How to Set Up Custom Keyboard Shortcuts in Blender

Customizing your workflow in Blender can significantly speed up your 3D modeling and animation process. This guide provides a direct, step-by-step walkthrough on how to assign, modify, and manage custom keyboard shortcuts (hotkeys) in Blender, allowing you to tailor the software’s interface to your personal preferences.

Method 1: The Preferences Menu (For Detailed Customization)

To change keyboard shortcuts globally, you need to access Blender’s Preferences window:

  1. Open Blender and click on Edit in the top menu bar.
  2. Select Preferences from the dropdown menu.
  3. In the Preferences window, click on the Keymap tab in the left sidebar.
  4. Use the search bar at the top right of the Keymap menu to find a command. You can search by Name (e.g., “Extrude”) or by Key (e.g., “E”).
  5. Expand the category containing the command you want to change.
  6. Click on the button displaying the current shortcut. It will change to “Press a key”.
  7. Press the new key combination on your keyboard. Blender will immediately register the change.

Method 2: The Right-Click Shortcut (For Quick Assignments)

For a faster way to assign shortcuts without searching through menus:

  1. Locate the tool, button, or menu item you want to bind to a shortcut in Blender’s main interface.
  2. Right-click on the tool or menu item.
  3. Select Assign Shortcut from the context menu.
  4. Press your desired key combination on your keyboard.

If you want to remove a shortcut assigned this way, right-click the item again and select Remove Shortcut.

How to Save and Export Your Custom Shortcuts

Blender automatically saves your preferences by default, but you can manually manage your keymaps to prevent losing your setup during updates: