Tools panel in Premiere Pro

Last updated on Jun 23, 2025

Learn about options available in the Tools panel in Premiere Pro and how its features support your editing workflow.

When you select a tool, the pointer changes shape according to the selection. For example, when you select the Razor tool and position the pointer over a clip in the Timeline panel, the icon changes to a razor  icon.

However, the Selection icon can change to reflect the task currently being performed.

Note

Sometimes, pressing a modifier key (such as Shift) as you use a tool changes its function, and its icon changes accordingly. Select tools from the Tools panel or use a keyboard shortcut.

The Selection tool is the default tool. It’s used for everything other than specialized functions. If the program isn’t responding as you expect, make sure that the Selection tool is selected.

You can also resize the Tools panel and orient it vertically or horizontally.

Options in Tools panel

Tools panel of Premiere Pro is displayed highlighting editing tools, including Selection, Track Select, Ripple Edit, Rolling Edit, Rate Stretch, Razor, Slip, Slide, Pen, and Hand, tools.
The editing options available in the Tools panel in Premiere Pro.

A. Selection tool B. Track Select tool C. Ripple Edit tool D. Razor tool E. Slip tool F. Pen tool G. Shape tool  H. Hand tool I. Text tool  J. Generative Extend tool 

Select any tool to activate it for use in the Timeline panel by selecting it or using its keyboard shortcut. Let the cursor hover over a tool to see its name and keyboard shortcut.

  • Selection: The standard tool for selecting clips, menu items, and other objects in the user interface. It’s generally a good practice to select the Selection tool when you are done using any of the other, more specialized, tools.
  • Track Selection: Select this tool to select all the clips to the right of the cursor in a sequence. To select a clip and all clips to the right in its own track, select the clip. To select a clip and all clips to its right in all tracks, Shift-click the clip. Pressing Shift changes the Track Selection tool into the Multi-track Selection tool.
  • Ripple Edit: Select this tool to trim the In or Out point of a clip in the timeline. The Ripple Edit tool closes gaps caused by the edit and preserves all edits to the left or right of the trimmed clip.
  • Razor: Select this tool to make one or more incisions in clips in the timeline. Select a point in a clip to split it at that precise location. To split clips in all tracks at that location, Shift-click the spot in any of the clips.
  • Slip: Select this tool to simultaneously change the In and Out points of a clip in the timeline, while keeping the time span between them constant. For example, if you have trimmed a 10-second clip to 5 seconds in the timeline, you can use the Slip tool to determine which 5 seconds of the clip appear in the timeline.
  • Pen: Select this tool to set or select keyframes, or to adjust connector lines in the timeline. Drag a connector line vertically to adjust it. Ctrl-click (Windows) or Command-click (macOS) on a connector line to set a keyframe. Shift-click noncontiguous keyframes to select them. Drag a marquee over contiguous keyframes to select them.
  • Shape: Use this tool to add shapes to the sequence and in the timeline.
  • Hand: Select this tool to move the viewing area of the timeline to the right or left. Drag left or right anywhere in the viewing area.
  • Text: Use this tool to add text to the sequence and in the timeline.
  • Generative Extend: Use this tool to seamlessly extend video and audio clips using Adobe's Firefly Video Model.