Final Cut Pro Shortcut | Command-Option-Delete | Delete Selection Only

Keyboard shortcut: OptionCommandDelete

If you’re an editor working in Final Cut Pro, you know how critical it is to maintain precise timing while cutting, trimming, and deleting clips. But sometimes, when deleting a clip on the Magnetic Timeline, the entire sequence shifts unexpectedly, sending your carefully arranged edit haywire. This is the magic — or the challenge — of Final Cut Pro’s Magnetic Timeline.

Fortunately, there’s a powerful shortcut to help you delete clips without affecting the rest of your timeline: Command-Option-Delete.

What Does Command-Option-Delete Do in Final Cut Pro?

In Final Cut Pro, Command-Option-Delete is Delete Selection Only. It deletes the selection and re-anchors any clips that were connected to it, instead of deleting them too. In practice, this means:

  • Deleting the selected clip without also deleting the clips connected to it

When you delete a clip normally, you remove the clip and all clips connected to it due to the Magnetic Timeline’s clip connections — causing other clips to be deleted unexpectedly. Using Command-Option-Delete prevents these clip connections from deleting linked clips.

Video editing requires exact timing. The Magnetic Timeline is designed to make editing easier by keeping clips connected and aligned, but it can sometimes work against you when a deleted clip takes its connected clips with it.

With Command-Option-Delete, you can:

  • Remove a clip without losing the titles, B-roll, or music connected to it
  • Keep connected clips in your project, re-anchored to the storyline
  • Keep multi-track edits intact, avoiding the hassle of manual re-adjustments
  • Edit confidently without worrying about throwing your timeline off balance

How to Use Command-Option-Delete in Final Cut Pro

  1. Select the clip (or portion of a clip) on your timeline that you want to remove
  2. Press ⌘ (Command)- ⌥ (Option)- Delete on your keyboard
  3. Watch the selected clip disappear while the clips that were connected to it stay in your timeline

This simple shortcut stops connected clips from being deleted along with the clip they’re attached to — no more chaos caused by deleted clips!

The Command-Option-Delete shortcut in Final Cut Pro is an essential weapon in your editing arsenal. It allows you to remove clips without disrupting the timeline’s flow, maintaining control over complex sequences and preserving your edit’s timing. Whether you’re trimming clips, cutting unwanted footage, or fine-tuning your timeline, this shortcut makes your editing workflow smoother and more efficient.

Next time you're editing, try Command-Option-Delete — it might just save your timeline from chaos!

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