How to Use the Control-Shift-3 Shortcut for the Dual Displays Workspace in Final Cut Pro

Keyboard shortcut: ControlShift3

Control-Shift-3 is a real Final Cut Pro shortcut. It runs the command Dual Displays, which applies the Dual Displays workspace. If you have a second monitor connected to your Mac, it spreads the Final Cut Pro interface across both screens in one keystroke.

Not the Screenshot Shortcut

Don't confuse it with Shift-Command-3, the macOS shortcut that takes a screenshot of your screen. Control-Shift-3 uses the Control key, not Command, and in Final Cut Pro it switches workspaces.

How to Use It

  1. Connect a second display and arrange your displays in macOS System Settings.
  2. Open Final Cut Pro.
  3. Press Control-Shift-3. Final Cut Pro applies the Dual Displays workspace and uses both screens.
  4. To go back to the standard single-screen layout, press Command-0 to apply the Default workspace.

Why Use Dual Displays

  • More room for the timeline: Long projects with many connected clips get a lot easier to see.
  • Bigger Browser: More thumbnails visible at once means faster shot selection.
  • Less toggling: With more space, you spend less time hiding and showing panels.

Tips

  • Workspaces are found in the Window menu. You can also save your own custom workspace once you've arranged things the way you like them.
  • Learn the other workspace shortcuts too, so you can jump between layouts for organizing, editing, and color work.
  • If you only have one display, the Dual Displays workspace has nothing to spread across, so stick with the Default workspace.

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