Underline Text Shortcut | Illustrator

Establishing a custom shortcut for underlining text reduces cognitive load. In design, an underline is often used for emphasis, hyperlinks, or stylistic differentiation. The ability to toggle this style without taking one's hands off the keyboard allows for rapid iteration.

Illustrator stands as an anomaly in this regard. Interestingly, the Ctrl + U (Windows) / Cmd + U (Mac) combination in Illustrator is natively assigned to , a critical feature for alignment. This conflict explains why Adobe likely omitted the underline shortcut from the default map.

Select your text tool and look at the "Character" section in the Properties panel on the right. illustrator underline text shortcut

In Adobe Illustrator, there is no single default keyboard shortcut to underline text. Unlike word processors, Illustrator treats text as a graphic element, requiring a few extra steps or a custom setup to toggle underlines quickly. The Direct Method: Control & Character Panels

Adobe Illustrator is the industry-standard vector graphics software used by designers worldwide. A core component of design within the application is typography. While Illustrator offers robust typographic controls—ranging from kerning and tracking to advanced OpenType features—certain elementary functions are not immediately accessible via keyboard shortcuts. A prime example is the "Underline Text" function. Unlike its sibling applications, InDesign and Photoshop, Illustrator does not ship with a pre-assigned default shortcut for underlining text. This paper explores the methods available to execute this command and advocates for the customization of the workspace to enhance efficiency. Establishing a custom shortcut for underlining text reduces

In the standard installation of Adobe Illustrator (as of the 2024 release), a user must utilize the graphical user interface (GUI) to apply an underline to text. The standard workflow is as follows:

How to Underline Text in Adobe Illustrator. ... This page may contain links from our sponsors. Here's how we make money. Underlini... Bittbox Formatting characters - Adobe Help Center Apply underline or strikethrough * Select text. * Choose Underline or Strikethrough in the Character panel menu or the Control pan... Adobe Help Center How to Underline Text in Adobe Illustrator [2026 Full Guide] Nov 6, 2025 — Illustrator stands as an anomaly in this regard

Adobe Illustrator for underlining text , unlike software like Microsoft Word where you can press Ctrl + U .