SoundCloud Keyboard Shortcuts & Tips Cheatsheet

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Entertainment & Gaming / Music

April 26, 2025 12:00

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Playback & Core Actions

Playback Controls

`Space`	Play or Pause the current track.
`Left Arrow`	Seek backward by 5 seconds.
`Right Arrow`	Seek forward by 5 seconds.
`Shift` + `Left Arrow`	Seek backward by 15 seconds.
`Shift` + `Right Arrow`	Seek forward by 15 seconds.
`Up Arrow`	Increase volume.
`Down Arrow`	Decrease volume.
`M`	Mute or Unmute playback.

Track Navigation

`N`	Play the Next track in the current playlist or stream.
`P`	Play the Previous track in the current playlist or stream.
`Cmd/Ctrl` + `Left Arrow` or `Home`	Go to the beginning of the current track.
`Cmd/Ctrl` + `Right Arrow` or `End`	Go to the end of the current track.
Tip: Use `N` and `P` frequently	These are essential for hands-free browsing through sets or streams.
Tip: Use Seek shortcuts	Combine `Shift` with arrows for faster skipping through intros or breaks.

Interacting with Tracks

`L`	Like or Unlike the current track.
`R`	Repost or Unrepost the current track.
`C`	Focus on the comment input field to start typing a comment.
`Cmd/Ctrl` + `Enter` (while in comment field)	Submit the comment you have typed.
`Esc` (while in comment field)	Cancel editing or close the comment field.
Tip: Quickly like tracks	As a track plays, just press `L` to add it to your likes without pausing.
Tip: Commenting workflow	`C` to focus, type, `Cmd/Ctrl` + `Enter` to send.

Navigation & Interface

Page & Element Navigation

`Tab`	Move focus to the next interactive element on the page (links, buttons, inputs).
`Shift` + `Tab`	Move focus to the previous interactive element on the page.
`Enter` or `Space` (when element is focused)	Activate the focused element (e.g., click a button, follow a link).
`S`	Focus on the Search input field.
`Esc`	Close pop-ups, modals, or unfocus input fields (like search or comments).
`Home`	Scroll to the top of the page.
`End`	Scroll to the bottom of the page.
`Page Up`	Scroll up approximately one screen height.
`Page Down`	Scroll down approximately one screen height.

Search Shortcuts

`S`	Jump directly to the search bar. Start typing immediately after pressing `S`.
`Enter` (after typing in search bar)	Perform the search.
`Down Arrow` (while in search results)	Navigate down through search suggestions or results.
`Up Arrow` (while in search results)	Navigate up through search suggestions or results.
`Enter` (on a highlighted search result)	Go to the page for the highlighted result.
`Esc` (while search bar is focused)	Close the search suggestions dropdown.
Tip: Quick Search Access	Press `S` from anywhere on the site to quickly search.

General Usage Tips

Focus is Key:
Many shortcuts only work when the browser window where SoundCloud is open has focus. Ensure the tab is active.

Combine with Tab:
If a shortcut isn’t working, try using Tab to navigate through elements. You might need to focus the player or the main content area first.

Player Visibility:
The playback shortcuts (Space, Left/Right Arrows, Up/Down Arrows, M) usually work reliably as long as the player is visible on the screen.

Platform Differences:
Cmd is typically used on macOS, while Ctrl is used on Windows and Linux.

Accessibility:
Keyboard navigation is a great way to improve accessibility. Tab and Shift + Tab are your primary tools for exploring the page.

Explore with Tab:
Press Tab repeatedly on any SoundCloud page to see which elements become highlighted. This shows you what you can interact with using Enter or Space.

Commenting Shortcut C:
This is a powerful shortcut for quick engagement. It saves you from having to click the comment section first.