All keyboard shortcuts for reading and editing PDFs

100 keyboard shortcuts for reading and editing PDFs: the complete overview

With PDF keyboard shortcuts, you can search faster, browse through pages, add comments, and edit documents. This reference guide contains 100 practical keyboard shortcuts: 20 for Adobe Acrobat Reader, 20 for Adobe Acrobat Pro, 20 for Foxit PDF Editor, 20 for PDF-XChange Editor, and 20 for Apple Preview.

What keyboard shortcuts do you use for PDF files?

The most important PDF keyboard shortcuts help you search, navigate, zoom, save, and print. In a PDF editor, these are supplemented by commands for text, comments, and page editing. The combination you need varies by program and sometimes by the active tool.

Please refer to the table for your specific application. The 100 entries are divided across five programs. Some combinations appear in multiple tables because they serve the same or a different function in each.

PDF software	Environment	Numbers
Adobe Acrobat Reader	Desktop version for Windows	1–20
Adobe Acrobat Pro	Desktop version for Windows	21–40
Foxit PDF Editor	Desktop version for Windows	41–60
PDF-XChange Editor	Windows, standard keys for version 10	61–80
Apple Preview	Preview on macos	81–100

A plus sign means you press the keys simultaneously. For Ctrl+F, hold down the Ctrl key and briefly press F. On a Mac, you’ll use keys such as Command (⌘), Option (⌥), and Control (⌃). On some laptops, you’ll also need to press the Fn key along with the function keys.

A shortcut key does not grant additional editing rights. The command must be available in your program and key. Security settings on the PDF file may also restrict copying, printing, or editing.

1. Adobe Acrobat Reader: 20 keyboard shortcuts for reading and reviewing

These bundles apply to Adobe Acrobat Reader for Windows. Reader is primarily intended for reading, printing, filling out forms, and adding comments. Additional editing features are required to modify the genuine text or delete pages.

Open, save, and search files

No.	Shortcut	What does this keyboard shortcut do in Acrobat Reader?
1	Ctrl+O	Opens the file selection dialog to open a PDF. This is handy when you want to view a locally stored document without first having to search for it in File Explorer.
2	Ctrl+S	Saves permitted changes, such as form data or comments. This does not automatically make the genuine PDF text editable; Reader only saves supported changes.
3	Ctrl+Shift+S	Opens "Save As" or the corresponding save option. This allows you, for example, to save a completed form under a different name, so that the blank genuine remains available.
4	Ctrl+P	Opens the print dialog box. Check the page range, scale, and orientation before confirming, especially for forms or documents with different page sizes.
5	Ctrl+F	Opens a search within the current PDF. For example, search for a name, amount, or term; if the scanned document contains no recognizable text, this may not yield any results.
6	Ctrl+Shift+F	Opens the advanced search function. Depending on the selected search location, this allows you to perform a more comprehensive search than with the compact search field for a single document.
7	Ctrl+G	Moves to the next search result after you’ve performed a search. This allows you to review results one after another without having to click the search buttons again.
8	Shift+F3	Returns to the previous match during an active search. This is helpful if you’ve skipped a result and want to review that section again.
9	Ctrl+Shift+N	Opens Go to page. Enter a page number to jump directly to that section of the PDF, for example, when following a reference in a manual.
10	Ctrl+Page Up	Goes to the previous page when the document view is active. This allows you to navigate back precisely without depending on the amount of visible content.

Navigate through pages and customize the view

No.	Shortcut	What does this keyboard shortcut do in Acrobat Reader?
11	Ctrl+Page Down	Goes to the next page. This is useful for documents you want to review page by page, such as quotes, reports, or completed forms.
12	Ctrl+Shift+Page Up	Jumps to the first page of the document. Handy for quickly returning to the cover page or table of contents from within a long report.
13	Ctrl+Shift+Page Down	Jump to the last page. Use this, for example, to view a closing statement, signature page, or attachment at the end of a large PDF file.
14	Ctrl+=	Zooms in on the document view. This makes small text and details more visible; the content and genuine page size of the PDF remain unchanged.
15	Ctrl+Hyphen (-)	Zooms out. You’ll view details of the page, for example, to view the entire layout of a form or a wide image.
16	Ctrl+0	Fits the entire page within the available document window. This provides an overview of the page but may make small text less legible.
17	Ctrl+1	Displays the PDF at 100% zoom, also referred to as actual size. How large this appears on your screen depends in part on your screen settings.
18	Ctrl+2	Adjusts the page width to fit the window. This is often helpful when reading text pages, as it reduces the need to scroll horizontally.
19	Ctrl+L	Turns full-screen mode on or off. The document page takes up more space, which is useful for focused reading or viewing a PDF.
20	Ctrl+C	Copies selected text or supported selected content. This only works if the content is selectable and document security allows it to be copied.

