If you find yourself editing photos one by one, you are likely working harder than necessary. Mastering bulk selection is the single most effective way to reclaim hours of your time while culling, rating, and organizing your catalog.
Since almost every adjustment or metadata action you can perform on a single image can also be applied to a block of selected images, proficiency in bulk selection is not optional—it is essential for getting the most out of Lightroom Classic!
Your Shortcut Cheat Sheet for Selection
The following shortcuts work specifically in the Library Module Grid View and are key to becoming a more efficient Lightroom user.
Non-Contiguous Select: Shortcut: Windows: Ctrl + Click / macOS: Cmd + Click
Description: Selects multiple, individual, non-adjacent images. Hold the Control (Windows) or the Command (Mac) key down and click each desired thumbnail.
Contiguous Block Select: Shortcut: Windows/macOS: Shift + Click
Description: Selects a block of images. Click the first image, hold Shift, and click the last image in the desired sequence. All photos in between will be selected.
Select All: Shortcut: Windows: Ctrl + A / macOS: Cmd + A
Description: Selects every image currently visible in the Grid View (based on your active folder or collection).
Deselect All: Shortcut: Windows: Ctrl + D / macOS: Cmd + D
Description: Clears all currently active selections, allowing you to start a new selection process.
Understanding “Contiguous” vs. “Non-Contiguous”
- Contiguous Selection (Shift + Click): Used when the photos you want to select line up next to each other in the filmstrip or grid. This is the fastest way to select a large sequence.
- Non-Contiguous Selection (Cmd/Ctrl + Click): Used when the photos you want to select are scattered throughout the grid (e.g., you want image 1, 5, and 12, but some things in between).
Pro Tip: The Active Image
Note that when multiple images are selected, one remains the “Active” image (highlighted more brightly). This is the “master” photo that adjustments will be synced from.
Consistent practice with these four essential shortcuts will embed them into your muscle memory, ensuring a faster, more productive editing and management experience in Adobe Lightroom Classic.
Try it now: Go to a folder with several similar shots, use Shift + Click to select them all, and try applying a single Star Rating. You will see it apply to the entire group instantly!
