Introduction
When working on a video project in DaVinci Resolve, efficiency matters as much as creativity. One of the most common editing needs is shifting large sections of clips without disturbing the carefully arranged timeline before your playhead. This is where the select all to the right of the cursor in DaVinci Resolve feature comes in.
If you’ve ever had to move everything after a certain point—whether adjusting pacing, inserting new clips, or extending a soundtrack—you’ll want to master this technique. It saves time, reduces errors, and keeps your edit clean.
This guide explains step by step how to select everything to the right of your playhead in DaVinci Resolve, why it’s so useful, and how professionals use it to streamline workflows.
Why Knowing How to Select All to the Right of Cursor Matters
Editing is all about timing. When you’re midway through a project, you might:
Add a new intro or sponsor message.
Insert an extra shot into an already locked scene.
Restructure a sequence to improve pacing.
Without the select all to the right of the cursor shortcut, you’d have to manually drag every clip one by one—or risk overlapping audio and losing sync.
In a 2023 survey conducted by Frame.io, over 72% of editors said timeline management shortcuts saved them more than an hour per week. For creators who work daily in DaVinci Resolve, that’s a huge productivity gain.
Step-by-Step: How to Select All to the Right of the Cursor in DaVinci Resolve
Step 1: Position the Playhead
Move your playhead (the vertical red timeline marker) to the point where you want the selection to begin.
You can use the mouse or press Up/Down Arrow keys to snap to edit points.
Step 2: Activate the Selection Command
DaVinci Resolve provides a specific shortcut for this:
On Windows: press Ctrl + Shift + Y
On Mac: press Command + Shift + Y
This command instantly highlights every clip to the right of your playhead across all tracks.
Step 3: Move or Edit Your Selection
To shift all clips, simply click and drag them to the right.
To insert space, drag while holding Alt/Option to ripple.
You can also apply effects, color changes, or disable the group simultaneously.
Alternative Method: Using the Edit Menu
If you prefer menus over shortcuts:
Go to the Edit menu at the top.
Select Select All Clips to the Right of Playhead.
Now all clips on the right side of the cursor are active.
This is slower than the shortcut but useful if you’re still memorizing key combinations.
Tips for Working With the Select All to Right Feature
Lock Tracks First: If you don’t want certain tracks (like music or voiceover) to move, lock them before applying the command.
Use Markers: Add markers before shifting sections, so you always know your starting point.
Ripple Editing Awareness: If you’re working in ripple mode, moving clips may close or create gaps. Be mindful of the track selection.
Combine With Trim Tools: Pairing this technique with Resolve’s Ripple Trim can help when expanding or shortening sections.
Real-World Applications
YouTubers: Easily insert a mid-roll ad or call-to-action without messing up the timing of the rest of the video.
Corporate Editors: Adjust a training module to include new compliance updates.
Filmmakers: Add room for a new establishing shot while preserving carefully synced dialogue and background music.
A creator on Reddit’s r/davinciresolve community noted that learning this shortcut cut their editing time for a 20-minute vlog by 15–20 minutes—just by avoiding manual clip adjustments.
Common Mistakes and Fixes
Mistake 1: Forgetting to Lock Tracks
Solution: Lock audio or subtitle tracks you don’t want shifting before applying the shortcut.
Mistake 2: Clips Overlapping
Solution: Turn on Snapping (N key) to keep edits aligned when dragging.
Mistake 3: Using the Wrong Playhead Position
Solution: Double-check your cursor location. The command selects everything after that exact frame.
Advanced Workflow Ideas
Partial Track Selection: Instead of selecting everything, disable track selectors on the left side of the timeline so only specific tracks respond.
Using Gap Clips: Insert a gap clip (found under Effects → Generators) to create consistent spacing when moving sections.
Combining with Compound Clips: For complex edits, turn multiple clips into a compound clip before shifting them to the right. This reduces clutter and makes the process safer.
FAQs
Q1: Can I select all to the left of the cursor instead?
Currently, DaVinci Resolve doesn’t offer a built-in shortcut for selecting everything to the left. You’d have to drag-select manually.
Q2: Does this work in the free version of DaVinci Resolve?
Yes, both the free version and DaVinci Resolve Studio support this timeline feature.
Q3: Can I customize the shortcut?
Yes. Go to DaVinci Resolve → Keyboard Customization and assign any key combination that suits your workflow.
Q4: Will this affect Fusion or Fairlight clips?
Yes, as long as they are in the timeline. Track locking still applies.
Q5: Is there a risk of losing sync between video and audio?
Only if you forget to lock tracks you don’t want to move. Resolve generally keeps linked audio and video together.
Conclusion
The DaVinci Resolve select all to right of cursor feature is a small but powerful tool that can transform your workflow. By learning the shortcut (Ctrl/Command + Shift + Y) and combining it with track locking, markers, and ripple edits, you’ll edit faster and with fewer mistakes.
Whether you’re a YouTuber squeezing in sponsor clips, a professional editor restructuring corporate videos, or a filmmaker fine-tuning narrative pacing, this trick will save you time and frustration. In video editing, efficiency equals creativity—because the less time you spend fighting the timeline, the more time you spend telling your story.