2. Adobe Acrobat Pro: 20 keyboard shortcuts for PDF editing

In Acrobat Pro for Windows , the keyboard shortcuts listed in the Reader table also work. Below are additional commands for page editing, tools, and document management.

To use the letter keys for tools, first go to Preferences → General → Use single-key shortcuts to open tools. Use those keys from within the document interface while you’re not typing text.

Customize pages and document content

No.	Shortcut	What does this keyboard shortcut do in Acrobat Pro?
21	Ctrl+Shift+I	Opens the command to insert pages from a file. Select the source file and specify where the brand new pages should appear.
22	Ctrl+Shift+T	Opens the option to insert blank pages. This allows you to add, for example, a separator page or space for order notes to an existing PDF document.
23	Ctrl+Shift+D	Opens the command to delete pages. Carefully check the specified range so that you do not remove any necessary attachments, statements, or signed pages from the document.
24	Ctrl+Shift+U	Opens the reading order tool. This allows you to check and correct the order in which document elements are presented, for example, to ensure accessibility when using assistive technology.
25	Shift+Y	Activates the redaction tool to mark information that needs to be removed. Then apply the redactions; simply marking the text does not yet remove the underlying content.
26	T	Enables text editing tools when single-key shortcuts are enabled. Editable features depend on the PDF, available fonts, and any required text recognition.
27	O	Activates the tool for editing objects. You can use it to select appropriate document objects; the available edits depend on the object type and the document structure.
28	C	Activates the cropping tool. This allows you to adjust the visible page area; cropping is not a reliable method for permanently removing confidential information from a PDF.
29	L	Activates the link tool. Use this to add or modify clickable areas, for example, for navigation within the document or to a website.
30	F	Activates the text field tool within the form editor. This allows you to insert a text field where the recipient can later enter text, such as a name or reference number.

Manage forms, properties, and open documents

No.	Shortcut	What does this keyboard shortcut do in Acrobat Pro?
31	Shift+F	Navigate through the available form tools. For example, you can switch between text fields, checkboxes, and radio buttons, depending on the active form editing environment and available features.
32	A	Enable or disable form editing using the single-key shortcut. Use this when you want to create interactive fields or modify existing form elements.
33	Ctrl+B	Creates a bookmark from the document or bookmarks pane. This allows you to add a navigation point, for example, for a chapter that readers need to be able to access quickly later on.
34	Ctrl+Z	Undoes a supported previous action. This helps when an object has been moved incorrectly or other changes have been made; not every action can be undone afterward.
35	Ctrl+Shift+Z	Re-executes an undone operation, when available. This restores the change you had reversed with the Undo command.
36	Ctrl+E	Displays properties for the active tool or selection. The available settings vary depending on the context, such as comments, text, or other editable elements.
37	Ctrl+D	Opens Document Properties. Here, you can view available document details, fonts, and security information—among other things—when you want to understand how the PDF is structured or restricted.
38	Ctrl+K	Opens Acrobat Preferences. Here you can adjust application settings, including the single-key shortcut settings required for various tools in this table.
39	Ctrl+Tab	Moves from the document environment to the next open document tab. In an active pane, the same combination can move between elements within that pane.
40	Ctrl+Shift+Tab	Goes from the document environment to the previously opened document tab. This is useful when you regularly compare an edited PDF with a source file.

3. Foxit PDF Editor: 20 keyboard shortcuts for text, comments, and pages

These combinations apply to Foxit PDF Editor for Windows. They combine standard document operations with annotations and page editing. The active selection determines whether a command applies to text, an annotation, or a page.

Search and add comments

No.	Shortcut	What does this keyboard shortcut do in Foxit PDF Editor?
41	Ctrl+O	Open a file via the file selection dialog. Select the PDF you want to read or edit; the available editing options will depend on the document’s permissions.
42	Ctrl+S	Saves changes to the current file. This includes comments, edited text, or modified pages; please confirm whether you want to overwrite the genuine file.
43	Ctrl+Shift+S	Opens "Save As." Use this to save a customized version separately, for example, with a recognizable version number or a different name for the recipient.
44	Ctrl+F	Opens a text search in the current PDF. If necessary, select additional search criteria, such as case-sensitive search or searching for whole words only.
45	Ctrl+Shift+F	Opens the advanced search window. This offers more options for selecting search locations and criteria than the compact search function, which is designed for a quick check.
46	Ctrl+T	Opens "Find and Replace" for document text. Check each replacement in important documents; text in comments, bookmarks, and form data is not automatically included in the same operation.
47	Ctrl+B	Add a bookmark. This creates a recognizable navigation point to an important section, such as a chapter, appendix, or specific passage in a report.
48	Ctrl+Shift+N	Activates the tool for adding a note. Place the note next to the relevant passage and write your explanation without replacing the genuine document text.
49	Shift+H	Activates text highlighting. You can highlight selectable text with a highlight colour, for example, when reviewing appointments or noting key points.
50	Shift+T	Activates the typewriter mode to insert text as an addition. This is an annotation-like addition and differs from editing genuine text objects.

