Last reviewed 31 Jul 2026

Applies to

Unity 2022.3 Scene navigation World and avatar projects

Difficulty Beginner

Unity Shortcuts for VRChat Creators

Unity shortcuts are most useful when they remove repeated trips to the toolbar and menus. This guide groups the defaults by task so you can keep the Scene view under control, edit objects accurately, and test changes without memorising a long command list.

Shortcut notation

• Ctrl/Cmd means Ctrl on Windows or Linux and Command on macOS.
• Alt/Option means Alt on Windows or Linux and Option on macOS.
• A shortcut can be global, or it can be contextual and only work when the relevant Unity window has focus.
• Packages can add commands and shortcut assignments of their own.

Unity's Shortcuts Manager is the final authority for the active profile in your editor. Open it from Edit > Shortcuts on Windows or Linux, or Unity > Shortcuts on macOS.

Switch Scene tools

Unity 2022.3 provides five transform modes in the Scene view's Tools overlay:

Key	Tool	Best used for
Q	View	navigating without displaying a transform gizmo
W	Move	changing an object's position
E	Rotate	changing an object's rotation
R	Scale	changing an object's scale
T	Rect	editing rectangles, sprites, and UI-style layouts
Y	Transform	moving, rotating, and scaling with one combined gizmo

Q is documented with the Scene navigation controls, while W through Y are documented with Unity's GameObject positioning tools.

Avoid accidental transforms

Press Q before inspecting a tightly packed scene if you do not want a transform gizmo over the selection. When a move or rotation looks wrong, stop and confirm which tool is active before dragging again.

Find and follow objects

Shortcut	Result
F	Frames the selected GameObject in the Scene view
Shift + F	Locks the Scene view to the selected GameObject

To use F, select an object in the Hierarchy, move the pointer over the Scene view, and press the key. Unity centers the view on that object. If it is already selected, pressing F moves closer to its pivot.

Shift + F is useful when an object moves during Play mode because the Scene camera follows the selection. Navigate the Scene view when you no longer need it locked to the object.

Navigate the Scene view

These controls work while the pointer is over the Scene view:

Action	Windows or Linux	macOS
Orbit	Alt + Left Mouse Drag	Option + Left Mouse Drag
Pan with a three-button mouse	Middle Mouse Drag	Middle Mouse Drag
Zoom	Mouse wheel or Alt + Right Mouse Drag	Two-finger scroll or Option + Control + Left Mouse Drag
Move faster	Hold Shift while moving or zooming	Hold Shift while moving or zooming

Orbit is unavailable in 2D mode. On devices with fewer mouse buttons, Unity documents additional navigation combinations in its Scene view navigation reference.

Fly through a large world

In a 3D perspective Scene view:

1. Hold the right mouse button.
2. Move the mouse to look around.
3. Use W and S to move forward and backward.
4. Use A and D to move left and right.
5. Use Q and E to move down and up.
6. Hold Shift to move faster.
7. Use the scroll wheel while moving to change the flythrough speed.

The Q, W, and E keys do different jobs here because flythrough is a separate shortcut context. Unity allows the same keys to serve compatible commands in different contexts.

Edit selected objects

These default editor commands cover frequent Hierarchy and Inspector work:

Shortcut	Action	Check before using it
Ctrl/Cmd + Z	Undo	confirm the last editor action is the one you want to reverse
Ctrl/Cmd + D	Duplicate selected object	check the new object's parent and name in the Hierarchy
Delete	Delete the selection	confirm the intended object or asset is selected
Ctrl/Cmd + S	Save	make sure you are saving the intended open scene or asset

Unity documents Ctrl + D on Windows and Command + D on macOS as the default command for duplicating selected GameObjects. For other commands, use the Shortcuts Manager to confirm the active binding, especially on a shared workstation or a customised profile.

Duplicate without losing track of the copy

After duplicating a GameObject:

1. Keep the duplicate selected.
2. Rename it in the Hierarchy if its role is different.
3. Move or edit the copy before selecting anything else.
4. Check its parent before continuing.

This prevents edits from landing on the original when two objects initially occupy the same position.

Save and test deliberately

Ctrl/Cmd + P is commonly assigned to Unity's Play command. Treat it as a toggle: the same shortcut starts and stops Play mode.

Before entering Play mode:

1. Save the scene with Ctrl/Cmd + S.
2. Check the Console for errors that could invalidate the test.
3. Note which object or behavior you are testing.
4. Enter Play mode.
5. Stop Play mode before making changes you need to keep.

Changes made to scene objects during Play mode are normally not retained when Play mode ends. Use the Play button in the toolbar if the shortcut has been changed or if you want an unmistakable visual check of the editor state.

For VRChat worlds, Unity Play mode is only one part of testing. Use the VRChat SDK's supported testing workflow when you need to verify VRChat-specific behavior.

Inspect or change a shortcut

Open the Shortcuts Manager and use its command search instead of guessing:

1. Open Edit > Shortcuts on Windows or Linux, or Unity > Shortcuts on macOS.
2. Search for the command, such as Frame Selected, Duplicate, or Play.
3. Check the assigned key and command context.
4. If you need a custom binding, create or select a non-default shortcut profile.
5. Resolve any warning shown for a binding conflict.

The key map distinguishes global commands from contextual commands. Unity also lists conflicting assignments in the Binding Conflicts category.

My shortcut types into a field instead of running a command.

A text field, search box, or rename field has keyboard focus. Press Escape if appropriate, click the Scene view or target Unity window, and try the shortcut again.

F does not frame the object I selected.

Select the GameObject in the Hierarchy, move the pointer over the Scene view, and press F. The command is contextual, so another focused window may handle the key differently.

W, A, S, and D do not move the Scene camera.

Flythrough requires a 3D perspective Scene view and the right mouse button to remain held. It is unavailable in 2D mode. Click the Scene view, hold the right mouse button, then use the movement keys.

A shortcut runs the wrong command or shows a conflict.

Open the Shortcuts Manager and inspect the active profile, command context, and Binding Conflicts category. Packages and custom profiles can add or replace assignments.

My custom shortcuts disappeared.

Check the profile selected at the top of the Shortcuts Manager. Unity stores its built-in assignments in the Default profile, while custom profiles can contain different bindings.

A practical learning order

Use shortcuts in this order during normal editor work:

1. Recover your view: F, orbit, pan, and zoom.
2. Select a tool: Q, W, E, R, or T.
3. Edit safely: undo, duplicate, and save.
4. Navigate faster: right mouse plus WASDQE in perspective view.
5. Test: save, enter Play mode, inspect the result, then stop.
6. Customise only when needed: search the Shortcuts Manager and resolve conflicts there.

Continue learning

• Navigating Scene View and Camera Controls
• Unity Editor Layout and Windows
• Organize Unity Editor Windows and Saved Layouts
• How to Read Unity Console Errors
• VRChat World Building

Official references

• VRChat: Current Unity Version
• Unity 2022.3 Manual: Shortcuts Manager
• Unity 2022.3 Manual: Scene View Navigation
• Unity 2022.3 Manual: Position GameObjects
• Unity 2022.3 Manual: The Hierarchy Window