Navigation controls in the timeline

Last updated on Jun 23, 2025

Learn about the various navigation controls that you can use to move through the frames of a sequence.

Annotated screenshot of the Premiere Pro Timeline panel showing the time ruler, playhead, work area bar, playhead position indicator, and zoom scroll bar.
Key navigation tools in the Timeline panel.

A. Time ruler B. Work area bar C. Playhead D. Playhead position E. Zoom scroll bar 

Timeline panel contains several controls for moving through the frames of a sequence.

Time ruler

It measures sequences of time horizontally. Numbers indicate that the sequence time is displayed along the ruler from left to right. They change according to the level of detail at which you view the sequence. By default, these numbers are based on the timecode display style specified in the Display Format field of the Sequence Settings dialog box.

Work Area Bar

It specifies the area of the sequence that you want to render previews for or to define a region you plan to export. The Work Area Bar is in the lower portion of the time ruler. The work area bar isn’t available by default. To activate it, select the three stacked lines next to the sequence name and select Work Area Bar from the dropdown menu. You can drag the edges of the Work Area Bar or use keyboard shortcuts to set the work area in a sequence.

Playhead

It indicates the current frame displayed in the Program Monitor. The playhead is a blue triangle on the ruler. A vertical line extends from the playhead to the bottom of the time ruler. You can change the current time by dragging the playhead.

Playhead position

It shows the timecode for the current frame in a Timeline panel. To move to a different time, select the Playhead position and enter a new time. You can also place the pointer over the display and drag left or right. You can change the display between the timecode and the simple frame count. Ctrl + click (Windows) or command + click (macOS) the current time in either the monitor or the Timeline panel.

Zoom scroll bar

Use the zoom scroll bar at the bottom of the Timeline panel to adjust the visible range of the time ruler. Drag the edges to zoom in or out of the timeline.

Note:
  • Expanding the bar to its maximum width reveals the entire duration of the time ruler. Contracting the bar zooms in for a more detailed view of the ruler. Expanding and contracting the bar is centered on the playhead.
  • By positioning the mouse over the bar, you can scroll the mouse wheel to expand and contract the bar.
  • By dragging the center of the bar, you can scroll the visible part of a time ruler without changing its scale. When you drag the bar, you’re not moving the playhead. However, you can move the bar and then select the time ruler to move the playhead to the same area as the bar.
  • Gestures for macOS are supported for the zoom scroll bar.