Compile pages and review changes

No.	Shortcut	What does this keyboard shortcut do in Foxit PDF Editor?
51	Shift+P	Activates the pencil tool. Use this to draw freehand lines on the PDF, for example, to highlight an area or clarify a visual correction.
52	Ctrl+Shift+I	Opens the option to insert pages from a file. You can add additional document pages and specify where they should appear within the current PDF.
53	Ctrl+Shift+T	Opens a blank page. Use this, for example, as a divider page or when a composite document needs extra space for additional content.
54	Ctrl+Shift+D	Opens the command to delete pages. Check the page range before confirming, especially for documents with attachments or non-standard page numbering.
55	Ctrl+Alt+D	Opens the command to duplicate pages. This is useful when the same form page or layout needs to be included multiple times within the PDF document.
56	Ctrl+Alt+V	Pastes a copied comment in the same position on the target page. This helps ensure that recurring stamps or annotations are placed consistently across different pages.
57	Ctrl+Z	Undoes the last supported action. Use this, for example, after placing a comment in the wrong spot; certain file commands are not included in the reversible operations.
58	Ctrl+Shift+Z	Redoes an undone action. This allows you to restore an operation if, after undoing it, you decide that the change was actually desired after all.
59	Ctrl+0	Fits the entire page within the document window. This provides a useful overview for assessing the relative placement of text, images, and comments after editing.
60	Ctrl+2	Adjusts the page to fit the window width. This often makes text easier to read, as you only need to scroll vertically through the page.

4. PDF-XChange Editor: 20 keyboard shortcuts for navigation and page management

This table lists the standard combinations for PDF-XChange Editor version 10 for Windows. Some operations require an appropriate key. A keyboard shortcut does not alter the key terms; please verify the function before saving the final document.

Using Documents and Navigation Panes

No.	Shortcut	What does this keyboard shortcut do in PDF-XChange Editor?
61	Ctrl+O	Opens an existing document. You select the PDF from the file dialog and can then check which viewing, annotation, and editing features are available.
62	Ctrl+S	Saves the active document. Use this after making supported changes, such as comments or page edits, when you want to save them to the current file.
63	Ctrl+Shift+S	Opens "Save As" from the document interface. This allows you to save a separate version, for example, before sending a modified document to someone else.
64	Ctrl+F	Searches for text in the active document. Use a recognizable term or number; a scanned page typically requires a recognizable text layer first for text searches.
65	Ctrl+Alt+F	Shows or hides the search window. This provides a more extensive workspace for search queries and results than the compact search within the document view.
66	Ctrl+Shift+N	Opens "Go to Page." Enter the desired page to navigate through large documents efficiently, for example, when someone refers to a specific section.
67	Ctrl+T	Shows or hides the thumbnail pane. The small page previews help you view the document structure and select the correct page for further editing.
68	Ctrl+M	Shows or hides the comments pane. This gives you an overview of annotations and feedback without having to search for each comment individually on the document page.
69	Ctrl+Shift+B	Adds a bookmark to the current page. This creates a navigation point that makes a long document easier to search and use.
70	Ctrl+Shift+I	Opens the command to insert pages. This allows you, for example, to add an additional attachment at a selected location in the existing document.

Customize pages and display comments

No.	Shortcut	What does this keyboard shortcut do in PDF-XChange Editor?
71	Ctrl+Shift+E	Opens the page extraction feature. This allows you to extract selected pages from the document to save them separately; check the selected output settings.
72	Ctrl+Shift+D	Opens the command to delete pages. Check both the selection and the range to ensure you remove only the intended pages from the file.
73	Ctrl+Shift+R	Opens the document page rotation feature. This adjusts the page orientation and differs from a temporary rotation intended solely for on-screen display.
74	Ctrl+Shift+T	Opens the page cropping feature. This allows you to change the visible page area; use a true editing function when sensitive content underneath needs to be permanently removed.
75	Ctrl+0	Does the active page or pages fit entirely within the window? This is useful for checking the overall layout after rotating or making other page edits.
76	Ctrl+1	Set the zoom to 100%. This returns you to a fixed zoom level after you’ve zoomed in or out significantly for detailed work.
77	Ctrl+2	Fits the entire page width, including white margins, within the window. This is a useful reading view for documents with a single text column.
78	Ctrl+3	Adjust the visible content to the width and exclude white margins from the calculation. This allows the text to appear larger on the screen than it would at page width.
79	Ctrl+8	Shows all comments in the document. This allows you to make previously hidden feedback visible again before checking which corrections or questions are still pending.
80	Ctrl+Shift+8	Hides all comments in the document view. This does not delete the annotations; you are simply viewing a cleaner document view temporarily without their visible markings.

5. Apple Preview: 20 Keyboard Shortcuts for PDFs on the Mac

These combinations apply to Preview on macos. The app supports reading, forms, and annotations, but is not a full-featured text editor for native PDF content. If you encounter unexpected behavior, check the keyboard shortcut next to the command in the menu bar.

Manage files and search for text

No.	Shortcut	What does this keyboard shortcut do in Preview?
81	Command+O	Opens the file selection dialog. Select the PDF you want to view or annotate; Preview can also open images, but this table focuses on PDF documents.
82	Command+S	Save the document. Keep in mind any annotations or data you’ve entered; note that macos may also automatically save changes.
83	Command+P	Opens the print dialog box for the current PDF. Choose page range and scale, or use the available PDF options in the print dialog box.
84	Command+C	Copies selected text or a selected area to the clipboard. Whether text is selectable depends on the document’s content and any security restrictions.
85	Command+F	Enables searching within the PDF. Use this, for example, to find a name or appointment; searchability depends on the available text recognition.
86	Command+G	Goes to the next match for the search term. This allows you to scroll through the found passages without having to restart the search each time.
87	Command+Shift+G	Goes to the previous match for the search term. This is helpful if you’ve skipped over a relevant passage and want to look back at it.
88	Command+Z	Undoes a supported previous action, such as an incorrectly placed selection. Which offers remain available depends on the action and the document session.
89	Command+Shift+Z	Redoes an undone action. Use this when you’ve undone a change but then decide to keep that change after all.
90	Command+W	Close the active document window or tab. This does not delete the file, nor does it automatically close any other PDFs that are open in Preview.

View pages and make bookmarks accessible

No.	Shortcut	What does this keyboard shortcut do in Preview?
91	Option+Down Arrow	Goes to the next page. This is useful when you want to review a PDF page by page without scrolling through the content with the trackpad.
92	Option+Up Arrow	Goes to the previous page. This allows you to quickly review information on the previous page while checking a text or form.
93	Control+Tab	Activates the next tab when documents are open in tabs. This helps you compare different PDFs within the same Preview window.
94	Control+Shift+Tab	Activates the previous document tab. This allows you to navigate in the opposite direction through open PDFs, for example, between an genuine and a modified version.
95	Command+Control+F	Turns full-screen mode on or off. This gives the PDF more space, which can be helpful when reading intently or viewing large pages.
96	Command+Plus Sign (+)	Zooms in on the PDF. This enlarges the on-screen display of small text or details without changing the content or the saved page size.
97	Command+Hyphen (-)	Zooms out on the PDF. Use this to view more of a page at once and assess the placement of text, images, or annotations.
98	Command+0	Displays the page at actual size as shown in the Preview. This is a fixed reference view; the actual screen size depends on your display settings.
99	Command+9	Adjusts the document view so that the page fits within the window. This allows you to quickly regain an overview after zooming in on a specific detail.
100	Command+Shift+A	Shows or hides the annotation toolbar. From there, you can access available tools for adding text, shapes, and signatures, among other features, depending on the document.

Which PDF keyboard shortcuts should you learn first?

Start searching, navigating to the next and previous pages, zooming in, and saving. These commands come in handy for virtually any PDF document. Then add the tools you use every day, such as highlighting, adding a note, or inserting pages.

Distinguish between reading, annotating, and editing the genuine content. A text box placed on top of a page does not change the existing text. Similarly, hiding comments and cropping pages do not automatically remove the underlying content.

Key points to remember

• Use the correct program table: the same combination may behave slightly differently in a different PDF application.
• Check document permissions and key: a keyboard shortcut won’t make an unavailable action possible.
• Note the active selection: text, comments, forms, and page thumbnails have different commands.
• Distinguish between hiding and deleting: hiding or cropping is not the same as permanently deleting information.
• Be mindful when making important changes: if necessary, create a separate version before editing pages or genuine content.