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Watch the tutorial
Step 1: Select the timeline panel
Keyboard shortcuts only work on the panel that is active. Click an empty spot in your Timeline panel so a blue outline appears around it. Be careful not to click on a clip if you do not want to select it. When the outline is there, the playback keys will control your sequence.
Step 2: Press L to play forward
Press L and the timeline plays forward at normal speed, just like pressing the spacebar. Press L again and the playback speeds up. Each extra press makes it faster, and you can keep going as many times as you like. This is a fast way to skim through long footage without dragging the playhead.
Step 3: Press K to stop
When you want to stop playback, press K. It works at any speed, forward or backward, and leaves the playhead exactly where it stopped. Think of K as a pause button that sits right between J and L under your fingers.
Step 4: Press J to play in reverse
To play the timeline backward, press J. It works the same way as L, only in the opposite direction. Press J once for normal-speed reverse, and press it again to speed up the backward playback. Press K to stop whenever you reach the spot you were looking for.
Tips
- This is playback only. J does not change your clip, it only plays your sequence backward while you edit. To make a clip itself play in reverse, right-click it, choose Speed/Duration and tick Reverse Speed.
- Use all three keys together. Hold your left fingers on J, K and L and you can skim, stop and rewind without touching the mouse.
- Combine with ease. Once you have found the right frame, add smooth motion with our guide on how to ease keyframes.
FAQ
What is the shortcut to play in reverse in Premiere Pro?
Press J with the timeline selected. Press it again to play backward faster.
How do I stop playback with the keyboard?
Press K. You can also use the spacebar, which toggles between play and pause.
How do I reverse a clip permanently?
Right-click the clip, open Speed/Duration and check Reverse Speed. The clip then plays backward in your final export too.
Love keyboard-driven editing? Apply any effect without opening the Effects panel using BetterFX for Premiere Pro.
