work.
Select the Edit menu and select Preferences. If your version of GIMP has a Keyboard Shortcuts option in the Edit menu you can select that and skip the next step. In the Preferences dialog, select the Interface option in the list to the left – it should be the second option. From the various settings that are now presented, select the Configure Keyboard Shortcuts button. A new dialog is opened and you can open sub-sections, such as the various Tools, by clicking the small box with a + sign in it next to each section name. Now, you need to scroll to the tool or command that you want to edit and select it. When selected, the text for that tool in the Shortcut column changes to read New accelerator and you can press the key or combination of keys you want to assign as a shortcut. We've changed the Foreground Select Tool's keyboard shortcut to Shift+Ctrl+F by pressing the Shift, Ctrl and F keys simultaneously. If you want to remove a keyboard shortcut from any tool or command, just select it and then when the New accelerator text displays, press the backspace key and the text will change to Disabled. Once you're happy that your GIMP keyboard shortcuts are set up as you wish, ensure that the Save keyboard shortcuts on exit checkbox is checked and select Close.

What Is the GIMP Keyboard Shortcut Editor

If you want to add a keyboard shortcut to a feature that doesn't have one or change an existing shortcut to one that feels more intuitive to you, GIMP offers an easy way to do this using the Keyboard Shortcut Editor. GIMP keyboard shortcuts can be useful tools for speeding up your workflow when working with GIMP. Many tools and features have keyboard shortcuts assigned by default, and you can see a list of the default options that are assigned to the Toolbox palette in Keyboard Shortcuts in GIMP.

Beware of Reassigning Existing Shortcuts

If you thought our choice of Shift+Ctrl+F was an odd selection, we chose it because it was a keyboard combination that hadn't already been assigned to any tool or command. If you try to assign a keyboard shortcut that is already in use, an alert will open telling you what the shortcut is currently being used for. If you want to keep the original shortcut, just select the Cancel button, otherwise, select Reassign shortcut to make the shortcut apply to your new selection.

Don' t Go Shortcut Crazy

Don't feel that every tool or command should have a keyboard shortcut assigned to it and that you need to memorize all of them. We all use applications like GIMP in different ways—often using different tools and techniques to achieve similar results—so concentrate on the tools that you use. Taking some time to customize GIMP to work in a way that suits you can be a good investment of your time. A well thought out series of keyboard shortcuts can have a dramatic effect on your workflow.

Useful Tips

Try to analyze how you work and which tools you use on a regular basis, then look at assigning easily accessed keyboard combinations to these tools and commands only.Don't be afraid to try out different shortcuts, or to reassign default shortcuts to new tools or commands. You can always easily reset the original default keyboard shortcuts in the User Interface panel of the Preferences dialog at any time.Assigning shortcuts that are grouped together on the keyboard may mean you can select tools without moving your hand, but using shortcuts that are more spaced out may reduce the possibility of you selecting the incorrect tool. This will be down to personal preference. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Make a Divide Sign on a Keyboard How to Make a Torn Paper Edge in GIMP How to Make an Arrow on a Keyboard How to Use the F Keys on a Mac The Best Windows Keyboard Shortcuts in 2022 How to Hide and Unhide Columns, Rows, and Cells in Excel How to Control F On a Mac Make a Custom Gradient in GIMP How to Open Registry Editor in Windows Keyboard Shortcuts: Speed up PowerPoint Presentations Keyboard Shortcuts for Finder Windows in macOS How to Add Accents in Word The 30 Best Gmail Keyboard Shortcuts for 2022 How to Strikethrough on Google Docs The Complete Apple Mail Keyboard Shortcut List Resetting Keyboard Shortcuts and Keys in Word Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies